04/16/24
July 14, 2010
Take Me Out to the Ballgame: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is an American classic, the "national anthem of baseball." Written by Jack Norworth, with notable versions by Harry Caray and friends. Norworth recently got a new gravemarker, but cemetery rules says no changes could be made without approval from his family. When no family could be found, an empty grave was purchased and set aside for some future "unfortunate soul," who will get a teeny, tiny place in baseball history (via MetaFilter).
Nothing much to add except that I love this song, and I want to see "God Bless America" kicked to the curb.
Just curious as to why it should be "kicked to the curb"?
posted by kcfan4life at 04:30 PM on July 14, 2010
More like curb stomped.
posted by ursus_comiter at 09:59 PM on July 14, 2010
Just curious as to why it should be "kicked to the curb"?
1)Because it's not the National Anthem, and it is venerated as such, with a damn-near compulsory "let us rise" that disrespects the National Anthem and everything it stands for.
2)Because I detest mawkishness and sentimentality, and that's all that the song is about any more.
3)Because it's just a plain damn awful song.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:56 PM on July 14, 2010
I would prefer "God Bless America" to replace the National Anthem. It's better musically and isn't militaristic. It's also better sung by amateurs.
posted by rcade at 09:14 AM on July 15, 2010
Yeah, count me among those who prefer GBA over "The Star-Spangled Banner", but also among those who wish baseball would give up the compulsory fan performances of it.
posted by yerfatma at 09:26 AM on July 15, 2010
Count me in the number that: 1. Like the song. 2. Like singing it. 3. Don't give a darn if people don't like reasons 1 & 2.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:03 AM on July 15, 2010
I don't really like God Bless America. I don't like forced displays of patriotism generally. I like the National Anthem, and I like that it is hard to do well. It makes those times all that more special. If we are getting rid of our Anthem, I'd prefer America the Beautiful.
posted by bperk at 10:05 AM on July 15, 2010
Don't want to change our Nation Anthem, even if I can't sing it properly.
While I don't mind an occassional singing of "God Bless America" I'm good with only singing it on very special occassions.
I always thought the reason they ask people to stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was simply to give security a chance to see who was too drunk to stand up.
posted by dviking at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2010
Hey, y'all can go join the "Make GBA Our National Anthem" movement if you want, but the fact is, it isn't the national anthem, and you shouldn't be standing up to sing it unless you fancy yourself some kind of performance artist.
And "better musically", rcade? Really? I'll grant you "easier to sing" -- that's because it's nothing but a simple little jingle of the sort you'd use to sell soft drinks. Not, IMO, national anthem caliber. And if you want to compare it against what it replaced, please...no contest. GBA doesn't even deserve to wash the jock of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:21 PM on July 15, 2010
I'm not a fan of 'God Bless America' either, but it hasn't replaced 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'--at least not at Nationals Park. Has that switch been made elsewhere?
posted by bender at 12:26 PM on July 15, 2010
Not to speak ill of the dead, but the blame for GBA lies at the feet of Steinbrenner who started using that in the 7th inning after the World Trade Center attack. I'm with you lbb, get rid of it.
posted by kokaku at 12:49 PM on July 15, 2010
I don't really like God Bless America. I don't like forced displays of patriotism generally.
No one is forced to sing it or respect it in any way, aside from that weird incident once at the old Yankees Stadium. I agree that making it a part of every game is overkill.
And "better musically", rcade?
Speaking purely as a musical dunce, yes. The National Anthem is atrocious. Give me Tin Pan Alley great Irving Berlin any day over the music to an 18th century British drinking song written by a near-nobody.
posted by rcade at 02:11 PM on July 15, 2010
The real National Anthem still gives me chills. Good patriotic chills.
GBA? It just makes me think of the Flyers.
And given that we are a nation founded upon the separation of Church and State, the whole concept of GBA is problematic to me.
Isn't God blessing all of the other countries as well?
posted by cjets at 03:20 PM on July 15, 2010
Maybe God blesses the countries that ask most often.
posted by rcade at 03:54 PM on July 15, 2010
I'm more or less with cjets on this one, and rcade's last comment before mine. Why anyone thinks God, should s/he exist, would favor one team or athlete over another in a sporting contest is beyond me. Plus, wouldn't God's favor be like the ultimate PED?
posted by billsaysthis at 04:02 PM on July 15, 2010
Plus, wouldn't God's favor be like the ultimate PED?
Piss test or it didn't happen.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:34 PM on July 15, 2010
Nothing much to add except that I love this song, and I want to see "God Bless America" kicked to the curb.