The Versions of the Star Spangled Banner

Given all three examples of the Spangled Banner I liked the Gottschalk version the best. It felt like it stayed true to the original tune the most. The version by the South City Voices felt like it was a tad overwhelming. The harmonies impressed me but they didn’t feel necessary. It seemed more like they were showing off rather than singing the nation’s anthem in a way that draws attention for reverence for the country and what it stands for. I can see why some are offended by the Jimi Hendrix version as well. His version seemed to be aimed more toward entertainment rather than actually playing the national anthem. He seemed to want to show his guitar skills.