Star Spangled Banner sounds Russian when played in a minor key

Bill Bailey, performing at the London Palladium, entertained the audience by playing major-key songs in a minor key, and vice versa. 'Now some of the great national anthems are written in the major key,' he said. 'In fact most national anthems are in the major key -- celebratory, uplifting. I like to experiment with them and play them in a different key and the one I'm thinking of is the Star Spangled Banner -- the American national anthem, which i think -- appropriately now -- should be played in the minor key it. It takes on a totally different dynamic. Actually, it sounds a bit Russian.'