A Passion for Performance

1. Jimi’s Star-Spangled Bandana

By Dawn’s Early Light: A Jimi Hendrix Experience

          Originally written by Francis Scott Key as a four stanza poem, our nation later adopted the first eight lines of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our country’s National Anthem in 1931.  Key’s words echo our tumultuous past, reminding us of the hardships and struggle our forefathers endured; while his words also praise the independent and strong-willed nature on which this country has been established. No matter who’s singing or playing the tune, its’ respected tradition at public gatherings allows citizens to stand up together as one, and acknowledge that greatness of being an American. However, today it seems that singing the national anthem has become more of a talent show than a tradition, with numerous singers and songwriters offering their own “pepped-up” version before Super Bowls, World Series, etc.  Some performers may forget the lyrics, while some may add “thy” own. But from all the different versions offered by our society, one performance portrays the country’s attitude at that time just as well as Key had captured America’s attitude during the War of 1812. Jimi Hendrix’s remix of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1969 Woodstock successfully captures the angst and despair of the ambivalent, war-time United States; while remaining faithful to the sense of pride and togetherness that Key’s words captured as he glimpsed our triumphant flag swaying above Fort McHenry.

          After twenty-five hours of bombardment on Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the British began to withdraw their ships; and “by dawn’s early light,” Key could distinguish an American flag flying, signaling a decisive victory in our fight for independence. On the morning of September 14, 1814, out of “deliverance and joyful triumph,” Key’s “heart spoke,” and his words from that day on would represent a nation who bravely fought for and won their independence. The War of 1812 became the second war where the American people were fighting for their independence against the British. Britain had begun placing trade restrictions to stop America from trading with France, while also using a process of forced recruitment called impressment to bring American soldiers to the Royal Navy. Britain thought they could still manipulate and control the newly born America, even after the crushing defeat by her colonies during the American Revolution. That first victory carried on through the years and gave American’s the sense of pride, determination, and independence that would be crucial for victory of the War of 1812.  The successful “second war of independence” against the British turned the page for a new chapter in the American history book. Oppression and belittling by “the crown” was erased.  No longer would America hide under the “rocket’s red glare,” or tremble from the “bombs bursting in air.” America was now established, independent, and the citizens were rewarded, yet again with a sense of confidence and glorification. The American people had once again stood their ground, and once again established themselves as a strong, independent nation.   That dawn, America as “the land of the free, and the home of the brave,” became immortalized.

National Anthem – Original Instruments

The original music, as it would have been performed in 1854, of our national anthem includes an ensemble of brass instruments with a snare and bass drum. The snare resembles that of a Revolutionary battlefield march, keeping order to the song, while the brass holds onto the melody, only to crescendo during “the land of the free, and the home of the brave,” creating a victorious and triumphant end to the anthem. Every note seems so precise, almost as if it were drawn out in similar fashion as the Constitution; that this anthem must assure the people of their peace and independence hundreds of years later as it were when first established. The trumpets and drums evoke a sound of celebration and prosperity, with a sort-of climbing uphill tempo as well, to resemble America rising up as a prosperous nation.  The song altogether enjoys a classical sound that ensures whoever is singing it a strong feeling of pride and nationality; a feeling created solely from two great victories for the nation’s freedom.

          After “3 Days of Peace and Music,” bad weather resulted in early departures for many of the “hipppies” from the Woodstock Music Festival. The numbers throughout the alfalfa fields significantly dropped from 500,000 to roughly 40,000 for the final morning of the festival. By dawn’s early light, 8 A.M. to be exact, the crowd could distinguish the screeching, unorthodox wail of Jimi Hendrix’s white Fender Stratocaster. Hendrix (just as much a participant as a leader) stared straight into the eyes of the peace-seeking, anti-Vietnam, drug-induced counter culture. The country’s most devastating war was in full swing overseas in the jungles of Vietnam, resulting in many Americans feeling disenchanted and disillusioned the with American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Protest and anarchy flowed through the streets as the media coverage of the war gave American’s a firsthand glimpse of the atrocities taking place in the jungle. Devastating events such as the My Lai Massacre resulted in many American’s hatred for the military and the President’s actions, coining protest phrases such as “Hey! Hey! LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?”  The government became threatened by the very people they were there to serve for. Yet despite the crowd’s disenchantment towards the country, Hendrix swallowed his pride and began to play his version of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem.

Jimi Hendrix – Star-Spangled Banner – Woodstock

Hendrix’s version of our national anthem includes only his guitar, while his band onstage watched and listened in amazement with the rest of the crowd (with exception of a very quiet drummer). Six notes are played, and the crowd immediately knows what song is next.  Lyrics were unnecessary.  The amplification makes the notes screech and roar through the humid and muddy hillside. Using feedback from the amps, as well as his whammy bar and bending notes, Hendrix creates a grotesque, strung out version of the anthem. During “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” Hendrix manages to recreate the battlefield sounds similar to Vietnam; a helicopters blades chopping overhead, bombs exploding and ripping through the ground, eminent missiles roaring through the sky. Sounds that haunted the American people as they watched the war’s destruction on television. His roaring guitar recreates the sense of celebration and triumphsimilar to the original anthem while also creating a raunchy sense of disgust. The screeching and wailing parallel the despair felt throughout the crowd, for all the innocent and young lives being slaughtered during the War. The bending of Hendrix’s notes almost makes the crowd feel completely lost, terrified, and confused; similar to what a soldier felt in the torrential jungles. All these negative emotions are somewhat masked though, due to the sheer fact that Hendrix is playing the national anthem. The crowd still feels a sense of pride when they hear the anthem; and when Hendrix plays his remixed national anthem in front of thousands of “hippies,” their sense of togetherness for their cause surely erupts. Yet Hendrix’s unmatched guitar skills allow him to shape the song in such a way that grabs the attention of the entire crowd, and uses their passion to create the “Hippies’ National Anthem.”

When compared side by side, one can easily distinguish the contrasting emotions evoked by Key’s original work versus Hendrix’s psychedelic remix. At Key’s time, America was fighting a war for their independence. The victory ignited strong feelings of nationalism and security throughout the entire nation; and Key’s lyrics successfully capture the country’s mood at that very instant of victory. America was winning and the people were prospering. On the other hand, during Hendrix’s performance, America was fighting an unfavorable war. Thousands of American soldiers were dying overseas, fighting someone else’s war. America was losing and the people were protesting. The counter culture and Woodstock Festival captured the mood of the tense Americans during the 60’s: disenchanted, confused, yet passionate. Hendrix, while using his guitar and the empowering sense of unity that our nation’s anthem provides, remixes the song in such a way to appeal to his “hippy,” “rockin n’ rollin” crowd. Hendrix successfully creates a version of our anthem that forever echoes and captures the mood of the nation during the 60s, just as Key had done over a century before with “The Star-Spangled Banner.”