'When you're an artist, taking a risk is what it's all about'

By James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 3, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated July 3, 2008 at 1:03 p.m.

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Photo by The Rocky / File Photo/2008

Singer Rene Marie, in her Broomfield home, defends her patriotism. "I love living in this country," she said Tuesday, hours after she performed.

The woman whose parents had once detonated tumult within the status quo by daring to eat at a segregated lunch counter stood before the microphone, nervous, resolute and about to detonate some tumult of her own.

And although she had a pretty good idea that when she was done there would be "some eyebrows raised," what Rene Marie didn't know was that when you start making substitutions for "bombs bursting in air," you just might ignite a firestorm all your own.

Which is why the heralded 52-year-old Denver jazz singer's decision on Tuesday to blend the words of Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing - the "Black National Anthem" - to the music of The Star-Spangled Banner has landed her at ground zero of a controversy in which her patriotism and love of country are being questioned.

Perhaps unfairly.

"I love living in this country," she told the Rocky Mountain News on Tuesday, hours after she had performed, but a day before the story exploded. "I'm so attached to it."

Friends and admirers of Marie are attached to her and have expressed support.

"Rene Marie is a kind, intelligent, loving person. The lyrics she sang are beautiful, patriotic and heartfelt," said local singer Lannie Garrett.

Incendiary aftermath

Although she wonders if Marie shouldn't have alerted city officials about her intentions. Garrett says of the incendiary aftermath, "I think as fellow citizens and human beings we need to show one another more kindness, love and understanding . . . there are so many more important things to become outraged about - like hatred and intolerance."

Echoing Garrett is Susan Gatschet Reese, a friend and assistant program director at jazz radio station KUVO, who believes Marie meant no disrespect.

"She's caring, she's outspoken, she's honest, she cares about the community, and she speaks out on issues that are important to her," says Gatschet Reese.

"She's a very warm person," says Norman Provizer, professor of political science at Metropolitan State College and Rocky jazz critic. "People shouldn't get the impression that she's some bitter, hateful, revenge-seeking-through-the-arts kind of person.

She's quite the opposite."

Provizer also says, "I know Rene reasonably well, and I don't think she planned this in order to cause a stir.

"This is the first time anything like this has happened to her, and it can be overwhelming when you become the food in the media chase.

I think it's accurate to say she's surprised at the tons of (angry) e-mails and phone messages she's gotten. "

'I didn't tell anybody'

The angry response has not been limited to private citizens. Mayor John Hickenlooper said he felt "deceived" by Marie, a reaction that could not have entirely surprised her. As she told the Rocky on Tuesday, "I knew my rendition of the national anthem was not the typical rendition, but I didn't tell anybody . . . and I deliberately did not because I don't think it is necessary for artists to ask permission to express themselves artistically."

From Marie's point of view, "My experience is when you have to ask permission, most likely you're gonna get shot down. And some of the most important things that have happened in this country wouldn't have happened if the person who did it had asked permission first."

She went on to say, "There have been times when I've composed music that has made some people very uncomfortable, but that never stopped me before."

Although she knew that singing at a city function was different from singing on a stage, she was prepared to take that risk because "when you're an artist, taking a risk is what it's all about."

There seems to be a magnetic attraction between Marie and risk. When her career was just taking off, she ignored the owner of a prestigious Chicago jazz club when he ordered her to stop "insulting jazz" with her original songs and stick to the standards. And she recently walked away from a recording contract with a major independent jazz label because she wanted to have total artistic control over her CDs.

Taking risks is something her parents taught her when they were among a group that tried to desegregate a restaurant in Warrington, Va, Marie's hometown, in the 1960s. In fact, it was her parents' courage that enabled her to do what she did on Tuesday.

"Let me tell you, I was so scared before I sang that," she said.

But thinking of her parents and determined that "you can't let other people decide for you how you are going to express love for your country," she opened her mouth and sang.

Two minutes and six seconds later, the song was over but the drama was just beginning.

meadowj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2606. Staff writer Daniel Chacon contributed to this story.

Anthem anthology

The song that Denver vocalist Rene Marie sang at the Denver City Council meeting in lieu of The Star-Spangled Banner was Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, also known as the "Black National Anthem." The music was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1902, with lyrics by his brother. Johnson, 1871-1938, was born in Jacksonville, Fla., and was the first black to pass the bar exam in Florida. An educator, musician, author, poet and diplomat, Johnson also served as general secretary of the NAACP in the late 1920s.

Other noteworthy performances of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

Jose Feliciano, Oct. 7, 1968: Feliciano's performance in Detroit at the fifth game of that year's World Series created a furor, as one of the first stylized readings of the song on a national stage and coming as it did during the Vietnam War. Feliciano said his down-tempo reading was meant in gratitude to a county that had given him a chance at stardom.

Jimi Hendrix, August 17, 1969: Hendrix's feedback-laced solo guitar rendition at Woodstock became an icon of the 1960s counterculture era. Marvin Gaye, Feb. 13 1983: Gaye's soulful version at the NBA All- Star Game in Los Angeles was transcendant or a travesty, depending on your point of view.

UP Roseanne Barr, July 25, 1990: Barr - a comedian, not a singer - stumbled through an off-key version, widely regarded as the anthem's worst rendition, at a San Diego Padres baseball game then tried to add a bit off-color baseball humor by spitting and grabbing her crotch.

• July 3, 2008

  6:21 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Mike_In_Hartsel writes:

  Real artists don't have lie to get their work seen and heard by the public.

• July 3, 2008

  7:08 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  CO_Native_CO writes:

  "taking a risk is what it's all about" ??? What crap. If she was on her own stage and not being asked to represent the city then by all means "take the risk". But that's not where she was and I believe it showed great disrespect to subvert what she was asked to do. An Honor to be asked, I might add... Flush... Career down the toilet in Denver...

