The Star Spangled Banner by the US Marine Band

[pageois]

You've obviously never heard the Coldstream Guards play the US anthem at the gates of Buckingham Palce on September 12, 2001. THAT's how this great tune should ALWAYS be played. Leaves these amateurs in the shade, I'm afraid.

[awsomechase]

I also play tuba

[Joey10Thompson10]

Reading these comments makes me realize how ignorant people are. Some kid said that their 8th grade band is better than the President's Own Marine Band... Makes me angry!

[TubaChick54321]

this just blew me away!

[port753]

my bands gotta play this memorized cause of how well the band a grade ahead did, and our teacher is gettin really pissed off at us. we REALLY suck at this

[curlsnkisses81]

well i sing this song evrey day just about all day to lols

[mizzemmz12]

they came to my school and preformed some really good songs. we were very lucky to have them play at our school and they are very good at what they do.

[nepatsaz]

As a Viet Nam veteran I am disgusted at the way today's performers destroy our great anthem. They are a disgrace to our country,.

This performance by the Corps band is the ONLY way it should be performed at any event, including professional sports.

[Katt1848]

i think it was a little choppy.

[Miras3455]

I feel like the quality of the recording does not do credit to this band i heard them live sounds much better

[Jonboyi]

That's not the Marine band. The uniforms are the wrong colors. Marine uniform, both officer and enlisted NCO, has a red "blood" stripe down the trouser leg not yellow. Shirts whould be kaki with rank on the sleaves for enlisted and on the collar for officers. And the Marine band is better than that.

USMC CPL

[xXsillylilgamerXx]

@Jonboyi i think its navy

[vaq33ens]

Unless your school band is Juilliard, I would doubt that claim.

[Tylnorton]

my school band is better and with crash cymbals included

[Polistotle]

Yes this is a particularly good arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, unadulterated by attempts at embellishment. The band members are first rate players. What was lacking, I thought, was any interpretative guidance on the conductor's part. The dynamics were one bland forte, the meter was too slow throughout and lagged particularly around the 30-second mark where the theme is restated. The conductor ends the performance, immediately relaxes & casually taking of his hat--no showmanship.

[vaq33ens]

Oh really? I have my doubts about that.

[jam20152006]

I'm in the 8th grade and we sound way better! Sorry!

[1mARv1n]

@jam20152006 disrespectful brat

[KrazyKevin10615]

@jam20152006 Vid or it didn't happen!

[HalfBornUnicornFetus]

@jam20152006

Douche.

[DeedsResearcher]

When you want to get it right the first time...and every time: United States Marine Corps....at your service!

Brilliant, as usual!

[1802kts]

sounds sexy

[MJtwilight7]

They're SOOOOO good =DD Sounded like our band, also =)

[MJtwilight7]

Lolz looked like our band at the Marlins Game =D

[jrbiter3]

USA!! USA!! USA!!

[JKArocks]

Hell yeah! forget those other sons of bitches

[DougAddams]

Thank you, brave warriors. To HELL with all of those other bastards.

[caduti2210]

FORZA ITALIA

[nroc13]

fair winds and calm seas

semper fi

[mannbradmusic]

THat's exactly the way I like to hear the playing of this great anthem of ours!

Oo-raaaaah!

[GoodRiddance7230]

this poem is about how he thought for sure american fort would be over run by day break. but when day came he saw they had outlasted the british even though they were outmanned and starving. if someone really sat and thought about the lyrics and the feeling behind it, itll give ya inspiration

[camaroman87]

FUCK YEA!!!!!

WE RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SamFerdoo]

Those tubas get me every time. What an incredible bass line.

[shadowsoldier492]

@SamFerdoo What an incredible BRASS line. Hoo yah brass.

I'm in the Navy, but our band is NO WHERE NEAR this good. God Bless America, let this song live on forever.

[jhunted7667]

@SamFerdoo this song was written during a battle where we were finghting for a Republican form of Government and unless we vote Ron Paul into office the song is all we will have left

[TubaChick54321]

@SamFerdoo i am playing this in my band and i play tuba! :D

[andyli546]

@SamFerdoo Lol i play the tube=)

[nroc13]

the few the proud the marines

semper fi

[bigjoepatsfan]

its funny how every time i hear a military band play...its a different version of the star spangled banner being played. i have a cd of the presidents own and its completely different than this one.

