I agree with the "Grow up People" commenter...he or she is right.
And Hey "Bob" I don't know about you but I was very much born in the U.S. which is why I'm intelligent enough to know not to make a big fuss over a celebrity messing up a line or two of our National Anthem. You must not have much confidence in your own country if your gonna put down people over this. So if your so ashamed of the U.S. now why don't you just swim back to Mexico?
Steeler Fan - 13 years ago
Leave it to a Pittsburgher to mess up the National Anthem at the SUPER BOWL!
Di - 13 years ago
It's bad enough that Obama is a laughing joke and now this twit made our National Anthem a joke. Did you know that they are laughing about this all the way in POLAND! How embarrassing!
dusty - 13 years ago
you for the most part you people shoud get over yourself, i for one for give her and you know what if i do while i am currently oversea and have carried fallen brothers under the flag for what we stand for and protect then you people should be able to forgive someone for that, how many of you have ever stood up in front of 500 people before let alone 10k and millions on tv. get a life and get off these people back for something like that and maybe you should start worrying about get the pledge back in our school and stuff like that
No excuse - 13 years ago
1. Bad wig
2. Changed the melody so much the tune was unrecognizable
3. Lyrics "oops"
For those of you who think "at least she didn't lip sync," had she lip synced AT LEAST THE WORDS WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT!
My gosh! There is no excuse for a mistake of that magnitude. Had I been there it's likely I would have booed. Too bad the flyover was on time and not early to mask the sound of her screeching...
no sympathy - 13 years ago
maybe if she had practiced all the way through before hand instead of being so sure of herself that wouldn't have happened
Mz. Sylvia - 13 years ago
i heard that this was the second time she messed up singing it- don't ask her to do it again!
Ed Smith - 13 years ago
Have the Military bands rotate each year and than it will be done right and with class, this was a disgrace this year.
Don Blucher - 13 years ago
Fortunately or unfortunately, Ms. Aguilera has finally taken the monkey off the back of Mr. Robert Goulet, the singer who, years ago, also muffed the words to our beloved anthem. One would expect that anyone given the honor to sing our contry's anthem would have enough respect to learn the words AND sing the song as it was written. Most singers embellish the tune to hide thae fact that they can't cover the four octave range needed to hit all the notes properly. With her God-given voice, however, Ms. Aguilera simply made a fool of herself in front of a world-wide audience. Shameful.
Greg - 13 years ago
Poor talent chosen for this year's Super Bowl festivities. You get what you get. First year I did not watch the 1/2 time show and and nearly left the room during Christine's awful performance. Next year, return to established, legit musicians.
Nikki - 13 years ago
Sorry, there is no excuse for what she did. She's trying to justify messing up and there is no justification for messing up the National Anthem. She's an adult and she's a professional singer. She needs to be an adult, apologize and leave it at that. She'll never undo what she did and making excuses just makes it worse and makes her look worse than she does. It's the National Anthem. If she didn't think she could do it right, she should have pre-recorded it. Duh!
RD - 13 years ago
If people search Christina Aguilera + National Anthem and watch the numerous videos of her singing it at numerous events, they will see that she knows the lyrics and has a tremendously powerful voice...a voice with the power, range, and emotion to pierce the heart of the listener with the emotion of the song. This was not her best performance and she made a mistake with the lyrics, but she did not intentionally disrespect the song or our country. She is human and made a mistake. She doesn't deserve such harsh criticism.
Carrie Matteson - 13 years ago
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thought the REAL problem with her ridiculous performance was that she was clearly trying to make it all about HER , not about this wonderful country we live in ! Are we FINALLY fed up with these self -serving celebrities yet?
Kyle - 13 years ago
It is the National Anthem it should be sang the way it was written NOT changed. That is what is wrong with this country. Everyone is all about doing everything their way so they are noticed. If people in this country were more about "us" rather than "me" we could all shine.
Doug - 13 years ago
Like I said before...... Simon.... were you listening?
MichaelQ - 13 years ago
She did a very patriotic job and she's a good person who loves America. For Christ sakes, give the girl a break. Who the hell among us doesn't ever make a mistake? Save your venom for those that deserve it......like that slug in the Oval Office for example. Christina is a wonderful entertainer.
mari F - 13 years ago
I wish we could go back to each American in the audience singing our National Anthem with or without musical accompanyment. Why do we relinquish that right and honor to someone paid to sing it. I was so impressed with the Chilean miners who each sang their National Anthem when they were all rescued a few months ago.
BobM - 13 years ago
I wonder how many of the people condemning her have ever been in her position? Yes, she is a professional, yes she should have gotten it right. That said how many of us have made a mistake on our jobs?
I have a Masters degree in Music with a vocal concentration, I have sung the National Anthem many places including Division I college sporting events. It still scares me every time. I have the words memorized but I still have them on the note pad on my iPhone so I can review them before I sing.
We all make mistakes! Ask "Big Ben" if he would like to take back a few of the passes he threw last night. He is a professional and I'm sure he still got paid.
It is said that people fear public speaking more than death. I'm pretty sure that is right and singing is even worse.
Let's give her a break!
Marilinda - 13 years ago
Anna Dye, you are pathetic for being willing to accept this huge failure with a feeble excuse. It was not just the mangling of a few words, it was the whole performance that set most people's teeth on edge.
marilinda - 13 years ago
Just who is this Christina Aguilera and what right does she have mangling our National Anthem? Her voice was screechy and off pitch, her singing was atrocious and her forgetting the correct lyrics was an embarrassment. The promoters of this event should be flogged for putting on such a screaming failure ... including the so called "red carpet" personalities, the half-time show which stunk and this pathetic "singer" who cannot sing. No, there were no wardrobe "malfunctions". But there was a huge singing malfunction ... I hope this woman's career is OVER!
In no other country would you find acceptance of disrespecting the National Anthem. It illustrates how far we have fallen in our basic values. Bring them back, please.
Ann - 13 years ago
Sing the National Anthem as it written, quit trying to give it your rendition, so wrong!!
This is one song you leave alone. It is painful to listen to someone who sounds like they are trying to find the right key perform it. Forgot the words? Guess it really doesn't mean much to her.
LizaJane - 13 years ago
I made a comment right before the National Anthem started last night. I said, "I hope she just sings the song, and doesn't do all that singing up and down the musical scale, show-boaty performance with Boys To Men styling and just sing the song." Nope, she couldn't. Our anthem is good enough withOUT embellishments. Jiminy Cricket!
Anna Dye - 13 years ago
How pathetic you people are... IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE- she did a terrific job.
IndianaAmerican - 13 years ago
I feel , her pay should be less for a bad performance.
Tiana - 13 years ago
From the first few bars, we could tell it was going to be yet another celebrity diaster! Our family had already muted the TV and gone to the kitchen for refreshments before she further enraged us with her butchering of our national anthem. Thank goodness we didn't hang around to hear her forgetting the lines! None of us could stand being in the room while yet another "star" tried to showboat and add their own "flare" to an anthem that is beautiful just as it is written. But I think ya'll are on to something. Let's give a group of children or regular people (community chorales) a chance to sing at the Superbowl. It would save a packet of money, and the performers would appreciate the honor of performing the national anthem as written; let regular Americans get in there and sing with pride.
