Antonio wrote:Well I'm pretty sure they play the anthem in Canada at sporting events as well as the United States. And regarding the anthem in the US, national pride and patriotism used to be a fairly strong aspect of American culture, but don't worry the way things are currently in this country pretty soon in a few years they won't be playing the anthem anymore or it'll be illegal to say anything other than you hate the US.
I can't say I disagree however with the sentiment that they are essentially playing for billionaires and it isn't international play. I would say that previously at one point the anthem used to be played less for the players and more because it was a significant sporting event in that country and it was for the fans, but I don't think it's a crazy idea to just not play anthems at all with the sentiment that the players themselves are global and focusing more on the idea that it doesn't necessarily represent a majority of them at any given time rather than the fans themselves. Who knows though, maybe sports fans overall would prefer the anthems be played. I don't know.
I will pretty much include Canada when I say America, by geography if not by proxy. Probably should've said so more clearly than only by lumping Canadian/US players together, but I try to cut back on my pedantry. (I probably fail at that, too)
My last € 0,02 on it, is that if it is to be done at all, at least do it well. Pick a meter (somewhere in the 95-120 bpm range) and stick to it. No artistic slowing and accelerating. No pausing for effect, only for breath and phrasing. Stick to the actual rhythm. Pick a key and stick to it. No ad-lib improv randomly clusterbombing notes like a trombone player. I appreciate the Star Spangled Banner is attrociously difficult in many keys.
Conclusion: the above is too much to ask, just skip it.