The other night I listened to Jimi Hendrix jamming on The Star Spangled Banner during his performance at Woodstock in 1969. It had been quite a few years since I’ve listened to that performance, and back when I did listen to it last I would have probably called it a period piece, but today I’m not so sure.
When I listen to this music again, I hear the tune of the anthem phasing in and out of recognizability, almost like it is trying to rip itself apart. I hear screams of pain, wails of anger, and the energy of defiance. In 1969, one could listen to this and think of Vietnam, the Democratic National convention in Chicago, the anti-war protests, as a nation variously to redefine itself, or hold on to cherished old definitions, depending on who you spoke to. In short, Jimi’s interpretation of the anthem was a mirror of the soul of a troubled nation. It is also fitting, in an ironic way, that he played on the last morning of Woodstock, when a large portion of the audience had already left. The party was over, and the murder and violence at Altemont later that year merely confirmed this fact.
In the 1970′ – 90’s the U.S. seemed to settle to some degree (athough to some degree this was illusory), and the energy and symbolism of Jimi’s performance seemed disconnected.
Cut to the present day. To me (as a Canadian looking with horror at what the U.S. seems to be becoming, and with concern for the many friends and co-workers I know there), that guitar solo once again seems very symbolic of what is happening today: the religious right, George Bush and the neo-cons, along with their friends and allies are tearing apart what that country is supposed to stand for. In my minds eye, I see the pictures of prisoner abuse; I think of the straightfaced denials of torture, despite the waterboarding scandal, the tragedy that was the response to Katrina; the list goes on and on.
And the anger, confusion and disfunction are a strong as ever, in the music, and in real life.
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