Oh, decid ¿Podéis ver?
But that's exactly what has happened over the past week, at least in parts of the blogosphere. The reaction shouldn't be surprising, though. The anthem, named Nuestro himno (meaning Our Anthem) in the Spanish version, was recorded for reasons political as well as patriotic.
I haven't heard the song yet — parts of it were still being recorded just yesterday — but its lyrics are said to be fairly faithful to the traditional English version (a more politicized version is scheduled to come out this summer). I'm looking forward to hearing it: Most of the time I hear the anthem it's poorly sung at athletic contests by people who barely mumble the words, while I suspect this version is sung with some enthusiasm and even a Latin beat. If you don't hear the song before then, you may be able have your chance at 7 tonight EST, earlier in the other U.S. time zones, when Spanish-language radio stations across the United States plan to broadcast the song simultaneously.
More information about the song can be found in these articles:
- An anthem's discordant notes (The Washington Post)
- Spanish 'Star - Spangled Banner' draws ire (Associated Press/The New York Times)
- Spanish anthem adds fuel to debate (Orange County Register)
- Spanish anthem enters debate on immigration (Miami Herald)
- Se estrena controvertida versión española del himno nacional EEUU (Terra/EFE)
- Polémico, himno de EU en español (El Universal)
- EE.UU.: una versión en español del himno enfurece a los conservadores (Clarín)
Comments
If you want to hear or sing a “spanish” version of the the national anthem, GO BACK to where YOU come from. THIS IS AMERICA not little Havana.
Jo, como te pones. En España ni siquiera el himno tiene letra. Aunque no he oido la cancion entera,me parece que no está muy bien traducida y menos cantada. Pero una pregunta, ¿Qué es America? America del Norte, del Sur,Centroamerica. ¿Qué es? . Hace ya unos años lo que tu llamas America era España y/o Mexico y antes era de los indigenas(nativos americanos). Centrandonos en el tema de la inmigración, los mexicanos dicen que ellos no cruzan la frontera sino que la frontera le cruzo a ellos. You get it?
As a Canadian I’m accustomed to hearing my anthem in both english and french. Don’t you think it’s time to recognize the contribution spanish americans have made, not to mention the number of spanish speaking peoples, in your country…hey how about making spanish your second national language.
How about this song as an american anthem in spanish.
Amo a laura pero esperaré hasta el matrimonio:
http://www.nomiresmtv.com/php/video2.php?id=3
At least , it has rhythm, je,je.
Watch several times and get trapped by its tune
Of course , Just joking.
Salud(os)
Jose Mari
The Spanish Star Spangled Banner is just disrespectful a proving that the illegal do not want “to belong.” They insist in our differences.
Only under one language, under one flag, under one Star Spangled Banner can a person begin to belong.
I am Panamanian, legal immigrant and sincerely feel embarrassed and irritated by the Spanish USA anthem.
I think the issue runs deeper than the recent immigration outburst. I think, like me, many americans feel that we are continually catering to immigrants that in turn are not willing to respectfully learn the language or at least learn to fit into our american society(why would they feel the need to learn english when all we do is cater to them?). As an american, I feel hindered in regards to finding work because I am not bilingual. I am especially frustrated that I can no longer get a correct order from an amercian fast food resturant because of heavy spanish accents or lack of english. I feel that american citizens are the only that bend.
Frustrated in the Land of Contradictions
ABC’s “Good Morning America” reported today that our U.S. Dept of State has already had a Spanish version translation of our National Anthem for years!! One is from 1919… NBC’s Claire Shipman correctly pointed out that over 60 percent of US English speaking citizens do NOT know the words to the song… Amazing! Why all the bruhaha? Is it true patriotism or plain “apple pie” bigotry? I love the U.S. & was born here & served in the Gulf… why do WE (some) Americans stretch things in such an ugly manner & lose credibility with the world beyond our soil?
I would like to know how much of the meaning of our Anthem was actually changed to force the translation into Spanish to fit the Music.
I know that the structure of a sentence is nearly opposite between Spanish and English.
It’s hard for me to imagine really wanting to recognize the values of Life in the United States and not be willing to learn the very same song sung by those who give their lives for the true meaning of the Anthem.
