Google Doodles Guthrie; What Do You Think of "This Land is Your Land"?

[BvBPL]

Today, in celebration of Independence Day, Google has replaced their logo with an homage to Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land."

"This Land" was drafted in direct response to Berlin's "God Bless America," and is pretty leftist. The whole thing is a call for the general use of land regardless of ownership if not a condemnation of private ownership of land all together.

Musically, "This Land" is a lot more approachable than either the (nigh-unsingable) "Star-Spangled Banner" or "God Bless." "This Land" derives from a folk tune, a fact that's readily apparent to anyone who has ever heard the song. It is a calm, quiet song that anyone can easily sing; it doesn't build up to some orgasmic coda the way "God Bless" does. It also doesn't deal with war, which is nice in contrast to both the "Banner" and "God Bless" as the former is all about war and the latter is march that calls to mind war.

Arlo, Woody's son, has a great story about how his folks sent him off to a hippy-dippy leftist school and on the first day the teacher gathered the children around to sing the national anthem. While Arlo started in on the "Star-Spangled Banner," the other children, and the teacher, sang "This Land is Your Land." Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing "This Land is Your Land" be made our actual national anthem if only because no one can sing the "Banner."

What do you think of "This Land is Your Land" or, for that matter, the "Star-Spangled Banner" or "God Bless America?" (or "America, the Beautiful" for that matter) Was it appropriate for Google to use "This Land" as today's doodle?

 

[Joecoolyo]

I think the Star Spangled Banner works perfectly as a national anthem.

This Land feels less like an anthem and more like a folksy patriotic song. That doesn't mean it's bad, it just doesn't feel like an anthem. Same with God Bless America and America, the Beautiful (though I will admit that one comes close).

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

At the end of the day national anthems are about sport. I'm a big Woodie Guthrie fan but if I won gold in the hammer throw for the USA, I'd want to hear the big numbers.

EDIT.....just saw the sig above me. TLIYL FTW

 

[MagisterCultuum]

How could we possibly have a national anthem without a line like 'Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution" anywhere in it?


The Star Spangled Banner is not that hard to sing. The problem is that most singers completely ruin it in an attempt to show of their vocal abilities, drawing out parts and completely ignoring the proper notes in order to sound more fancy. It is best when sung plain and with a faster tempo.

 

[BvBPL]

The Star Spangled Banner is not that hard to sing.

I disagree. The song spans an octave and a half, and that range is difficult for many people.

The problem is that most singers completely ruin it in an attempt to show of their vocal abilities, drawing out parts and completely ignoring the proper notes in order to sound more fancy. It is best when sung plain and with a faster tempo.

When we are talking about "most singers," do you mean the people in front of the microphone at a ball game, or the assembled masses at the same game? If you're just talking about the featured performer than I'd say you might be on to something, but if we're discussing the masses who take their hats off for the song then I think some perceived difficult is evidence of a flaw in the song. I think an anthem should be something that most every citizen can sing with ease.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I would prefer something by Pink Floyd, or really anything from the White Album.

When I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun

Bang bang, shoot shoot.

Now that would make for a festive Olympics medal ceremony.

 

[Traitorfish]

I think the Star Spangled Banner works perfectly as a national anthem.

In that it's poorly-composed, aesthetically worthless, and gut-churningly insincere? Yeah, I can see where you're coming from.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

That doesn't mean it's bad, it just doesn't feel like an anthem.

To be fair, at the time of our founding, we were meant to be a nation that didn't feel like other places at the time.

Of course, there's multitudes of ways to reharmonize and add bombast to any song when the situation calls for it. I think it'd be nice to have a simple basis though.

 

[warpus]

The U.S. has one of the best national anthems in the world (it's def. top 20), but guys, all you need is 1 anthem!

 

[Traitorfish]

I find it hard to believe that there are as many as twenty good national anthems.

 

[Tee Kay]

I find it hard to believe that there are as many as twenty good national anthems.

Almost any anthem is good compared to Advance Australia Fair

 

[Traitorfish]

Almost all anthems are dreadful. They're nasty, gutless little things with less punch than the score of your average summer blockbuster. They're all so preoccupied with being dignified and stately that they don't remember to actually say anything, to make any attempt to generate an authentic emotional response, and just rely on generating some tawrdy sentimentality-by-association. /rant

That's why, if I ever start a country, we're using the Indiana Jones theme.

 

[Formaldehyde]

The fight song of just about any university would also be good choices. But I still prefer something with a sense of the macabre for countries that incessantly engage in warmongering, imperialism, and hegemony.

Interestingly, the US had no official fight song until 1931. This was used as an unofficial one for much of the 19th Century:


Link to video.

Let independence be out boast,
Ever mindful what it cost,
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its altar reach the skies.

 

[warpus]

I find it hard to believe that there are as many as twenty good national anthems.

Russia, England, France, Spain, Turkey, Madagascar.. hmm.. maybe you're right

 

[ParkCungHee]

I find it hard to believe that there are as many as twenty good national anthems.

Here's one.

 

[Borachio]

Link to video.

Thing is, though, what about the North American Indians?

And what about the view that people belong to a land and not vice versa?

Nevermind.

This is my favourite national anthem, for no other reason than that I like it:


Link to video.

And of course, land of my fathers:


Link to video.
Then, there's, let's see, the Marseillaise. What else?

South African?

But yeah, national anthems are just an excuse for the powers that be to cynically exploit people's natural tendency to solidarity. Ain't it vile?

 

[qoou]

I think it's ok.

 

[Formaldehyde]

But yeah, national anthems are just an excuse for the powers that be to cynically exploit people's natural tendency to solidarity. Ain't it vile?

I could be wrong. But I don't seem to remember Wales invading any other countries due to warmongering, imperialism, and hegemony, or even engaging in apartheid against blacks. There is nothing wrong being proud of your country. It is quite another to abuse that pride to motivate people to commit atrocities against others.

 

[Borachio]

They invaded (or tried to) Ireland along with the Normans post 1066. But, well a long time ago so I suppose not relevant.

 

[ParkCungHee]

But I don't seem to remember Wales invading any other countries due to warmongering, imperialism, and hegemony

Not big on Welsh history, are you?