With Christina's awful national anthem at the SuperBowl last night, it is always fun to remember the time when Carl Lewis, yes the Olympic legend, gave it an attempt:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1889754_1889752_1889731,00.html
Malamute wrote:
With Christina's awful national anthem at the SuperBowl last night, it is always fun to remember the time when Carl Lewis, yes the Olympic legend, gave it an attempt:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1889754_1889752_1889731,00.html
That is truly one of the best videos in history. It is also one of the worst renditions of our national anthem ever.
Last night's was pretty bad. I had heard Aguilera was going to keep it respectable. I guess not. As soon as it was over, I said "she ain't no Whitney," referring to the Whitney Houston anthem she sung at the 1991 or 1992 super bowl. That is, imho, the best rendition of the song I've ever heard. This year the NFL should have just hired the guy who sang at the Chicago playoff games.
Christina A is a better singer than we saw last night. But if she's not up to the job of delivering at a moment of peak stress and visibility then she should have acknowledged it upfront. Give it to Fergie.
Imagine if she'd have been an athlete... pre-Games favorite experiences elimination in the qualifying heats!
Carl Lewis however is in another dimension. This is awesomely awful! Don't you remember this: "I can't sing as well as Michael Jackson, but he can't run as fast as I can."
Former track and field reporter, wine geek and current SI footbal writer Paul Zimmerman times and records anthems at sporting events. I believe the fastest one he recorded was 45 seconds and the longest going 2:50 or so.
John Amerante(MSG/Rangers)was pretty steady in the 65-70 seconds area as I recall.
Whitney's was great but it was pre-recorded.
She sang with herself, not exactly lip sinking.
If she would have messed up a word you would have heard the correct and incorrect word.
It is certainly considered the best rendition.
Or maybe Jimi Hendrix's.
toro wrote:
It is certainly considered the best rendition.
Or maybe Jimi Hendrix's.
Good point. I will clarify. Whitney's was the best ever sung rendition. Or you could say best ever at a sporting event (easily).
Jimi's is the best ever instrumental version.
"Look bitch!!"
F***! That was AWESOME. As you say, even better than the other performances.
Lewis always had this acting/drama fetish but this is a new level. If he'd done that before the 84OG he and Joe Douglas would have gotten their share of the endorsement pie and then some.
So, can we see him in the next remake of the alltime classic...
SHAFT.
Needs.
Carl.
Lewis.
Another great one was Jordin Sparks (American idol winner) at the Super Bowl in Arizona a few years ago (Patriots-Giants I think). She probably isn't up to Whitney as a singer, but they did a great job with the arrangement. It is a difficult song to sing well.
I've never understood why the need for Pop stars to sing the anthem. None of us viewers are wanting it. There are plenty of great vocalists that most people have never heard before who would do it great. There are of course professional opera singers. But there are also some great R&B singers out there who would do great job. They just aren't pop stars.
I just ran across this rendition of the National Anthem from the 2003 Super Bowl (Bucs-Raiders) by The Dixie Chicks. FREAKIN AWESOME!!!! Yes, I'm serious.
Still, nothing beat this: