"Star Spangled Banner" Sung in Spanish to Be Released Friday

The initial version of "Nuestro Himno" ("Our Anthem") comes out Friday and features an international array of singers such as Wyclef Jean, Puerto Ricans Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon, and hip-hop star Pitbull. British music producer Adam Kidron, a U.S. resident for 16 years, came up with the idea for a Spanish-language version of the Star Spangled Banner in order to honor the millions of Hispanic immigrants seeking a better life in the United States. The song’s lyrics are "based closely on" the English-language original, said Kidron.

A remix of the song is planned for release this summer, and it will include several lines in English that criticize U.S. immigration laws. "These kids have no parents, ‘cause all of these mean laws," the song will say. "Not start a war with all these hard workers can’t help where they were born." Pitbull praises the intent of the song, saying that this country was built by immigrants. "The meaning of the American dream is in that record: struggle, freedom, opportunity, everything they are trying to shut down on us."

Pro-immigration protests are planned around the country for Monday, with many Hispanic workers and families planning to walk off the job and keep their children from school. Kidron’s record label, Urban Box Office, is urging Hispanic radio stations nationwide to play "Nuestro Himno" at 7:00 p.m. EDT Friday as a sign of solidarity.

Many Americans are infuriated by the idea of "The Star-Spangled Banner" being sung in a language other than English. "Would the French accept people singing the La Marseillaise in English as a sign of French patriotism? Of course not," said Mark Krikorian, one of the song’s critics. Krikorian is head of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think tank that supports tighter U.S. immigration controls. Bryanna Bevens, a writer for the Web ezine Vdare.com, a magazine focused on immigration issues, said that the remix is particularly upsetting to her. "It’s very whiny. If you want to say all those things, by all means, put them on your poster board, but don’t put them on the national anthem."

An associate director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of History, James Gardner, said that Americans have a long history of enjoying the Star-Spangled Banner in various versions. He said that different interpretations of the song have included country and gospel arrangements, so this latest version shouldn’t cause such a stir. "There are a number of renditions that people aren’t happy with, but that’s part of it—that it means enough for people to try to sing."

Kidron says that singing the song in Spanish is appropriate and shouldn’t be received so harshly. After all, he said, American immigrants took the melody of "The Star Spangled Banner" from an English drinking song. "There’s no attempt to usurp anything," Kidron said. "The intent is to communicate." He added that by producing the song, he wanted to show appreciation to the people who buy his records and listen to the music they release, and who "do the jobs I don’t want to do." The song will also be featured on the album "Somos Americanos," which will sell for $10. One dollar of each sale will go to the National Capital Immigration Coalition, a Washington-based immigration group.