Did Christina Aguilera Really Need to Apologize for Flubbing a Line in the National Anthem?
She's "pleading for forgiveness" according to the UK Guardian:
Amid a growing Twitter storm, Aguilera said in a statement: "I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through."
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Can we all just forget about this? I mean really!
Posted by: Jack M | Feb 7, 2011 11:07:26 AM
She should be apologizing for the awful vocals instead.
Posted by: Mark | Feb 7, 2011 11:08:54 AM
I agree, Mark. I prefer a National Anthem sung with a bit of reverence instead of all the caterwauling "look what I can do" melisma.
Posted by: Dastius Krazitauc | Feb 7, 2011 11:15:20 AM
I agree that she should apologize for the vocal rather than flubbing the line. She's sang it right before, numerous times, so she *does* know the words. I just wish she'd quit over-singing so much.
Posted by: Joey | Feb 7, 2011 11:16:01 AM
Do people really believe that Christina hates America because she forgot one line? Give her a break.
Posted by: mike128 | Feb 7, 2011 11:25:49 AM
So she made a mistake. Big deal. Are any of her critics singers, I wonder? Probably not, but this is the 21st Century - where everyone is automatically an authority on every subject. Therefore, it doesn't matter that they themselves have NEVER managed to pull of hundreds of public performances without one mistake - they still feel qualified to critique a professional performer for one measly blunder.
And who cares if that measly blunder took place during the National Anthem? Is the National Anthem suddenly a Sacred Cow?
Posted by: Joseph | Feb 7, 2011 11:30:34 AM
Singing that song is nerve-wracking and the pressure is intense. It's not like flubbing a lyric to your own song at one concert among hundreds on tour which just happens. It's THAT SONG, and you have one shot in front of millions. No matter how many times she's sung it in the past I can only imagine the anxiety of singing at the Super Bowl. Why can't people have compassion for performers who put themselves out there and take risks and sometime make mistakes? It's not a "FAIL" it's part of the risk that comes from live performance. Yes she's a professional but she's not a robot.
Posted by: David | Feb 7, 2011 11:31:13 AM
She flubbed it because she tried to make the whole thing about her. Look at me, I'm wonderful. I was cringeing through the whole thing and wasn't at all surprised when she flubbed it. Enough with the caterwaling and little flourishes these egomaniacs keep trying to bring to our national anthem. Just sing the damn thing already!
Posted by: mytwocents | Feb 7, 2011 11:31:50 AM
No need to apologize at all. It was a respectful thing to do, but I appreciated her getting up there to do something I never could in front of such a large group of people. She screwed up, she said so, it's over.
Posted by: Mrs. Sippi | Feb 7, 2011 11:33:37 AM
Why do we need to hear the National Anthem at sporting events in the first place?
Posted by: bklynbryan | Feb 7, 2011 11:34:44 AM
@Dastius Krazitauc
See, now I disagree with this to the extent that if you are a diva that can go there, than by all means do.
I just watched a youtube of Patti LaBelle singing the anthem at the World Series and she flubbed a couple of words too but she's has the pipes that can go there, so it was all good.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Feb 7, 2011 11:34:51 AM
I have no problem with the flubbed line, these people criticizing her probably have never set foot on any stage ever. There are so many things going on and she probably got distracted and that's all it takes. I don't have a problem with the vocalizing either, she is a pop singer and for better or worse that's how they sing. If they wanted someone to sing it straight, they should have gotten a legit singer from the theatre or opera. I did have a problem with the last note(s). She bit off more than she could chew and was clearly lost. And thisclose to being off key.
Posted by: dk | Feb 7, 2011 11:35:51 AM
...a Director with a SPINE might've prevented this an a plethora of above-referenced misguided "creative choices" in this and parallel contexts. People are just so afraid to say, "um...no" to high-end talent when they approach such projects. ("Spiderman"? Just sayin'...)
Posted by: Kile Ozier | Feb 7, 2011 11:38:14 AM
An apology is respectful and easy to do...as long as she doesn't make it about her. It's stupid to doubt her patriotism over a mistake.
Perhaps the producers of the Superbowl half-time show should make these divas/divos *audition* for the gig!
Posted by: Chris in MN | Feb 7, 2011 11:45:50 AM
she should apologize for BURLESQUE!!!
Posted by: jgm22 | Feb 7, 2011 11:47:09 AM
Mistakes happen...I think the Ego of her vocal gymnastics on the song make people less forgiving of the flub.
I still think Whitney Houston did the most amazing performance back in the day.
Posted by: Geoff | Feb 7, 2011 11:49:25 AM
The reason I don't have compassion for her or her mistake is that she makes millions of dollars a year and probably makes more for one concert than I do in a year. I work at a job that is performance based; that is, if I screw up, I will hear about it. Many times. Why should a pop star be any different? Shouldn't they be held to a higher standard, seeing as they are afforded luxury for their jobs?
Posted by: Alec | Feb 7, 2011 11:49:54 AM
I love Christina and I think the American National Anthem is one of the most horrendous songs ever written. Still, her rendition, even if she had gotten the words right, was absolutely atrocious. One of the worst, excepting that I've EVER heard. It was just a degree or two better than Rosanne's.
"America the Beautiful" should be our national anthem anyway. It's prettier, it actually talks about the country and the land (rather than a battle and a piece of cloth) and everyone remembers the words.
Posted by: TampaZeke | Feb 7, 2011 11:52:07 AM
@chitown kev, I get that a Diva should put her own stamp on a song she's hired to sing, but she should not have "gone there" on every single phrase. A little taste and mindfulness about "what" she was singing with some styling thrown would have been appropriate, otherwise it is just showing off.
Posted by: Dastius Krazitauc | Feb 7, 2011 11:58:15 AM
Agree with the comments - she is LUCKY this "media storm" is about the lyrics because she sounded like a crack head shrieking into the night .... and looked nasty too.
Lea Michelle sounded so much nicer (however Fox pushing the GOD Bless America crap was annoying) --- they were appealing to the faction that wants to change the National Anthem for on with GOD in it.
Posted by: willie t boned | Feb 7, 2011 11:59:41 AM
Sorry meant America The Beautiful is being pushed by the Christianists as the new National Anthem ....
America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
GOD shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
GOD mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May GOD thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
GOD shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
GOD shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
GOD shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
GOD shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
GOD shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
Posted by: willie t boned | Feb 7, 2011 12:03:25 PM
Making mistakes is human. Why should she apologize for something she didn't do on purpose?
Posted by: Sarina | Feb 7, 2011 12:05:09 PM
Is the National Anthem suddenly a Sacred Cow?
If by "suddenly" you mean since 1931 ... and yes, it is.
Posted by: Rik | Feb 7, 2011 12:12:17 PM
I agree that she oversang the song. I wish they had Xtina sing America the Beautiful and let Lea sing the National Anthem. Lea's not my favorite member of the Glee cast, but she would rocked the National Anthem.
Posted by: pParkerT | Feb 7, 2011 12:13:16 PM
I wonder how many of her critics could sing it themselves without flubbing a line without them being shown on the screens around the stadium. She's hardly the first person to mess up the lyrics. The vocals, yeah, they were bad. The lyrics, meh, it's a non-issue.
Posted by: Meijay | Feb 7, 2011 12:13:52 PM