Von Cello - Star Spangled Banner - Tribute to 9/11

[voncello]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there was no anger in my heart. I was an eyewitness to the falling of the Twin Towers and this performance was a few weeks later. What I was feeling was the pain and horror, the crashing and burning, the screaming and crying. I also felt pride as a New Yorker and an American for how we all came together at that time to lift each other up. Playing the Star Spangled Banner for a fund raiser for the victims of 9/11 was my way of doing my share.

[mountainDreamer]

I'm sorry, but, like Hendrix, this sounds angry...and the Star Spangled Banner, in my opinion, should not sound angry or changed in any way. I understand what your intentions were, but this just sounds altered in a not so pleasant way. The crowd claps for a few seconds, then stops. Almost as if they agree.

[bistrosidecar]

I agree, the anger in the Hendrix version came from the sound effects he made to sound like bombs dropping, this guy replicated that when he really shouldn't have. I just don't think it was thought through considering what had just happened.

[strumr91]

this is really cool, but i beg to differ on one thing -- hendrix didn't really play it in protest, as much as he did it as an observation of the tension and conflicts and violence across the country, and the globe.

[voncello]

To tell the truth I never thought of it as meaning anything in particular. The drummer on this cut asked me if I had any reservations about playing the Hendrix version since it was done as a protest, so that is what put it in my head. But now that you mention it, maybe Hendrix WAS just making an observation. But being that this was a month after 9/11, I wanted to make sure everyone understood that it was being played in memory of the victims and that's what I was thinking of while I played it.

[mountainDreamer]

Hey, wow, I wrote that a year ago...LOL And I forgot about it till you came along and replied. I still dont find this as a tribute to 9-11 or our country. I understand the angry part, but its upsetting to distort what the original writer meant for it to sound like. Its an insult to the art of it. In other words, its like taking the Mona Lisa and painting a mustache on her. totally direspectful to the artist and his intentions. Peace out!!! ;-)

[strumr91]

eh, to each his own. I think if someone wants to make an abstract work of art which includes a mustache on the mona lisa or even graffitti, it can be saying something totally different than directly being disrespectful. I see this as an interpretation of what has happened to the American vision/dream. In art, you have to be bold. Maybe changing what the artist did is making a statement about how things change, for better or worse. Maybe our values have been distorted, for instance.

[mountainDreamer]

Your view is well worded and respected...as a bit of an artist I guess I am just sensitive to someone distorting what I meant to say and achieve, I guess part of it was always fighting to be understood and not misunderstood... but your explaination made me see it in a different light....have a great night!