Don - 13 years ago
Her performance was very bad. She needs to make a public apology, not only for not knowing the words to the NATIONAL ANTHEM, but also for trying to sing to that kinky arrangement.
jamdeuce - 13 years ago
Note to Christina. Practice, practice, practice. At least you didn't lip sync.
jdl - 13 years ago
Now that's worthy of a stiff NFL fine, Mr. Goodell! No..... I mean a lifetime ban!!
Mike - 13 years ago
More than once I have forgotten the words to solos I have done and I can understand her forgetting the words. Anyone doing that kind of performance would do well to have the words in front of them.
What I did not like in the least was the style of her singing. It is almost irreverent to sing the Star Spangled Banner like some country western/hick sounding style. I would have much preferred a strong operatic voice, bristling with power and revernece.
Ray - 13 years ago
Her rendition of the music was attrocious with the notes she added and the excessive emotion in her voice. It was so disgusting that I muted it before hearing her screw up the lyrics. From now on have people who sing the music as it was written..simply and reverently. No personal interpretations and changes.
The song was composed at a very perilous time in our history, when Britain almost re-conquered the United States in the War of 1812 in an attack on our fort at Baltimore. Had we lost, our Revolution and newfound freedom would have been over!
Maybe a brief description of the perilous situation would be in order before they sing the Anthem at the next Super Bowl. I am confident very few listeners know the reason for the song.
Billie Sargent - 13 years ago
Why does everybody who thinks they are somebody have to re-arrange our national anthem? Mangling the words under pressure is understandable, but intentionally butchering up our national anthem is not. Sing it like it's written, it's our national anthem!!!!!!
Steve Ramsay - 13 years ago
Another Hi Paid (professional) singer that feels a solemn tradition has to be hopped up to make it palatable. There is no excuse for her forgetting her lines as they are written and sung in the correct manner. She would have been voted out of any singing contest for doing what she did. The producer who is deciding who is to sing is also a failure . Any normal person would have been dismissed. Maybe just locate a normal everday person of NO fame and fortune and pay them a fraction of the money. Oh I forgot the network would lose viewers .(I doubt it they are watching football and ads.)
Sharon - 13 years ago
To "Grow Up People"-
She got paid to do this. If you are getting paid to do something, especially something that symbolizes so many things to so many people, you should get it right.
Alfonso - 13 years ago
She was just lazy to not be sure she had the lyrics down - which there is no excuse for. People who care will hold her accountable in some way. But I am sure she is sorry and she apologized so no reason not to forgive the error.
Sharon - 13 years ago
She probably didn't even practice and just relied on her huge ego to get her through. We have someone singing the song that flubbed it, we had football players jumping around (and I understand being pumped for the game, but really, stand still and put your hand over your heart for 3 minutes). People don't even recite the pledge anymore. Our country has lost respect for itself. But they can tell you exactly what happened on the last episode of Jersey Shore..eyeroll....
Darryl - 13 years ago
Absolutely the worst attempt at performing our National anthem. Unprofessional on every level. Even if she had gotten the words right it was horrible. Who got this person and why? She wouldn't win a Karaoke contest in Peck, Michigan. Very sad on such a big venue for so many people to have to listen to such a little person. She should go back to selling shoes.
Extexnick - 13 years ago
There should be two rules when a performer is selected to sing the national anthem at any event.
1. Sing it the way it was written.
2. Don't make it your own, refer to rule #1.
If a perfomer cannot live with those rules in the beginning then select another performer that will.
Jim - 13 years ago
It was a disgrace. I agree with Ross the carpenter. If you accept sub-standard, then sub-standard becomes the standard. For the Super Bowl, we expect EXCEPTIONAL.
I hold the NFL responsible, they micro-manage the most mundane use of any NFL related logo yet they allow "musicians" year after year mangle the National Anthem. Even when they get all the words right, in the last decade I think I witness one or two really outstanding renditions of the National Anthem. In think I speak for the gross majority of football fans. We do not want to see some performer act out some styilized version of the Star Spangled Banner, We want to see and hear an inspiring rendition. One that gives you goose bumps!
It's the little things that -iss people off and this is one of them. There are hundreds of unknown young men and women that would forever relish the opportunity to sing at the Super Bowl and do an excellent job.
They ought to limit the privilege to members of the Military, Police and Fireman. Some one that knows what it is all about instead of some musician that thought it was a chance at free publicity.
The NFL should hold an audition process and if anyone is compensated it should only be if they meet the guidelines set forth in a performance clause. In the news they are reporting she was messing up in rehearsal Saturday. The NFL should have exercised control and benched her.
James - 13 years ago
Let's face it. She was 98% focused on her mic holding twinkie wave and belting out twisted notes with a palsey-infused sustain than she was on delivering the clear message within our national song. Shades of Roseanne ....without the vulgarity.
Amy - 13 years ago
Shortly after she began singing, we muted the TV because we can't stand how these so-called "stars" murder our National Anthem. They should learn that singing the National Anthem is most decidedly NOT about them!!
Esther - 13 years ago
Being married to a USAF retired LTCOL, I was both angry and hurt as I listened to the terrible way this so called "Star" sang "The National Anthem". As many others have said a child could have done a better job. I have never heard a Country music singer "forget" the words of this song at sports events, a school chorus, or a Military Chorus would do a better performance. The " BlackEyed Peas" were less than entertaining. Did any of you understand what they were saying????? Whomever is in charge of both of these issues needs todo a better job. Remember you are not entertaining a stadium and a TV audience of teenagers--your audience is a majority of adults!!!!!!!!! We do not want the Black Eyed Peas!!!!!!!!
Greg - 13 years ago
The NFL needs to ban the pop stars from the national anthem. I'm sick and tired of the botched and altered lyrics. How about letting the Marine Corp band play the national anthem at the Super Bowl?
ross - 13 years ago
I am a carpenter. If I made a mistake that big on a job - I would be penalized and loose money. I hope there is something put into the contracts of these "professionals" that results in a loss of compensation for poor showing or performance......
Grow up People - 13 years ago
Seriously???? I cannot believe how childish so many people are on this thread. I am no fan of Christina Aguilera but she goofed one line. The walls of America are not crumbling because of this, we should not all hang our heads with shame and embarrassment. There are bigger problems in country and in our towns then someone missing a line singing the National Anthem before a football game. Honestly it is times like this when I realize how immature "adults" really are....Grow up People!
cstine - 13 years ago
she could have borrowed obama's teleprompter . .
countrygirl - 13 years ago
I loved the Game! The contest between the teams kept my interest all they way! The commercials? some were good, others not so good. But the entertainment really sucked!
The people who put this together should be fired! I wonder if we'll ever get back to singers like Kate Smith! She could belt out a song with so much feeling, she would bring tears to your eyes! She had respect for the music and sang it with all her heart. She can be heard on utube singing "God Bless America" and if you listen to her, you will cry too.
I'm convinced that WE could have watched her do the song on the big screens and been much more satisfied than the painful rendition we were forced to deal with.
As for the half time show? It was the most awful exhibition... I muted the whole thing.
Bob - 13 years ago
Hey ???'s - who don't want to leave your names....you are the loosers along with your skanky friend and Rosanne...loosers...moron's...go back Iran where you came from or swim back home to Mexico. This is America.
??? - 13 years ago
Amen Brother! haaaaaaaa
jeff - 13 years ago
Get over it already you sanctimonious Pittsburgh Steelers fans! you lost. So what the singer forgot the words, let it go already.
??? - 13 years ago
Yall are all losers because everyone of yall are gossiping! Yeah, uhu, I'de like to see yall get up in front of MILLIONS of people and sing it "correctly".
LEWIS - 13 years ago
The Super Bowl was in Texas. They should have had a Country singer sing the National Athem. I can't believe how bad a performance she gave. It was terrible before she screwed up the words. The half time show also "sucked". Why do they think everyone likes "rock stars"?
Cecil - 13 years ago
She ranks right up there behind Rosanne ???.
I am a proud American first AND a military retiree and she SHOULD beg all for forgiveness.
IF, and I do mean IF, she is a professional she should publicly apologize AND ask forgiveness. If she received any sort of pay she should double it and make a contribution to The Wounded Warrior Project (I can't wait for that to happen). Finally, she should many volunteer hours in any effort showing support of our troops, America's real heroes.
??? - 13 years ago
Yall are all losers because everyone of yall are gossiping! Yeah, uhu, I'de like to see yall get up in front of MILLIONS of people and sing it "correctly".
Andy - 13 years ago
Total embarrasement to her and the United States. Just sing it right.
paul - 13 years ago
Next time the "MEDIA" wants to make a "BIG DEAL" out of something, remember who made and pushed this "SO CALLED" "PRFESSIONAL" into stardom! Just as bad as "the UNITED STATES HAS 57 STATES"? Perhaps "the media" should start coaching their "WANNA BE'S??
The POLL says it all ? Will the "MEDIA LISTEN" ? Keep shoveling this crap down our throats!
Doug - 13 years ago
I would love to hear from the judges of American Idol and how they would of rated her performance. Hey Simon.... were you listening?
Miller - 13 years ago
In all future events, just get the recording done by "Kate Smith" and play it. It is the benchmark. You will see how it is suppose to be done. Makes you proud to be an American.
Jeff Lloyd - 13 years ago
The National Anthem is about our country, not the self-indulgence of the performer. Let's get back to leading the crowd in the singing, instead of 'performing' and making it all about 'me.'
OmahaDavid - 13 years ago
Contrast this with the very respectable reading of the Declaration of Independence which preceded the game. No contest. Aguilera, like so many other "stars" had to try to jazz up the song - and make it all about herself. Take a dose of humility, sweetie, and sing it like you mean it. The Anthem is about our nation, not about Christina Aguilera.
GrumpyoldMan - 13 years ago
Hey everybody. We have been listening to idiots like this sing our National Anthem at the SB off and on for years. Why are you surprised that we got another one this year. NFL you should be ashamed of yourselves
Shay - 13 years ago
Christina A. was awful. Shameful. Professional football players standing around looking befuddled was almost as bad. When will the NFL show some respect for our country? It isn't really fair to come down so hard on a singer when so many, but thankfully, not all, of the players are showing disrespect as well.
Karen - 13 years ago
I was watching this train wreck on TV. At first I thought "No!". Then I wanted to remark out loud to the TV, "What are you doing?". Then I remembered I should be quiet and respectful while the Nationa Anthem is sung. A moment later, as Christina reached the last half of the song, I found myself waiting for the boos from the folks in the Stadium. That such an awful rendition of the National Anthem was *so* distracting I couldn't enjoy it was such a waste...what a mess. Next year get Jackie Evanco from Pittsburgh to sing it!
Throughly disappointed,
western PA
irish8 - 13 years ago
i thinkkkkkkkkkkk i sawwww the ghosttttt of frances scoot key withhhhh his handsss around her neckkkkkk
Wayne - 13 years ago
I think the person who recruited her to sing(or attempt to sing) the national anthem should be FIRED ! Maybe, from now on, the person who recruits someone to sing the national anthem should have that person SING it to them BEFORE they are actually picked to sing in front of a national audience! Maybe next time we'll be proud of the person who sings our country's anthem!
Aw - 13 years ago
I have a son in Afghanistan, It does not warm my heart to know he is fighting for an idiot that can't remember the words to the National Anthem in front of the world. Lets get the Military to sing it for these events instead of some goofie pop singer that dyes her hair a different color each week!
Tom - 13 years ago
The only person I remember doing a worse job was Enrico Pallazo (Leslie Nielsen) in "The Naked Gun." That, of course, was a spoof.
My recommended solution is, once a host city is announced, contact the local school district and invite them to create a district-wide chorus of high school students to perform. Give them a set of guidelines to follow. This showcases the local students who would, in all likelyhood, practice-practice-practice and it would be the thrill of their lives.
Jess Harkey - 13 years ago
The female that attempted to sing the national Anthem appeared to come from a whore house. Did anyone check out the way she was going to sing the National Anthem.
Do they have only dummies making the selection on who sings the most respected song in the world. What she attempted to sing was a disgrace to me and my family. I am an american and I want her to apologize to the world.
Leighton Pressley - 13 years ago
Who was the idiot that selected her, did they not listen to her sing before hand. Letting her go on world TV and make a fool out of herself. Never have I heard the anthem song with so many errors. Fire the person that selected her put her on an island by herself so she can scream to the birds. I don't want to hear her again, she sucks.
pianoteach - 13 years ago
Let the Armed Forces sing it. They won't flub it and have earned the right to sing our National Anthem. I say bring the USO show for halftime too!
Hope - 13 years ago
Being fallible is human, no matter what your position in life you are allowed to make mistakes. I am sure no one on here can say they are infallible. I felt bad for her I am sure she went out there to do her best and was embarrassed by her mistake. Being in the Entertainment business I know I have gotten caught up in the moment and suddenly froze and forgotten my words. I feel she did the professional thing and kept going, admitted her mistake and moved on. How embarrassed would any of us have been being in her situation? I feel people love to see others fail, which is an unfortunate characteristic of being human and is a failure in its self. There are so many other things to be angry about at this time, lets just try and please try and show some compassion and let it go, really in the whole grand aspect of life this it really isn't a big deal!
Grant - 13 years ago
I would like to comment on Christina Aguilera's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner a last night's Super Bowl event.
I applauded approvingly. Here's why.
I did not catch all the faux pas that folks have mentioned, including her not singing the high note at the end. I would have thought that it would have been easier, since I thought she started in a lower key in order to nail it.
I allow some artistic license to vocalists -- some. I mean, yes, it's a performance, and yes, it IS our national anthem. My all-time biggest pet peeve was my dad's -- a WW II vet and generally inflexible guy at times -- When singing the line, "Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" MOST vocalists invariably separate the first syllable of "ban-ner" into two pieces, when it is one. They usually sing, "ba-aa-ner-er...," when that phrase is written, "ba-ner-er..." In my humble opinion (IMHO), Ms. Aguilera NAILED IT!! She "sang it right," as my dad -- and as I -- would say. I was extremely happy.
I offer my kudos to Christina Aguilera, for what they're worth. She did well!
//s// Grant
Joe Vallier - 13 years ago
I am not a Vet, so this isn't just a bias opinion. That being said, please consider this....
From now on, if the event is broadcast Nationally, let's have someone from the Military sing the National Anthem. They usually have a bit more ownership of the words (and the meaning of the words) than most celebrity's do.
Sammy - 13 years ago
When hosting this type of event they need to find singers who can actually sing to begin with. This woman has no voice to begin with let along having her sing the National Anthem.
Tom - 13 years ago
Even the smallest countries that have a National Anthem, the citizens cry when they hear it. But us, the only tears for that song last night were tears of laughter, knowing that someone paid good money for her to trash ours like that.
OLRacer66 - 13 years ago
Beyond pathetic! She was so busy butchering the music that she forgot the lyrics. Google the anthem as sung by the combined choirs from the military academies in a recent Super Bowl to get an idea of how our nation's anthem should be delivered. Our troops had to be suffering big time.
teb - 13 years ago
Valerie, Bill, Sheri, Rose et al. have it right. Professionals, whether football players, oil painters, house painters, or plumbers, prepare before they begin their work. Aguilera didn't, and what you get reflects what you put into it. I think she got carried away with herself - projecting her vocal acrobatics or whatever you call them; and wasn't focused on her responsibility. A truly unprofessional singer.
JZ - 13 years ago
Not only is her flub of the words unforgivable, her rendition of this beatiful and cherished song was absolutely stinko. The song is about our country, our cherished freedoms, and those who have given their all to assue that it always remains free and open. When will these celebs realize, its not about their fame.
14401 - 13 years ago
Usually, at football games, even college level games, the words are on the big screen, so how could she have missed so badly. Any dummy could read the words in big enough letters. Thanks for fly over, Texas. It always thrills us. I think she's only been out of rehab a few weeks.. We can blame it on the drugs I guess. Aren't they all in rehab of some kind. Wasn't there one simple person with a great voice that could have sang the one song that shows our ultimate respect for our country and how it was founded. Everyone should go to Youtube and watch one of our representatives give the tour through the White House and explain from start to finish how the song originated and the sacrifice these people gave beyond all odd. Old glory stood when the sun came up and this country will stand again in the future, but not with this administration at the helm.
Dawan lee - 13 years ago
As bad as Christina flubbed the words, it even a bigger shame that most of us do not know the rest of the national anthem. I know that 99% of do not even that one word of the next vers
Frank - 13 years ago
She is a seasoned professional.
Regardless of the song, she was paid to perform, and she did not perform.
Scott - 13 years ago
This was just as bad as when Rosanne did it...a laughing stock in front of the entire country!
Jim Parker - 13 years ago
Why can't these amazing artists just sing the song simply and beautiful. The lyrics do all the work let them.
barbara knicely - 13 years ago
Not too many years ago the people who sang our national song were true professionals--several trained voices--including opera singers. The last several years have given us wobbling , screeching noise that passes for "singing". Leave these voices to pop music let them perform on a lonely , isolated island (where at least the gulls can fly away) and bring back dignity and real feeling.
Lindy G. - 13 years ago
I agree with all the comments that these "professional" singers should just sing the song as it is written - not add all their fancy high & low notes - trying to make the song their own. It isn't their own song - it is the country's song and it should be sung as it was written. Period. And, as a paid professional, she should have been prepared by knowing the lyrics. Shame on her.
dithompson - 13 years ago
Get a teleprompter. Seems like everyone needs to use them today! At least the words would be correct.
John P. - 13 years ago
This was a train wreck from the beginning. The forgotten words were bad enough, but worse were the exaggerated arpeggios where there should be none, the out-of tune tremolo where there should be none throughout the anthem, and her impromptu key changes for no apparent reason. I sat there in disbelief. Personally, I figured she was high on something.
As others have said before me, I will repeat:
Our national anthem is NOT a gospel song, it's not a rock song or jazz song either. It has specific lyrics and meter. I too know children who can do a better job.
Final thoughts:
I say we STOP inviting these "stars" out to MANGLE our anthem. Instead, find a local high school and invite some of the local talent (maybe a small chorus). I'm sure they would be most proud to do it AND it would be performed correctly.
Christina Aguilera, epic FAIL!
Adrian Cockerell - 13 years ago
I wonder if the promoters even heard her sing it, before she got on stage? It should be the promoters responsibility to know exactly how it is sung and that the lyrics and wording are all there. This is a disgrace to our country.
Buzzymuzzwelle - 13 years ago
She can have the top of my 3 minute egg any day. Buzzy
Patti Pelham - 13 years ago
THis is why SO many sporting teams ask COUNTRY music stars to sing the national Anthem: they get it right and they keep the melody; they don't feel the need to add a bunch of riffs and stuff. And I agree with another comment I saw: she performs in front of crowds all the time - there should not have been any pressure. Take a little pride in this country and our song and do it justice.
US Navy Retired - 13 years ago
Rosanne Barr once sang it and she sounded like crap...but she got the words right. How can you live in this country, make millions singing lyrics that essentially mean nothing, and forget the words to your own national anthem. It isn't like she was asked to sing "Oh Canada" or something like that. It comes down to this; the glamourized, overpaid leftwing celebrities in this country don't have any idea what is truly important to being an American. Ms. Aguilara would be the first one to pipe up if we drilled an oil well in the wrong place or if we "offended" one of her other pampered, self-righteous sensibilities but she couldn't even sing something that I'll bet I could find any one of 1.6 million service men or women to sing. And I would have done my darndest to hit that high note at the end.
Tom Speer - 13 years ago
No excuse, it is a simple song. NFL forget the award winners and just get a singer with a good voice who will sing the song as it was meant to be sung. No improv on the anthem!
Scott - 13 years ago
Sing the song correctly. I'm not impressed by your high notes or how many riffs you can get into every bar. Even without the missed words, that was among the worst of all time.
David Blakney - 13 years ago
Here's a thought and a suggested intro for the NFL...."Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, friends of the United States of America and our men and women in uniform, from this stadium, from all over the world, we invite you all to join in the singing of our national anthem by all who love our country and all that it stands for".
Have the military band(s) play it to the tempo it was meant to be played and I can envision that all who are able will proudly raise their voices.
Come on, NFL....show leadership and take this challenge.
Bosco Kyll - 13 years ago
She not only suks, she looked like she was going "trick ot treating" for Holloween with that "witch's hair!!!" It was all about her and nothing to do with honoring the nation by singing our national anthem. The Blackeye Peas were also a "blackeye" for the people who put that lame ass halftime show together. Man, they also suk!!! Booo to the NFL!!!
