“Play My Fiddle with Pride”

The Orioles have had a couple of non-traditional renditions of the Star Spangled Banner recently. Following Kyle Cook’s (of Matchbox 20) guitar performance, last Sunday’s game featured Glenn Donnellan, a National Symphony Orchestra violinist.

There was a twist, though. Check out his bat.

You can also go check out the performance here – note how he stopped for the “O.”

Donnellan won me over later, by appearing on the dugout with the Bird to play the fiddle during ‘Thank God I’m a Country Boy.’

Scott and I are split on whether this was cool or not. I thought it was neat, but Scott is a little more of a traditionalist. In the end, I think he’s right: the SSB should get a traditional treatment without too many embellishments or “look at me” vocal tricks. The Orioles have to fill 81 performances, I guess some of them will be a little unusual.

What say ye, BEV listeners? Would you prefer the O’s to skip on the non-traditional renditions of the national anthem?