Is God Bless America patriotic song?
“It’s not a patriotic song,” composer Irving Berlin said in a 1940 interview, “but an expression of gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens, of what home really means.” Today, many Americans consider “God Bless America” an unofficial national anthem of the United States. …
Who sang the original God Bless America?
Irving Berlin
“God Bless America” is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin during World War I in 1918 and revised by him in the run up to World War II in 1938….God Bless America.
| “God Bless America” | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Published | 1939 by Irving Berlin Inc. |
| Genre | Patriotic song |
| Songwriter(s) | Irving Berlin |
Why do we sing God Bless America?
Today, “God Bless America” is often used as a symbol of support for war, sung by soldiers in uniform at baseball games and other events. But when Irving Berlin rediscovered his old song in 1938, he had been looking for a “peace song” as a response to the escalating conflict in Europe.
When was God Bless America first sung?
November 11, 1938
As is befitting, the first time “God Bless America” was ever heard nationally it was sung by Smith. This occurred on November 11, 1938 over Kate Smith’s CBS radio show, “The Kate Smith Hour.” From that first occurrence, Smith seemed to know that this tune was special.
What is Irving Berlin’s most famous song?
His score for the film Holiday Inn (1942) introduced the touching ballad “White Christmas,” which became one of the most popular songs ever recorded.
When did Irving Berlin write God Bless America?
In the fall of 1938, as fascism and war threatened Europe, Irving Berlin decided to write a peace song. He recalled an unpublished version of a song that he had set aside in a trunk, took it out and shaped it into a second national anthem, “God Bless America.”
Who wrote the lyrics for God Bless America?
God Bless America/Lyricists
On air from the mountains to the oceans Berlin, born Israel Baline, was 5 years old when his family arrived in the United States, having fled anti-Semitic persecution in Russia. He became a citizen in 1918, the same year he started his military career and wrote “God Bless America.”
Do you put your hand over your heart for God Bless America?
As citizens, our US Federal Statute (36 U.S. Code § 301 – National Anthem) says we should face the flag (or face toward the music if there is no flag) and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart.
What was Irving Berlin’s first international hit?
Marie from Sunny Italy
When his father died, Berlin, just turned 13, took to the streets in various odd jobs, working as a busker singing for pennies, then as a singing waiter in a Chinatown Cafe. In 1907 he published his first song, “Marie from Sunny Italy,” and by 1911 he had his first major international hit — “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.”
Did Irving Berlin change his name?
Irving Berlin was born Israel Baline on May 11, 1888, in the village of Tyumen, Russia. His family fled to escape the region’s persecution of the Jewish community and settled in New York City in the mid-1890s. He decided to keep the name, becoming Irving Berlin.
Can Irving Berlin read music?
Berlin’s musical genius made him a multimillionaire, but he was unable to read or write a note, and he could compose in only one key, F sharp. Berlin’s music was essentially uncomplicated and slightly sentimental, but it touched a nerve in millons of Americans.
What is the meaning of God Bless America?
“When I say [‘God Bless America,’] I mean that I pray that God will provide the citizens of our country with wisdom sufficient for our many challenges. I pray that America will be a blessing to the larger world and its many nations. This is my prayer for America.”