Supremes [['75) Sing National Anthem Accapella

[kenneth]

I imagine many of you have seen this, but a first for me so I thought I'd post the link. The Supremes [[Mary, Scherrie, Cindy) doing the Star Spangled Banner acapella prior to a boxing match. [[Of course, those of you old enough will immediately recognize the voice of Howard Cosell.)

Looks like they couldn't cue the music so the girls do it without it...beautifully. The harmonies are great and how nice to hear them do it in this way. I really loved it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg3f4WFg9d8&feature=related

[TYK1986]

Love this accapella and it's good to hear their voices.
Wonder what the girls are talking about before they start singin.

I just looked it up in mary's book and she writes about it. "Where's the music?" I [[Mary) mouthed at him [[Pedro).
Pedro:"There is no music.".
Scherrie hummed a note and they started singin accapella.

[bradsupremes]

It shows how truly talented these ladies were to sing this accapella. I look at popular singers today singing the National Anthem and they butcher the song to death with their useless ad-libs, vocals runs or forgetting the lyrics. Why can't people sing the song note for note without putting their own spin on it? It's our national anthem, not a pop song to showcase your vocal abilities.

[smark21]

It shows how truly talented these ladies were to sing this accapella. I look at popular singers today singing the National Anthem and they butcher the song to death with their useless ad-libs, vocals runs or forgetting the lyrics. Why can't people sing the song note for note without putting their own spin on it? It's our national anthem, not a pop song to showcase your vocal abilities.

So I take it you don't care for Marvin Gaye's version performed at the NBA all star game? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A

[marv2]

I imagine many of you have seen this, but a first for me so I thought I'd post the link. The Supremes [[Mary, Scherrie, Cindy) doing the Star Spangled Banner acapella prior to a boxing match. [[Of course, those of you old enough will immediately recognize the voice of Howard Cosell.)

Looks like they couldn't cue the music so the girls do it without it...beautifully. The harmonies are great and how nice to hear them do it in this way. I really loved it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg3f4WFg9d8&feature=related

Old enough? Old enough? What are you trying to say Kenneth? LOL! Yep! I saw this too the night it aired. You see back in the olden days we only had 3 main channels/networks and this fight was broadcast on one they called ABC wayyyy back in the 70's and Gerald Ford was our President ,hehehehehehe!

[bradsupremes]

So I take it you don't care for Marvin Gaye's version performed at the NBA all star game? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A

People are going to hate me for this, but I really don't care it. Being a history buff, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to performing such things as the National Anthem. It's a song that should be sung with honor and respect. With that being said, I do love Whitney Houston's version though.

....now you can throw your tomatoes!

[kenneth]

Old enough? Old enough? What are you trying to say Kenneth? LOL! Yep! I saw this too the night it aired. You see back in the olden days we only had 3 main channels/networks and this fight was broadcast on one they called ABC wayyyy back in the 70's and Gerald Ford was our President ,hehehehehehe!

You're hilarious...well how could anyone forget Cosell's voice once they ever heard it? The only thing more unforgettable were his toupees!

I'm blown away by the girls' voices in this clip...they were outstanding.

Does this mean you remember what fight it was? Back then [[okay, sorry) the fights were not necessarily in Vegas, correct, unlike nowadays where most of them seem to be held?

[marv2]

You're hilarious...well how could anyone forget Cosell's voice once they ever heard it? The only thing more unforgettable were his toupees!

I'm blown away by the girls' voices in this clip...they were outstanding.

Does this mean you remember what fight it was? Back then [[okay, sorry) the fights were not necessarily in Vegas, correct, unlike nowadays where most of them seem to be held?

Sure I do! That was at the Ali vs Ron Lyle fight in May 1975. Ali knocked his ass out! LOL!!!!

[marv2]

You're hilarious...well how could anyone forget Cosell's voice once they ever heard it? The only thing more unforgettable were his toupees!

I'm blown away by the girls' voices in this clip...they were outstanding.

Does this mean you remember what fight it was? Back then [[okay, sorry) the fights were not necessarily in Vegas, correct, unlike nowadays where most of them seem to be held?

That was in Vegas. Yeah all the big fights were in Vegas in those days, followed by Atlantic City and then New York City. I remember Howard Cosell's loud plaid jackets, how he use to irritate Ali on purpose. I remember because just as we only had three major television networks, there were ONLY four sports that anyone cared about: baseball, basketball, football and .......BOXING! LOL!

[REDHOT]

I fell in love with this, the first time i saw it,The Supremes Mary Cindy and Scherrie were on point.
Please stay positive

[marv2]

You know Ali always had a thang for Mary..........

