Somebody has to say something. Somebody has to stop it from happening again. We have one week until our Big Ten home opener, and we have to rise up and take control of our image. If we don’t, who will?

UW Band member, Erin Taylor, a flugelhorn player, has been singing The Star Spangled Banner a lot this year. Before I go on, let me make something clear…. I couldn’t sing it, and as a musician I understand how difficult the song is. Erin should be commended for standing up in front of 17,142 fans and making such an attempt. However, just because we had band-geek, Mrs. Wilkinson, singing last year, doesn’t mean we need the trend to continue.

The local Army Reserve members march into position, the players line up as an extension of each free throw line, and the crowd silences… the drum roll commences… and now I have to put my hands up to cover my ears. Maybe it’s the band giving her a flat key-note? Maybe she’s psychic and can hear all the thoughts of the 17 thousand+ in attendance.. that would surely throw me off too. But the fact of the matter is, she’s out of tune… badly.

Maybe the rest of us just need to sing that much louder to drown it out… but it’s impossible to drown out 10,000 watts of waivering pitch bends.

Where does this end?

I’ll tell you where. I’ve contacted the University and am waiting a response about the correct person to contact about giving Erin the boot. I’ll post it here as soon as I have it so everyone can chime in.

Erin… play that flugelhorn… but please, please stop singing.