o'er the land of the free (that is, the unconstrained by *pitch*)
May 13, 2016 9:46 PM Subscribe
Shoot the piano player? Hell no! The poor fellow is just doing his level best to follow the, um... creative modulations that the singer is exploring as she delivers her breathtakingly adventurous rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at a recent rich asshole rally in Oregon. Matter of fact, buy that piano player a beer!
Credit where credit is due, though, to one Serena Creary, who posted the clip with the chord changes as subtitles (making the piano player's job a lot easier) to Facebook.
Credit where credit is due, though, to one Serena Creary, who posted the clip with the chord changes as subtitles (making the piano player's job a lot easier) to Facebook.
zachlipton, a fine example of why you should always read the "More Inside"! :)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:53 PM on May 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:53 PM on May 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love vaporwave.
posted by Steakfrites at 9:58 PM on May 13, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Steakfrites at 9:58 PM on May 13, 2016 [4 favorites]
I have only heard one other person, a friend of mine, who was so precise about being on pitch and so way off about being in a consistent key. It's kind of amazing.
posted by trbojanglesm at 10:09 PM on May 13, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by trbojanglesm at 10:09 PM on May 13, 2016 [4 favorites]
You just don't understand Jazz.
posted by bongo_x at 10:13 PM on May 13, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 10:13 PM on May 13, 2016 [13 favorites]
Aw, part of me doesn't want to be mean about someone singing their heart out, even if it is at a Trump rally.
But the other part of me wants to share this with everyone I ever went to music school with, because this is amazing. We had an accompanist who could keep up with rapid, unexpected key changes, and it is a seriously impressive skill.
posted by teponaztli at 10:16 PM on May 13, 2016 [4 favorites]
But the other part of me wants to share this with everyone I ever went to music school with, because this is amazing. We had an accompanist who could keep up with rapid, unexpected key changes, and it is a seriously impressive skill.
posted by teponaztli at 10:16 PM on May 13, 2016 [4 favorites]
holy shit I really am laughing out loud at something on the internet
posted by chococat at 10:16 PM on May 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by chococat at 10:16 PM on May 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
MAKE AMERICA MODULATE AGAIN!
I didn't know Florence Foster Jenkins is still alive. Please tag this TW4M (trigger warning for musicians). I couldn't listen all the way thru.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:36 PM on May 13, 2016 [19 favorites]
I didn't know Florence Foster Jenkins is still alive. Please tag this TW4M (trigger warning for musicians). I couldn't listen all the way thru.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:36 PM on May 13, 2016 [19 favorites]
NorthernLite, dude, you're saying you MISSED that last F# Major to G Major move? That was the BEST PART!
(oops, sorry for the spoiler)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:41 PM on May 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
(oops, sorry for the spoiler)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:41 PM on May 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
What a powerful metaphor for Trump & his supporters.
posted by lastobelus at 11:10 PM on May 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by lastobelus at 11:10 PM on May 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
Kind of makes you miss the USA Freedom Kids. (Previously.)
posted by mochapickle at 12:15 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 12:15 AM on May 14, 2016
I am pretty sure that is exactly what I sound like when I sing.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:19 AM on May 14, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:19 AM on May 14, 2016 [6 favorites]
No problem, jacquilynne. Just get yourself a piano player with ears this sharp and you're good to go!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:26 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:26 AM on May 14, 2016
What happened to everyone running things through Songsmith? I want to hear the eldritch horrors that are summoned.
posted by Rhomboid at 12:35 AM on May 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Rhomboid at 12:35 AM on May 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
In Trump’s America, all jazz will be free.
posted by Going To Maine at 12:49 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 12:49 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
And all jazz hands will be done while wearing giant Mickey Mouse gloves.
posted by mochapickle at 1:14 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 1:14 AM on May 14, 2016
Hmmmm? Seems to have the same lack of continuity as Trump's speeches.
Is this some sort of conspiracy?
posted by quazichimp at 1:47 AM on May 14, 2016
Is this some sort of conspiracy?
posted by quazichimp at 1:47 AM on May 14, 2016
a fine example of why you should always read the "More Inside"
A bit confusing, though, the FPP. The rally performance - singer only - from below the fold deserves to be savoured first in its excruciating a cappella form.
With the spot-on piano accompaniment added, I see a new musical genre arising: political jazz improv satire.
posted by progosk at 1:54 AM on May 14, 2016 [5 favorites]
A bit confusing, though, the FPP. The rally performance - singer only - from below the fold deserves to be savoured first in its excruciating a cappella form.
