Customer Reviews

The Star Spangled Banner

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1991, in the midst of the Persian Gulf War, Whitney Houston was called upon by the NFL to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV. Emotions were extremely high that evening as she took to the field to sing. Her rendition of the song brought the crowd to it's feet with many in attendance and at home to tears. In what may be the classic rendition song Whitney shows how the Star Spangled Banner can and should be sung. Also on this re-released CD benefitting NYC fire fighters and police officers is a wonderful version of America the Beautiful also by Whitney Houston.

This American treasure will not be avaliable for long, get it while you can; before you miss a great oppertunity to share it with future generations.

Few people actually recall the moment in history when this IMPECCABLE PERFORMANCE graced the lives of not only a few million ardent football fans in America, but also a significant contingent of members of the U. S. Armed Forces deployed to the Middle East, Operation Desert Storm, January 1991, for the liberation of the Emirate State of Kuwait. In the small hours of a winter morning throughout the Persian Gulf, many of us, then serving in the military, were treated to the live satellite transmission of what promised to be an exciting game: the NY Giants vs. the perennial SuperBowl favs, the Buffalo Bills. One week and a few days into the air campaign against the Republican Guard Iraqi ground forces, but after a full six months stationed "in theatre" with the greatest international Coallition Force ever assembled, our troops were war-weary and longing for home.

Nothing distinguishes Americans, nor unites them, quite like the hearing of their national anthem being played; usually, a mere single verse, with lyrics over two hundred years old, written amidst one of the heated battles of the Revolutionary War. Which other free societies actually sing, hand on heart or standing at attention, the words of their national anthem? What other people so love to be identified by something so simple as a melody and words about a flag? Who in the wide world are so proud a people as Americans regarding their national theme?

Whitney's superior performance, accompanied by the very capable Florida Orchestra in Tampa, signified a seminal moment in American popular music and a high standard for live musical performances (not to mention an immense showing of unsurpassed beauty and grace and natural talent she brought to the National Football League's annual soiree). Listen to this performance, and you will never quite accept anybody else's.

However, when Whitney sang our song to us, the American people, to the hundreds of thousands of us serving our nation, to help liberate another, half a world away, in that moment, she represented the best in all of us.

History will be very kind to Whitney, as well it should. Her voice is the mark of excellence. Her music, like the world's best art, is timeless, one of kind, and entirely irreplaceable. One will never go wrong with the music of Whitney Houston in one's collection. It's all a masterpiece. History will be good to Whitney, but history will have to wait. She has many more standards to offer.

By the work of Providence and the sacrifice of many excellent Americans, our Star-Spangled Banner yet waves. Kuwait is yet free. And for one stellar January evening, as two worthy teams met in friendly competition, when the rockets red-glared over the desert, we all heard Whitney sing to us, uniting us in a moment that will last forever, in a memory which will always preserve the best in all of us. 07/19/04

Just as Operation Desert Storm was about to begin in the Middle East, Whitney performed this live version of our National Anthem at the Superbowl and she was magnificent. With jets flying over, the patriotic fervor of the football audience only fueled the wonder of this glorious Star Spangled Banner. Ms Houston made a very difficult song to perform seem absolutely easy. The power of her voice matched the power of her country. Today, with our current struggle with terrorists, the song gains even more meaning. God bless Whitney and the USA.

Whitney Houstons version of the Star Spangled Banner is one of the best I've ever heard and her version of America The Beautiful is good to.I love the cd single but I think the studio could have done a better job on the audio level on the Star Spangled Banner.It's not as loud and clear as America the Beautiful and sounds like theirs a flutter in the track.Also I think the packaging could have been better since it's easyto scratch the cd or put finger prints on it when you take it out.

I remember hearing this song for the first time when I was little, and I was amazed at how beautiful she made it sound. This is definitely a single that every American should get, even if for the pure fact that Whitney just makes it sound so beautiful.

The Star Spangled Banner is not a song you would play to dance around the house or even a song that would bring you to tears. But when Whitney Houston did it, you could feel every emotion in the room. Whitney (the old one) gave 200% on this song. It makes you cry and then leaves you in shock that she hit EVERY LAST NOTE TO PERFECTION! I miss this Whitney. I do not know what the hell has happened! ????????

Whitney Houston's rendition is my second favorite of The Star Spangled Banner, I have the original cassette tape that was released during The gulf war and for some reason the sound quality is better than the CD, this CD is full of sound distortions that are very distracting. Though I like her recording of The Star Spangled Banner it is not my absolute favorite version, I think this song which is a very difficult one to sing works best when sung by opera singers or someone like Kate Smith, now Kate Smith's recording is the one I would dearly love to have! As for This Whitney Houston CD, I would give the cassette tape 5 stars but the CD's sound quality is very poor but though no fault of Whitney, and I really like how she is donating all the royalties and net proceeds to the 9/11 Fraternal Order Of Police and The New York firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund!

One word... gorgeous! No really, i never heard such a voice singing The Star Spangled Banner!

I was compeltely blown away, hearing this for the first time. Nobody can sing better than Whitney, and nobody will ever. This is a great rendition. 10/10

This woman sings this song so well I love to hear her sing this version of the Star Spangled Banner the words are so clear and voice so nicely high pitched and strong so anyone who likes the Star Spangled Banner purchase this single becasue Whitney really uses her vocal cords on this track this is a wonderful version of the "STAR SPANGLED BANNER" RAY CHARLES- SINGS THE BEST VERSION OF "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL " IN MY EYES!!!!