How to memorize the Star Spangled Banner

How to memorize the Star Spangled Banner, America’s National Anthem

Christina Aguilera’s ‘not-so-perfect’ performance of the Star Spangled Banner at the recent Super Bowl XLV generated much discussion in the media. In fact, she is not the first to sing the National Anthem while forgetting, substituting and embellishing words. Some, even worse than her, could not even find the ending of the masterpiece, especially during a public performance. Some better left forgotten moments are Macy Gray at the Football Hall of Fame exhibition game , Michael Bolton who forgotten the lyrics halfway through but had a cheat sheet in his hand, a young lady at a hockey game somewhere in Canada that fell as she attempted the song for a third time (third time is not a charm for the poor girl), and a police officer from Chattanooga whose performance to a respectful and disciplined crowd that should’ve been rolling over with laughter.

 

1. Don’t assume.

The problem is that the Star Spangled Banner is well known throughout the country. Since we hear it so often, everyone thinks that they know the song. In reality, it’s much more difficult than we think. Many presumptuously go before a crowd thinking that they have memorized the song because they have heard it thousands of times at athletic events, school assemblies, and public gatherings.

2. Write it down.

When you write down the National Anthem many times, it is stored in your long term memory. There’s a saying: “Everything I have learned, I’ve learned in Kindergarten.” In Kindergarten, I learned to write down the multiplication table millions of times. Due to this discipline, I’ve never forgotten them. If I needed to memorize something today, I would take out a notebook, and just write it over and over again repeatedly until I’m 110% sure that I got it down pat. It wouldn’t surprise me if those performers aren’t able to write down the National Anthem verbatim if you asked them.

3. Record yourself.

Buy a digital video camera, record yourself, evaluate yourself, and better yet, see if you could sing the song completely without fumbling or forgetting the words. When I first recorded myself on camera, I didn’t realize how often I use the words ‘um’ or ‘uh’ or ‘you know’ during my talks. It was only by recording myself that I saw how distracting it could be and practice reducing those distractions. Recording yourself on camera is one of the best ways for self-evaluation.

4. Rehearse before others.

Invite family and friends and sing the National Anthem for them. Granted that it is a smaller crowd, nevertheless, a performance is a performance. It is better to screw up ahead of time before a small, kind and forgiving audience like your family and friends, rather than with the entire nation who has been waiting for this day all season.

5. Write down what the song means to you.

Most people are not aware that the song was written by a lawyer and sometimes poet, Francis Scott Key, during the war of 1812. He and his friend were captured on a British ship while attempting to negotiate a release of another friend. Since the three had access to secret information of the British’s plan of attack, they were forced to stay on board the ship until the war was over. While on board the ship, the waited anxiously to see if the American Flag is still standing, or replaced by the British Flag. But the American flag was still there. Overcome with excitement, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem, but only the first stanza is normally sung. Having a brief background will help you tremendously; most likely it will help you to capture the unsung heroes who gave their lives for the sake of the nation. That is why I’ve heard people, who are not professional singers, do a marvelous job because they have a general understanding of this song.