Happy Bastille Day!

I know, I know. The Revolution did not turn out so well for Catholics. But, it did yield the best national anthem of all time. Difficult to choose among the many fine renditions from the great, baroque Berlioz treatment, to the memorable performance of Jessye Norman, wrapped in a giant tricoleur of a dress, singing it at the French bicentennial celebration. (It says a lot about French commitment to culture that they thought nothing of choosing the most statuesque singer of the day, even though she was an American, for a moment that required such stature. I remind readers that our national anthem was performed at our bicentennial by 100 Elvis impersonators.)

But, here it is sung in the best scene in the best movie ever.