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Does anyone know if Karen ever sang the Star Spangled Banner at any sporting events? I am just curious because I know alot of famous singers have.

Ray

I doubt it...at least any major sporting events b/c there would be video floating around of it. I've often pictured her singing at one. And I'm sure at some point she would have.

I wonder if she did for any of the charity softball events. Someone signed my guestbook that was at one of those events...maybe he would know from the one he saw. That would be interesting to know. I'll email him and see.

Pamela

Well, this may be heresy, but I'm not sure Karen's voice was ideally suited to our national anthem. It's really not a subtle piece of music, and Karen's strength was her subtlety, in my opinion. The anthem is best sung by belters, as far as I can tell. It's sorta like "O Holy Night." I think Richard did a fantastic job on the piano with that one, but I'm actually kinda glad Karen didn't do the vocals on it. It just was "her" type of song, musically. I've heard Anne Murray sing it, and of course her voice is of a similar range to Karen's. She simply skips the high note on di-VINE' toward the end, and the song definitely loses something.
It's not that Karen couldn't do The Star-Spangled Banner. She could, by starting very low, but it wouldn't have the big crescendo that it kinda calls out for at the end.
Just my two cents.
Steve

I agree with you there, Steve. I actually feel that way about "Don't Cry for me Argentina", which is why I liked Madonna's version better...it just seems like a really high-strung song, and Madonna is more....well high-strung

Now, what on earth was Anne Murray singing the Star Spangle Banner for? She's so Canadian! I gotta find a clip of her singing that! I had no idea she had....interesting

Clarification:

I meant that Anne Murray had sung "O Holy Night," not "The Star-Spangled Banner." My bad. If she has sung our national anthem, I'm not aware of it.
And I inadvertently wrote that "It (O Holy Night) just was her (Karen's) kind of song, musically," when I meant to write that it was just NOT her kind of song because of its belter quality.

Cheers,
Steve

butteryone, on Oct 16 2003, 06:43 PM, said:

Oh, thanks for that clarification, Steve, I thought it was kinda weird because she's so patriotic! *hewf*

For the record, I think Anne Murray has an absolutely phenomenal voice, far and away my favorite of the many wonderful Canadian singers, though Gordon Lightfoot is also wonderful.
Steve

butteryone, on Oct 16 2003, 09:19 PM, said:

Oh me too, her voice is so awesome, and she's also got that thing where you know in one second that it's her singing... have you heard "Snowbird", Steve? That's such a catchy song! They've got a museum for her and everything down in Nova Scotia

Hey I didn't know Anne Murray but now that read this topic I downloaded her version of Lovin arms ( a song that I know by Olivia Newton John and it's one of my favorite songs of her ) and well Anne has a very good voice!
And I'm listening Snowbird, is a sweet song

Oh, Snowbird is a great song. A real classic, in my opinion.
As you may know, Anne did a version of "Let Me Be the One," too. I kinda like the slower way she sang it.
And, of course, Karen and Richard did "I Just Fall in Love Again," which I believe Anne did first.
"You Needed Me" is maybe my favorite Anne song, though I think Karen could have done it wonderfully as well.
Steve

Anne Murray is awesome. I got to see her in concert about 12 years ago. She was awesome - I've always loved her voice. And I am old enough to remember loving "Snowbird" when it first came out in the 70's! Her voice is very similar to Karen's and I totally agree with everything Steve said. I don't think the "Star Spangled Banner" or "Holy Night" would have been easy for Karen to sing. She could have done it though.

Yes Anne's voice is similar to Karen's voice but guys KAREN IS THE ONE! she could sing every song like an angel!

Please think, again, those of you have doubts about Karen's version of The Star Stangled Banner. If you can, get out your CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT disc and put on "I'll Be Home For Christmas". And imagain Karen singing The National Anthem in that style...that flavor...in that powerful, emtional voice.

It is then, perhaps, one will realize that Karen might be just the "model"...the one....the "example" of how the Star Spangled Banner should be sung. I mean...who said that all that bravado was needed in the anthem? For the record...though I don't recall which war it was--WWI or WWII....but "I'll Be Home for Christmas" in essence, is a "patriotic song". If my recollection serves me right....it was during the war when the song was composed--and such a hit....and it was speaking about the boys overseas at war "being home for Christmas"...So the song is a powerful song--and a powerful example of Karen's ability to sing the Star Spangled Banner JUST RIGHT (just like I KNOW Jayne knew she could all along )

David

You're right David - Karen could sing any song! She was just awesome!

The most wonderful singer that have ever lived!