[marv2]

So I take it you don't care for Marvin Gaye's version performed at the NBA all star game? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A

Marvin Gaye's version was the BOMB! It was the only time I can remember people calling each other afterwards to find out if they saw him singing it! LOL!

[kenneth]

You know Ali always had a thang for Mary..........

Great photo. This appears to be Mary's look from around the time the Sups entered the R&R Hall of Fame. I had to do a double take when I saw her this way, she looked so much like Tina Turner. Mary always seemed to be able to change her looks so much; just with hair and makeup, she seemed to transform into someone else.

[marv2]

Great photo. This appears to be Mary's look from around the time the Sups entered the R&R Hall of Fame. I had to do a double take when I saw her this way, she looked so much like Tina Turner. Mary always seemed to be able to change her looks so much; just with hair and makeup, she seemed to transform into someone else.

Yeah but Ali knew exactly who it was , ummmmmm...ggrrrrrrr....!!!! LOL!!!

[kenneth]

Yeah but Ali knew exactly who it was , ummmmmm...ggrrrrrrr....!!!! LOL!!!

No doubt...no doubt! Ali is still one of my heroes.

[luke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3EM8qpQbZA and with music.

[kenneth]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3EM8qpQbZA and with music.

Wow...really beautiful. Their voices blend beautifully and sound perfectly on pitch throughout this difficult song, even taking into account the old soundtrack which isn't the greatest quality. Interesting that in this clip, Cindy takes the middle spot. Makes her voice even more prominent than in the other one.

Thanks so much for posting.

Now, I'm on thin ice here though...I think that's Miami Dolphins and the LA Rams...right?

Love the hair styles of the guys and the lovely lady the camera focuses on in the crowd singing along.

Great clip!

[Penny]

That was beautiful. Thank you for posting it. It certainly shows the three ladies had incredible talent and truly were and are Supreme.

Penny

[motony]

and no Andantes hiding behind the curtains!

[marv2]

No doubt...no doubt! Ali is still one of my heroes.

He is a family friend. My babysitter is married to one of his close friends and sparring partners. I believe he still has his farm up in Michigan.

[Laurel]

People are going to hate me for this, but I really don't care it. Being a history buff, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to performing such things as the National Anthem. It's a song that should be sung with honor and respect. With that being said, I do love Whitney Houston's version though.

....now you can throw your tomatoes!

I agree with you Brad and I think it's a shame you're afraid some people around here are going to attack you because you love our country and are proud to be an American. I know you're teaching your grandchildren those values too. I know I am.

I really like The Supremes National anthem and Whitney Houston's version of the National Anthem still makes me proud. I don't care much for Marvin Gaye's version. The National Anthem should be performed the way it was written.

[motony]

I agree with Brad & Laurel. I love Marvin Gaye & probably thought that was cool at the time. This by the Supremes is the way it should be sung.

[kenneth]

I agree with you Brad and I think it's a shame you're afraid some people around here are going to attack you because you love our country and are proud to be an American. I know you're teaching your grandchildren those values too. I know I am.

I really like The Supremes National anthem and Whitney Houston's version of the National Anthem still makes me proud. I don't care much for Marvin Gaye's version. The National Anthem should be performed the way it was written.

Laurel,

I don't think Brad thought that anyone would hate him for being patriotic...just for not liking the Marvin Gaye version of the Star Spangled Banner. I'm sure we're all proud of being American, and on Veteran's Day it's especially appropriate to appreciate the Supremes' [[or Marvin Gaye's) version of this great song.

But as to the way it was written...wasn't it originally a drinking song or something like that? It was definitely not new when Francis Scott Keys put the lyrics to it, as I recall. Better check Wikipedia.

I'm curious, is there a similar holiday to Veteran's Day in the UK? In Canada?

Kenneth

[kenneth]

Okay, some Wikipedia history:

The first "pop performance of the anthem heard by mainstream America was by Puerto Rican [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico) singer and guitarist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarist) Jose Feliciano [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Feliciano). He shocked some people in the crowd at Tiger Stadium [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Stadium_[[Detroit)) in Detroit [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit) and some Americans when he strummed a slow, bluesy rendition of the national anthem before game five of the 1968 World Series [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_World_Series) between Detroit [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Tigers) and St. Louis [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_Cardinals). This rendition started contemporary "Star-Spangled Banner" controversies. The response from many in Vietnam [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War)-era America was generally negative, given that 1968 was a tumultuous year for the United States. Despite the controversy, Feliciano's performance opened the door for the countless interpretations of the "Star-Spangled Banner" heard today.[10] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner#cite_note-9) One week after Feliciano's performance, the anthem was in the news again when American athletes Tommie Smith [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommie_Smith) and John Carlos [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carlos) lifted controversial raised-fists at the 1968 Olympics [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute) while the "Star-Spangled Banner" played at a medal ceremony.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg/170px-Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg)http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg)
O'er the ramparts we watch in a 1945 United States Army Air Forces [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces) poster


