Today will likely be a "normal" day for people like me- I didn't lose someone on 9/11. I was 19 when it happened, so I remember it pretty clearly, yet still with the mind of a "kid".
At the beginning of each school year, I teach anywhere between 1-3 lessons (depending on the grade level) on patriotic music. The older kids learn about the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. The younger kids march to patriotic music and we talk about how many stars and stripes are on the flag. We all sing This Land is Your Land.
Most of my students love to learn about any history I throw at them during music class. Whenever we learn about the Star Spangled Banner or anything relating to the history of America, they are ready to listen!
Selfishly, I always have them watch one of my favorite performances of The Star Spangled Banner, by Lady Gaga at the Superbowl a couple years ago.
Here it is, even though you probably already saw it!
Share your favorite performance of the Star Spangled Banner with me! I will watch it! I would love to see what kind of performances you all enjoy!
I don't have a favorite and never really thought of it. I am patriotic though, honest! I can remember 9-11 so vividly. It seems weird talking about it to the kids these days that weren't even born yet but I suppose that's how our teachers felt when they taught us about things they remembered and we weren't born. Today is especially hard not only because 9-11, but also hearing about Irma, the earthquake, and on this date we said good bye to our first Labrador. Just a sad day all around.
ReplyDeleteToday is a sad day. I feel like I should have added that today will be a normal day for a lot of people... then for millions of others they are focusing on whether they stay have a home or not after the hurricanes! :(
DeleteI liked Beyoncé's but I don't remember when she performed it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for teaching kids history of music!
We did a moment of silent and the anthem at the office this morning, in remembrance of September 11 victims.
The whole celebrity singing the anthem used to be so strange to me. In Mexico it's way more serious, and it's played from a recorded CD or sang by a choir.
I don't mind if it's a celebrity, as long as they sing it well. I like it sung more straight, not lots of runs, etc. I watched Beyonce's performance fromt he Super Bowl in 2004. It was a little too fancy for my style but she sounded excellent. Then I watched her performance from Obama's inauguration and I liked it a lot better. But she sounded amazing in both, just the second one was more my own personal style.
DeleteMan, that was emotional seeing Obama's inauguration!!!
Now I gotta go watch Lady Gaga's halftime performance!
You have an amazing voice, have you ever been asked to perform the anthem in local events?
DeleteI used to sing it at our HS soccer games! haha. I actually was once invited to sing it at a Senator's game (this was in HS) but they messed up and booked two people so when I showed up the other person was already there and they got to sing it. I was soooooooooooooo embarrassed.
DeleteI will never forget 9/11. Ever. Lady Gaga had such a good Anthem and I loved, loved, loved her Half Time Show!
ReplyDeleteHey halftime performance was AWESOME!!! I'm going to go watch it now.
DeleteMy favourite vocal performance was by K D Lang, and she sang Hallelujah at the Winter Olympics in 2010 in Whistler, up here in Canada (she's Canadian). It's unreal. I'll see if I can find the link. https://vimeo.com/45497680
ReplyDeleteYou know how I always talk about Fort Langley? I take Callum there to look at trains and my favourite coffee shop/bookstore is there. K D Lang is from Fort Langley.
Wow thank you so much for sharing that! I love that song and her voice is soooooo beautiful. I really enjoyed that performance. :)
DeleteOne of my favorites is Jake Simabukuro, who did it opening for Jimmy Buffett as Wrigley. I hope the link works, but it is on youtube.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wta62_Wisjo
I love Jake! Thank you for sharing that! We learn about him and watch some of his performances in music class.
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