Star Spangled Banner

Whitney Houston

About Star Spangled Banner

"The Star Spangled Banner" is a charity single recorded by American singer Whitney Houston to raise funds for soldiers and families of those involved in the Persian Gulf War. Written by Francis Scott Key, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The musical arrangement for Whitney Houston's rendition was by conductor John Clayton. The recording was produced by music coordinator Rickey Minor, along with Houston herself. The recording was included in the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances and the US edition of the 2000 release, Whitney: The Greatest Hits. Traditionally performed at sports games in the US, "The Star Spangled Banner" was performed by Houston at the original Tampa Stadium for Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Houston donated her portion of the proceeds. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Arista Records re-released Houston's "The Star Spangled Banner". She once again donated her share of the royalties, as did Arista Records, towards the firefighters and victims of the terrorist attacks. This time the single peaked at #6 on the US Hot 100, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. This made Houston the first musical act to take the national anthem Top 10 in the US, and have it certified platinum. The 2001 re-release of the single was Houston's last Top Ten hit on the US Hot 100 during her lifetime. more »

Year:: 1991
: 2:17
: 102,609 Views
Playlists:: #63

Lyrics currently unavailable…

Whitney Houston

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. She released six studio albums, one holiday album and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know", influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps. more »

17 fans

Genre »

Brass & Military

Style »

Brass Band

10 facts about this song

Historical Perspective Whitney Houston's rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" happened during Super Bowl XXV in 1991. This performance is considered iconic and one of the best renditions of the U.S.A's national anthem.
Song Release Despite it being a performance of the national anthem, due to popular demand, it was released as a commercial single.
Chart Success The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Whitney Houston the only person to turn the national anthem into a pop hit of sorts.
Achievements In 2001, following the 9/11 terror attacks, the single was re-released, once again earning a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually going Platinum.
Beneficiary Payout The royalties and profits generated by the song were generously donated by Whitney Houston to the American Red Cross and first responders.
Record Label The song was officially released under the Arista Records label, which was Houston's record label throughout her career.
Historical Context Houston's performance took place during the time of the Persian Gulf War. This added an emotional layer to her renditions, making it even more special and poignant.
Grammy Hall of Fame In 2021, almost a decade after Houston's death, her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Inspiring Future Artists This rendition of the anthem is often cited as the benchmark for future performances, with many artists aspiring to achieve this level of emotionality and popularity.
Production Quality Despite a common myth that Houston lip-synced to a pre-recorded track during her Super Bowl performance, the NFL clarified that a ‘backing track’ was used to bolster the live performance, a common practice in such events.

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Samantha Sartorgus
This really is a good song to show people about American history
LikeReply5 years ago
Michael Jelf
1: There should be a referendum on whether the "Banner" or "America the Beautiful" is America's national anthem, with the qualification that only those who can sing their choice all the way through without a key change get their vote counted.
No one has trouble singing "The Marseillaise" or "God Save the Queen" all the way through, because those tunes weren't chosen by the U.S. Congress..
The "Star-Spangled" tune was an old drinking song no sober person wanted to sing, or thought he could..
2.. Even for a lawyer, F.S. Key was a dreadful writer.
He was yet worse a lyricist, with a dead ear for stresses and an accent which leads us to suspect he was deaf.
Maybe the third stanza was meant to put down African-American slaves; that in itself would disqualify the anthem as suitable for a country which had adopted the 13th Amendment and spent hundreds of thousands of lives to do so.
Maybe Key meant the word in a sense of poetic disparagement for those with different politics than his.
Whatever the case, that third stanza reeks of some private little meaning, a well-tended grudge too mean for a great nation. It's not a "With malice toward none" moment of transcendent national oratory.
3. The whole tone of the "Banner" lyrics reminds us of a nervous little Chihuahua puffing up and yapping as loudly as he can at a Great Dane he fears is about to eat him.
That's the way Americans felt at the time about Great Britain, which in that war captured our capital and burned the White House. It was not our greatest moment as a nation, a military power, or as poetical inspiration. more »
LikeReply 26 years ago
Jennifer Gamble
...”No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave...”
Sounds like what D J Trump and Steve Bannon are inspired about. But you know...there is “karma”! What goes around comes around! The energy that was put out will only come back...two fold! Just take a look at the ills of the American society...violence, drugs, disparities, mental issues abound, inner city blight, lack of human dignity, spiritual bankruptcy, concern for the future of the planet...
All for the sake of being the number one economic super power regardless how it can be accomplished.
Be careful what you wish for...then what do you do with the monsters that you create wishing for and forcing unnatural situations starting with the mindset of Francis Scott Key and others with that same attitude yesterday and today. more »
LikeReply 76 years ago
- Greg Ross
  Well said!
  LikeReply 16 years ago
- Shareyn Kwit
  Greg Ross
  LikeReply 15 years ago
- Shareyn Kwit
  Please re post
  LikeReply 15 years ago
- Bob Johnson
  MAGA
  LikeReply 15 years ago

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"Star Spangled Banner Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5089569/Whitney+Houston/Star+Spangled+Banner>.

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