Let's start with the obvious observation: Christina Aguilera screwed up the lyrics to the National Anthem. Big deal. We all mistakes, and what musician hasn't played or sung a wrong note or word? I once accompanied a college recital where the singer forgot his lyrics and proceeded to replace the Italian lyrics by listing every kind of pasta he could recall. (The memory of an Italian aria reduced to "ravioli macaroni et lasgna" still makes me laugh.) The Super Bowl may be the worst imaginable time to forget the words, but at least they rhymed and she powered through to the end. You've got to give her credit for singing it live and for maintaining composure. One might wonder if next year there will be a teleprompter, or even a few helpful words scribbled on the singer's palm.
My problem with the performance wasn't her little mistake, it was the overly dramatic, self-indulgent nature of the performance. Don't get me wrong, the song isn't sacrosanct and immune from interpretation. Recordings of Jimi Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner can make you hear it in a whole new way. But Aguilera wasn't trying to communicate her passion and patriotism and deep connection with the lyrics. She was simply closing her eyes, raising her free hand in the air, and generally mimicking every performance you'll see on American Idol this season. Singers now strike certain poses simply because it's part of the accepted theatricality of the ritual, not because it's spontaneous or motivated by the song itself. How authentic can a performance be if it looks exactly like every other performance?
Aguilera violated my pet peeve by singing with her eyes closed. Even at the community theatre level, actors know that you can't communicate with an audience if your eyes aren't open. You can't engage with fellow actors, audience, or even an everyday conversation. Just imagine if a man proposed to his wife without looking into her eyes; would it seem sincere? Closing your eyes while singing only puts distance between you and your audience. It's one of the reasons that so-called "praise bands" violate the purpose of corporate worship. They strike poses to demonstrate their religious fervor, but their artificiality separates them from the congregation.
We sing hymns with our eyes open. Partly because it's easier to see the text, but mostly because when we sing we are joining together in praise, prayer, and proclamation. We are a community of faith, flawed and imperfect but in it together - much like our nation. If only Aguilera had remembered that. It would have made for a great performance, missed lyrics and all.
I think that the National Anthem should not be interpreted like an ecstatic love song.
ReplyDeleteI think the National Anthem should be sung. Not growled and screamed. She missed the low notes AND the high notes. It was the worst performance of that song I have ever witnessed. I would prefer Rosanne Barr's version from the 90s. Remember?
ReplyDeleteI am of the mind that our National Anthem is not a solo or performance piece at all. It is to be sung by all in attendance, and the person(s) holding the microphone is simply leading the singing. It should be straight, no extra notes or trills, and all should be at attention, hand over heart. Did you see the Canadian hockey team win Olympic gold last winter? Do you remember how the stadium shook with the entire crowd singing "O Canada" at the top of their lungs? And that was with a piped in instrumental version of the song! I want to here Americans in a crowd sing our National Anthem like that, with pride and abandon. (I'm putting away the soapbox now.)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Sporalto - everyone should be singing. The danger of handing someone a microphone is that the crowd abdicates the responsibility to join in. That's another reason I'm not a fan of "song leaders" in church.
ReplyDeleteTom, You ought to write for the Huffington Post. See this link http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-eskow/christina-aguilera-and-th_b_819979.html
ReplyDeleteLast Fall I attended a college football game. The public address announcer invited everyone to stand and sing the National Anthem as the band played. About 20,000 people were in attendance but as far as I could tell I was the only person singing. I forgot a few of the words but I wasn't very embarrased. I was mostly angry at the people who didn't bother to try to sing. Some of our "patriots" want to send other people overseas to fight for our freedom but they do not seem to have the courage necessary to sing the National Anthem.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago when I was attending one of my son's school events, it opened with the National Athem. I sang along, and after it was finished the woman in front of me turned around and said, "You're good enough for NASCAR." I think she meant it as a compliment, but I'm not sure. My wife and I still laugh about it to this day.
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