With the spot-on piano accompaniment added, I see a new musical genre arising: political jazz improv satire.
posted by progosk at 1:54 AM on May 14, 2016 [5 favorites]
I cringed at the first unexpected key change, then I laughed, then I wanted to cry. I don't even have good ears or perfect pitch, but I've been to a few ball games.
posted by a halcyon day at 2:22 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by a halcyon day at 2:22 AM on May 14, 2016
While this hurt my ears a great deal it sadly gave me a little more respect for the Butt-Trumpet supporters. If I had been there I would have been making such an obvious "omg is this for real seriously haha" face to all those around me (much as I do to my Mum and sister at Christmas Eve Mass every year when the little old man sings the Gloria with much the same disregard for musical sensibilities). Instead everyone here politely listens and applauds at the end, save for the young man in the chino shorts who hangs his head and gives a small wry smile to the person next to him. Or maybe they're just so used to listening to shite from that stage that it sounds perfectly normal idk
posted by billiebee at 2:53 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by billiebee at 2:53 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
That was an amazing bit of music.
If you take away the context of the location, the sounds and their order were interesting as hell - for a couple seconds at a time a couple of times I even thought maybe there was something 'intentional' going on here. Then, no, no this is just free jazz and that's totally totally ok.
posted by From Bklyn at 4:10 AM on May 14, 2016
If you take away the context of the location, the sounds and their order were interesting as hell - for a couple seconds at a time a couple of times I even thought maybe there was something 'intentional' going on here. Then, no, no this is just free jazz and that's totally totally ok.
posted by From Bklyn at 4:10 AM on May 14, 2016
Well I for one think it's refreshing to hear someone sing exactly what she feels. We need an outsider like this to shake things up. The singing establishment hates her because she's not in the pocket of Big Music. She's a self made success and I'd like to see her do for America what she's done with her own successful singing career.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 4:14 AM on May 14, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 4:14 AM on May 14, 2016 [27 favorites]
I didn't want to watch this at first because I was afraid it would feel bad to laugh at someone for singing. And, I thought, so what if she changes keys? I love to sing around the house and in my car, and the only way I can get through some songs is to shift keys on, say, the bridge, and then back again for the final verse and chorus.
I didn't realize it was going to be someone figuring out the key changes on someone who wasn't carrying the tune at all for most of the song, and I couldn't help laughing.
And by "some songs" I mean "most songs."
posted by not that girl at 4:28 AM on May 14, 2016
I didn't realize it was going to be someone figuring out the key changes on someone who wasn't carrying the tune at all for most of the song, and I couldn't help laughing.
And by "some songs" I mean "most songs."
posted by not that girl at 4:28 AM on May 14, 2016
Everyone was clapping and cheering when she finished only because they were happy the torture session was finally over.
(My god, and I thought I couldn't sing on key.....)
posted by easily confused at 4:38 AM on May 14, 2016
(My god, and I thought I couldn't sing on key.....)
posted by easily confused at 4:38 AM on May 14, 2016
So at Sabres games they always play the SSB and O Canada even if the opponent is also (notionally) American, because Buffalo really is that classy.* And this one time they announced that this little girl was going to sing the SSB and then we were all going to help her sing OC... which seemed -- for realsies -- like a nice way of saying "Yo, she's totally going to fuck up O Canada like she did in rehearsal so let's make sure to drown her out so she's not embarrassed about this in fifteen years." And lo, the crowd was loud.
*But IIRC it's always the English version and not the French or Franglais ones, so our classiness has limits? But je might not me souviens correctly.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:51 AM on May 14, 2016 [9 favorites]
*But IIRC it's always the English version and not the French or Franglais ones, so our classiness has limits? But je might not me souviens correctly.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:51 AM on May 14, 2016 [9 favorites]
Unfortunately, I don't think any creative piano playing could have saved this guy.
posted by duffell at 6:12 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by duffell at 6:12 AM on May 14, 2016
Is that even for real, duffell? Something about the camera work made me think it was some kind of hidden camera show.
posted by dellsolace at 6:19 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by dellsolace at 6:19 AM on May 14, 2016
For fun, try singing the Star Spangled Banner in monotone. Your choice of (singular) note.
First, it'll still be recognizable. Even if you hum it or otherwise not use the lyrics.
Second, without some conscious effort it's surprisingly difficult to make it all the way to the end and not accidentally change the note at some point.
posted by ardgedee at 6:54 AM on May 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
First, it'll still be recognizable. Even if you hum it or otherwise not use the lyrics.
Second, without some conscious effort it's surprisingly difficult to make it all the way to the end and not accidentally change the note at some point.
posted by ardgedee at 6:54 AM on May 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Star Spangled Banner, more like Star Mangled Banner amirite?
posted by pianissimo at 6:56 AM on May 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by pianissimo at 6:56 AM on May 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Accompanists are the MVPs. You people are heroes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:00 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:00 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
Surely this
posted by petebest at 7:00 AM on May 14, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by petebest at 7:00 AM on May 14, 2016 [6 favorites]
At least one other accompanist has done his heroic best to save this performance. (Facebook video)
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:12 AM on May 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:12 AM on May 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
She's a self made success and I'd like to see her do for America what she's done with her own successful singing career.
