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

Longest … National Anthem … ever

By 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 ...

 

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44Comments
Debidu2
Feb 4, 2013 1:13PM
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It's the National Anthem.  Just sing it as written.  Stop with the "taking liberties" with the song.  Not impressed at all.
tmcenterprises
Feb 4, 2013 2:37PM
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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......
ctheslayer
Feb 4, 2013 1:26PM
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Alicia Keys  has more talent as a performer, arranger and songwriter in her pinky than anyone on the multitudes of judges panels on the talent shows critiquing the same in others. Had she been singing any other song, it would have been beautiful. But The Star-Spangled Banner is not an American Idol audition piece. It as anthem that is to be LEAD. This means performed as traditionally written and arranged so that we all may sing together in unity. It was sad seeing close-ups of players and coaches "trying" to follow Keys' version.
_GHOST_
Feb 4, 2013 1:22PM
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I almost fell asleep, GOD why do those people draaaaaaaag out such simple songs, I didnt think it was ever going to end.
ricorazor21
Feb 4, 2013 1:53PM
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When she started I thought I was at a funeral procession.
albert pisano (Sage 1)
Feb 4, 2013 2:37PM
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Awful   Its the NATIONAL ANTHEM not HER SONG/  Its OUR SONG,,leave it alone and rewrite  the rest

JustMeHere999
Feb 4, 2013 2:21PM
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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.

FCETX
Feb 4, 2013 1:34PM
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She is a very talented musician just not doing the Star Spangled Banner...this anthem is meant to be upbeat, patriotic and her version made me feel as if I was sitting down listening to a Lounge Singer.
HoHum
Feb 4, 2013 2:43PM
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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.
DAWN GENTRY (CaliMomof2)
Feb 4, 2013 1:51PM
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I kept waiting for the speed to pick up and for her to belt out the words but it never happened.  Very, very boring. 
idol fan colorado
Feb 4, 2013 1:44PM
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she messed it up.  did not like her version at all.
NewGawker
Feb 4, 2013 2:00PM
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She's very talented but this was extremely annoying
Deb Jones (57nd)
Feb 4, 2013 1:53PM
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The Puppy Bowl played the National Anthem yesterday and it was a hell of a lot better than this disaster on the Superbowl. Miss Keyes sucked ****.
canuck644
Feb 4, 2013 1:41PM
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she continues to bore the heck out of me!

bla bla bla...she does this to all tunes...they go on forever...same crap repeated!

enough already.....hush up, will you.

 

Kayli
Feb 4, 2013 2:56PM
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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?
ctheslayer
Feb 4, 2013 3:00PM
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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.

pussandboots
Feb 4, 2013 3:14PM
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Her performence along with the half time show are reasons enough to skip watching the super bowl.
Anissa Roy
Feb 4, 2013 2:11PM
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I've heard many artist attempt the star spangled banner and no one to this date has

belted out a better rendition of this song than Whitney Houston. When I heard Ms.Houston

sing the star spangled banner it sent chills through me and made me proud to be an American.

 

I wasn't moved at all by Alicia Key's version.

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