Oh, say should you see - or hear - a new song as our national anthem?

Washington Post pundit Michael Kinsley made the suggestion a couple of weeks ago. He's not the first to do so. For years critics have noted that "The Star- Spangled Banner" is hard to sing.

This flaw has been magnified by the tradition of playing the anthem before sporting events, meaning that we hear it sung badly all the time. And when modern entertainers and celebrities accustomed to lip-sync are called upon to "sing" the anthem at big events, the results can be cringeinducing.

The content of the anthem also draws criticism. Some don't like its "bombs bursting in air" tone. Less squeamish types want it reconsidered, too. While it celebrates the British failure to take Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, that war was the greatest fiasco in American military history. You don't have to be a jingoist to think the nation's official song should celebrate a success, not a failure.

There are plenty of songs that stir patriotic hearts. Look at the program for tonight's Utah Symphony Patriotic Celebration at Sundance Resort. There's Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring," Morton Gould's "American Salute," and more.

But do the many alternatives have the right stuff?

"My Country, 'Tis of Thee," often called "America," is bland.

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" - with all due respect to performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - is a Northern song from the Civil War that lugs a load of historical freight and must grate on Southern ears. Any choice should, after all, be a national anthem, not a regional one. Besides, it has been parodied too much. People of a certain age can't hear about "where the grapes of wrath are stored" without hearing parodist Allan Sherman honking out: "... where the drapes of Roth are stored."

There are other choices. A hip one might be "This Land is Your Land," by Woody Guthrie. But Guthrie's left-wing politics would spark political spats. There are times for them, but not before every ball game or state event. Ditto for Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."

Copland's "Appalachian Spring" is too regional, his "Fanfare for the Common Man" a bit too universal and perhaps too political to boot.

There are other contenders, but in the end there are some reasons to stick with what we've got. So what if it's hard to sing? "Happy Birthday" and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" are easy but uninspiring. Perhaps it's appropriate to see the national anthem's difficulty as a metaphor for the struggles Americans have faced in taming a continent and keeping it free.

If an entertainer genuinely can't sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," he or she should get some lessons. In some cases, that would be a great idea anyway.

After all, it can be sung well. Performers from Billy Joel to Beyonce have brought off creditable, even moving, renditions. If there's anything that's un-American, it's giving up on something because something's too difficult.

War references are actually fitting in a way. In our generally safe modern age, it's a good idea to be reminded of the price of liberty.

Moreover, tradition now adds weight to the song. We hear it at presidential inaugurations and at ballparks, at the Olympic games and school assemblies. These associations make the song powerful beyond mere notes and lyrics. In that sense, it can't be replaced.

So there's a case for keeping it as the national anthem. Or at least one of the national anthems. Some nations have a couple of anthems. The USA has always prided itself on having more of everything, so why not have several official songs?

"The Star-Spangled Banner" would gain impact if it was heard more rarely, and then only on the most solemn, official occasions. Even better, then rap stars and TV celebrities wouldn't be asked to sing it.

Meanwhile, other great songs could serve at opportune moments. "America the Beautiful," for instance, is a lovely song with thoughtful, evocative lyrics. It could grace many serious events.

For less formal situations, "God Bless America" could get the adrenaline going. It was a tradition for Kate Smith to belt out the Irving Berlin song before some Philadelphia Flyers hockey games. Why not play it before sporting events?

Nor does a national anthem need words. The nation could be represented by John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" for truly joyous events - at, say, the Olympics. Imagine hearing that every time an American won a gold medal.

It's a big country. Do we need more than one national anthem so that the many meanings and emotions associated with America can be represented appropriately?