Recently a well-known Townsperson posted a poll question that invited fellow Townspeople to poke fun at Daryl Hall, of the popular vocal duo Hall & Oates, for failing to show for his scheduled singing of the National Anthem before Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. His old singing partner, John Oates, filled in admirably, and some of us thought we were having some fun.
It was then brought to our attention that Mr. Hall was feeling “under the weather” owing to a flare up of his Lyme disease – no laughing matter – and that otherwise he would never have missed this great honor in front of his hometown fans on baseball’s largest stage. It was then brought to my attention that this would have been Hall’s second singing of the National Anthem before a Phillies’ home World Series game. Hall sang before one of the 1993 games, which I sadly missed while living abroad.
As our way of kicking off the final innings of the suspended Game 5 and apologizing to Daryl Hall, John Oates, Oates’ moustache, and the first two (and only) unadorned notes sung by Pattie LaBelle in her rendition the night before, Rock Town Hall remembers Daryl Hall’s 1993 redition of our National Anthem[.em…em…].
As our way of keeping it real, who better delivered the anthem, Hall or Oates?
I think that’s the first time I could really hear Oatesie’s voice. Where did his stache go?
Nice quiet storm groove for Hall’s version but I think I’ll go with Oates version. I like the way he just starts in – no worrying about what key he is going to sing it in.
This, by the way, is AWESOME: http://www.glyphjockey.com/punkbb.htm.
Neither one did it in a minute. I liked Oates better, at least he knew he needed some help from the crowd. I swear there’s a guy who is “officially” named D.C. Washington who sings the song a lot for Nats games who can really get through that thing quickly. I appreciate brevity, a restrained amount of straining, and sticking to one key.
Oh, man, those cards are incredibly cool. I think Ringo with his number appearing in a star was a missed opportunity. Paulie, perhaps as first bass.
Hall’s trip hop version was surprisingly effective, but I liked the way Oates invited the crowd to join him. That’s what it’s supposed to be about. The featured singer is supposed to be leading the crowd not hogging the spotlight.
Phillies over Rays in five.
EXTRA. SENSORY. BASEBALL. PERCEPTION.
Mockcarr, can you *please* give me at least a respectful nod of the head here?
Your psychic friend,
HVB
Man, Hrrundi, you called it. Much snaps to you. I’d like to go outside into the Philly night, but I’m afraid I’d get set on fire.
Hrrundi, you’ve GOT IT, baby! Great call!
Great, that’s ANOTHER beer I owe Hrrundi. Now, what am I thinking of RIGHT NOW, HVB?
And yes, it does have to do with baseball.
Morganna, the kissing bandit?
Hmm, if only, but what is she, sixty now?
I was wondering if they cut off beer sales after the seventh inning last night.
I was wondering that too, Mockcarr. There was actually an article in the local press. It turns out that the resumption of the game counted as a new event. Although the team did not announce when beer would be cut off, some vendors said that the inside word was they could sell through the 9th inning. Had that game gone into extra innings the crowd would have had to experience it without additional beer.
That was actually a big enough question for people that the papers looked into it and found out they were allowed to sell past the seventh.
Post-game, at the bar where I was, the song the jukebox that did best with the crowd was, somewhat curiously, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Bruntlett’s Beard should definitely take a Band song for its batting music from here on out.
Mind you, I never said I knew for sure that that was why Hall canceled; I just know enough about Lyme Disease that it’s a good bet.
P.S.: Oates! A cappella beats cheesy drum-machine soul! And too many guitar faces on Hall, particularly since he wasn’t playing guitar.