• July 3, 2008

  7:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  DenverArtist writes:

  Got that right....there will always be "Rebels" no matter what, someone always speaking their heart. I don't condon what Marie did, I just feel it was the wrong stage to express it. We all have rights to freedom of expression, but not at the cost of ones credibility. You work hard to get to that place artistically, one bad decision can crumble the once stable ground you walk on.It s#@*s to be her.
  What??? " S#@*s" is a bad word watch my mouth? see...I even get crap from the Rocky Mountain proof reader, loll!

• July 3, 2008

  7:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  DenverArtist writes:

  Well...in her mind and others it was a chance for her to express her need to show how she feels about this country. We can cry and complain all we want, it's a done deal...but her career will either suffer or it will grow. One can only imagine.

• July 3, 2008

  7:50 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  sheepherder writes:

  What a moron! This woman shouln't get one more minute of press time! I hope her career goes down the tubes too! And art...it has nothing to do with race! Get over your racist attitude for one minute and open your eyes! It's about someone stepping all over tradition and patriotism! Some idiot singer wanted to make a point! And she did. And if it's not your anthem, sing the Mexcan anthem in Mexico city! And take your reverse racism with you!

• July 3, 2008

  8:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  WhadUsay writes:

  This was not nor is it about Race. Rene Marie says herself this was her decision for her own artistic expression of her love of her country.

  What this is about is deceiving the people who invited her and the people who attended. She was asked to sing "The National Anthem" and as of 1931 "The Star Spangled Banner" for better or worse IS "The National Anthem". So, for her to ignore the request and sing a song she wanted instead of what she had agreed to sing is disrespectful and arroagant.

  I think she has a lovely voice and I do not thing, in the long run, this will affect her career very much but she will always be remembered here in Denver as "that woman who didn't sing the National Anthem", which is very sad.

  I wish she had been up front with the City and the Mayor and said that while she is honored to sing The National Anthem she would also like to sing another patriotic song that speaks to her in another way.

• July 3, 2008

  8:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  sheepherder writes:

  Oh Art, she didnt step on anything of yours because you are Mexian through and through. You just take advantage of this country and refuse to assimilate. Ohhh, it's nice and warm under these covers!

• July 3, 2008

  9:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  dirty writes:

  Why is this even a news story? There was a point in time when the Rocky actually was a newspaper, in that it investigated and reported the news. Now it just seems to print fluff pieces.

  As for Marie; I have no problem with the song or her singing it. If I visited a jazz club and heard it I would have no problems. The issue here is a lack of integrity in her actions. She was asked, and agreed to perform a particular song. She lied, and then did something different. If you don't have the integrity to be honest in your intentions, you will face a negative backlash.

  What is sad is that racists, both black and white are using this incident to further there own agendas.

  I am still wondering whether the city paid Marie for her performance. Anyone know?

• July 3, 2008

  2:17 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RoninSpirit writes:

  I think that most intelligent and decent Americans have no problem with Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing. I personally think it’s a lovely and inspirational song. Just like our American National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. And, Rene does have a beautiful voice and she did a great job singing the song. However, the “outrage” that a lot of people have was not with her performance of the song, but with her reason for choosing to sing it, which was because “as a black woman” she “feels like a foreigner” in her own country. That’s what sparked all this attention.

  Yes, this is about racism, because Rene made it about racism. If she had sung the National Anthem and then afterwards she sang Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, without any commentary, there wouldn’t have been any controversy. None. But, that’s not what happened. She made a statement about race and then she chose not to sing the National Anthem. Does this make her a horrible person? No.

  Artstarzz, the National Anthem is not “racist” and about “war”. Again, your comments reveal your prejudice and your ignorance. So, please allow me to take your role—and teach you. The Star Spangled Banner, a poem, was written by Francis Scott Key, after he witnessed a major battle during the War of 1812. The poem is about the inspiration of perseverance during tumultuous times. True to what he experienced, yes, the poem’s setting takes place during a war. But it is not about war. And there is absolutely nothing racist about the poem. Our National Anthem is a song of inspiration intended to represent ALL Americans, no matter our heritage or race.

  And, Artstarzz, you are not correct when you imply that only “white” people are upset with Rene’s performance and comments. That is not true. A few of the city officials, who are black, or African American, were not happy. One official confessed to being downright mad. A lot of the outrage towards Rene Marie’s comments from all across the country is coming from Americans of many different ethnic/racial backgrounds, not just “whites”. Your observation obviously shows that you are a racist.

  The problem with Rene Maries’ comments is that she is a relatively famous performer, she has done fairly well for herself as a jazz vocalist, she has been blessed with a life that many wish they could have, yet she states that she is somehow a victim. People have a hard time accepting that. It seems many people feel that the only thing Rene is really suffering from is a slight case of narcissism.

• July 3, 2008

  2:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  sheepherder writes:

  Art, I was just waiting for the racist comment! What took you so long!

• July 5, 2008

  7:52 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RoloFan writes:

  "Her career will grow"

  LOL, that's a hoot. She got her 15 minutes of fame by embarrassing the mayor and the City Council president. Not much to build a career on. I've heard and read her name about twice in this whole hullabaloo. Two weeks from now, I wouldn't be able to tell you her name; 6 months from now I'll barely remember this story and a year from now, we all will be wondering what all the fuss was about.

  Since she claims to be a jazz singer, maybe she'll make a big enough impression in that field someday that I'll remember who she is. But it won't be because of this story. She will have proved herself as an artist in her industry. She's just a dime a dozen singer now; someone who blew an opportunity by getting the wrong kind of exposure.

  The only artists who could make any sort of impact with this type of behavior would be the big names: Beyonce, Whitney, Alicia Keyes.

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