She knows keys; she has all the best keys.
posted by gladly at 7:34 AM on May 14, 2016 [8 favorites]
She knows keys; she has all the best keys.
posted by gladly at 7:34 AM on May 14, 2016 [8 favorites]
Quoth Charley Steiner, then of ESPN's SportsCenter, while cracking up after a replay of Carl Lewis's infamous rendering of the anthem:
"The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Off-Key."
posted by HillbillyInBC at 7:44 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
"The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Off-Key."
posted by HillbillyInBC at 7:44 AM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
Was that a Charles Ives arrangement?
posted by sourwookie at 8:13 AM on May 14, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by sourwookie at 8:13 AM on May 14, 2016 [4 favorites]
In order to properly sing the Star-Spangled Banner, one should really be shnockered.
posted by entropicamericana at 8:14 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by entropicamericana at 8:14 AM on May 14, 2016
I was in a youth orchestra once that played a version of the Star Wars opening music that was kind of like this.
posted by lagomorphius at 8:20 AM on May 14, 2016
posted by lagomorphius at 8:20 AM on May 14, 2016
Youtube certainly deserves a kudos for offering me the defibrillator scene from The Thing as the next suggested video after that one.
posted by lagomorphius at 8:53 AM on May 14, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by lagomorphius at 8:53 AM on May 14, 2016 [8 favorites]
Americans this weekend will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the poem that became the nation’s national anthem, a bit of verse written by a pro-slavery lawyer put to the melody of a British song that praised drinking and sex. *record scratch*
Wut. Wait go back.
Key purchased his first slave in 1800 or 1801, and owned six slaves in 1820. Mostly in the 1830s, Key manumitted seven slaves, one of whom (Clem Johnson) continued to work for him for wages as his farm's foreman, supervising several slaves.
Key throughout his career also represented several slaves seeking their freedom in court (for free), as well as several masters seeking return of their runaway human property. Key, Judge William Leigh of Halifax and bishop William Meade were administrators of the will of their friend John Randolph of Roanoke, who died without children and left a will directing his executors to free his more than four hundred slaves. Over the next decade, beginning in 1833, the administrators fought to enforce the will and provide the freed slaves land to support themselves.
Key was considered a decent master, and publicly criticized slavery's cruelties, so much that after his death a newspaper editorial stated "So actively hostile was he to the peculiar institution that he was called 'The Nigger Lawyer' .... because he often volunteered to defend the downtrodden sons and daughters of Africa. Mr. Key convinced me that slavery was wrong--radically wrong."
Argh. Ok, let's call it done and move to nominate "Purple Rain" as the new National Anthem.
posted by petebest at 9:20 AM on May 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wut. Wait go back.
Key purchased his first slave in 1800 or 1801, and owned six slaves in 1820. Mostly in the 1830s, Key manumitted seven slaves, one of whom (Clem Johnson) continued to work for him for wages as his farm's foreman, supervising several slaves.
Key throughout his career also represented several slaves seeking their freedom in court (for free), as well as several masters seeking return of their runaway human property. Key, Judge William Leigh of Halifax and bishop William Meade were administrators of the will of their friend John Randolph of Roanoke, who died without children and left a will directing his executors to free his more than four hundred slaves. Over the next decade, beginning in 1833, the administrators fought to enforce the will and provide the freed slaves land to support themselves.
Key was considered a decent master, and publicly criticized slavery's cruelties, so much that after his death a newspaper editorial stated "So actively hostile was he to the peculiar institution that he was called 'The Nigger Lawyer' .... because he often volunteered to defend the downtrodden sons and daughters of Africa. Mr. Key convinced me that slavery was wrong--radically wrong."
Argh. Ok, let's call it done and move to nominate "Purple Rain" as the new National Anthem.
posted by petebest at 9:20 AM on May 14, 2016 [3 favorites]
Beau effort, but whoever transcribed that still missed about 3 key changes in the first sixteen bars. FAIL
That was as bad as Arthur C Clark's pun about the monkey wrench in the black hole accident.
posted by tspae at 9:50 AM on May 14, 2016
That was as bad as Arthur C Clark's pun about the monkey wrench in the black hole accident.
posted by tspae at 9:50 AM on May 14, 2016
I had no idea Gloria Balsam was still doing concerts.
posted by boilermonster at 1:17 PM on May 14, 2016
posted by boilermonster at 1:17 PM on May 14, 2016
Bb Majorish
posted by oheso at 1:54 AM on May 16, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by oheso at 1:54 AM on May 16, 2016 [1 favorite]
Pianissimo, that's Star-Mangled Spanner ...
... or what tspae said.
posted by oheso at 2:10 AM on May 16, 2016
... or what tspae said.
posted by oheso at 2:10 AM on May 16, 2016
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posted by zachlipton at 9:52 PM on May 13, 2016 [2 favorites]