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Aguilera flubs national anthem at Super Bowl
O say, can Christina have a do-over?
Christina Aguilera helped kick off Sunday's Super Bowl with a singer's nightmare, flubbing the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" about 40 seconds into the song as tens of millions prepared to watch the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Standing at midfield at Texas' Cowboys Stadium, the singer-actress mixed a previously sung clause with the one she was supposed to be on.
Here's what she sang, with the error in bold:
"O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last [unintelligible].”
That fourth line was supposed to be: "O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming."
In a statement released by her publicist, Aguilera explained what happened:
"I got so lost in the moment of the song that I lost my place," the singer 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."
Aguilera isn't the first person to have trouble with the song, as Time magazine's "Top 10 Worst National-Anthem Renditions" will remind us.
The list includes Michael Bolton's effort at a 2003 playoff baseball game in Boston's Fenway Park, where he had to pause midsong and check some notes before correctly getting through the same line that troubled Aguilera.
Aguilera sang the national anthem twice during last year's NBA finals. She delivered both performances without incident.
- CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report.
On Twitter
Another sad commentary on our “present culture”. Unfortunately, Ms. Aguilera is just like the many others that sing the national anthem as if they are trying out for American Idol (gag). It happens all too often. There is no excuse for this. It is very insulting to the working class American and unequivocally disrespectful to what true Americans pride themselves in. Family, a decent job, and hope of building a better tomorrow. But we have to tolerate this. It is time to wake up and stop this nonsense and disrespect for our precious country. Personally, I am surprised that she did not have a cell phone attached to her skull while she totally flubbed up. At least then she would have an excuse to give her promoter.
Who cares. It was good enough
yep......good nuff........just like the degree that most americans graduate with.
that will last about as long as China makes us mad.........
EVERYONE who signs that anthem flubs. I have never heard anyone who did not flub this song.
I care, it was horrible. She made the anthem about "her". I applaud the effort but this was an epic fail!
"LOL and we run the world. Suck it long, and suck it hard, Trebek."
Hahahahahahahahaha Can't stop laughing at this post. Man, It's good to be American!!!!!!
No, it was NOT good enough! This song should be sung with dignity and tradition. Leave the theatrics at the theater! She totally butchered it!
Typical response from today's younger generation. No class!!
""LOL and we run the world. Suck it long, and suck it hard, Trebek."
Hahahahahahahahaha Can't stop laughing at this post. Man, It's good to be American!!!!!!"
yes. it's such a great feeling to be able to arrogantly celebrate our mediocrity as a society. mediocrity is allowed to vote for our country's leadership... obviously there is no way a democracy can fail. sadly, Americans are proving Winston Churchill's quote to be a prophetic one; "the best argument against democracy is a 5-minute conversation with the average voter."
*facepalm*
She couldnt sing the anthem if she got all the words right..............................................She is to preocupied with wanting to add her own personal touch to the melody. It would of been a thousand times a better idea to give the oportunity to the little girl with the big voice Jackie Evancho.......................................................
It was'nt good enough period. It was HORRIBLE! That the sad half time show makes me think....gosh, is that what America cares about?....these people and their money, fashion, fame? What happened to making quality music, quality of character, ideals, showing up for charity events (ie Prince), American apple pie and all that used to make us a great country? I just think America is going down the tubes. Too much stupidy and shallow ideals....this music has no soul whatsoever
Next year lets have Janet Jackson, Fergie, and Christina stand on stage at halftime and the Chairman of the FCC rip off their tops. Now thats at least entertaining television...
Bad anthem. Bad halftime show. Bad commercials. Both teams played bad. Worst super Bowl in memory!
I care. And it wasn't good enough – it was disgusting. Like most of the morons who sing that song these days and don't get it. First of all if your memorization skills suck that bad – have a prompter. Second, this song (which to most thinking Americans is for all intents and purposes – hymn-like) is not the time for you to show off you insane vibrato or screaming skills or to show us that you can hold a note for 42 minutes. Sing the song with strength, pride and a hefty dose of reverence. It should sound beautiful – not crass and obnoxious. It's not a rock song. Christina sounded like she was giving birth – not singing. Check your effin ego at the door!
That was the most horrible performance of the Star Spangled Banner that I have EVER listened to. Sometimes I think Martina McBride should be the only professional singer allowed to perform it in public. She truly delivers it the way I think it should be.
Yes, it was good enough. It was beautiful, and it's the thought that counts. Lay off Christina.
She is not the first. If you are old enough to remember, Willie Nelson flubbed it even worse.
Willie had an excuse – he was stoned out of his mind.
As a Service member I find it INSULTING. I have to remember Creeds passed on. I know this song by verse by verse. And can explain most of it. I have friends that have died for this country. Before anyone shows up with only a paycheck in mind learn the lyrics first
Remember Rome, remember Nero and the fiddle, remember the fires that burned Rome? Where is our country today? Get the fiddles.
