“We know he had the tune in mind because the rhyme and meter exactly fit it,” says Marc Leepson, author of the Key biography What So Proudly We Hailed. Although Key was an amateur poet and not a songwriter, when he composed his verses, he intended them to accompany a popular song of the day. “ The Star Spangled-Banner” was not a poem set to a melody years later. Francis Scott Key intended his verses to be song lyrics, not poetry. The 2001 re-release of the single was Houston's last Top Ten hit on the US Hot 100 during her lifetime.1.

This made Houston the first musical act to take the national anthem Top 10 in the US, and have it certified platinum. This time the single peaked at #6 on the US Hot 100, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. She once again donated her share of the royalties, as did Arista Records, towards the firefighters and victims of the terrorist attacks. After the Septemattacks, Arista Records re-released Houston's 'The Star Spangled Banner'. Houston donated her portion of the proceeds.

Traditionally performed at sports games in the US, 'The Star Spangled Banner' was performed by Houston at the original Tampa Stadium for Super Bowl XXV in 1991. The recording was included in the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances and the US edition of the 2000 release, Whitney: The Greatest Hits. The recording was produced by music coordinator Rickey Minor, along with Houston herself. The musical arrangement for Whitney Houston's rendition was by conductor John Clayton.

Written by Francis Scott Key, 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is the national anthem of the United States. 'The Star Spangled Banner' is a charity single recorded by American singer Whitney Houston to raise funds for soldiers and families of those involved in the Persian Gulf War.

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