You Know What I Hate?
Written by Mockarena // February 7, 2011 // Weeps And Glees // 37 Comments
I hate musical “artists” who insist on embellishing and changing and RUINING perfectly good songs. Particularly when the song is our National Anthem. I don’t care that Christina Aguilera has a good voice and an incredible range. You don’t invite someone to sing the anthem at the superbowl who a) cannot sing the correct words or b) cannot just FREAKING SING THE SONG the way it was written.
In response to criticism, Christina said, “”I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.”
You know what, Christina? The true spirit of the anthem can generally be felt best when it is Actually Recognizable. FYI.
FAIL.
37 Comments on "You Know What I Hate?"
The NFL needs to go back to old school half time entertainment
I agree. It is not about showcasing their talent, it is about honoring our country. They don’t realize the privilege it is to sing that song in front of the entire country.
Why do they need to demonstrate thier rediculous vocal ranges and turn everything they utter into a “Star Search, Whitney Houston (early years) Baptist revival”moment.
She for got the words? Too big to fail? Can’t BE!!
…and by the way…Is she turning into Cindy Lauper??? Would someone ask her to check her wrecked self??
LOL @ Tim Possible!
I didn’t hear her start… I came into the room about 3 lines from the end, aka 5 minutes before she finished running the heck outta the song. Only think I could think of was something my Daddy always used to say:
“Pick a note!!!”
Holy cow. I mean, Xtina can blow, but dang it girl, pick a freaking note and stick with it!!!
The Glee songstress, whatever her name was…just as bad with her version of “God Bless America”. Honestly I was appalled by it all. The Super Bowl hype has turned into an advertising media frenzy and a four hour PRE SUPER BOWL program is just hysterically funny. I think it makes the jockoviewers look stupid to buy into that s@#$%&*t. But anything for an excuse to drink, right?
Exactly!!! I hate this. Its a rare moment when they do get someone who will sing our National Anthem the way it was intended. This one has got to be one of the worst I’ve ever heard.
Oh yeah…hand the half time show? It was an embarrassment to the state of Texas.
The whole “Mariah Carey, operatic display” crap just honks me off. What is wrong with just singing the song as it was written? It worked for so many years, and truly still does. Chrissy was so focused on impressing everyone with her “who-cares” vocal range, she forgot the words and the melody and left those of us with even a smidgeon of respect for our country NOT IMPRESSED. She needs to go back to teeny-bop rock.
Hey Christina – listen up! This is how it’s done. Here’s the anthem done right… by Sandi Patty.
When you think its over… it isn’t. Did you all know there was a 2nd verse?
Let’s try this again…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiLRHkkrp48&feature=related
Celebrities. Yeah, they’re real people.
Did you hear her Super Bowel movement in the middle of the song? The Blonde Snooki.
Wow. Glad I missed it.
Did ya’ll catch the Black Eyed Peas Will.I.Am addressing Obama during the halftime show?
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2011/02/black-eyed-peas-address-obama-in-super-bowl-halftime-show/1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImCWjbAOXKo
It reminded me so much of Maya Rudolph’s version on SNL last year!!
I have a better idea for national anthems. Just have these guys and gals every year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETrr-XHBjE
That should end all the stupid renditions and mess ups of our national anthem. No other country has such disrespect for their national anthem, why should we?
My ears still hurt.
I think the NFL should invite high school juniors and seniors to submit tapes of them singing the national anthem during a live performance. Then the winner should get a 4 year scholarship to college. That would be win/win. Better performance… and probably cheaper too!
)
Why can’t the military choirs sing at the super bowl? Oh yeah, they are not the rich and famous!
Off today! I don’t mind improvisation, it’s part of our culture, but what the masters know is that great improvisation comes from first nailing the fundamentals; get the words right , get the notes right first! ..And then have fun if you have the ability. Her whole big long, last note was flat. In the party I was at, we all looked at each other when she was finished and said: “That sucked!” This whole American Idol generation thinks volume (being loud) is the same as quality, go back study the masters.
