Raising a glass to a national anthem!

Jimi Hendrix's electrifying rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in 1969 is etched into the collective memory, amplified by the subsequent documentary. It became a potent symbol of the era and the festival's spirit.

Jimi Hendrix Woodstock 1969

The lyrics of the US national anthem were penned in September 1814 by American lawyer Francis Scott Key, inspired by the sight of the American flag flying high after an unforeseen victory against British forces. In a common practice of the era known as "broadside balladry," Key set his words to an existing melody.

This popular tune had its own distinct history. It originated around 1775 as "To Anacreon in Heaven," a "constitutional" song for an English amateur men's music club. The melody was composed by English organist and musicologist John Stafford Smith, with original lyrics penned by Ralph Tomlinson. Intriguingly, Anacreon was an ancient Greek poet celebrated for his odes to love and wine, suggesting the song's initial purpose was rather more light-hearted (an after-dinner drinking song) than its later patriotic associations.

Over the years, commentators have offered various interpretations of Hendrix's unconventional take on the American national anthem. Some suggested a deliberate attempt to underscore the violence associated with the nation, a jarring soundscape intended to challenge notions of patriotism. Others perceived a subversive edge, a "twisted, tortured reinvention" of a familiar tune.

However, the reality appears more nuanced. Hendrix, a former paratrooper himself, had explored these creative interpretations in earlier recordings as an expression of his American pride, recalling the daily ritual of anthem singing during his school years. His aim, it seems, was to breathe new life into the song. While his feelings about the Vietnam War were complex, oscillating between anti-communist sentiment and pacifist leanings, he never explicitly stated a protest intention through his music. Ironically, his performance drew criticism for alleged disrespect.

Yet, as one New York Post critic noted, “You finally heard what that song was about, that you can love your country, but hate the government.” Others praised Hendrix for turning “the most dismal, virtually unsingable dirge of a national anthem” into music! That might be a bit unfair to the original writers…