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Thursday, July 17, 2008

GUEST POST: BOBBY REED

My good friend Bobby Reed, music writer of no little pedigree, has graciously contributed a post on Tuesday night's All-Star Game...or, at least, about part of the festivities. Thanks, Bobby!!!



This is the final season for the “House That Ruth Built,” so it was fitting that Yankee Stadium would be the site for this year’s All-Star Game. Tuesday night in the Bronx, prior to the 79th Annual All-Star Game, the national anthem was sung by…a Missouri native…and a multiple Grammy winner…wait for it…Sheryl Crow.

In the past, I have enjoyed some of Sheryl Crow’s music, for sure. But for this event? Really, MLB? That’s the best you could do? Was Michael Bolton not available? Did you misplace Taylor Hicks’s phone number? Sheryl Crow is okay, but I can think of at least 20 acts that would have been more appropriate for this historic occasion. See below.

--Bobby Reed


The 2008 All-Star Game National Anthem:

20 ACTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE THAN SHERYL CROW


1) Paul Simon—a Yankees fan; attended Queens College; an American icon

2) Bruce Springsteen—beloved by New Yorkers; wrote “Glory Days”; an American icon

3) Billy Joel—native New Yorker; Yankees fan; also playing a farewell gig for Shea Stadium

4) Bernie Williams—former Yankee; World Series hero; jazz guitarist

5) Jon Bon Jovi—arena football team owner, Jersey guy; played a Central Park concert for MLB last weekend

6) Meatloaf—known to play softball now and then

7) Gretchen Wilson—country singer recently recorded “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for ESPN

8) Simon & Garfunkel —What the heck, let’s get Artie out there, too.

9) Frankie Valli—Jersey Boy

10) Brooke Shields—native New Yorker; veteran of Broadway musicals

11) Sean Hayes—former “Will & Grace” star currently on Broadway in “Damn Yankees”

12) Hank Aaron—was in attendance; probably does everything well, including singing

13) Madonna & Alex Rodriguez—both need some publicity

14) Woody Allen—native New Yorker; American icon; badass clarinetist

15) Gwyneth Paltrow—sang alongside Huey Lewis in “Duets”; married to a musician; friend of Madonna

16) Michael Bolton—has been photographed wearing a baseball cap

17) Taylor Hicks—rabid fan base known as the Soul Patrol could have bolstered the TV ratings

18) Willie Nelson—brings a sweet aroma of gravitas with him everywhere he goes

19) John Fogerty—wrote “Centerfield; wears a bandana; American icon

20) My Mother—has attended more baseball games than Sheryl Crow, and Mom wouldn’t have made the mistake of bringing an acoustic guitar with her

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great list, but it needs some more soul, so please allow me to "intrude"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-zQFeDYD4E

12:54 PM, July 18, 2008

 
Blogger Tom said...

'Damn Yankees' isn't technically on Broadway. It's a B'Way CONTRACT, yes, but it's the City Center Encores series, not technically Broadway.

Stu, my old roommate Jay is in 'Damn Yankees,' BTW. The show, I mean. Not the band.

11:05 AM, July 19, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, given the bland, feel-good vibe that MLB, ESPN and Fox Sports have increasingly been trying to impose upon the sport, I think Ms. "Soak Up the Sun" was an appropriate choice.

I agree that Billy Joel would have been an excellent alternative, and I'm not even a fan of his. Me, I would loved to have seen Debbie Harry do it...

3:05 PM, July 19, 2008

 
Blogger Winona said...

I guess Sheryl Crow is middle-America enough and overall appealing... but there are definitely much better, NYC-centric choices (all of which I think you covered, Bobby). But hey, at least they didn't get someone for the younger kids, like the Jonas Brothers or Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus.

8:19 AM, July 21, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Winona, MN - prettiest place in the Midwest.

10:01 AM, July 21, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd like to see a list of dead musicians who would have been appropriate -- starting with Joey Ramone.

4:47 PM, July 21, 2008

 
Blogger Stuart Shea said...

A short list of dead musicians who would have been appropriate:

*Frank Sinatra
*Joey Ramone
*Nico
*Tim Hardin
*John Lennon
*Ella Fitzgerald

9:53 PM, July 22, 2008

 
Blogger Woodwards Friend said...

Bruce Springsteen would have been bad ass. Nothing better than Babbitt-esque white people misinterpreting an ironically themed Bruce Springsteen song. Forget the National Anthem just let him do Born in the USA so the regular 'Mericans can rock out and remember that the Vietnam War was awesome.

1:07 PM, August 02, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

12-6-2018

Hello To Everyone That Reads My Comment:

I'm writing this in response to 'Woodard's Friend' on 8-2-2008 and His Friend said the following statement:

'Mericans Can Rock Out And Remember That The Viet Nam War (Actually It
was The Vietnam Conflict) was Awesome.'

I, personally don't like your above mentioned Remark/Statement and find it Offensive and Disrespectful to us Viet Nam Vets.
And I know that a lot of other Vets feel the same way.

Hey Woodwards Friend, Don't dare come to my town or We will Tar And Feather Your Body and chase You out of town.
I sure hope that you are still alive and read my comment...
Viet Nam Vet 1965 & 1966.
What did YOU do for YOUR Country?

3:11 PM, December 06, 2018

 

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