[Man2834]

Becasue this is the USMC u DA

[GenCarter1231]

@bigjoepatsfan the branches each have there own

[QuentaSilmarillion]

Don't think for an instant that the service bands, in particular, the Marine bands are just some civvys in uniform performing. Being in a service band is not only one of the most honorable things a musician can achieve, but one of the most difficult to attain. These people who serve in our nations military bands are the finest musicians in the world. And remember, those are marines. Every marine is a rifleman first. The will kick your ass.

[cegaspire]

LOL...Alright, now...I hear that....LOL

[whoitisnot]

There is a military style and tradition of conducting this kind of thing. Shocking isn't it? Goes all the way back to John Philip Sousa, who was the founder of this group. If you were to see a concert performance of actual pieces you might just be perceptive enough to be impressed. ;) This is TRULY one of the great performance organizations in the world. I suspect that you teenage band members will wise up down the road. Now go stand at attention in the corner for about an hour! ;)

[HistoriCall1]

Marine corps:

The few, the pride.

[vaq33ens]

It's safe to assume this band has the entire piece memorized. They really don't need any "conducting". That being said, the director, Major Burian, had a long and distinguished history with this band. He is certainly qualified to be in the role of conductor.

[BothtaweeKelly]

I think that's how theycondoct in north america. Canadian's condoct similer to that.

[zebrasarecool]

Sounds great as I would expect but the director would be "impossible" to follow. If any of his musicians watch him, they would get lost. It's the worst example of conducting I've ever seen....perhaps it looks different from the other side but from the audience's perspective, it's without reason...it's circular for goodness sake.

[anneja25]

I think this version is very good! Love all the moving parts.

[achieve5147]

need lyrics period

[lowfiwhiteguy]

no. you're wrong.

[Urineculture]

Hmmm - Take a look at the marine corps band website. put "the president's own" in your browser. many of the larger bases have their own "marine band". you have to be careful. check out their current conductor. you will find the conducting technique and the band's response different than this. i do not think think this is the official washington-based usmc band. i have heard them in concert, which they start with the star spangled banner. it would bring the crippled to their feet !

[ericusmc61]

The conductor in the video is Col John Bourgeois who retired from the Marine Band in 1996.

[cbmanica]

THIS is what the national anthem they are playing at the Olympics should sound like! Am I the only one who thinks China is tormenting Michael Phelps with a vastly inferior arrangement of our anthem?

[WillyTheBandGeek]

I agree with you cbmanica are national anthem can be done alot better by us.

[saxy469]

The conductor is AWFUL! The band is OUTSTANDING!

[ChuckSnow5]

That is not the Marine Corps Band. There are no uniforms that incorporate a white shirt in The U.S. Marine Corps. Plus there are no Blood Stripes on any trousers. A trait unherent to only the U.S. Marines.

Still, very well done!

[ChuckSnow5]

Inherent

[maxwalsh92]

but look at their covers. they have what looks to be an EGA, could it be NROTC at a college?

[Bananaman02]

No, it really is the President's Own United States Marine Band. Their uniform is not entirely the same as those of the regular enlisted personnel because the way they enter the corps is entirely different from the regular method of enlistment. Instead of going to boot camp, MCT, and MOS school, they are sworn in, go to what I believe is a 2 month training period for marching and ceremonial training, and that's about it.

[ozziavi80r]

The Blood Stripe, is only found on the Alpha's, Bravo's and Charlie Series of uniforms. and as stated by Bananaman02 that is the Presidents Own. Like most military bands, their dress uniforms are sometimes entirely different to mainstream service dress, take for example. The Presidents Own, The Bands of the Household and Life Guards.

[emtgregg]

Perfect as it should be. I can't stand when someone tries to jazz up our National Anthem. Everyone should take lessons from Our President's Own.

[clskmstg]

And they get this sound *outside*... Any musician knows that outside is the hardest place to play - especially on a recording like this to get any example of balance and ensemble. I've never seen this dress with the Presidents Own - I do know them to be the finest - they are *amazing* every single time I've heard them play. Great recording!

[smileysmile24]

three words.

uh

may

zinhngg

[kevrev0]

the conductor is a little too stiff

[rohdboy]

Bloody good.