In celebration of our Independence Day I have selected the Star Spangled Banner as our cover of choice this week. Those not familiar with the history of our nation’s National Anthem should click the link above and learn how a poem from 1814 was set to the tune of a popular drinking song and became our Nation’s #1 theme song.

I’m not going to have a vote this week (wouldn’t everyone vote for Hendrix?), so I guess this is more of a B List than a Cover Wars. There have been a lot of amazing performances of the Star Spangled Banner and I have compiled a variety of videos selecting some of my favorites (while giving preferential treatment to the artists most frequently covered here on Hidden Track) but also including a few mainstream artists as well.

Marvin Gaye (1983 NBA All Star Game):

READ ON after the jump for many more performances of the Anthem….

Phish (New Jersey Nets game 6/12/2003):

Umphrey’s McGee (U.S. Cellular Field - Chicago, IL):

Members of the Grateful Dead:

Eddie Vedder (NBA Finals 1998):

Jimi Hendrix (Woodstock 1969):

John Bell of Widespread Panic (Detroit Tigers 4/12/2008)

Smokey Robinson (The 1986 World Series, Fenway Park):

Surfjan Stevens has his own rendition, with added verses:

Whitney Houston (Superbowl XXVl):

Beyoncé (Superbowl XXXVIII):

Hayden Panettiere (Washington DC July 4th, 2007):

The Bellagio in Las Vegas:

Have I missed your favorite version? It’s quite possible. Leave a comment with a link to any rendition I may have overlooked.