Nike’s Marvin Gaye National Anthem USA Commercial (Video)
Here is Nike’s new commercial for the USA men’s Olympic basketball team. The footage is backdropped with Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem at the 1983 NBA All-Star game. I posted Marvin’s performance last year ago here on Bump. To me it is easily the most moving rendition of the song. I am not a fan of Nike, but I do have to say “job well done” to the sneaker giants.
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Kudos to Nike for not only choosing the Anthem for the commercial but for not exploiting the Anthem in any way. As famous as Marvin’s Anthem is amongst people “in the know”, it still has never hit the mainstream and hopefully this commercial will introduce it to the masses.
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There was a very similar, slowed down, soulful rendition of the anthem, or possibly “America” ??? right after 9-11. It was on an all day tribute show one of the networks had on where musicians would sing a song interspersed with actors and famous people reading poetry, etc. It has haunted me ever since but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. Does anyone have any idea what it was or where to find it?
This is so very WRONG! The national anthem is a hymn, not a soundtrack. The singing is wonderful, but not the cut away footage of ball players during the signing — they should be standing at attention in respect of their anthem, not depicted playing ball. The Star Spangled Banner is not just any tune. The ad is HIGHLY offensive and disrespectful. It is not supportive of the Olympic team, it degrades it by demeaning what the song represents. I realize this was intended to be a patriotic ad, but it has been done with outrageously bad taste in a manner that demeans the USA anthem.
To NIKE: take this offensive ad off the air NOW!
Mike….. Chill.
I’m a big Marvin Gaye fan and I was lucky to see this live in 1983. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT BACK
I just saw the commercial featuring, who I believe is Marvin Gaye, among a backdrop of Team USA basketball players. I find it appalling that the National Anthem is reduced to a trip-hop back beat to sell gear to ballers. Do you not know what the National Anthem stands for? Don’t try to tell me that the patriotism angle lies within the Olympic umbrella. The bastardization of our country’s national anthem is merely a continuation of what pop ‘vocalists’ feel is within their rights as - and I’m laughing as I type this - artists.
PLEASE leave the National Anthem alone! If you’ve ever been on a Marine or Navy base when Colors blast at 0800, you MIGHT understand what the song truly stands for.
Then again, maybe not. And that’s the sad part.
Mike, I commend you on your reply. And James, chilling while the fabric of this country goes asunder is what they want. I bet you’ll be voting for the GlobalHomoSocialist this November.
Dear N,
We found this Nike commercial to be so moving that I went on the Internet to identify the singer. I found the whole thing, whereas on TV, we have been catching only a portion of this special commercial. I hope that you will enjoy it, too.
Love,
Mom
pure classic, in god i trust