It could be worse - Carl Lewis could be singing it.

"It could be worse - Carl Lewis could be singing it."

No, it could have been Rosie O'Donnell's version from that Cubs game a few years ago. Absolutely awful!

Did the Chinese select this version to skewer the Americans or did the USOC select this?

This is the same musical arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner that was used in Athens in 2004. I didn't like it in 2004 and I don't like it today. The arrangements used in the 1984 and 1996 Games were far superior. I wish the USOC coulod go to the organizers and get them to change it. But that won't happen.

They are, quite simply, not playing the US national anthem. When you play music that does not fit the words of our national anthem, it's not our national anthem. They don't want to play music which speaks of "the land of the free and the home of the brave," so they don't. It's the equivalent of honoring a British athlete by playing "God save the" and leaving out the note for the word "Queen" every time it occurs. My opinion is that China has excellent athletes and a beautiful stadium, but butchering the US national anthem is a mark that their government utterly failed in exhibiting the idea of the Olympics.

The Air Force comes through! An mp3 of the Air Force Band's Rendition of the Star Spangled Banner can be found here http://www.usafband.af.mil/shared/media/band/USAFB_TheStarSpangledBanner(instrumental).mp3 or go to their official website here http://www.usafband.af.mil/recordings/ and look for the Star Spangled Banner recording link (chorale or instrumental) and download.

Is this really all you have to write about? What about all of our wonderful athletes? This is a ridiculous story. So they screwed up the national anthem one time. i'm sure whoever was responsible has probably been disciplined more than if it would have happened here in the US to another country. Ya'll need to chill and enjoy watching our athletes.

I actually completely disagree. I love our national anthem, and this is a really sonically interesting version of it, adding some non-traditional chord structures underneath everything.

Since when does a descending minor chord progression (quite a nice touch of complexity at that, in my opinion) considered objectively "feminine"?

If you want to pull some sort of historical argument about the proper ensemble to perform the anthem, you should be arguing for the piece to sung by a bar full of intoxicated Brits (the tune of the Star-Spangled Banner originated as a pre-colonial drinking song).

Really, this is a pathetic argument about a non-issue. The orchestral version being played in Beijing is beautiful, majestic, and fitting. I for one am glad that Mr. "I know what I'm talking about because I'm a band director" didn't have any say in the musical direction of the games.

This version of the national anthem is stunning and fully in line with the spirit of the Olympic games. Do you think American athletes want to stand atop the podium and listen to a marching band? Every version of the Star Spangled banner has its own merit and qualities, but I don't think a loud, blustering, and militaristic version of the national anthem is appropriate for a friendly athletic competition atop the world stage. Save it for the military parades and Football games.

THIS VERSION IS A DISGRACE TO OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM!!! IT IS TOTAL CRAP THAT THEY ALTERED IT.

I am also a band director and a professional musician. Regardless of whether one prefers the arrangement (I happen to not care for it), the performance being used is just not of the caliber I would expect for the Olympics. There is little sense of shape, ensemble, or balance and it has some tuning and tone issues as well. It's just not ver stirring.

BTW, Anacreon in Heaven, the tune on which the National Anthem is based, was not a "drinking song" in the modern sense of rowdy drunks singing in a bar. That cheapens the song (is that your intent?).

It was a published piece of very popular music that was commonly used at British and Colonial social organizations. While drinking was certainly involved, think in terms of lodge meetings, wedding receptions or reunions rather than your neighborhood bar.

I rather like the arrangement, particular the quiet strings under "rockets red glare." De Gustibus non disputatum est. Meanwhile, I'd like to know the facts of who arranged and who performed this recording.

Simply one of the best versions of the Star Spangled Bannner I've heard. I much prefer it to the bombastic versions often played at sports events. Ps -I'm a musician too.

I am a musician and I love the arrangement being played at the Olympics. It is definitely harmonically different but not so different that it is jarring.

Yes, it is orchestral but does our national anthem need to be limited to military band arrangements?

We are a diverse nation and the arrangement played at the Olympics has a level of musical diversity that is a nice change.

And really, a feminine impression? Give me a break. Because what this nation really needs right now is a rousing, in your face, military rendition to show the world we are tough.

Sometimes immersion in a field results in a narrowness of vision rather than true expertise.

I love the version of the National Anthem being played in Beijing. I tear up everytime I hear it.

Hey smarty pants. I have a masters degree in music and a nearly completed doctoral degree. I couldn't disagree more, and this that it is a lovely arrangement. Several of my hoity-toity musical friends agree. So go stick it up your sousaphone.

Put me in the "like it Column"...
Great Version that fits the Olympic spirit...