The Jimi Hendrix Version Of Our National Anthem
Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Family Matters
It's rare for an artist covering an old patriotic song to get much attention, but when Jimi Hendrix played "The Star Spangled Banner" on his guitar it was one of a kind. In many ways, his performance of this song defined an era of music. To really appreciate this, you must understand the context of Hendrix choosing to cover this song. As a teenager, Hendrix was forced to join the army to avoid jail time after several run-ins with the law. He was eventually discharged, and went on to be outspoken about his views on the war in Vietnam and the draft. When he covered "The Star Spangled Banner", he took something overtly patriotic and used it to comment on the war by adding in the sounds of bombs, screams, and guns. After you watch this video, you'll never listen to the national anthem the same way again.
