Monday, July 30, 2012

National Anthem

The Olympics have started, and my kids are totally invested for the first time. I think this is awesome. We watched the opening ceremonies from our condo on the beach, and I fondly remembered watching a lot of the 1984 Summer Olympics from a condo at the beach, down the road in Destin. (Perhaps I need to start branching out, vacation-wise?) Of course Connor was going to love every event, from skeet shooting to basketball, because he's my son and if our team is playing, we're all in. But even Chloe can lower herself to watch sports when two of her favorite activities, swimming and gymnastics, come on.

You aren't surprised to know that I wander around the house belting out off-key renditions of the National Anthem basically all the time now. Chip knows me well enough to know that, in my head, I'm totally singing Whitney's version. So he always counters with Beyonce's version. Some couples fight about money, or infidelity, or how to raise their kids. Not us. If divorce papers are ever drawn up, Whitney vs. Beyonce will be mentioned in the first paragraph.

I present my case:


This is it. This is the standard diva anthem. This became a Top 20 hit! No one else has done that with The Star Spangled Banner! I believe that if this video were shot in HD and Whitney looked like Beyonce, Chip would maybe see my side of the argument differently. (Do not listen to him when he talks about ambitious chord progression.)

Chip's case:



Blah blah, chord progression, he's picturing her naked, etc. I agree that this is wonderful. But she's no Whitney.

Please feel free to pick a side. (Especially since  I already know you're going to pick Whitney. Duh.)

In case you're now worried that diva National Anthems have driven a permanent wedge between me and Chip, you should know that we are in total agreement as far as National Anthem fails go. We've decided that there is just no way to pick between Carl Lewis and Clent Bowers. It would be like naming a favorite child! These guys are so important to us!

Enjoy all of these, but particularly the segment starting at 1:25.





USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!

3 comments:

TGirsch said...

Though Beyonce's version is by far one of the best in recent memory*, it doesn't light a candle to Whitney's. And I say that as someone who was NEVER a fan of Whitney Houston. In fact, she bugged the s--t out of me even before all the Bobby Brown nonsense.

Houston's rendition is the best traditional singing that I've ever heard. (Best non-traditional? Marvin Gaye)

Now if we were judging asses, then the result would be quite different. But as far as singing goes, Houston kicks Beyonce's [magically delicious] ass.

* - I should note that one of my biggest complaints against contemporary singers is that it seems that none of them are capable of stopping with all the progressions already and just singing the f---ing song.

Tiffany said...

Yep, agreed. Beyonce, can not touch Whitney here. I do love them both actually,but Whitney is just better. I also feel comfortable saying that I have always thought Clent Bowers was the worst. Hands down. Now, back to beach volleyball.

TGirsch said...

I find it interesting that Christina Aguilera has found a place on both lists (among the best, and among the worst).