Dan - 13 years ago
[correct]
1. Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light
2. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
3. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
4. O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
5. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
6. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
[Chris-stinka]
1. Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light
2. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
3. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
4. Were so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming;
5. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
6. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
She goofed the fourth line. This is inexusable when you look at it from
the point of view that she took so much effort to change the song's
delays and pitch from how it was written, but not solidly keep the
lines of a song we have all essentially known from childhood.
NYCJUAN - 13 years ago
She butchered it. The one thing she is tasked to do and she mucks it up!! She should apologize to the entire country. What a disgrace.
Bob Edwards - 13 years ago
Revoke her Green Card and deport the skank to whatever country will take her. She sounded like she was giving birth to a VW Bug without a spinal.
Wanhenglo - 13 years ago
These are the same pompous, arrogant, pretentious and deluded Hollywood crybabies that have no grip on reality, yet want to dictate to us how our country should be run and what our morals should be. Year after year these fools botch a simple song that should be a snap for these entertainment "professionals."
How about we let REAL Americans, who are loyal, patriotic and intelligent, give honor and competence to our National Anthem?
USMC1833 - 13 years ago
She should stick to her crappie pop and rock stuff. She can't handle the pressure
Greg Lewis - 13 years ago
Lousy performance all around. When will they ever learn to stop getting these so called stars who buthcer the National Anthem all the time. Pressure ? she is suppose to be a professional and has performed it "many times". Just plain lousy. Roseanne Barr or Aguilera as the worst performed national anthem - you decide.
I agree with the "Grow up People" commenter...he or she is right.
And Hey "Bob" I don't know about you but I was very much born in the U.S. which is why I'm intelligent enough to know not to make a big fuss over a celebrity messing up a line or two of our National Anthem. You must not have much confidence in your own country if your gonna put down people over this. So if your so ashamed of the U.S. now why don't you just swim back to Mexico?
Leave it to a Pittsburgher to mess up the National Anthem at the SUPER BOWL!
It's bad enough that Obama is a laughing joke and now this twit made our National Anthem a joke. Did you know that they are laughing about this all the way in POLAND! How embarrassing!
you for the most part you people shoud get over yourself, i for one for give her and you know what if i do while i am currently oversea and have carried fallen brothers under the flag for what we stand for and protect then you people should be able to forgive someone for that, how many of you have ever stood up in front of 500 people before let alone 10k and millions on tv. get a life and get off these people back for something like that and maybe you should start worrying about get the pledge back in our school and stuff like that
1. Bad wig
2. Changed the melody so much the tune was unrecognizable
3. Lyrics "oops"
For those of you who think "at least she didn't lip sync," had she lip synced AT LEAST THE WORDS WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT!
My gosh! There is no excuse for a mistake of that magnitude. Had I been there it's likely I would have booed. Too bad the flyover was on time and not early to mask the sound of her screeching...
maybe if she had practiced all the way through before hand instead of being so sure of herself that wouldn't have happened
i heard that this was the second time she messed up singing it- don't ask her to do it again!
Have the Military bands rotate each year and than it will be done right and with class, this was a disgrace this year.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Ms. Aguilera has finally taken the monkey off the back of Mr. Robert Goulet, the singer who, years ago, also muffed the words to our beloved anthem. One would expect that anyone given the honor to sing our contry's anthem would have enough respect to learn the words AND sing the song as it was written. Most singers embellish the tune to hide thae fact that they can't cover the four octave range needed to hit all the notes properly. With her God-given voice, however, Ms. Aguilera simply made a fool of herself in front of a world-wide audience. Shameful.
Poor talent chosen for this year's Super Bowl festivities. You get what you get. First year I did not watch the 1/2 time show and and nearly left the room during Christine's awful performance. Next year, return to established, legit musicians.
Sorry, there is no excuse for what she did. She's trying to justify messing up and there is no justification for messing up the National Anthem. She's an adult and she's a professional singer. She needs to be an adult, apologize and leave it at that. She'll never undo what she did and making excuses just makes it worse and makes her look worse than she does. It's the National Anthem. If she didn't think she could do it right, she should have pre-recorded it. Duh!
If people search Christina Aguilera + National Anthem and watch the numerous videos of her singing it at numerous events, they will see that she knows the lyrics and has a tremendously powerful voice...a voice with the power, range, and emotion to pierce the heart of the listener with the emotion of the song. This was not her best performance and she made a mistake with the lyrics, but she did not intentionally disrespect the song or our country. She is human and made a mistake. She doesn't deserve such harsh criticism.
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thought the REAL problem with her ridiculous performance was that she was clearly trying to make it all about HER , not about this wonderful country we live in ! Are we FINALLY fed up with these self -serving celebrities yet?
It is the National Anthem it should be sang the way it was written NOT changed. That is what is wrong with this country. Everyone is all about doing everything their way so they are noticed. If people in this country were more about "us" rather than "me" we could all shine.
Like I said before...... Simon.... were you listening?
She did a very patriotic job and she's a good person who loves America. For Christ sakes, give the girl a break. Who the hell among us doesn't ever make a mistake? Save your venom for those that deserve it......like that slug in the Oval Office for example. Christina is a wonderful entertainer.
I wish we could go back to each American in the audience singing our National Anthem with or without musical accompanyment. Why do we relinquish that right and honor to someone paid to sing it. I was so impressed with the Chilean miners who each sang their National Anthem when they were all rescued a few months ago.
I wonder how many of the people condemning her have ever been in her position? Yes, she is a professional, yes she should have gotten it right. That said how many of us have made a mistake on our jobs?
I have a Masters degree in Music with a vocal concentration, I have sung the National Anthem many places including Division I college sporting events. It still scares me every time. I have the words memorized but I still have them on the note pad on my iPhone so I can review them before I sing.
We all make mistakes! Ask "Big Ben" if he would like to take back a few of the passes he threw last night. He is a professional and I'm sure he still got paid.
It is said that people fear public speaking more than death. I'm pretty sure that is right and singing is even worse.
Let's give her a break!
Anna Dye, you are pathetic for being willing to accept this huge failure with a feeble excuse. It was not just the mangling of a few words, it was the whole performance that set most people's teeth on edge.
Just who is this Christina Aguilera and what right does she have mangling our National Anthem? Her voice was screechy and off pitch, her singing was atrocious and her forgetting the correct lyrics was an embarrassment. The promoters of this event should be flogged for putting on such a screaming failure ... including the so called "red carpet" personalities, the half-time show which stunk and this pathetic "singer" who cannot sing. No, there were no wardrobe "malfunctions". But there was a huge singing malfunction ... I hope this woman's career is OVER!
In no other country would you find acceptance of disrespecting the National Anthem. It illustrates how far we have fallen in our basic values. Bring them back, please.
Sing the National Anthem as it written, quit trying to give it your rendition, so wrong!!
This is one song you leave alone. It is painful to listen to someone who sounds like they are trying to find the right key perform it. Forgot the words? Guess it really doesn't mean much to her.
