logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2019
26m 18s

American Anthem

NPR
About this episode
The Star-Spangled Banner is the official anthem for the United States, but there are plenty of songs that have become informal American anthems for millions of people. This week, we share three stories from NPR Music's American Anthem series that highlight the origins of songs that have become ingrained in American culture.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Nov 20
Democracy Dies in a Day
How quickly can a government fall? Chile was once one of Latin America's oldest democracies, but that all changed in a matter of hours after a military coup on September 11, 1973. Some supported the coup; many did not. But for the next 17 years, all Chileans lived in the grip of ... Show More
51m 51s
Nov 13
The Creeping Coup
On the surface, the story of Sudan’s war is about two generals vying for power. But it’s also about a vast web of international interests involving the U.S., China, Russia, and the UAE. Today on the show, the story of how things in Sudan got to this point, and the effects of the ... Show More
50m 39s
Nov 6
Winter is Coming
Late last month, President Trump announced that the United States would be restarting nuclear weapons tests after a break of over 30 years. We’ve since learned that they won’t be the explosive kind of tests, but this sent us down a rabbit hole — where we found a story about dinos ... Show More
52m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2016
The Star-Spangled Banner
America's national anthem was written by a lawyer, Francis Scott Key, after watching the British navy bombing Fort McHenry in 1814. It was set to an English social men's club song and recognized as the national anthem in 1889. Notoriously difficult to sing, and traditionally play ... Show More
27m 11s
Mar 2021
National Anthem Day
Lee discusses the history of the national anthem on this anniversary of "The Star Spangled Banner" becoming the official national anthem for the US.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
9m 36s
Jul 2022
Oh Say Can You Sing ... the National Anthem?
America's national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner” was written by a white lawyer who owned slaves but fought for Black freedom in court. That contradiction captures the controversy embedded in the song. It is a song that can inspire patriotic fervor and ignite passionate protes ... Show More
55m 52s
Dec 2021
113. Ces chansons qui ont marqué l'histoire américaine
Il y a des chansons dont vous connaissez l'air mais pas forcément l'histoire. Pour terminer l'année, une "Lettre" musicale avec des morceaux qui ont accompagné l'histoire américaine en parlant de ségrégation ou de patriotisme. Mais il y aura aussi de l'esprit de Noël. Saviez-vous ... Show More
21m 5s
Jan 2019
America's Other Anthems
This week, we're uncovering the stories behind three American Anthems. First, we hear from two musical greats about their respective versions of "Fight the Power." Next, we learned about the transformation of the children's choir staple, "This Little Light of Mine." Finally, we t ... Show More
30m 32s
Feb 2021
BONUS: The Lasting Power Of Whitney Houston's National Anthem
Why does Whitney Houston's 1991 Super Bowl national anthem still resonate 30 years later? In this episode of NPR's It's Been A Minute, host Sam Sanders chats with author Danyel Smith about that moment of Black history and what it says about race, patriotism and pop culture. Smith ... Show More
25m 4s
Jan 2015
Mark Ronson: Funk Politics
Did you know the melody to the Star Spangled Banner was once a British drinking song? In preparation for the Super Bowl, we uncover how the national anthem has been co-opted and reinterpreted by mega pop-stars. Our understanding of how this song sounds has been shaped by sporting ... Show More
33m 37s
Nov 2014
O' Say Can you See?
The Star-Spangled Banner is embedded in American national identity and yet it only became the official national anthem in 1931. Erica Wagner returns to its origins, the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, to find out how Francis Scott Key came to write these lyrics about the American fl ... Show More
27m 2s
Dec 2023
NOËL - Mariah Carey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gloria Gaynor... Ces chansons qui racontent l'Amérique
REDIFF - Pendant les fêtes, retrouvez les Lettres d'Amérique des correspondants de RTL à New York... Il y a des chansons dont vous connaissez l'air mais pas forcément l'histoire. Pour terminer l'année, cette Lettre d'Amérique sera donc musicale, avec des morceaux qui ont accompag ... Show More
39m 51s