Life imitates art?

February 8, 2011

(Because you can fit the sheet music for The Star Spangled Banner on a bookshelf.)

My, that was a big “whoops” for Christina Aguilera at the Super Bowl, wasn’t it?

Hey, Christina, Don’t Forget the Lyrics called. They want you as a contestant. (Believe it or not, there are folks out there who actually bet that she would screw up. Not “if” she would, but “when.”)

Compare that with Maya Rudolph in a 2006 Saturday Night Live “spoof” poking fun at diva renditions of the National Anthem.

Here’s another memorable — and very controversial — interpretation, this one by Jose Feliciano at Game 5 of the 1968 World Series, hosted by the Detroit Tigers against the st. Louis Cardinals.

It’s hard to believe the public outrage over this at the time. But he got another crack at it — 42 years later.

The day before, Motown R&B legend Marvin Gaye also sang at the Series, a much more traditional version. You can spot Jackie Robinson and Vice President Hubert Humphrey in the stands.

Gaye gave a much more soulful performance for the 1983 NBA All-Star Game.

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Tagged as: 1968 World Series, Christina Aguilera, Marvin Gaye, Star Spangled Banner

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