I support all immigrants into this country.I think that those who call themselves “Americans” and still make these racist comments should look back and remember how their ancestors got to this country in the first place. How dare you talk when you have not had to suffer poverty and oppression yourselves. If the National Anthem is sung in English, Spanish, French, German, etc. then power to all because then everyone can share the beautiful words along with all of us. As the person from Canada so beautifully put it, we must all become “accustomed” to each other and each other’s differences. I am a Latina American, born and raised in the United States (taught English to Foreign Born) and will not permit people’s ignorant racism to scar my Patriotic Heart. I will buy the record and be proud of being an American all the more. Thank you to the true Americans who keep an open mind and an open heart. Que Dios Bendiga America!!!!
It seems to me to read better than the English version. It is faithful in every way to the original. It’s actually quite beautiful.
I’m a 5th generation United States citizen. I live fairly close to where my ancestors settled in the 1860s. I am able to visit the cemetary where my relatives are buried. Guess what? More than half of the grave stones are in German. Not one English word to be found. I guess they were just lousy immigrants and never should have been allowed in this country. I guess they should never have been allowed to have German on their headstone. Come On People! Wake Up to the World!
Possible name for the anthem in Spanish…Jose Can U Si!
This is a disgrace. There are alot of things you just don’t do and translating the national anthem is one of them.
“It’s kind of an odd way for illegal immigrants to ask the American people to forgive them for their offenses — to appropriate one of our symbols and make it suit them better,” -Mark Krikorian
I think we need to be honest about what’s causing the controversy. Living in the Southwest myself I see the virulent Nationalism of the immigrant communities in full force. The issue has gone from one of the rule of law into a racial one. An easy and intellectually dishonest way of negating your opponents opinion these days is to throw out the ‘Racism’ card. This is not simply an English to Spanish translation of the Star Spangled banner…it’s a complete revision with words that focus upon one’s ethnicity and national origin as being important and somehow sacrosanct. What happened to the ‘melting pot’, man?!
Nuestro Himno (Which means ‘Our Anthem’…c’mon! Get over it!):
We are brothers in our anthem. (Why do people feel the need to be noticed and seen as “special” because of national or racial identity? Again, where is our melting pot, people!?Please!)
In fierce combat, a symbol of victory
the glory of battle,
My people fight on (Again, let’s make it about ‘race’ or nationality…so as to villify the opposition and quell the objections which are about ‘the law of the land’ NOT race.)
the march toward liberty.
The time has come to break the chains. (What chains?! Have they been to a latin american country lately? Can you say, “Govt. corruption”?)
You know what? I have no sympathy for those who are so bent out of shape over this. Someone translated the Star-Spangled Banner into Spanish? Big freakin’ deal! It’s not a “disgrace”, it’s not “one of those things that you don’t do”. Because you know what? Most people in this country can’t even sing the full song. So many people don’t know the words. Nobody listens to the Star-Spangled Banner unless it’s at the beginning of a baseball game. All the people here that are getting so mad (Julie, Deyka, John), I know none of you have that song saved on your playlist. No one in this country finds the national anthem “sacred”, so it escapes me how people suddenly become so passionate about such a petty issue. Why do you care if some immigrants who don’t speak English are willing to take pride in your country when you’re too lazy to? You know what? Get over it.
When in America do as the Americans do! When in Puerto Rico, etc do as they do. It is my understanding that the current spanish version of the national anthem is completely changed in a way that I feel is disrepectful to Americans and especially our fore fathers who created this song. Why don’t we translate into Chinese, (Chinatown in NY), or Russian (communities in Brooklyn). We have many other nationalities in our country and we don’t post signs for them in their language or they don’t ask for us to change our traditions. I have been to some of the Islands where it was necessary to leave after only several hours because of the horrible way in which we were treated. I personally feel that if anyone who has immigrated to the US and they are not comfortable with our traditons or way of living then they should return to their own countries where they can live more comfortable and be happier.
Um, they translated the anthem into Spanish. How does this hurt us? It’s just the same thoughts mapped out onto another language. Just because there’s a Spanish version, there isn’t any reason to get upset. I don’t understand why this could possibly hurt us; unless you’re Native American, you’re not even from America. The United States is a combination of worldwide cultures, and I think the Anthem deserves to be translated into every language.