E41 The History and Controversy of the Star Spangled Banner as the U.S. National Anthem

🎧Welcome back to the Learn English Podcast! As we kick off July, we're celebrating Independence Day, one of the biggest holidays in the United States. This week, we're celebrating by exploring the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." We'll uncover the story of the song's rise to fame, and the controversy surrounding its lyrics.🇺🇸 Did you know the Star-Spangled Banner wasn't even the official anthem for most of US history? Francis Scott Key, the man behind the song, witnessed a battle during the War of 1812 that inspired his iconic poem that eventually become the anthem. Yet, despite its origins, "The Star-Spangled Banner" didn't become the official national anthem until over a century later.📚But why has this anthem stirred controversy? We'll discuss the challenging vocal range that makes it notorious among singers and discuss the complex legacy of its author. Francis Scott Key's life and the lesser-known verses of his poem reveal the history of his era. We'll examine why some call for a new national anthem and explore potential alternatives like "America the Beautiful."🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod📚 Vocabulary List:1) Commemorates - Honors the memory of a significant event or person.2) Founding - The establishment or creation of something, such as a country or organization.3) The Star Spangled Banner - The national anthem of the United States.4) Composed - Created music or poetry.5) Poetic verses - Lines of poetry.6) Twilight - The time of day just after sunset.7) Perilous - Dangerous or risky.8) Notorious - Famous for something bad.9) Abolitionists - People who supported the end of slavery.10) Problematic - Causing problems or difficulties.11) Controversial position - A stance that causes disagreement or debate.12) War of 1812 - a war fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815📜 SOURCEShttps://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/historyculture/francis-scott-key.htmhttps://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/war-of-1812https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6384919https://www.nps.gov/fomc/planyourvisit/index.htmhttps://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/pdf/ssb_lyrics.pdfhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/10/18/star-spangled-banner-racist-national-anthem/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/black-national-anthem-lift-every-voice-and-sing/