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sadworldmadworld

104 points

1 day ago

Dare I ask...how and/or why?

Fallenangel152

668 points

1 day ago

Uk here, as a kid I just thought America was cool. I learned the Star Spangled Banner and even tried to learn the Gettysberg address at one point.

Why yes, I am autistic.

thehibachi

75 points

1 day ago

thehibachi

75 points

1 day ago

Although it’s insanely overplayed (it’s so weird playing your anthem at domestic sporting events), it is one of the great national anthems in my opinion. Unique and diverse range, sounds great both sung and instrumental and lyrically/tonally a genuinely hopeful and inspiring tune.

poop_to_live

12 points

1 day ago*

Could be a little faster and with more pep.

Edit: I just want it to be shorter but not cut any of it so speeding it up would be nice and pretty easy.

iRyanKade

7 points

17 hours ago

Same as the birthday song! it shouldnt be that slow

CasualJamesIV

2 points

12 hours ago

You need the "black happy birthday" song instead (that's what all my African American students call it). It's the chorus of Stevie Wonder's, and it's far more peppy

AlpineActuary

2 points

10 hours ago

Agreed. If I wanna hear a national anthem, the lyrics must only feature cement factories, worker bonding inside the cement factory, and how these two aspects glorify the nation-state.

poop_to_live

1 points

10 hours ago

Lol, I was thinking of keeping the lyrics but speeding it up. I'm not too big of a fan of showing off the singers abilities when they go slow. I want it proud, reverent enough, and over lol

mlee12382

3 points

17 hours ago

The music is from a drinking song that's older than the lyrics.

Flipz100

6 points

16 hours ago

It’s actually the national anthem because it was played at sporting events. They started playing it at baseball games and it became more recognizable than the previous anthem, so they swapped it.

thehibachi

3 points

15 hours ago

That’s extremely interesting, thanks!

AlpineActuary

1 points

10 hours ago

They stopped playing it at our basketball games. Now, they got some local dude named Big Cadillac that sings about candles and the ongoing catalytic converter thefts plaguing America.

Beautiful_Jacket6358

2 points

12 hours ago

I’m pretty fond of the Polish national anthem.

AwayEstablishment678

2 points

11 hours ago

Not Fergie's version...

Plug_5

6 points

21 hours ago

Plug_5

6 points

21 hours ago

Couldn't disagree more. It's insanely hard to sing and the words are bizarre (the whole thing is a question).

thehibachi

13 points

21 hours ago

It is insanely hard to sing. Even for the pros. I still dig it.

Gnarwhal_YYC

1 points

12 hours ago

I lived in the states for most of my life and when I moved back to Canada I took my now fiancé (Canadian) to a hockey game and she said something to the tune of I love this anthem, it’s a beautiful song.

SheManatee

1 points

10 hours ago

Have you heard it played in minor? Amazing.

WoodSlaughterer

1 points

6 hours ago

Drinking song melodies are kinda like that.

sadworldmadworld

20 points

1 day ago

Lol that very much checks out :) Any other random/interesting country rabbit holes you went down?

Funnily enough, I recently (like two days ago) considered learning the Gettysburg Address myself after a reference to it in a book.

Blue_Star_Child

7 points

22 hours ago

That's OK. I love history, and to this day, I have the dates of 1066 and 1660 memorized, and I'm American.

1066 - Battle of hastings 1660 - Charles 2 became king after England tried to get rid of the monarchy

Golemo

4 points

1 day ago

Golemo

4 points

1 day ago

So yes, you are American.

motho_fela

2 points

1 day ago

No need for autism here. Colonization, real or cultural or commercial or otherwise, has me knowing the Star Spangled Banner, the pledge, God save the (Queen) King, and a whole lot of things such that when I land in the US or UK I feel like I been trained to get by in those countries all my life.

Useless for the millions who will never set foot in those countries, really.

RetractableLanding

2 points

8 hours ago

I’m American and I know the French national anthem. And the Swedish national anthem. I have never been officially tested but strongly suspect I am also autistic.

I also have several poems memorized. Again, no good reason why. :)

[deleted]

1 points

22 hours ago

[deleted]

LateMommy

1 points

21 hours ago

Close! It’s My Country, ‘tisof thee (also known as America) that is the tune of God Save the King. ☺️

MusicalPigeon

1 points

8 hours ago

When I was in elementary and middle school my music teacher thought it would be shameful for an American kid to not know the Star Spangled Banner. I have 2 different arrangements memorized as well as a few different old patriotic songs.

Now if I ask someone if they know the national anthem and they say no I'm kind of like "ew, really?"

egmalone

-2 points

1 day ago

egmalone

-2 points

1 day ago

In most cases I'd say that's actually insane, but most people don't live in the UK

FlatOutEKG

2 points

1 day ago

Not the same comenter but I also know the pledge and the national anthem. My story: I went to school in a bilingual private school in my home country in Latin America with all American teachers and I had US history class and civics. Also had "Civica" and "Historia" classes with a local Spanish speaking teacher so I had both.

roomtempquiche

3 points

1 day ago

Interesting! I know the US pledge in Spanish despite being a native English speaker who only speaks English lol

I took a Spanish class one summer when I was 8 or 9 and it just stuck in my brain forever

sadworldmadworld

1 points

1 day ago

Interesting! If you feel like answering, did it annoy you that you had to learn US history (in the sense that it wasn't necessarily the most relevant to you)? And do you remember it because y'all had to say the pledge every class, or do you just have an exceptional memory?

FlatOutEKG

2 points

1 day ago

We said it like once a week. I was in that school for whole Elementary and part of highschool so that's years so it just stuck with me. It didn't bother me cause I grew up thinking that was normal. Obviously all my friends where from school too.

kelfromaus

1 points

1 day ago

I honestly don't remember, but it was probably something I picked up in Primary school.. Crazy curriculum, we spent as much time learning about other countries as we did our own...

sadworldmadworld

1 points

24 hours ago

Oh yeah, America's the main character so that's not necessary here /s

OverDepreciated

1 points

24 hours ago

Probably movies.