Why did it take so long for the U.S. to pick its national anthem?

为何美国挑选国歌的过程如此漫长?

Forever Ago

2026-04-29

30 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

It’s super common for a country to have a national anthem. That’s an official song that is sung at special events and is supposed to bring people together. The United States of America’s anthem is called The Star Spangled Banner. But it took a long time, and a lot of contests, to choose that song. Join Joy and co-host TK as they learn the history of this famously hard to sing song. Plus they tackle an all new First Things First. Guest: Billy Coleman, Associate Director of the Kinder Institute, and historian who studies early American music and politics. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • Lemonada.

  • Brains on universe.

  • Free.

  • That's a very high note.

  • Thank you for noticing.

  • Gleaming.

  • Streaming.

  • And that's a very low note.

  • Well, I gotta really make sure my singing range is stretched to its full potential.

  • I'm singing the United States National Anthem, a.k.a.

  • The Star-Spangled Banner, at my pet elephant Hermes kickball game next week.

  • That's so exciting.

  • Yeah, it is.

  • But singing the song is a workout.

  • There's a huge range of notes from high ones to low ones.

  • And it has a pretty complicated melody.

  • Singing the song is like vocal gymnastics.

  • Have you considered taking lessons from the Star Spangled Banner itself?

  • Excuse me, what?

  • Yeah, there's a big anthem convention that happens every year.