Petition suggests Sonic the Hedgehog's 'City Escape' as a US national anthem replacement after Colin Kaepernick debacle
A bold petition has emerged on Change.Org hoping to replace the US national anthem, 'the Star Spangled Banner,' with an obscure song from a Sonic the Hedgehog game.
The City Escape level
The song is called 'City Escape' and is featured in the Sega Dreamcast’s 2001 hit game Sonic Adventure 2 during a definitive set piece in which the hedgehog boards down a busy street - it is a fan favourite and kicks off with the lyrics:
Rolling around at the speed of sound
Got places to go, gotta follow my rainbow
Can't stick around, have to keep movin' on
Guess what lies ahead, only one way to find out
Must keep on movin' ahead
No time for guessin', follow my plan instead
Trusting in what you can't see
Take my lead, I'll set you free
In many ways it contrasts with the depth provided by the Star Spangled Banner which starts:
Oh, say can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming?
Who's broad striped and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
The Next Web first caught the petition suggesting the feel-good rock soundtrack as an alternative to the US national anthem in response to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the theme after the recent spate of high profile racial attacks.
The petition has received almost 4,000 signatures, calling for the nostalgic gaming theme to define the US, it reads: "The obvious solution would be to rid our nation of the injustices Kaepernick is protesting.
"However, that would take a lot of hard work and determination that we've clearly been incapable of to this point. So, instead, I suggest to President Barrack Obama that we change the national anthem to Ted Poley and Tony Harnell's more upbeat and less controversial Escape from the City."
TechRadar producer Gabe Carey who initiated the petition gave the suggested anthem a try on Twitter.
Standing for the national anthem like a True Patriot. #SetUsFree pic.twitter.com/Mz3VL6oQhU
— Gabe Carey (@GamesPlayGabe) August 30, 2016
The petition requires 100,000 signatures in 30 days in order to come under president Barack Obama's consideration.