I made a comment right before the National Anthem started last night. I said, "I hope she just sings the song, and doesn't do all that singing up and down the musical scale, show-boaty performance with Boys To Men styling and just sing the song." Nope, she couldn't. Our anthem is good enough withOUT embellishments. Jiminy Cricket!
How pathetic you people are... IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE- she did a terrific job.
I feel , her pay should be less for a bad performance.
From the first few bars, we could tell it was going to be yet another celebrity diaster! Our family had already muted the TV and gone to the kitchen for refreshments before she further enraged us with her butchering of our national anthem. Thank goodness we didn't hang around to hear her forgetting the lines! None of us could stand being in the room while yet another "star" tried to showboat and add their own "flare" to an anthem that is beautiful just as it is written. But I think ya'll are on to something. Let's give a group of children or regular people (community chorales) a chance to sing at the Superbowl. It would save a packet of money, and the performers would appreciate the honor of performing the national anthem as written; let regular Americans get in there and sing with pride.
Her performance was very bad. She needs to make a public apology, not only for not knowing the words to the NATIONAL ANTHEM, but also for trying to sing to that kinky arrangement.
Note to Christina. Practice, practice, practice. At least you didn't lip sync.
Now that's worthy of a stiff NFL fine, Mr. Goodell! No..... I mean a lifetime ban!!
More than once I have forgotten the words to solos I have done and I can understand her forgetting the words. Anyone doing that kind of performance would do well to have the words in front of them.
What I did not like in the least was the style of her singing. It is almost irreverent to sing the Star Spangled Banner like some country western/hick sounding style. I would have much preferred a strong operatic voice, bristling with power and revernece.
Her rendition of the music was attrocious with the notes she added and the excessive emotion in her voice. It was so disgusting that I muted it before hearing her screw up the lyrics. From now on have people who sing the music as it was written..simply and reverently. No personal interpretations and changes.
The song was composed at a very perilous time in our history, when Britain almost re-conquered the United States in the War of 1812 in an attack on our fort at Baltimore. Had we lost, our Revolution and newfound freedom would have been over!
Maybe a brief description of the perilous situation would be in order before they sing the Anthem at the next Super Bowl. I am confident very few listeners know the reason for the song.
Why does everybody who thinks they are somebody have to re-arrange our national anthem? Mangling the words under pressure is understandable, but intentionally butchering up our national anthem is not. Sing it like it's written, it's our national anthem!!!!!!
Another Hi Paid (professional) singer that feels a solemn tradition has to be hopped up to make it palatable. There is no excuse for her forgetting her lines as they are written and sung in the correct manner. She would have been voted out of any singing contest for doing what she did. The producer who is deciding who is to sing is also a failure . Any normal person would have been dismissed. Maybe just locate a normal everday person of NO fame and fortune and pay them a fraction of the money. Oh I forgot the network would lose viewers .(I doubt it they are watching football and ads.)
To "Grow Up People"-
She got paid to do this. If you are getting paid to do something, especially something that symbolizes so many things to so many people, you should get it right.
She was just lazy to not be sure she had the lyrics down - which there is no excuse for. People who care will hold her accountable in some way. But I am sure she is sorry and she apologized so no reason not to forgive the error.
She probably didn't even practice and just relied on her huge ego to get her through. We have someone singing the song that flubbed it, we had football players jumping around (and I understand being pumped for the game, but really, stand still and put your hand over your heart for 3 minutes). People don't even recite the pledge anymore. Our country has lost respect for itself. But they can tell you exactly what happened on the last episode of Jersey Shore..eyeroll....
Absolutely the worst attempt at performing our National anthem. Unprofessional on every level. Even if she had gotten the words right it was horrible. Who got this person and why? She wouldn't win a Karaoke contest in Peck, Michigan. Very sad on such a big venue for so many people to have to listen to such a little person. She should go back to selling shoes.
There should be two rules when a performer is selected to sing the national anthem at any event.
1. Sing it the way it was written.
2. Don't make it your own, refer to rule #1.
If a perfomer cannot live with those rules in the beginning then select another performer that will.
It was a disgrace. I agree with Ross the carpenter. If you accept sub-standard, then sub-standard becomes the standard. For the Super Bowl, we expect EXCEPTIONAL.
I hold the NFL responsible, they micro-manage the most mundane use of any NFL related logo yet they allow "musicians" year after year mangle the National Anthem. Even when they get all the words right, in the last decade I think I witness one or two really outstanding renditions of the National Anthem. In think I speak for the gross majority of football fans. We do not want to see some performer act out some styilized version of the Star Spangled Banner, We want to see and hear an inspiring rendition. One that gives you goose bumps!
It's the little things that -iss people off and this is one of them. There are hundreds of unknown young men and women that would forever relish the opportunity to sing at the Super Bowl and do an excellent job.
They ought to limit the privilege to members of the Military, Police and Fireman. Some one that knows what it is all about instead of some musician that thought it was a chance at free publicity.
The NFL should hold an audition process and if anyone is compensated it should only be if they meet the guidelines set forth in a performance clause. In the news they are reporting she was messing up in rehearsal Saturday. The NFL should have exercised control and benched her.
Let's face it. She was 98% focused on her mic holding twinkie wave and belting out twisted notes with a palsey-infused sustain than she was on delivering the clear message within our national song. Shades of Roseanne ....without the vulgarity.
Shortly after she began singing, we muted the TV because we can't stand how these so-called "stars" murder our National Anthem. They should learn that singing the National Anthem is most decidedly NOT about them!!
Being married to a USAF retired LTCOL, I was both angry and hurt as I listened to the terrible way this so called "Star" sang "The National Anthem". As many others have said a child could have done a better job. I have never heard a Country music singer "forget" the words of this song at sports events, a school chorus, or a Military Chorus would do a better performance. The " BlackEyed Peas" were less than entertaining. Did any of you understand what they were saying????? Whomever is in charge of both of these issues needs todo a better job. Remember you are not entertaining a stadium and a TV audience of teenagers--your audience is a majority of adults!!!!!!!!! We do not want the Black Eyed Peas!!!!!!!!
The NFL needs to ban the pop stars from the national anthem. I'm sick and tired of the botched and altered lyrics. How about letting the Marine Corp band play the national anthem at the Super Bowl?
I am a carpenter. If I made a mistake that big on a job - I would be penalized and loose money. I hope there is something put into the contracts of these "professionals" that results in a loss of compensation for poor showing or performance......
Seriously???? I cannot believe how childish so many people are on this thread. I am no fan of Christina Aguilera but she goofed one line. The walls of America are not crumbling because of this, we should not all hang our heads with shame and embarrassment. There are bigger problems in country and in our towns then someone missing a line singing the National Anthem before a football game. Honestly it is times like this when I realize how immature "adults" really are....Grow up People!
she could have borrowed obama's teleprompter . .
I loved the Game! The contest between the teams kept my interest all they way! The commercials? some were good, others not so good. But the entertainment really sucked!
