Jose Feliciano Retells The Story Of His Controversial Anthem Rendition 50 years Later

Thanks to Bill Dow for hosting the interview.

[kristinacassandravillanuev]

So sad that he got booed in the 60's he's one of the best rendition I've heard. Now 40 years later he got the praise and cheers that he well deserve.

[orobill]

I just finished listening to his rendition and I found it beautiful a lot of people have sung the national anthem horribly and they don't get a lot of grief

[missyvon]

Jose is a National Treasure. I love him. God bless him.

[catherinestachowiak]

It's a beautiful version of our Star Spangled Banner. An American born citizen, I'm very proud of it, and cannot understand what the problem was with it.

[EarthRyno]

I can’t believe how few have watched this. Thank you for this great interview!

[tomjones]

Holy cow! How old is Jose? He looks and sounds great. I recall when his version of light my fire hit the I was there as a youngster in the midwest. It just blew me away. Then I saw him live many years later. Just an amazing performer.

[nereidanunez]

I absolutely loved it! He opened so many doors for others. I love his music!

[nathandroppedoff]

End was hilarious, poor Jose got boos when I think that was the best rendition (yes better than Whitney although she’s second)

[javiercales]

Jose Feliciano deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame now! Please consider so much musical excellence, Light My Fire, Feliz Navidad, interpretaions of so many songs and original hits. His 1968 rendition was the first public interpretation of the song and he was black balled for it, pure racism. He was a leader ahead of his time, a musical genius and virtuoso guitar player.

[silasanguiano]

This is the first time I've heard this different style of the national anthem, , , , I thought it was nice

[ceciliabruck]

Sorry he had to go through the that. Wish I could say we were better today.

[eyesthatsmile-heartthatlov]

I remember this; I was surprised to hear the boos, because it was a beautiful heartfelt rendition. He got a bigger backlash than Roseanne Barr and hers was purposely hilarious; I laughed so hard.

[CristyDeLeon-grro]

No bro you sir are a living legend inhave always respected you

[jmartin]

The best version Jose Feliciano and Whitney Houston no other version, America is one cruel country

[VinylToVideo]

It was awful then and it's awful now. Only back then we had the competence and the nads to know it and say so.

[mangrove]

He was interviewed by Mitch Albom back in the 90s, and revealed that Ernie introduced him to his wife, who was a Detroiter and president of the Jose Feliciano Fan Club at the time.

[whipit]

Proof cancel culture has always existed.

[goblinhairedguy]

One of the greatest moments of my life.

[Hay-xp]

I don't blame people for taking offense against this "liberal interpretation" of a very important anthem.
This wasn't just any old song, the words have deeper meaning than people today realize.
Its meaning has been lost over time and Jose either didn't realize it or didn't care.
Standards used to matter. That's what built the foundation of this country. Eroding those standards with irreverent, flippant interpretations of foundational institutions will erode and destroy those institutions over time.
The chickens have come home to roost and Jose Feliciano is but one of those reasons.
Hippies were the start of that rot.
America is not "everything for everyone". That doesn't work.
It's being proven out right before our eyes and people are more concerned over "feelings" than reality.
If we take it for granted and let it go, we deserve to lose it.
🇺🇲⚰️

[starchild]

Literally the first words he sings is "Jose can you
Poor guy