1000 kids sing National Anthem USA
February 20, 2014 5:31 PM Subscribe
Awesome choir (SLYT) When most people check into a hotel and realize a large group of high school students are there, there is a hesitation as to if you really want to be checked into that hotel.
Thankfully, the guests at one Kentucky hotel stuck around, even though 1,000 high school students were there.
The Kentucky State Choir conference meets at the Louisville Hyatt every year. It is a tradition that every night of the conference, at 11 p.m., the students come out onto the balconies to sing the National Anthem.
every time I hear The Star Spangled Banner, I feel like apologizing to the world.
Every time I hear it, I think of Eddie Izzard. Which makes me laugh outloud every time, which I then have to apologize for to everyone around me at the baseball game. So there is a lot of apologizing going on thanks to ol' F. Scott Key, is what I am saying.
posted by scody at 5:42 PM on February 20, 2014 [7 favorites]
Every time I hear it, I think of Eddie Izzard. Which makes me laugh outloud every time, which I then have to apologize for to everyone around me at the baseball game. So there is a lot of apologizing going on thanks to ol' F. Scott Key, is what I am saying.
posted by scody at 5:42 PM on February 20, 2014 [7 favorites]
11pm???
posted by R. Mutt at 5:49 PM on February 20, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by R. Mutt at 5:49 PM on February 20, 2014 [6 favorites]
Seriously. I'm sure the other patrons, especially parents with small kids, must just love that.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:49 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 5:49 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
Sometimes you have to wait for the planes.
posted by vrakatar at 5:55 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by vrakatar at 5:55 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Smart choice of material, though. Nobody is going to go on record complaining to the management about a bunch of high school kids respectfully and skillfully singing the national anthem. Not on the first night, anyhow.
posted by Longtime Listener at 6:06 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Longtime Listener at 6:06 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
every time I hear The Star Spangled Banner, I feel like apologizing to the world.
I never liked it either. I think the country needs a new national anthem. So I wrote one and posted it the other day to MeFi Music.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:12 PM on February 20, 2014 [6 favorites]
I never liked it either. I think the country needs a new national anthem. So I wrote one and posted it the other day to MeFi Music.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:12 PM on February 20, 2014 [6 favorites]
Lovely. I miss choir, and especially festival choir since there's just something grand about a huge-ass group performing choral music.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:12 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:12 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
When I was about sixteen my family spent a month in Padua/Padova when my dad's job brought him there. I remember taking a day trip to Venice and the ferry to Torcello a small island which was one of the first populated parts of Venice. We spent the afternoon visiting a church with incredible Byzantine mosaics and then as evening came, we went to the dock where the ferry for the mainland would pick us up. We were joined by a bunch of high school students on a school trip - maybe a festival choir group? As it turned out they were part of a choir group and as the sun started setting over Venice, a voice started singing and then was joined by another and then another until the whole group was singing. I don't remember what they sang - classical music of some sort.
The time, the place, the setting sun and the spontaneous song ... amazing.
posted by sciencegeek at 6:27 PM on February 20, 2014 [5 favorites]
The time, the place, the setting sun and the spontaneous song ... amazing.
posted by sciencegeek at 6:27 PM on February 20, 2014 [5 favorites]
I would've loved to be standing down in the courtyard with a stereo mic. What a sound.
posted by mykescipark at 6:40 PM on February 20, 2014
posted by mykescipark at 6:40 PM on February 20, 2014
Nobody is going to go on record complaining to the management about a bunch of high school kids respectfully and skillfully singing the national anthem.
That's what takes this from being spontaneous and inspiring, to contrived and manipulative. I mean, I would be that "nobody." Sure, they absolutely nailed it, and I'm sure the acoustics were impressive in person, but if that was going on at 11pm outside the hotel room I paid good money to get some sleep in, you can bet I'd be on the phone to the front desk, pronto.
Do this at noon, and I'll be outside with my hand on my heart and probably tears in my eyes. But not an hour before midnight. Come on.
posted by xedrik at 6:44 PM on February 20, 2014 [6 favorites]
That's what takes this from being spontaneous and inspiring, to contrived and manipulative. I mean, I would be that "nobody." Sure, they absolutely nailed it, and I'm sure the acoustics were impressive in person, but if that was going on at 11pm outside the hotel room I paid good money to get some sleep in, you can bet I'd be on the phone to the front desk, pronto.
