Jul 2, 2008 4:47 pm US/Mountain
'Black Nat'l Anthem' Overshadows State Of The City
By P. Solomon Banda, AP Writer
DENVER (AP) ―
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Rene Marie performs Lift "Every Voice and Sing" at the State of the City Address.
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A performer triggered a wave of angry criticism and hate e-mails when she sang the words to a song known as the black national anthem instead of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a city function.
Denver jazz singer Rene Marie sang the lyrics to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" to the tune of the national anthem on Tuesday before hundreds of people at Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's annual State of the City speech.
Hickenlooper, who had invited Marie to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," said Wednesday, "she deceived us." He said she didn't tell him she was going to make the switch.
"We will do whatever it takes to ensure that a situation like this never occurs again, even if I have to sing he national anthem myself," he said.
Marie didn't return a call from The Associated Press. She told the Rocky Mountain News she didn't disclose her plans because she didn't think it was necessary "for an artist to ask permission to express themselves artistically."
"I would not change a thing," she told the newspaper.
Hickenlooper said earlier that Marie had apologized for any problems she caused and had told him the song was an artistic expression of her love for her country.
"She said she meant no disrespect of any kind and that her song was in no way intended to be a political statement," Hickenlooper said.
Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo issued a statement condemning Hickenlooper and saying the mayor and the singer should apologize.
Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter criticized Marie, telling KOA radio in Denver the anthem and the American flag "represent who we are as Americans and the ability to, in many respects, to get beyond the differences."
City Council President Michael Hancock, who introduced Marie by saying she would sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," said he has been getting hate e-mails from people who think he was in on her plan.
"By association, people think I invited her to sing, that there was deception on my part. It's painful for people to say that. ... There's no motive for me to do that. I was as shocked and disappointed at what she did as everyone else."
Hancock refused to release any of the e-mails, saying he didn't want to publicize the hate they contained.
Scores of readers posted criticism of Marie on Denver newspaper Web sites next to reports of the incident.
"Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899 commemorate President Lincoln's action freeing slaves. The lyrics include, "Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us."
City Councilman Charlie Brown said Marie may have been trying to upstage Hickenlooper to boost her singing career.
He also said the singer, who is black, may have been trying to "become a hero of the black movement, to advance a cause by doing that."
"But it showed disrespect to me, the mayor, and the forum where she was at," he said. "She didn't live up to what she verbally promised to do and that is sing the national anthem."
Complete Hickenlooper CommentsThe following is Mayor John Hickenlooper's complete statement about the matter, released to the media on Wednesday:"The City asked Rene Marie to sing the national anthem at yesterday's State of the City event. She agreed to do so, and she deceived us.
Her actions showed a lack of understanding for how strongly our community feels about patriotic symbols and traditions, and overshadowed a day of great importance to our City.
We all respect artistic license and support freedom of expression. But in a tradition-laden civic ceremony that included a law enforcement color guard presenting our flags and the Pledge of Allegiance – making a personal substitution for the national anthem was not an option. We asked for the Star Spangled Banner and that's what we expected.
No matter what her reasons for taking this action and deliberately withholding her plans from event organizers, she absolutely chose the wrong time and place to do it. She knew what the City's expectations were, and she was dishonest about her intentions. She imposed her personal choices and their consequences on others – depriving our 12,000 City employees and community-at-large of an opportunity to have their collective accomplishments celebrated and leaving many in our community feeling disrespected.
We will do whatever it takes to ensure that a situation like this never occurs again, even if I have to sing the national anthem myself.
As we approach the Independence Day weekend, Denver – as always – is committed to the values that symbols like our flag and our national anthem represent.
Every year, a local vocalist is invited to sing the national anthem at the State of the City event. No compensation is ever attached to this invitation, and Rene Marie was not paid for her performance.
Given the volume of questions the City is receiving about Rene Marie's decision, she invited those calling and e-mailing to contact her at 303-520-6705 or
rene@renemarie.com."
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