Marvin Gaye [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye) gave a soul [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music)-influenced performance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_NBA_All-Star_Game) and Whitney Houston [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston) gave a soulful rendition before Super Bowl XXV [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXV) in 1991, which was released as a single that charted at number 20 in 1991 and number 6 in 2001 [[the only times the anthem has been on the Billboard Hot 100 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100)). Another famous instrumental interpretation is Jimi Hendrix's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix) version which was a set-list staple from autumn 1968 until his death in September 1970. Incorporating sonic effects [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverberation) to emphasize the "rockets [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Congreve_[[inventor)#Congreve_Rockets)' red glare", and "bombs bursting in air", it became a late-1960s emblem. Roseanne Barr [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne_Barr) gave a controversial performance of the anthem at a San Diego Padres [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Padres) baseball game at Jack Murphy Stadium [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Murphy_Stadium) on July 25, 1990. The comedienne belted out a screechy rendition of the song, and afterward she attempted a gesture of ball players by spitting and grabbing her crotch as if adjusting a protective cup. The song and the closing routine offended many in the audience and, later, across the country after it was played on television.[citation needed [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]
In March 2005, a government-sponsored program, the National Anthem Project [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_Project), was launched after a Harris Interactive [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_Interactive) poll showed many adults knew neither the lyrics nor the history of the anthem.

Oh God, I remember that Roseanne Barr version...that was truly disgusting...especially her gestures at the end. She surfaced lately on some new show. I hardly recognized her, not that I was ever a fan!

Hey, Marv2, look...Feliciano's performance was at Tiger Stadium! I didn't know that.

[jillfoster]

Wow...really beautiful. Their voices blend beautifully and sound perfectly on pitch throughout this difficult song, even taking into account the old soundtrack which isn't the greatest quality. Interesting that in this clip, Cindy takes the middle spot. Makes her voice even more prominent than in the other one.

Thanks so much for posting.

Now, I'm on thin ice here though...I think that's Miami Dolphins and the LA Rams...right?

Love the hair styles of the guys and the lovely lady the camera focuses on in the crowd singing along.

Great clip!

Kenneth... yes, the Rams and Dolphins. This was one of the playoff games they were singing at.

[marv2]

Laurel,

I don't think Brad thought that anyone would hate him for being patriotic...just for not liking the Marvin Gaye version of the Star Spangled Banner. I'm sure we're all proud of being American, and on Veteran's Day it's especially appropriate to appreciate the Supremes' [[or Marvin Gaye's) version of this great song.

But as to the way it was written...wasn't it originally a drinking song or something like that? It was definitely not new when Francis Scott Keys put the lyrics to it, as I recall. Better check Wikipedia.

I'm curious, is there a similar holiday to Veteran's Day in the UK? In Canada?

Kenneth

Kenneth you are right on it today bud! The Star Spangled Banner was set to tune of an old English drinking song. Canada's version of the holiday today is called "Remembrance Day" and is being observed there today as well. There, everyone wears these little red pins that look circular in shape.

It is Armistace Day in France where they honor their war dead.

[marv2]

Kenneth... yes, the Rams and Dolphins. This was one of the playoff games they were singing at.

I remember seeing that too the day it aired. We were all out in the street playing touch football when this fat kid Cliff ran out to tell us they were singing the National Anthem LOL! Great memories.

[marv2]

Okay, some Wikipedia history:

The first "pop performance of the anthem heard by mainstream America was by Puerto Rican [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico) singer and guitarist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarist) Jose Feliciano [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Feliciano). He shocked some people in the crowd at Tiger Stadium [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Stadium_[[Detroit)) in Detroit [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit) and some Americans when he strummed a slow, bluesy rendition of the national anthem before game five of the 1968 World Series [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_World_Series) between Detroit [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Tigers) and St. Louis [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_Cardinals). This rendition started contemporary "Star-Spangled Banner" controversies. The response from many in Vietnam [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War)-era America was generally negative, given that 1968 was a tumultuous year for the United States. Despite the controversy, Feliciano's performance opened the door for the countless interpretations of the "Star-Spangled Banner" heard today.[10] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner#cite_note-9) One week after Feliciano's performance, the anthem was in the news again when American athletes Tommie Smith [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommie_Smith) and John Carlos [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carlos) lifted controversial raised-fists at the 1968 Olympics [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute) while the "Star-Spangled Banner" played at a medal ceremony.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg/170px-Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg)http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.18/common/images/magnify-clip.png [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oer_the_ramparts_we_watch.jpg)
O'er the ramparts we watch in a 1945 United States Army Air Forces [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces) poster


