Pop Spy: What's Trending Today in Entertainment and Gossip

Alicia Keys sets Super Bowl record with extended 'Star-Spangled Banner'

Longest … National Anthem … ever

By Pop Spy -- Kat Giantis Feb 4, 2013 11:02AM

Reuters

Super Bowl fans aren't known for sitting quietly for prolonged periods while contemplating this great land of ours. But they were forced to do just that during Alicia Keys' emotional and drawn-out rendition of the national anthem at Sunday's Super Bowl. With just her silver piano for accompaniment, the red-gown-clad chanteuse belted out a slow, soulful version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that clocked in at 156.5 seconds. According to anthem expert David Barron (yes, there is such a thing), Alicia's version is nearly four seconds longer than the previous lengthy record-holder from Natalie Cole. By comparison, Kelly Clarkson's 2012 rendition lasted a mere 90 seconds, which, let's face it, hardly gives viewers enough time for a bathroom break and beer replenishing. The big question, of course, is how Alicia's interpretation stacks up against Bleeding Gum Murphy's endless performance on "The Simpsons." Judge for yourself …


Watch Alicia croon here. Then compare ...

 

< Back to Pop Spy
User Picture
Write a comment...
44Comments
JD085
Feb 5, 2013 5:08PM
avatar
She really butchered it. It was really pathetic. Was she being paid by the hour? Just sing it the way it was written. I give her performance an F.
joe donahue
Feb 5, 2013 4:48PM
avatar
O'er the land of the greed,and the home of the slave.
diehardpatriot
Feb 4, 2013 5:20PM
avatar
I agree!! Don't mess with the National Athem, America the Beautiful, and God Bless America. Quit trying to "make it your own". Alicia Keys rendition was as if we were sitting in a piano bar. Didn't like it at all!!
Joyce Kimmel
Feb 4, 2013 4:26PM
avatar
It is not a FUNERAL MARCH - sing it like the NATIONAL ANTHEME is suppose to be sung!!
wavesofmen
Feb 4, 2013 3:51PM
avatar
Anyone notice that all three performers were women, median age 30, who perform the genre of music? What about the rock and country fans? Adding insult to injury, this is the first time in years that there wasn't at least one performer from the host state/city. Pretty absurd considering they were in New Orleans. Heck, Tim McGraw is a native Louisianan - I think he would have done a wonderful job of America the Beautiful. He would have done a kick-butt half-time show.
wavesofmen
Feb 4, 2013 3:42PM
avatar

Speaking of "diversity," anyone else notice that the three featured performers were all female African-American pop singers around the age of 30? I thought it was insulting that, unlike every other Super Bowl, there was no inclusion of a single native performer from the host state/city. Louisiana? NEW ORLEANS? REALLY?! Think of all the beer drinking men who watch football the rest of the year - and not just for the commercials - don't you think they would have appreciated  Tim McGraw? Who am I kidding - the ladies would have loved seeing Tim McGraw, too ;-)

T2 TheBest
Feb 4, 2013 3:24PM
avatar
I can't believe she sang the whole time with her eyes closed.
Someone
Feb 4, 2013 3:23PM
avatar

I've heard many artist attempt to sing the star spangled banner and no one to this

date has belted out this song like Whitney Houston. I watched her perform the star

spangled banner and it was sung so beautifully and without any overbearing add-ons.

And since then ,no one has topped Houston's version and I don't think they ever will !

pussandboots
Feb 4, 2013 3:14PM
avatar
Her performence along with the half time show are reasons enough to skip watching the super bowl.
Kayli
Feb 4, 2013 3:06PM
avatar
And why does J-Hud have to over "sing" everything? Whatever happened to the no-nonsense, ballad singing of a generationa nd more ago? Sing a damn song like the Hollywood movie stars did in the musicals of the 40s, 50s and 60s.  Today's so-called talent can't hold a match stick to the great singers of yesteryear. People are so naive, thinking Mariah Carey could hit all these high notes. Have you ever heard a REAL opera piece, where high notes aren't just "hit," they are SUNG ?? Today's "talent" is all about eye candy. And don't say Adele is an exception. If she didn't have doe eyes, pouty lips and big blonde hair, she'd still be a youtube unknown.
ctheslayer
Feb 4, 2013 3:00PM
avatar

If it doesn't matter what our National Anthem sounds like, if it's a "reflection of our diversity," then how come "Hail to the Chief" doesn't get the Star-Mangled Banner treatment? Or any of the anthems that represent our armed forces? Because they aren't  perform at sporting events watched by millions of people, that's why. Simply put, this "re-imagining" of the national anthem is simply a means to show off. Period.

Kayli
Feb 4, 2013 2:56PM
avatar
She's won FOURTEEN Grammys and this was all she could do?  Shame on her.  It STUNK worse than a skunk carcass.  The only reason she's scored so many hits and awards is because she's eye candy. Any woman in a church choir could have sung better. And my 8 year old niece can play the piano better than that performance. Nothing special about AK's voice. What am I missing?  Mediocre at best. Go to any junior high choir and you'll find much better voices. AK should be ashamed of herself for totally blowing it. Was that the best this over-rated singer could do?
Old school 1946
Feb 4, 2013 2:56PM
avatar
HORRIBLE!!!  I wish each sporting event would require the singer to audition with the way he/she intended to sing OUR national anthem.  If it was not in the traditional way as it was written, someone else should be picked.  Maybe then we would not have so many of them try to make it their own with versions that are almost not recognizable.
Deb Jones (57nd)
Feb 4, 2013 2:53PM
avatar
Why does anyone have to sing it any way? Just find some nice music (no words) of the song and go with that.
Old school 1946
Feb 4, 2013 2:49PM
avatar
HORRIBLE!!!.  I wish we could have each sporting event require the "artist" to audition with his/her intended version of the anthem.  If it is not the traditional version of the song as it was originally written, someone else who would perform it in that manner should be chosen.  It is OUR national anthem, not a piece he/she threw together the night before.
HoHum
Feb 4, 2013 2:43PM
avatar
Since Whitney Houston received so much fame from her beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner so many years ago, it seems every other singer has to try and match it in an ill-fated attempt to do the same.  This version last night was a mess.  Our national anthem isn't a piece of jazz music!  If you want to get the attention that Whitney did, sing like Whitney did.
tmcenterprises
Feb 4, 2013 2:37PM
avatar
We haven't heard the national anthem sung as it's supposed to be in years......why can't all these singers quit putting their own "twist" to it and sing it traditionally??? Our national anthem was not meant to be jacked with by anyone, past or future. It's a disrespect to our anthem, and our country to "ad-lib"............​..Keep it traditional. As it was written.  Simple. Our forefathers, and military have fought hard for our country's tradition and beliefs. Not to mention our lifestyle that we live day to day. Please keep tradition and respect alive in this country. It's sad if, or when, anyone does differently and we "accept" it......
albert pisano (Sage 1)
Feb 4, 2013 2:37PM
avatar

Awful   Its the NATIONAL ANTHEM not HER SONG/  Its OUR SONG,,leave it alone and rewrite  the rest

JustMeHere999
Feb 4, 2013 2:21PM
avatar

This absurd over stylized, dragged out singing of our National Anthem needs to stop.  This was just painful to watch AND listen to.  Maybe going forward, they should just bring in a local high school band and have them play it.  Then we won't have to listen to any more self-serving twits try to sing it.

Report
Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
Categories
100 character limit
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?