Marvin Gaye – National Anthem

Pretty sure we've played this before, but I'm about to get on a plane and am doing this with my phone, so here we are.

Enjoy the game, everyone!

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3 thoughts on “Marvin Gaye – National Anthem”

I remember watching this live. It was awesome. And completely respectful, despite what some fuddy-duddy types on the "I'm not racist, some of my friends are black" fringe said afterwards.

Grantland appreciation from 2013.

Rosen listened to Marvin Gaye’s take on “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the scorer’s table at center court. He loved what he heard, but still had concerns. Gaye’s rendition was a break in tradition, and judging by the frenzied response of 17,505 attendees, Rosen knew plenty of people might find it disrespectful. One thing, however, was immediately clear: NBA commissioner Larry O’Brien sure did.

During the first quarter, O’Brien let Rosen have it. The conversation was short and “very colorful,” says Rosen, who declined to go into specifics.

Marvin Gaye had been one of Rosen’s musical heroes. Now Rosen was sure Gaye was going to get him fired. At halftime, Rosen had to check in with Lakers owner Jerry Buss. The walk to the private box was excruciatingly long; it felt like he was heading to the principal’s office.

“What’s the matter?” Buss asked.

Rosen told him.

“That was the greatest anthem of all time,” Buss replied. “Are you kidding?”

somehow, the rabbit hole led me to this gem of a piece in City Pages Michael Jackson bagging on Prince. And then ending with this:

The 2015 biography MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson includes an anecdote about Prince playing "aggressive slap bass" in Jackson's face during a 2006 Las Vegas concert. The incident inspired Jackson to vent to Black Eyed Peas leader will.i.am the following morning over breakfast.

"'Will, why do you think Prince was playing bass in my face?" asked an "outraged" Jackson, according to will.i.am in MJ. "Prince has always been a meanie. He's just a big meanie. He's always been not nice to me. Everybody says Prince is this great legendary Renaissance man and I'm just a song-and-dance man, but I wrote 'Billie Jean' and I wrote 'We Are the World' and I'm a songwriter too."

Probably would have been even better with red glitter eye shadow, but yeah, this is all right.

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