US Space Force song lacking star quality

THE US Space Force has unveiled its official song but reviews have been less than stellar.

Semper Supra – meaning “Always Above” – was released by the newest US military branch to promote esprit de corps among its guardians, the name it gives to those serving in its ranks.

Its lyrics included: “Boldly reaching into space, there’s no limit to our sky,” and, “Standing guard both night and day, we’re the Space Force from on high.”

Kevin Baron, military executive editor of Defense One, wrote: “Grammatically, I’m dying to edit: You’re not the ‘invisible’ front line. CIA is…”

The Space Force was created in 2019 by Donald Trump and has an annual budget of $24.5billion (£21.5billion).

Raoul F Camus, professor emeritus of music at Queensborough Community College in New York and a former military bandmaster, said: “It’s really pushing patriotism to a degree that I wonder, do people believe that?”

The song took several years to produce and was played publicly for the first time at the annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference outside Washington.

The lyrics and melody were written by James Teachenor, a former member of the US Air Force Academy Band, who worked with Sean Nelson, chief musician of the US Coast Guard Band.

Mr Teachenor said he “didn’t mess up on the mission, or the vision of what the Space Force does”.

General John W Raymond, chief of space operations, said of the song: “I will be proud to sing ‘Semper Supra’ alongside my fellow guardians. I’m sure it will grow on us.”