When listening to the differences between Gottschalk and The South City Voices in their versions of the Star-Spangled Banner, I much preferred South City Voices’ version. While my opinion may sound biased, my reasoning is simply that I believe it’s more respectful to sing the Star Spangled Banner, standing in pride, than to sit down on a chair and play it in a way that was hardly understandable as the Star Spangled Banner. As for a change of tone in the melody, I truthfully didn’t notice it, and I went back and listened to it a couple times over to make sure.
Between Stravinsky’s version and Hendrix’s version of the Star-Spangled Banner, I believe Hendrix’s was a bit inappropriate but certainly not offensive. Some people however may have seen it as such simply because they didn’t sound like they were taking the anthem very seriously, while Stravinsky’s sounded very patriotic and respectful. Maybe I have these thoughts because of the instruments used. If Hendrix didn’t use an electric guitar and obnoxious drumming maybe I would’ve thought differently in my opinion. Overall however, I believe neither to be offensive.
Wesley Conser 