Marvin Gaye [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye) gave a soul [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music)-influenced performance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_NBA_All-Star_Game) and Whitney Houston [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston) gave a soulful rendition before Super Bowl XXV [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXV) in 1991, which was released as a single that charted at number 20 in 1991 and number 6 in 2001 [[the only times the anthem has been on the Billboard Hot 100 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100)). Another famous instrumental interpretation is Jimi Hendrix's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix) version which was a set-list staple from autumn 1968 until his death in September 1970. Incorporating sonic effects [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverberation) to emphasize the "rockets [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Congreve_[[inventor)#Congreve_Rockets)' red glare", and "bombs bursting in air", it became a late-1960s emblem. Roseanne Barr [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne_Barr) gave a controversial performance of the anthem at a San Diego Padres [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Padres) baseball game at Jack Murphy Stadium [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Murphy_Stadium) on July 25, 1990. The comedienne belted out a screechy rendition of the song, and afterward she attempted a gesture of ball players by spitting and grabbing her crotch as if adjusting a protective cup. The song and the closing routine offended many in the audience and, later, across the country after it was played on television.[citation needed [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]
In March 2005, a government-sponsored program, the National Anthem Project [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_Project), was launched after a Harris Interactive [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_Interactive) poll showed many adults knew neither the lyrics nor the history of the anthem.

Oh God, I remember that Roseanne Barr version...that was truly disgusting...especially her gestures at the end. She surfaced lately on some new show. I hardly recognized her, not that I was ever a fan!

Hey, Marv2, look...Feliciano's performance was at Tiger Stadium! I didn't know that.

Yes it [[Jose Feliciano's version) was! I just can't believe or just have not thought about any of this for years but I saw that historic moment too on local television! What made his so special and so controversial is that we had just come through the riots the year before and there were protest going on all over the country against the Vietnam War. At the time Jose's version of the song created a bit uproar among some similar to what happened at the '68 Mexico City Olympics when John Carlos and Tommie Smith gave the Black Power salute on the victory stand.

[kenneth]

Yes it [[Jose Feliciano's version) was! I just can't believe or just have not thought about any of this for years but I saw that historic moment too on local television! What made his so special and so controversial is that we had just come through the riots the year before and there were protest going on all over the country against the Vietnam War. At the time Jose's version of the song created a bit uproar among some similar to what happened at the '68 Mexico City Olympics when John Carlos and Tommie Smith gave the Black Power salute on the victory stand.

I was pretty young in '67, the year of the riots, but of course I do remember it. The city was forever changed after that and in such a quick span of time. It was awful. People stopped going downtown, all the stores started to close, the wholesale flight to the suburbs. I remember all that when it happened to my city.

[marv2]

I was pretty young in '67, the year of the riots, but of course I do remember it. The city was forever changed after that and in such a quick span of time. It was awful. People stopped going downtown, all the stores started to close, the wholesale flight to the suburbs. I remember all that when it happened to my city.

Kenneth, I was young too, but old enough to know some of what was happening. It was kinda scary for a kid. People couldn't get out of the city fast enough and that trend pretty led Detroit to it's present day condition. There still several million living in the Metro area, but less than 730,000 within the city limits. The city held 2 million when I was growing up so imagine that amount of folks [[and revenue) leaving over the last few decades. There is no rush hour traffic anymore!

[stephanie]

This performance by the Supremes [[the acapella one) shows that these ladies were highly professional and didnt flounder under any difficulties. I like the way Cindy takes off her sweater like she can sing better without it.

[kenneth]

This performance by the Supremes [[the acapella one) shows that these ladies were highly professional and didnt flounder under any difficulties. I like the way Cindy takes off her sweater like she can sing better without it.

I kind of thought that's what they were talking about at the beginning...if she should go without the jacket or not.

[marv2]

This performance by the Supremes [[the acapella one) shows that these ladies were highly professional and didnt flounder under any difficulties. I like the way Cindy takes off her sweater like she can sing better without it.

Just proves once more that the Andantes were never needed to sing for Mary, Cindy or even Flo. They were there for added background instrumentation and convenience!

[jobeterob]

Remembrance Day, November 11, is our version of Veteran's Day in Canada.

[smark21]

Before it became known as Veteran's Day, November 11 was observed as Armitise Day in the US to mark the end of The Great War/WWI. I don't know what year it was renamed. My mother always preferred to call it Armitise Day.