I did not mind Usher and the Black Eyed Peas, at least they could sing unlike Roger Daltrey last year., but Prince, literally singing in purple rain and Bruce, remain the best half time shows in recent memory and the Chrysler/ Detroit commercial featuring Eminem, from a marketing point of view, was one of the finest commercials I have ever seen period.
TommyO… that was fantastic! Gave me the chills! Thanks for posting!
As I have posted today on another site, I expect an apology from her to the entire nation. You would think that if you were asked to sing such an important song, you should know the words! I’m sure that she’s heard it before in the past! Lea Michele should have done the national anthem! She did a great job on America the Beautiful!
You know who should have done the national anthem? A member of the military. There should be auditions for this by members of the military, and Simon Cowell should be the judge, and he should allow absolutely NO melisma whatsoever.
Done and done.
I don’t mind that she put some flair into it; but she couldn’t have taken some time to memorize the words of the UNITED STATES ANTHEM? It’s not a new song. She’s certainly sung to larger crowds and I might add the Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, who were, at the time “only” American Idol winners (not recording stars yet) managed to sing every word perfectly as it was written.
It was a shameful exhibition of what is deeply wrong with our country as a whole.
Personally I didn’t like the BEP this year. I thought Christina did HER version of the national anthem, which to me really didn’t resonate as much as her vocal chords. Look I have an issue though when people don’t KNOW THE WORDS to the STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
BTW What is wrong with having Arlington High School doing the half time show? Why not get some local kids and do a traditional Texas half time show complete with the little drill team show that the band stumbles through some random show tune for them to dance to? It would cost a HELL of a lot less and would be more entertaining than these Hollywood clowns and it would have been great exposure for high school music programs across the nation.
But doing the right thing isn’t for Super Bowl Sunday.
XTina was looking kind of curvy and barfly cute, with string hair and too-red lipstick. So I thought she was a deliberate plant by teh Packers to be a distraction to ole Rapin’ Big Ben Rothlisberger.
Ironically all of my guests reacted the same way to this…even the liberal ones!
I was paying much attention. I tend to just ignore voices like hers anymore.
The problem with local talent in the Super Bowl is that it is seen all over the world live, it’s really an international even hence, Paul McCartney, the Jackson’s, Springsteen ect….The Black Eyed Peas are the biggest recording group in the world right now, they have cultivated a sound where their music is as popular in Europe (east, west), South America, Asia, as it is here in the States.
Some BEP trivia; Fergie is a reformed a Meth addict, totally cool how she turned her life around, and the Pilipino dude with shades always on is legally blind.
Oversinging sucks. I don’t care who does it or how powerful and pure their voice is. It’s an ugly thing to do to a perfectly good song.
Anon,
So? I’d rather the world see what Americana really is than this kind of stupidity. Have you seen the coolness that is some of these bands? Try looking up The Cavaliers or The Blue Devils on You Tube. They are AMAZING, and over half those guys are from high school bands in TEXAS. They are also what Texas Football is all about. The good game, the good weather, and the huge high school band comprised of roughly 1/2 of the student population sweating their asses off in the wool oven that is a band uniform. You should see what Texas State High School Marching Band competitions are like. You’d be impressed (hell I was and I went as a competitor). The 4A Champions from this year are local, so you wouldn’t even get something trash. You’d get national quality entertainment at not even 1/8th the price (high schoolers will work for pizza). Also, even people in the nose bleed seats will get a good show to see that they DON’T have to watch the jumbo tron to see.
I didn’t say BEP wasn’t a decent band. It is, for manufactured trash pop that is generically popular and has lyrics that are all about partying and debauchery. /end snark. Really I don’t mind BEP in concept, but their show was trash. I don’t think ANYONE likes the modern half time shows, so why not go with something completely different?
One of the coolest things I got to do when I was in High School (we were the alternate 4A champs when I graduated) was when we got to do our show at a playoff game in the Reliant Arena in Houston. The crowd liked it too, according to Channel 2 local news we were the best show the commentators had seen for a playoff game in years.
It would also be something different. Not all the lights and smoke and fireworks and confetti, sure. But it would still be quite a show, that would help promote music in schools (which is being cut left and right) and lets be honest, people who care more about football won’t know the difference.
Ali, I agree – nothing like a proper marching band field halftime show – unfortunately, both the NFL and network television are all about $$$, which means attracting and keeping viewers. And a good old-fashioned marching band or drum corps show just isn’t going to do that. It’s sad but true that no one ever went broke catering to the lowest common denominator, and what the lowest common denominator wants is lots of pretty flashing lights, scantily dressed females, and music they don’t have to pay attention to. After Janet Jackson’s Nipplegate, it’ll be a few years before the NFL will risk the scantily-dressed females again, so what we’re left with is lots of pretty flashing lights and uninspired music. The way I look at it is that that’s why God granted us remote controls and 300+ channels on cable: Animal Planet had a half-hour of adorable puppies rassling on a pretend football field that I got to watch instead of sitting through the Black-Eyed Peas and Slash and Usher and all the students at Miss Janine’s strip mall dance studio draped in spandex and LEDs.
Ali I am with you. I did not say I agree with the idea of using big name acts in the SB, but that’s how the NFL sees it. File this under the “Money Rocks” heading of this site: the NFL’s goal as an independent economic enterprise is not to export American culture as you and I know it, but rather, to create an international platform with profitable franchises all over the world…..And their on to something, this fall I sat in a pub in the Mt Parnarse section of Paris and watched an NFL game live at 12:00 on a Sunday night, and the bar was crowded. Even though I was little wasted and…. preoccupied
, I could not believe France had such an interest in American Football, a sport I played and am deeply passionate about. For the NFL, It is the numbers behind this potential scale which is drives these entertainment decisions and it won’t change, even though I totally embrace where you are coming from….as an American….which, in this context (global business), I offer as a caveat.
Lori M, my pleasure on posting that link. I remembered that being a favorite of mine.
Actually, if you want a good show, you could go to Switzerland for these guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wef1rfBGbmo&feature=related
A drummer in the US trained these guys in many of the steps and routines they do. I’ve met that drummer on a few occasions.
Since we’ve imported other acts, we could have these guys also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLfhv_1DmHI&feature=related
Also, you could have this guy for a half-time show and this as his back up band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flUMQzBI2KY
or throw in some of the American military groups.
This way we would never have to see Fergie, the BEP again or possibly Lady Gaga in the future.
It’s because the celebrities and thier entourage are so emersed in themsleves, they forget the song is NOT about showcasing thier voices, looks, weight loss or whatever. It is about showing respect. Respect to our country, the people who fight for it, the people who work in it everyday, the people who run it (yes the village still needs a chief weather it be a mayor, congressperson, etc there still needs to be someone who has the final decision or nothing gets done, ever) and the ideals we stand for as ONE nation. It is an HONOR and a PRIVILEDGE to be allowed to sing our national anthem especially for such a momentous occasion. (Okay I could care less about football but I respect the billion or so people who do care) I agree with a previous poster at such an important event, it should always be a member of the military or at the very least someone who has majorly contributed to the country in a more meanful way.
Lori M. I haven’t heard the 2nd verse Sandy Patty sang. I do know the 4th verse:
Oh thus be it ever when free men shall stand
between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us as a nation,
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just
And this be our motto, In God is our trust
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Chills!
MizzM – that did give me the chills!
When that song was being sung?!, I just thought of all the service personnel that were watching and wondering how they were serving to protect the freedom for an artist? to butcher a national treasure like what was put on display. Melissa, I didn’t have a chance to get on here this week but can’t believe how many things we agree on when it comes to the conservative principles that should be a part of this country.