The Gwinnett Stripers can’t play ball until someone sings The Star Spangled Banner. So, the team is looking for National Anthem performers to sing or play before each game during the 2019 season.
According to a post on the Gwinnett Stripers’ website:
All interested singers or vocal groups (five singers or less) must send a video submission of their acapella performance of the National Anthem to [email protected] by Friday, March 1. The team will also be accepting instrumental soloists and small groups.
Candidates will be judged on tone, pace (90 seconds or less), and clarity. Top candidates will be invited to Coolray Field for in-person auditions on Saturday, March 9. No walk-ups will be admitted entry to the auditions.
This wasn’t mentioned in the original article, but you probably shouldn’t apply for this gig until you have memorized the words and tune. Please. You don’t want to end up on YouTube, as these folks did.
Epic Star Spangled Banner Fails
It’s almost comical how Francis Scott Key, who wrote the words to The Star Spangled Banner on September 14, 1814, is described as an amateur poet. Does anyone know a professional poet?
If you enter yourself or your group for consideration, please commit these words to memory.
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
The Stripers open the season at Coolray Field on Thursday, April 4 with a 7:05 p.m. game vs. Norfolk.
