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Author
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Topic: Astronauts singing pre-game national anthem
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pokey
Member Posts: 361
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-24-2006 07:41 PM
   
Per this (and Sightings):JSC is invited out to Minute Maid Park on Monday, Aug. 14, to watch the Houston Astros as they knock the Chicago Cubs INTO ORBIT. The STS-121 crew and the entire NASA family will be recognized during the pre-game ceremony. Astronaut Tracy Caldwell will also be on the field representing NASA and America by singing the national anthem. Make sure you get there early, too, because the first 10,000 fans will receive a commemorative STS-121 Astros cap. I assume this is the first time an astronaut has sung the American national anthem prior to a game. (She was also bumped from 121 when it became a crew rotation flight - glad to see she got reassigned.) |
Astro Bill
Member Posts: 1329
From: New York, NY
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 07-24-2006 10:03 PM
I have never heard an astronaut singing the National Anthem or any song for that matter. It is a very difficult song for a non-professional to sing. If they do intend to sing it at this game, they better memorize the lyrics or have them on the scoreboard.Non-professionals may find it easier and more inspiring to sing "God Bless America." I still remember Kate Smith singing that at many sporting events. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-24-2006 10:15 PM
For those not immediately familiar, Tracy Caldwell is a vocal lead in the all-astronaut band Max Q. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-25-2006 12:31 AM
For what it's worth, I've seen many amateurs do fantastic renditions of the anthem and have seem many so-called "professionals" screw it up badly... usually because they try to be overly dramatic about it. The fact she was asked to sing the anthem must mean she's a pretty good singer, professional or not. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 07-25-2006 07:11 AM
I had the pleasure of being at a Max Q concert at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex during Astronaut Hall of Fame induction weekend in 2004 (I think).Tracy was lead singer then and she's great. Simon Cowell eat your heart out. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-25-2006 03:14 PM
Another opportunity to hear Tracy Caldwell sing: The Houston Texans will kick off the pre-season in a "Salute to Space City" exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Aug. 12, at Reliant Stadium. As part of the pre-game show honoring NASA, the Texans will recognize astronauts from the STS-118 crew and four from International Space Station Expeditions. Astronaut Tracy Caldwell will sing the national anthem, and a NASA video compilation will be shown on the big screen. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-15-2006 12:49 PM
Here is a simple recording (off my iPod, standing in the crowd) of Tracy Caldwell's anthem performance at last night's Astros game.(The "bang" that occurs about 5 seconds into her performance is the sound of a cart full of bottles being dropped.) Last night was Caldwell's birthday as well, which the announcer mentions after she finishes singing. |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-16-2006 05:36 PM
I was disappointed that the TV station did not show the national anthem being sung. I was hoping to see it but they used it for commercial space. |
music_space
Member Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 09-10-2006 05:14 PM
With respect to musical abilities required, your country's national anthem is quite difficult. It includes many wide intervals, and its ambitious — the interval between the lowest and the highest notes — is usually large for a national anthem (one and a half octave, twice as, say, God Save the Queen's major sixth). Plus, its apex sits on the highest note and is of a long duration.Singing it a cappella as is often the custom in sports events makes it an incredible challenge. |
wellgrounded
New Member Posts: 3
From: Pacific Northwest
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 09-10-2006 08:04 PM
Usually one must audition or be screened before you are permitted to sing the national anthem at a major professional sporting event. No doubt the Astros knew Ms. Caldwell would do just fine before they officially asked her to sing. It sounds like a good time was had by all.Most Americans understand that our anthem is difficult to sing. In college, I was frequently asked to sing the national anthem at community and sporting events. I always asked the crowd to sing along - believe me, this helps a lot. |
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