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Nancy Jane Moore

Nancy Jane Moore
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Austin, Texas,
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I'm a writer and intellectual who needs physical movement to thrive; a feminist who doesn't feel defined by my gender; a liberal who prefers working class neighborhoods; an Aikido black belt who thinks paying attention is the most important skill of self defense; and a native Texan who lived in Washington, D.C., for many years.

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JANUARY 20, 2009 2:04PM

Aretha Sings "My Country 'tis of Thee"

Rate: 4 Flag

I couldn't listen to Aretha Franklin sing "My Country 'tis of Thee" without harking back to Marian Anderson singing that same song on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial so many years ago. No one commented on that, at least not on any coverage I was following, but I'm sure the song was deliberately chosen to echo that moment and to remind us again -- subtly, which seems to reflect President Obama's style -- that this inauguration has its roots in the Civil Rights struggle. After all, there are other patriotic songs available, including the great one Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen used to close the Sunday concert: "This Land Is Your Land."

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open call, aretha franklin, inauguration

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I, too, thought of Marian Anderson. And there was no, I assume, accident in Ms. Franklin's choice of hat - did that not look like a piece of Ms. Liberty's crown?
ConnieMack
January 20, 2009 02:15 PM
i liked it, but thought the song was an odd choice. don't you think the brits find it baffling that we would play their national anthem to swear in our president?

(it's just a different lyric for "God Save the King/Queen.")
Dave Cullen
January 20, 2009 02:24 PM
I don't know about you, Dave, but I learned to sing "My Country 'tis of Thee" before I learned "The Star Spangled Banner." It is, of course, easier to sing, which may be why we stole it from the British in the first place, not to mention that the revision was sort of a thumb in your eye to the king.

But it's not an odd choice at all if you remember that Marian Anderson sang it at the Lincoln Memorial after she was turned away from DAR Constitution Hall. I assumed everyone knew that, so I didn't spell it out in my post.

BTW, as an aside, I bet the acoustics are better on the mall than they are in Constitution Hall, which is a really lousy place to hear music.
Nancy Jane Moore
January 20, 2009 02:33 PM
Yes, it reminded me of Marian Anderson and a great choice of song for the occasion!
Just Pamela
January 20, 2009 02:38 PM
I'm with Dave on this choice of songs. And possibly choice of artist to sing it. As a day of change and hope; there are so many new artist that could have sung something like... God Bless America or God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand, but that is my option.
gmgaston
January 20, 2009 02:52 PM
I was thrilled to hear Aretha sing, and not one of these helium voiced young'uns. Aretha is an institution, and "My Country Tis Of Thee" Is as much my national Anthem as "The Star Spangled Banner".

The hat, the woman, the song... Priceless.
zumalicious
January 20, 2009 03:05 PM