13 Most Over-The-Top Diva Renditions Of The National Anthem

MTV ^ | 07/04/2014 | by John Walker

[SeekAndFind]

With today being the Fourth of July and all, I feel it’s my civic duty to unite us, if but for a short time, with the one act of blind patriotism we can all get behind: counting down the most over-the-top, overwhelming renditions of the national anthem, as performed by Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, and the rest of your favorite divas of pop music. (In no particular order, of course, so please don’t tweet me death threats. Thanks!)

To clarify, by national anthem I mean “The Star-Spangled Banner” only. (As in, the actual, official national anthem.) That means that neither Aretha Franklin singing “My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee” at the 2009 presidential inauguration nor the bejeweled-bow hat she wore at said inauguration are on the list. Pour out a vial of eagle tears in mourning, and move past it. Your country needs you. Please rise.

[trisham]

He’s great.

[smalltownslick]

Here’s another lovely acapella version”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gOEDU0Jkc

[DaxtonBrown]

The famous “La Fway” rendition of the National anthem by Beyonce for Obama’s inauguration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1kq6CA_38

[Fiji Hill]

There’s a reference to Job 7:2 in the National Anthem. See if you can find it.

[huldah1776]

Agreed. Josh nails it.

I also like these guys, Madison Rising...

http://www.madisonrising.com/

Their version is on the page.

[left that other site]

I remember the 2011 Super Bowl with particular clarity, as i was visiting a student’s home for a Super Bowl Party. As soon as I saw that it was acapella, I KNEW that Aguilera was going to be in trouble, as the musicianship required to stay in key for the entire song in such a huge venue (PA System delays and echos, etc) was something she did not posses. Compounded by her frequent unnecessary forays into melisma and embellishments, she kept landing flat after every silly “run” and kept dismounting into a new key. The runs also destroyed the continuity of the song, and affected the phrasing. She ended up at least a half step lower than she started, as she kept getting lost.

We stood there with our jaws dropped, and when she was finished I blurted out:

“If she were MY voice student, I would have slapped her upside her head for that!”

[SeekAndFind]

This is the COMPLETE Star Spangled Banner as written by Francis Scott Key...

---

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[JW1949]

These guys are POWERFUL!!!!!!!!

[SeekAndFind]

RE: There’s a reference to Job 7:2 in the National Anthem.

“No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:”

[Ditter]

I was thinking it was Whoopie Goldberg who was the worst but maybe you are right about Rosanne.

[SeekAndFind]

I also like these guys, Madison Rising...

http://www.madisonrising.com/

Their version is on the page.

____________________________________

For those who haven’t seen the movie, Madison Rising’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner” was included on the soundtrack for Dinesh D’Souza’s 2014 documentary film America: Imagine the World Without Her.

[SeekAndFind]

For those who haven’t seen the movie, Madison Rising’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner” was included on the soundtrack for Dinesh D’Souza’s 2014 documentary film ‘America: Imagine the World Without Her.’

[madison10]

THAT was awesome! Thanks for posting.

[DFG]

Roseanne Barr was the worst I have ever heard.

[Hulka]

Got my vote.

Outstanding.

[Fiji Hill]

You got it!

[freekitty]

I agree. I don’t know the ends and outs of singing, however, being that I was very bad, I have heard most singers today are scale singers which isn’t really singing?

[freekitty]

I have seen them and they are really great. I just think Whitney is one of the best. Beyonce, not so much.

[madison10]

Absolutely agree. What a loss.

Ten years prior to 9/11/2001 and the world, in spite of the Persian Gulf, was much more rosy. Sure miss that time.

[Fresh Wind]

This is my personal favorite version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQYIHQvhIk0