The Super Bowl yesterday was a great game, but the horrific weather leading up to the big day (4 days of ice and snow) put a damper on a lot of the festivities, parties, and concerts during Super Bowl Week.
That aside, the game was finally here. Christina Aguilera goes center stage and, much to my dismay but not to my surprise, starts to butcher the song. I am not referring to the part(s) where she messed up the words (although come on, now!). I am referring to the “artistic creativity” she vocalized from the very beginning of the song. Our National Anthem should be sung in a dignified manner. I am so sick and tired of these big pop artists taking it upon themselves to perform a sort of “vocal calisthenics” on the song at sporting events.
I was listening to a local talk radio host, Mark Davis, this morning and he nailed it. I was singing his praises this morning because he said exactly what I was thinking (and I stole the term, “vocal calisthenics” from him too.. hey, it’s perfect imagery!).
Compare her performance of The Star Spangled Banner to that of Elizabeth Hughes, an 8 year old chosen to sing it at a minor league hockey game in Virginia. Sure, voice cracked a little at the beginning, but she was dignified and reverent. Part way through the song her microphone conks out and the fans step to the plate. Very touching, not just for Miss Hughes’ sake, but also for the sybolism of unity and patriotism.
