[JPL] Shades of Felicano & Hendrix in the 60s. René Marie stirs it up

[Arturo Gomez]

I recall the uproar caused by José Feliciano in 1968 who when singing the
Star Spangled Banner for the 1968 baseball all-star game that was nationally
televised by NBC "dared" to scat at the end of the interpretation. It light
up the phones at NBC affiliates across the nation and Feliciano even
received death threats. A year later Jimi Hendrix played a rock version of
the anthem at Woodstock that also was severely criticized. Now innovative
versions of the anthem are performed as standard procedure.

You might hear about this latest bruhaha on the news. The news agencies are
sensationalizing and twisting the facts. René Marie sang the lyrics of "Lift
Every Voice and Sing" to the music of the "Star Spangled Banner". Anyone who
has seen Ms. Marie perform on stage have probably heard her sing her unique
version of "Dixie" or "Jena Six", she's a throwback to the 1960s and 70s
when artists were not afraid to speak their minds e.g Nina Simone, Gil
Scott-Heron and others. I included the URL link to the actual performance at
the informal gathering at the end.  Arturo


Mayor surprised by Black National Anthem

There was one major surprise at Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City
address today.

Jazz singer Rene Marie, who was introduced to sing the "National Anthem,"
sang what is known as the "Black National Anthem" instead, evoking angry
reactions among some of the estimated 700 people who attended the event.

"There is no substitute for the National Anthem. Period," said Councilman
Charlie Brown.

"This is the State of the City address. It's not a NAACP convention," he
said, referring to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People.

Hickenlooper and his staff said they expected Marie to sing the "Star
Spangled Banner" and that they were surprised when she sang something
different.

Hickenlooper said he spoke to Marie after the ceremony and that she
apologized profusely.

The mayor said Marie told him that she meant no disrespect.

"She blended the two songs together," Hickenlooper said. "She was trying to
make an artistic expression of her love for the country. She did not intend
to make a political statement or anything."

Marie sang the first verse of James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Ev'ry Voice and
Sing," also known as "The Black National Anthem," but adapted those lyrics
to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner.

Council President Michael Hancock, who introduced Marie at the event, said
he had no idea that Marie was going to sing anything but the National
Anthem.

"I just read off the script, which was to introduce her to do the National
Anthem, so I expected the National Anthem," he said.

Hancock, who met Marie for the first time today, said Marie should have
cleared her song choice with the mayor and his administration. It was
"inappropriate" that she didn't, he said.

"She certainly should have given the mayor and the administration the
opportunity to decide if they wanted her to sing the song that she sang," he
said.

Hancock said he's been getting hate-filled e-mails over the song.

"I'm getting — as if I made the decision to do this — I'm receiving a lot of
hate mail," he said. "I've received quite a few e-mails that are quite
nasty."


http://denver.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=502

I would be happy to forward any e-mails to René on your behalf if you wish,
hopefully of a positive nature.