Marvin Gaye's Star Spangled Banner

Interesting fact: According to the music-themed Uncle John's Bathroom Reader I'm currently making my way through, that was the first video ever aired on either VH1 or MTV2 (can't remember which).

Just in case you missed it, the full audio Feliciano version is posted there with the NPR story, but I thought the context was every bit as interesting as the version of the song.

Nice history snip, Michael. I really like this quote from your link:
"Since that game, singers have taken more artistic liberties with the anthem. Some versions have succeeded; others have failed miserably."

Dang, too bad the video is him talking over his controversial rendition. :)

Thanks Marvin, but thanks to Jose Feliciano first.

Marvin couldn't have done it without Jose Feliciano's 1968 personalization of the Star Spangled Banner coming long before.

Even before Jimi Hendrix.

His changes were quite simple, but for the time, extremely unexpected and unappreciated.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6394213

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrY9RVfVkws

Thanks for sharing the video, thoughtbubble!