The people who put this together should be fired! I wonder if we'll ever get back to singers like Kate Smith! She could belt out a song with so much feeling, she would bring tears to your eyes! She had respect for the music and sang it with all her heart. She can be heard on utube singing "God Bless America" and if you listen to her, you will cry too.
I'm convinced that WE could have watched her do the song on the big screens and been much more satisfied than the painful rendition we were forced to deal with.
As for the half time show? It was the most awful exhibition... I muted the whole thing.
Hey ???'s - who don't want to leave your names....you are the loosers along with your skanky friend and Rosanne...loosers...moron's...go back Iran where you came from or swim back home to Mexico. This is America.
Amen Brother! haaaaaaaa
Get over it already you sanctimonious Pittsburgh Steelers fans! you lost. So what the singer forgot the words, let it go already.
Yall are all losers because everyone of yall are gossiping! Yeah, uhu, I'de like to see yall get up in front of MILLIONS of people and sing it "correctly".
The Super Bowl was in Texas. They should have had a Country singer sing the National Athem. I can't believe how bad a performance she gave. It was terrible before she screwed up the words. The half time show also "sucked". Why do they think everyone likes "rock stars"?
She ranks right up there behind Rosanne ???.
I am a proud American first AND a military retiree and she SHOULD beg all for forgiveness.
IF, and I do mean IF, she is a professional she should publicly apologize AND ask forgiveness. If she received any sort of pay she should double it and make a contribution to The Wounded Warrior Project (I can't wait for that to happen). Finally, she should many volunteer hours in any effort showing support of our troops, America's real heroes.
Yall are all losers because everyone of yall are gossiping! Yeah, uhu, I'de like to see yall get up in front of MILLIONS of people and sing it "correctly".
Total embarrasement to her and the United States. Just sing it right.
Next time the "MEDIA" wants to make a "BIG DEAL" out of something, remember who made and pushed this "SO CALLED" "PRFESSIONAL" into stardom! Just as bad as "the UNITED STATES HAS 57 STATES"? Perhaps "the media" should start coaching their "WANNA BE'S??
The POLL says it all ? Will the "MEDIA LISTEN" ? Keep shoveling this crap down our throats!
I would love to hear from the judges of American Idol and how they would of rated her performance. Hey Simon.... were you listening?
In all future events, just get the recording done by "Kate Smith" and play it. It is the benchmark. You will see how it is suppose to be done. Makes you proud to be an American.
The National Anthem is about our country, not the self-indulgence of the performer. Let's get back to leading the crowd in the singing, instead of 'performing' and making it all about 'me.'
Contrast this with the very respectable reading of the Declaration of Independence which preceded the game. No contest. Aguilera, like so many other "stars" had to try to jazz up the song - and make it all about herself. Take a dose of humility, sweetie, and sing it like you mean it. The Anthem is about our nation, not about Christina Aguilera.
Hey everybody. We have been listening to idiots like this sing our National Anthem at the SB off and on for years. Why are you surprised that we got another one this year. NFL you should be ashamed of yourselves
Christina A. was awful. Shameful. Professional football players standing around looking befuddled was almost as bad. When will the NFL show some respect for our country? It isn't really fair to come down so hard on a singer when so many, but thankfully, not all, of the players are showing disrespect as well.
I was watching this train wreck on TV. At first I thought "No!". Then I wanted to remark out loud to the TV, "What are you doing?". Then I remembered I should be quiet and respectful while the Nationa Anthem is sung. A moment later, as Christina reached the last half of the song, I found myself waiting for the boos from the folks in the Stadium. That such an awful rendition of the National Anthem was *so* distracting I couldn't enjoy it was such a waste...what a mess. Next year get Jackie Evanco from Pittsburgh to sing it!
Throughly disappointed,
western PA
i thinkkkkkkkkkkk i sawwww the ghosttttt of frances scoot key withhhhh his handsss around her neckkkkkk
I think the person who recruited her to sing(or attempt to sing) the national anthem should be FIRED ! Maybe, from now on, the person who recruits someone to sing the national anthem should have that person SING it to them BEFORE they are actually picked to sing in front of a national audience! Maybe next time we'll be proud of the person who sings our country's anthem!
I have a son in Afghanistan, It does not warm my heart to know he is fighting for an idiot that can't remember the words to the National Anthem in front of the world. Lets get the Military to sing it for these events instead of some goofie pop singer that dyes her hair a different color each week!
The only person I remember doing a worse job was Enrico Pallazo (Leslie Nielsen) in "The Naked Gun." That, of course, was a spoof.
My recommended solution is, once a host city is announced, contact the local school district and invite them to create a district-wide chorus of high school students to perform. Give them a set of guidelines to follow. This showcases the local students who would, in all likelyhood, practice-practice-practice and it would be the thrill of their lives.
The female that attempted to sing the national Anthem appeared to come from a whore house. Did anyone check out the way she was going to sing the National Anthem.
Do they have only dummies making the selection on who sings the most respected song in the world. What she attempted to sing was a disgrace to me and my family. I am an american and I want her to apologize to the world.
Who was the idiot that selected her, did they not listen to her sing before hand. Letting her go on world TV and make a fool out of herself. Never have I heard the anthem song with so many errors. Fire the person that selected her put her on an island by herself so she can scream to the birds. I don't want to hear her again, she sucks.
Let the Armed Forces sing it. They won't flub it and have earned the right to sing our National Anthem. I say bring the USO show for halftime too!
Being fallible is human, no matter what your position in life you are allowed to make mistakes. I am sure no one on here can say they are infallible. I felt bad for her I am sure she went out there to do her best and was embarrassed by her mistake. Being in the Entertainment business I know I have gotten caught up in the moment and suddenly froze and forgotten my words. I feel she did the professional thing and kept going, admitted her mistake and moved on. How embarrassed would any of us have been being in her situation? I feel people love to see others fail, which is an unfortunate characteristic of being human and is a failure in its self. There are so many other things to be angry about at this time, lets just try and please try and show some compassion and let it go, really in the whole grand aspect of life this it really isn't a big deal!
I would like to comment on Christina Aguilera's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner a last night's Super Bowl event.
I applauded approvingly. Here's why.
I did not catch all the faux pas that folks have mentioned, including her not singing the high note at the end. I would have thought that it would have been easier, since I thought she started in a lower key in order to nail it.
I allow some artistic license to vocalists -- some. I mean, yes, it's a performance, and yes, it IS our national anthem. My all-time biggest pet peeve was my dad's -- a WW II vet and generally inflexible guy at times -- When singing the line, "Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" MOST vocalists invariably separate the first syllable of "ban-ner" into two pieces, when it is one. They usually sing, "ba-aa-ner-er...," when that phrase is written, "ba-ner-er..." In my humble opinion (IMHO), Ms. Aguilera NAILED IT!! She "sang it right," as my dad -- and as I -- would say. I was extremely happy.
I offer my kudos to Christina Aguilera, for what they're worth. She did well!
//s// Grant
I am not a Vet, so this isn't just a bias opinion. That being said, please consider this....