Do this at noon, and I'll be outside with my hand on my heart and probably tears in my eyes. But not an hour before midnight. Come on.
posted by xedrik at 6:44 PM on February 20, 2014 [6 favorites]
Great post! Thanks for post! I love this song! I love America sometimes! Yeeehaw!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:53 PM on February 20, 2014
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:53 PM on February 20, 2014
Wake me up whenever you please to remind me of how we have the best national anthem, high school singing nerds! :)
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:54 PM on February 20, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:54 PM on February 20, 2014 [5 favorites]
But not an hour before midnight. Come on.
If you were staying at hotel with 1,000 high schoolers, all of them singing the Nation Anthem at 11pm is probably the quietest thing you could hope for.
posted by sideshow at 7:23 PM on February 20, 2014 [17 favorites]
If you were staying at hotel with 1,000 high schoolers, all of them singing the Nation Anthem at 11pm is probably the quietest thing you could hope for.
posted by sideshow at 7:23 PM on February 20, 2014 [17 favorites]
Just out of curiosity, shockingbluamp, where did the info in the FPP come from? It's not in the YouTube description, and indeed seems to contradict what is there.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:31 PM on February 20, 2014
posted by Sys Rq at 7:31 PM on February 20, 2014
Here's another video of the whole song.
posted by Brent Parker at 7:37 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Brent Parker at 7:37 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
But not an hour before midnight.
It probably started as the sign-off to the day. Everyone is in their rooms (on their own balconies) and that's the day over, and they finish it by singing the national anthem just like television stations played the anthem before turning off everything for the night.
posted by pracowity at 7:39 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
It probably started as the sign-off to the day. Everyone is in their rooms (on their own balconies) and that's the day over, and they finish it by singing the national anthem just like television stations played the anthem before turning off everything for the night.
posted by pracowity at 7:39 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
And here's another video of last year.
posted by Brent Parker at 7:39 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Brent Parker at 7:39 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think the country needs a new national anthem.
Done and done. The title is "This Land Is Your Land".
posted by uosuaq at 8:00 PM on February 20, 2014 [26 favorites]
Done and done. The title is "This Land Is Your Land".
posted by uosuaq at 8:00 PM on February 20, 2014 [26 favorites]
1000 kids sing National Anthem USA
Radar Love with 1000 drummers
posted by philip-random at 8:08 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
Radar Love with 1000 drummers
posted by philip-random at 8:08 PM on February 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
Any time someone says 'The National Anthem', this is what comes to mind:
The National Anthem blows. Do any of you have it on your iPod?
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:09 PM on February 20, 2014
The National Anthem blows. Do any of you have it on your iPod?
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:09 PM on February 20, 2014
I think the country needs a new national anthem.
Vast improvement.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:15 PM on February 20, 2014
Vast improvement.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:15 PM on February 20, 2014
I would take this over a bunch of drunken salesmen at a conference. Think the acoustics help a lot, like a giant shower.
posted by arcticseal at 8:22 PM on February 20, 2014
posted by arcticseal at 8:22 PM on February 20, 2014
Done and done. The title is "This Land Is Your Land".
Actually, I'm with you on that about 110%.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:33 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Actually, I'm with you on that about 110%.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:33 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Totally gratifying to see this here. I work at that hotel and can confirm that it's exactly as heart-wrenching and -affirming as it seems on youtube. The number of HSers taking part are significantly less than 1000 but they do all come out to their balconies and they do all sing the national anthem beautifully. The hotel is an atrium (as you can see from the video) and those of us who work in atrium hotels know that those buildings really function as trumpets, with sound emanating from the first floors and amplifying towards the top. So being surrounded by 18 floors of voices all relatively synced around the national anthem is really amazing. You're truly enveloped by it, and the kids themselves have all been trained to sing this in multi-part. You can hear sopranos, tenors, and the occasional baritone working around one another. Anyway. Not to wax too rhapsodic but this is the real deal, has been happening for several years, and is one of those uncomplicated, proud-to-be-an American moments that you'll occasionally stumble across in this country of ours. I'm definitely a cynic and found myself completely disarmed by it.
