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It's Star Spangled Spanish

New version of U.S. anthem recorded by Latino pop stars has critics, including President Bush

BY BART JONES.Staff Writer; This story was supplemented with an Associated Press report.

April 29, 2006

A British music producer says he simply wanted to honor immigrants by coming up with a Spanish-language version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that he dubbed "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Hymn."

Instead, the "We Are The World"-style collaboration by Latino pop stars of the national anthem in Spanish is setting off praise and criticism among everyone from local Latino immigrants to President George W. Bush. The song, which is not a literal translation, was released Friday just ahead of a national pro-immigrant economic boycott scheduled for Monday.

"One of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue, that we not lose our national soul," Bush said Friday at a Rose Garden question-and-answer session. "One of the great things about America is that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us."

Referring to a Spanish language "Star-Spangled Banner," Bush said, "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English."

The song was produced by Adam Kidron of the New York City-based entertainment company Urban Box Office. It features an ensemble of stars including Ivy Queen, Gloria Trevi, Carlos Ponce, and Haitian-American artist Wyclef Jean.

Kidron, a U.S. resident for 16 years, said Bush should listen to the song before criticizing it.

"The intention of recording 'Nuestro Himno' has never been to discourage immigrants from learning English and embracing American culture," he said. "We instead view 'Nuestro Himno' as a song that affords those immigrants that have not yet learned the English language the opportunity to fully understand the character of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' the American flag and the ideals of freedom that they represent."

But reaction among local immigrants was mixed.

"I think that's great," said Chung-Hwa Hong, head of the New York Immigration Coalition, an advocacy group. "I think the national anthem sounds great in any language."

Matilde Parada, a Latino community organizer in Farmingville, said she thought the song would divide the immigrant community. "I don't think it's a good idea," the native of El Salvador said in Spanish. "I wouldn't like it if they sang my anthem in English."

She added that the song "is adding gasoline to the fire" amid the national debate over illegal immigration.

A remix of the national anthem to be released in June will contain several lines condemning U.S. immigration laws, supporters said.

This story was supplemented with an Associated Press report.

'Nuestro Himno'

An English translation of a Spanish-language version of the national anthem:

The day is breaking, do you see it?

In the light of the dawn?

What we so acclaimed at nightfall?

Its stars, its stripes, flew yesterday

In the fierce battle in a sign of victory,