GIVING EVERY SONG THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES

Singer/Arranger Jayda Jeon delivers her unique version of patriotic songs at major sporting events.

 Sometimes being honored can carry more potential dangers than benefits. Singing a national anthem or patriotic song is one of the best examples of this scenario. It seems easy when you are watching someone sing at a sporting event or if you yourself are singing along with hundreds or thousands of others but, when you are taking center stage in front of everyone, it’s a completely different experience. Justifiably, people hold these songs as sacred to themselves and their culture. Because of this fact, it can be precarious to perform them as they are heavily scrutinized. For every Whitney Houston type successful performance, there are thousands of the type which receive jeers from the crowd. There might have been some trepidation on singer/arranger Jayda Jeon’s part when she accepted offers to arrange and perform these types of songs at some of the country’s major sporting events, but it was exceeded by her desire to prove herself and the belief she holds in her talent. Her beliefs were proven correct.

  Jayda was approached the acclaimed band Liquid Blue (from California) to arrange and sing 3 patriotic songs for performances at upcoming major sporting events. She remarks, “I already had a major hit song in J-pop [“Twinkle Twinkle A.B.C.-Z” for the Japanese pop group A.B.C.-Z] and they knew my musical background as well as my writing skills. I’m classically-trained in piano/composition/violin in higher education level at the University in South Korea as well as a multi-instrumentalist (keyboard, bass, guitar, drums). They were checking me out and I was up for it.” As one of California’s most popular party/event bands, Liquid Blue often performs at events for clients like the LA Lakers, LA Clippers, LA dodgers, SD Chargers, SD Padres, etc. Jeon arranged the “Star Spangled Banner”, “America the Beautiful”, and “O Canada” for this project. When Scott Stephens (core band member of Liquid Blue) heard Jayda’s arrangements, he called her immediately to state that she had arranged the best versions of the National Anthem that he had ever heard.

  As an accomplished singer/arranger herself, Jeon recognized some of the challenges that faced her personally when it came to performing these songs. Artists believe in the feeling and connection to the song rather than just singing it. In the same way that actors don’t pretend but rather create a way to personalize a character, Jayda needed to achieve this. As a woman from South Korea, she understood the intention of these songs while also recognizing that it wouldn’t have the same inherent meaning as for American or Canadian citizens…and she wanted to be honest about that. She reveals, “It was a definitely a challenge for someone like me who is not from America or from Canada. These are patriotic songs that are specifically written for the proud people of these countries. I had to make sure that I could sing them in the right way. Singing the National Anthem itself is not a problem: however, to sing these National Anthems in the appropriate and authentic way was the challenging part for me. Unlikely other secular songs, these are the type of pieces that you have to completely understand not only the lyrics, but also the history. Some people might say that I was over thinking this but I believe in giving a song the respect that it deserves.” She continues describing her approach, “I tried to think of the National Anthem (American or Canadian, whichever I was singing) as my own country’s anthem. As someone who traveled and moved all the way from South Korea to the US by myself, I often get homesick. Even though you seize and enjoy the new chapter of your life with all that excitement in a different setting and environment, there are times when you desperately miss those of being surrounded by people you love and places you always have been to. It’s human nature.

 I used these memories and feelings to connect when I performed and it worked really well. I was thinking about my country, my family, and friends whom I would trade my life for while I was singing. I felt this warm-hot emotional feeling and it became easy to get into the song. It was a real feeling from the bottom of my heart and I’m pretty sure that this feeling would be the same if I was an American and singing the American National Anthem.”

  It was with this state of mind and her voice that Jayda found herself at Qualcomm Stadium in front of approximately 63,000 people. This would be crippling for most people and, while Jeon admits to being quite nervous before starting to sing, some people in this world have a purpose and when allowed to stop thinking and act on that purpose…it’s a natural and beautiful thing to behold; which is exactly what 63,000 sports fans did that day. Using her classical training to compose parts for soprano, alto and bass (the other parts were performed by Liquid Blue vocalists Jenny, and Nikki), and spiced up with a few jazz chords to give her arrangement a modern twist, Jayda connected with the song and tens of thousands of sports fans that day.  Reflecting on the experience she realizes, “I took the task on because I wanted a chance to prove myself. Once I was there, performing in front of all these people…I was struck by how music is such an emotional thing for all people. Here I was, a girl from South Korea who loves American Music, singing to a stadium full of Americans about how great their country is…I think we all shared a moment; all 63,000 and three of us. That is the power of music…and I love it!”