Also, this event usually happens earlier in the evening -- around 8pm, well before our quiet hours on the floors. That's an A #1 concern. No businessdudes were harmed in the making of that video, I guarantee.
posted by we vs us at 8:51 PM on February 20, 2014 [45 favorites]
Also, this event usually happens earlier in the evening -- around 8pm, well before our quiet hours on the floors. That's an A #1 concern. No businessdudes were harmed in the making of that video, I guarantee.
posted by we vs us at 8:51 PM on February 20, 2014 [45 favorites]
Ray sings my choice and the way I want it to be sung...
posted by jim in austin at 9:01 PM on February 20, 2014
posted by jim in austin at 9:01 PM on February 20, 2014
I look forward to seeing this recreated on an episode of Glee where, for some inexplicable reason, all of the graduates who are two years removed and all living in New York City take time out of their busy two-full-time-jobs-plus-just-for-funsies-band-gig-plus-full-time-college lives in order to fly thousands of miles to give a pep talk to kids who were in 7th and 8th grade when they graduated...
posted by Skwirl at 9:32 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Skwirl at 9:32 PM on February 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
A pretty, ahem, conservative harmonic arrangement. Why does everyone want to hit that stupid high note? Even at the end, it torpedoes the song. Plus it's too damn slow. I've always felt this is a boisterous tune, should be performed that way.
posted by ReeMonster at 11:47 PM on February 20, 2014
posted by ReeMonster at 11:47 PM on February 20, 2014
I'm impressed there's a thousand people who know all the words to the national anthem...
posted by madajb at 12:43 AM on February 21, 2014
posted by madajb at 12:43 AM on February 21, 2014
every time I hear The Star Spangled Banner, I feel like apologizing to the world.
Where's this quote coming from? Some deleted unamerican comment?
posted by dhoe at 1:32 AM on February 21, 2014
Where's this quote coming from? Some deleted unamerican comment?
posted by dhoe at 1:32 AM on February 21, 2014
Mod note: Yep, from the deleted first comment -- an attempt to head off an immediate AMERIKA SUX1! derail straight out of the gate.
posted by taz (staff) at 1:45 AM on February 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 1:45 AM on February 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
I'm so glad to hear a version of the anthem without the X-Factor over-emoting, over-vibrato, warbling, cut rate pale soul singer imitations that have infested our sporting events.
Great post
posted by C.A.S. at 3:10 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Great post
posted by C.A.S. at 3:10 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
PLAY BALL!
posted by C.A.S. at 3:12 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by C.A.S. at 3:12 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
As a non-American I agree it's an awesome video. But it's like something from a Judge Dredd tower block.
posted by EnterTheStory at 4:10 AM on February 21, 2014
posted by EnterTheStory at 4:10 AM on February 21, 2014
These kids are participants at the Kentucky Music Educators' Association Conference that's held every year in Louisville. This particular tradition (in which I participated many years ago) started as a few kids being interested in the acoustics of the Louisville Hyatt atrium and it blossomed into tradition from there. While most folks in the hotel are probably conference guests and have come to expect it, I've never heard of non-conference guests being upset by the song's appearance at the 11 o'clock hour.
Also, everyone wants to hit the high note because everyone wants to show off.
In conclusion, choir is an awesome land of many contrasts; thank you.
posted by sinnesloeschen at 4:57 AM on February 21, 2014 [5 favorites]
Also, everyone wants to hit the high note because everyone wants to show off.
In conclusion, choir is an awesome land of many contrasts; thank you.
posted by sinnesloeschen at 4:57 AM on February 21, 2014 [5 favorites]
But it's like something from a Judge Dredd tower block.
That hotel is from Louisville's darkest architecture days. It's very early 80s ish (a bit of a guess). It is hideous ugly. We were busy tearing down every old, inefficient riverport town building we could, and putting up bland "let's try and compete with Indianapolis" office buildings.
We still have *some* of our history, just not in that particular area downtown.
The giant atrium is the only saving grace. As odd as it is.
And now that this video has "gone viral" I bet next year the lobby is packed.
posted by DigDoug at 5:13 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
That hotel is from Louisville's darkest architecture days. It's very early 80s ish (a bit of a guess). It is hideous ugly. We were busy tearing down every old, inefficient riverport town building we could, and putting up bland "let's try and compete with Indianapolis" office buildings.
We still have *some* of our history, just not in that particular area downtown.
The giant atrium is the only saving grace. As odd as it is.
And now that this video has "gone viral" I bet next year the lobby is packed.
posted by DigDoug at 5:13 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
"let's try and compete with Indianapolis"
posted by R. Mutt at 9:31 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by R. Mutt at 9:31 AM on February 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Done and done. The title is "This Land Is Your Land".
My reading of that song was forever changed when someone on reddit punctuated it as, "This land is your land? This land is my land.""
posted by Solon and Thanks at 2:11 PM on February 21, 2014
My reading of that song was forever changed when someone on reddit punctuated it as, "This land is your land? This land is my land.""
posted by Solon and Thanks at 2:11 PM on February 21, 2014
I'd trade Star Spangled Banner for God Save the Queen any day of the week.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:27 AM on February 23, 2014
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:27 AM on February 23, 2014
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