Maybe if those who attempted to sing our National Anthem would just sing the written notes rather than warbling all over the musical scale they might be able to concentrate on getting the words right and have a nice rendition of a national classic.
No, it was not good enough; being asked to perform the National Anthem at the biggest sporting event on the planet is an honor and a privledge, and should be taken seriously. How do you get lost in the song in the first verse? By being more concerned with showing your range than singing the song as it was meant to be sung. @ matt, I am not sure where you are getting your information, or what events you are watching, but I rarely see anyone mess up the Anthem. I put Christina's performance last night second to Rosanne's as the worst rendention in history.
Actually we should care.....come on, everyone SHOULD know the words!! She's a perfect example of HOLLYWOOD loud mouths. We're sick of them!
No one is infallible. The woman has an incredible voice, and I am sure she is horrified that she flubbed.
No, it was not good enough. Never mind the flubbing of the lines. That has happened before, although I've heard many renditions sung beautifully and flawlessly, so it can be done. Focus on the fact that this woman has little talent and is all about self-promotion. Whether or not she had flubbed the line, she still totally destroyed our National Anthem.
i guess that what you call traditional white makes it all right
Christina Aguilera Star Spangled Banner parody – founding fathers watch and react (all in fun)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfRlhLXFytg
It's not like she's a professional singer....... jeez
This isn't the first time she performs the national anthem, and this is the first mistake she makes.
@ed, is this the first time you replies to a post online? Is this the first time you makes mistake? Seriously, Ed, you can't even type in proper English, so STFU!
I'm sure she feels horrible.....but the article on AOL says she "let down America"....COME ON MAN!!! It's not that big of a deal.
It is a hell of a big deal. It shows the total lack of respect from today's youth. She is an embarassment to our country. She should be ashamed. Get a singer who knows how to sing to do the anthem. It hasn't been sung properly for many years now.
It's totally not a big deal. Who cares? She messed up some lyrics to some song. She's embarrassed enough. The universe didn't collapse in on itself. Get some perspective. There are bigger issues than whether Aguilera knows the lyrics to the national anthem.
@Dr.J: Youth? Christina Aguilera is at least 30 by now. She's married and has children too, It's not as if she's an out of control teen who has no respect. She made a mistake live in front of the entire country. Could you perform under that stress?
Gotta love the bitter baby boomers who blame every little mishap on "America's youth." Look at the state of our country. That's YOUR generation's doing Dr. J! Christina's singing mistake has nothing to do with America's youth.
Hey, it was far better than the halftime show.
Came here to say the exact same thing. The Black Eyed Peas were horrible...
Amen!
I agree...both Christina and the Black-eyed peas were pitiful. Let's get some professionals next year...
It's not news until Sarah Palin reacts to it! Come on CNN, I just can't get enough of a political nobody's opinions! We want more Sarah Palin stories!
peter, LOVE the comment!
LOLOL... Absolutely the BEST comment on this subject... Yah CNN have you called Sarah yet?
I'm not really a fan, but she's a talented singer. She's done the song before just fine.
Even if you're a professional, which essentially none of you are, I'd like to see you try and sing in front of a crowd of a hundred thousand while being televised live to tens of millions nationally and millions more overseas. A little intimidating, no?
Sorry, but she is a professional. She was paid (I'm sure). She should have made it her job to know the words.If you know millions will be watching, you damn well need to learn the words. It is our national anthem. If she can't take the time to learn it, she should have not taken the job. It is disrespectful to 'flub' a national anthem. It is unprofessional, lazy and sloppy.
Maybe real Americans should sing it. YA THINK.
exactly what do you mean by "real Americans?"
You do realize she IS American, right? Idiot.
I wonder why no one trieed to get Sarah Palin to sing it. Oh she charges to much and probably doesn't know the words. The only thing she knows is ....................is ...................... is ................ oh forget it.
Forget about the mistake, the whole song was horrible! She was yelling and extremely deep. I turned if off because, I couldn't take it anymore!
i thought it was too much yelling too. I heard there was a betting line on how long it would take to sing the Athem. Something like over/under at 1:30. I wonder if she had any money riding on herself?
Who Run the World ??? America ??? I think America has a huge loan with China ! so who run the world ??? maybe you are talking about facebook and google right ???
LOL. "Just got lost in the moment" NOOOO Christina. You lost your place because you were making every word over 10 syllable.s STOP EMBELLISHING. If people kept our anthem sung how it SHOULD be, people wouldn't forget the words. Naturally its hard to keep track of what you just sang when The word "The" just took you literally over 5 seconds to sing, embellishing it with many syllables and many different pitches! DUHHHHH!
She so messed that up....the best rendition of that song, goes to Whitney Houston.
Agreed, but Aguilera keeps having the best female vocals in history despite this mistake, since she's a soprano, not a mezzo-soprano like Houston.
yep