The Star-Spangled Banner: This Black Jew's Music You Have to Listen To

O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

It still gives me chills.

So a little known fact about me, I love the Star Spangled Banner. Or more accurately I love the poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as the Flag continued to fly after a night of bombardment by the British Navy.

The song was actually a British drinking song which was acquired later to become our national anthem.

As a child (and really into adulthood), I had a cherished book the history of this important song. Not the history of Scott Key or the drinking song which make this anthem. It was a book from Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia with the words of the song matched in pictures to the story behind America's creation and survival of the 1812 war.

The book captivated my mind and gave life to this poem that to too many is just a required standing at sporting events.

The poem is a beautiful ode and homage to our country through the story of our flag. I have to admit that when I hear it I think to those amazing precious moments when our country was founded, to the moments when my family fought for freedom in this country to freedom for our country in wars abroad. And just as the little kid sitting in the back of the car flipping through the pages amazed at the story behind our anthem, the rendition still stirs that excitement and amazement to all we have built together.

So much sacrifice represented in this important song and so much promise to be proud of.

Past Club Hits:
Jessie J featuring B.O.B - Price Tag
Mos Def - Mathematics
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said ft. Skylar Grey
American Anthem - Norah Jones
Dayenu, Coming Home - The Fountainheads Passover Song
Nate Dogg - Oh No
The Maccabeats - Purim Song
Notorious BIG - Big Pappa
Nina Simone - The King of Love is Dead
Debbie Friedman - Alef Bet Vet
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version
Nas ft. Keri Hilson - Hero
Biz Markie and Jeff Goldblum - Just a Friend
Bob Marley - One Love
Angie Stone - Brotha
Lenny Kravitz - Can't Get You Off My Mind
Jay-Z Death of Autotune
Y-Love and Dov Rosenblatt
2Pac Changes
Nas - I Can
Pete Seeger - Which Side Are You On?