They could be as short as three minutes or as long as six-and-a-half.īuilding off the traditional melody, Hendrix could paint a picture of patriotic pride or commercial corruption. Hendrix sometimes titled his anthem renditions “This Is America,” and his arrangements were as flexible as they were potent. In all, Hendrix performed the piece at least 70 times, with his last known performance taking place almost a year after Woodstock – in Hawaii, on Aug. But he had actually been experimenting with the song for over a year, and he would continue to perform the anthem up until his untimely death in September 1970. Some might think Hendrix’s Woodstock Banner was an on-the-spot improvisation. Rather than change the words, however, Hendrix transformed the musical arrangement. Hendrix, in a way, continued this tradition, updating the tune to say something about the world around him. So far my research has identified roughly 200 songs written to the tune of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The abolitionist lyric “ Oh Say, Do You Hear?” is one particularly powerful example. In the 19th century, it was common practice to write new lyrics to old songs as a way to comment on politics and culture – a tradition known as broadside balladry.
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