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# Americans Propose Changing National Anthem to One with Notes People Can Actually Sing
- URL: https://www.theobserverer.com/americans-propose-changing-national-anthem-to-one-with-notes-people-can-actually-sing/
- Published: 2026-10-23T17:11:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:11:59.000Z
- Author: Nathania Johnson

WASHINGTON, DC - A bipartisan group of Americans descended upon Capitol Hill on Friday to address one of the nation's most pressing but overlooked issues: The Star-Spangled Banner is just too hard to sing.

"I love my country, but there are a few things I would have changed. And one of them is our anthem. It's just too dang hard," said Lance Mooney of Bloomington, Indiana.

The anthem is notoriously difficult for singers to pull off, with the traditional arrangement spanning a whopping 1.5 octaves. Most people struggle with the highest note towards the end of the song with the lyric "land of the free," which is called an F5\. Experts we reached out to unanimously called this a "high ass note."

"I used to be able to hit that note, but after my doctor told me to cut out alcohol, I just haven't been getting there," said Cecily Hebert, a self-proclaimed, self-trained singer.

The anthem's difficulty has created several occasions where singers can't quite reach the high note, which has resulted in winced facial expressions, trauma responses and even hearing loss.

"I sure as hell don't feel like I'm in the land of the free when I'm forced against my will to hear a screaming banshee absolutely butcher that song. And my eardrums," said Stephen Pritchard, who now wears a hearing aid, unless the Star-Spangled Banner is being sung.

Still, one singer had different ideas about the direction a revised anthem should take.

"I want the new song to have even higher notes," said Mariah Carey. "The current version doesn't come close to showing off my range."