From now on, if the event is broadcast Nationally, let's have someone from the Military sing the National Anthem. They usually have a bit more ownership of the words (and the meaning of the words) than most celebrity's do.
When hosting this type of event they need to find singers who can actually sing to begin with. This woman has no voice to begin with let along having her sing the National Anthem.
Even the smallest countries that have a National Anthem, the citizens cry when they hear it. But us, the only tears for that song last night were tears of laughter, knowing that someone paid good money for her to trash ours like that.
Beyond pathetic! She was so busy butchering the music that she forgot the lyrics. Google the anthem as sung by the combined choirs from the military academies in a recent Super Bowl to get an idea of how our nation's anthem should be delivered. Our troops had to be suffering big time.
Valerie, Bill, Sheri, Rose et al. have it right. Professionals, whether football players, oil painters, house painters, or plumbers, prepare before they begin their work. Aguilera didn't, and what you get reflects what you put into it. I think she got carried away with herself - projecting her vocal acrobatics or whatever you call them; and wasn't focused on her responsibility. A truly unprofessional singer.
Not only is her flub of the words unforgivable, her rendition of this beatiful and cherished song was absolutely stinko. The song is about our country, our cherished freedoms, and those who have given their all to assue that it always remains free and open. When will these celebs realize, its not about their fame.
Usually, at football games, even college level games, the words are on the big screen, so how could she have missed so badly. Any dummy could read the words in big enough letters. Thanks for fly over, Texas. It always thrills us. I think she's only been out of rehab a few weeks.. We can blame it on the drugs I guess. Aren't they all in rehab of some kind. Wasn't there one simple person with a great voice that could have sang the one song that shows our ultimate respect for our country and how it was founded. Everyone should go to Youtube and watch one of our representatives give the tour through the White House and explain from start to finish how the song originated and the sacrifice these people gave beyond all odd. Old glory stood when the sun came up and this country will stand again in the future, but not with this administration at the helm.
As bad as Christina flubbed the words, it even a bigger shame that most of us do not know the rest of the national anthem. I know that 99% of do not even that one word of the next vers
She is a seasoned professional.
Regardless of the song, she was paid to perform, and she did not perform.
This was just as bad as when Rosanne did it...a laughing stock in front of the entire country!
Why can't these amazing artists just sing the song simply and beautiful. The lyrics do all the work let them.
Not too many years ago the people who sang our national song were true professionals--several trained voices--including opera singers. The last several years have given us wobbling , screeching noise that passes for "singing". Leave these voices to pop music let them perform on a lonely , isolated island (where at least the gulls can fly away) and bring back dignity and real feeling.
I agree with all the comments that these "professional" singers should just sing the song as it is written - not add all their fancy high & low notes - trying to make the song their own. It isn't their own song - it is the country's song and it should be sung as it was written. Period. And, as a paid professional, she should have been prepared by knowing the lyrics. Shame on her.
Get a teleprompter. Seems like everyone needs to use them today! At least the words would be correct.
This was a train wreck from the beginning. The forgotten words were bad enough, but worse were the exaggerated arpeggios where there should be none, the out-of tune tremolo where there should be none throughout the anthem, and her impromptu key changes for no apparent reason. I sat there in disbelief. Personally, I figured she was high on something.
As others have said before me, I will repeat:
Our national anthem is NOT a gospel song, it's not a rock song or jazz song either. It has specific lyrics and meter. I too know children who can do a better job.
Final thoughts:
I say we STOP inviting these "stars" out to MANGLE our anthem. Instead, find a local high school and invite some of the local talent (maybe a small chorus). I'm sure they would be most proud to do it AND it would be performed correctly.
Christina Aguilera, epic FAIL!
I wonder if the promoters even heard her sing it, before she got on stage? It should be the promoters responsibility to know exactly how it is sung and that the lyrics and wording are all there. This is a disgrace to our country.
She can have the top of my 3 minute egg any day. Buzzy
THis is why SO many sporting teams ask COUNTRY music stars to sing the national Anthem: they get it right and they keep the melody; they don't feel the need to add a bunch of riffs and stuff. And I agree with another comment I saw: she performs in front of crowds all the time - there should not have been any pressure. Take a little pride in this country and our song and do it justice.
Rosanne Barr once sang it and she sounded like crap...but she got the words right. How can you live in this country, make millions singing lyrics that essentially mean nothing, and forget the words to your own national anthem. It isn't like she was asked to sing "Oh Canada" or something like that. It comes down to this; the glamourized, overpaid leftwing celebrities in this country don't have any idea what is truly important to being an American. Ms. Aguilara would be the first one to pipe up if we drilled an oil well in the wrong place or if we "offended" one of her other pampered, self-righteous sensibilities but she couldn't even sing something that I'll bet I could find any one of 1.6 million service men or women to sing. And I would have done my darndest to hit that high note at the end.
No excuse, it is a simple song. NFL forget the award winners and just get a singer with a good voice who will sing the song as it was meant to be sung. No improv on the anthem!
Sing the song correctly. I'm not impressed by your high notes or how many riffs you can get into every bar. Even without the missed words, that was among the worst of all time.
Here's a thought and a suggested intro for the NFL...."Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, friends of the United States of America and our men and women in uniform, from this stadium, from all over the world, we invite you all to join in the singing of our national anthem by all who love our country and all that it stands for".
Have the military band(s) play it to the tempo it was meant to be played and I can envision that all who are able will proudly raise their voices.
Come on, NFL....show leadership and take this challenge.
She not only suks, she looked like she was going "trick ot treating" for Holloween with that "witch's hair!!!" It was all about her and nothing to do with honoring the nation by singing our national anthem. The Blackeye Peas were also a "blackeye" for the people who put that lame ass halftime show together. Man, they also suk!!! Booo to the NFL!!!
[correct]
1. Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light
2. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
3. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
4. O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
5. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
6. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
[Chris-stinka]
1. Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light
2. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
3. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
4. Were so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming;
5. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
6. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
She goofed the fourth line. This is inexusable when you look at it from
the point of view that she took so much effort to change the song's
delays and pitch from how it was written, but not solidly keep the
lines of a song we have all essentially known from childhood.
She butchered it. The one thing she is tasked to do and she mucks it up!! She should apologize to the entire country. What a disgrace.
Revoke her Green Card and deport the skank to whatever country will take her. She sounded like she was giving birth to a VW Bug without a spinal.
These are the same pompous, arrogant, pretentious and deluded Hollywood crybabies that have no grip on reality, yet want to dictate to us how our country should be run and what our morals should be. Year after year these fools botch a simple song that should be a snap for these entertainment "professionals."
How about we let REAL Americans, who are loyal, patriotic and intelligent, give honor and competence to our National Anthem?
She should stick to her crappie pop and rock stuff. She can't handle the pressure
Lousy performance all around. When will they ever learn to stop getting these so called stars who buthcer the National Anthem all the time. Pressure ? she is suppose to be a professional and has performed it "many times". Just plain lousy. Roseanne Barr or Aguilera as the worst performed national anthem - you decide.