National anthem turns 200: hear its most iconic renditions

(NEWSY) It's been 200 years since Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the iconic song that is performed everywhere from middle school assemblies to the Super Bowl. Yet despite it's vintage, "The Star-Spangled Banner" still holds the power to unite a nation - even if we don't love every rendition we hear.

While everyone tries their best to do the song justice, there are some performances that stay with us. In the song's 200 year history, it wasn't until the last 50 years or so that musical artists began putting their own signature on the classic ballad - which garnered mixed reactions.

"Some thought it was brilliant, others considered it disrespectful," according to NBC.

One such performance came from Whitney Houston at the 1991 Super Bowl. Giving one of the most memorable National Anthem performances of all time, Houston's rendition came at an important time for the country.

This undated handout image provided by the US Postal Service shows Star Spangled Banner forever stamp. The Smithsonian Institution is beginning a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the flag and song that became the national anthem with a new forever stamp from the U.S. Postal Service. The star-spangled banner stamp was dedicated Thursday at the National Museum of American History. The Smithsonian has housed the flag that inspired the words for the national anthem since the early 1900s. (AP Photo/USPS)

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 9: Overview of the grounds of Fort McHenry, the location of celebrations this week of the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner in Baltimore, MD on September 9, 2014. The lyrics come from Francis Scott Keys poem 'Defence of Fort M'Henry, jotted down the words while witnessing the British bombardment of the famous Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. It was officially renamed The Star-Spangled Banner and offically recoginzed as the national anthem in 1931. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 9: Patrons walk among the canons and an merican flag flown at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD on September 9, 2014. This week marks the 200th anniversity of the Star-Spangled Banner. The lyrics come from Francis Scott Keys poem 'Defence of Fort M'Henry, jotted down the words while witnessing the British bombardment of the famous Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. It was officially renamed The Star-Spangled Banner and offically recoginzed as the national anthem in 1931

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 12: A giant American flag curls in the wind on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle where it is docked in the Inner Harbor as part of the Star Spangled Spectacular September 12, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the United States' national anthem, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is hosting tall ships, fireworks displays, concerts, historic tours and other events. The anthem's lyrics come from 'Defence of Fort M'Henry,' a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships during the War of 1812



 The first known manuscript of Francis Scott Key's poem which became the US national anthem, known as The Star-Spangled Banner, is displayed at Fort McHenry in Baltimore on September 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)