What is it about watching people, notably celebrities, singing national anthems at sporting events that makes it sometimes more memorable than the event itself?
Why do the people who attempt to sing the anthems leave us laughing, crying or, on the odd occasion, booing?
By now you know Kreesha Turner, the singer chosen to warble the words of the Canadian anthem prior to the start of last Sunday’s Buffalo Bills/Miami Dolphins game, had some difficulties.
Turner became undone midway through the tune and was bailed out by the crowd of more than 53,000, who carried her home in a wonderful moment of Canadiana.
Turner, an Edmontonian now living in Toronto, indicated in an article in Tuesday’s Toronto Sun that she was intimidated walking on to the field in the biggest performance of her life.
Midway through her rendition, which was done at a snail’s pace, she had clearly run into a problem. Turns out she "couldn’t hear" her voice and that it was "bouncing off the walls" of Rogers Centre.
It reminded me of some of the more interesting moments in national anthem-singing history.
Here’s my top-10 list.
Feel free to agree, disagree or add some of your own memories. Maybe we could put a compilation together and get K-Tel to sell it!
1. Roseanne Barr: The robust comedienne with the potty mouth sang the U.S. national anthem at a San Diego Padres’ home game in 1990 and it left people reaching for the mute button on their TV sets and sticking fingers in their ears if they were in attendance. Her screeching rendition is available on YouTube for those of you who haven’t heard it and need more than a dozen cups of coffee to wake you up.
2. Dennis (KC) Parks: This platinum blonde signer completely butchered the Canadian anthem prior to a Canadian Football League game in Las Vegas against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the early ‘90s. He didn’t know the words and added his own melody. It sounded like a cross between the Star Spangled Banner and O Christmas Tree. No only was it off tune, but he dragged out the final few words for full effect. Mercifully, there was barely anyone in the crowd to notice it, although enough people in Canada became aware of it that he was given a chance to do a do-over. He sang it prior to a Tiger-Cats game at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Now that’s a place you don’t want to screw up the anthem!
3. Carol Marcil: She forgot the words to the American anthem prior to an exhibition game between Canada and the U.S. in 2005. She was so embarrassed after the first few words, she walked off the ice to regroup. Feeling bold and confident, she stepped back on the ice, took a bad step, tumbled and nearly hit her head on the boards. She promptly walked off the ice again and this time did not return.
4. Michael Bolton: Well after he had shorn off his long locks that made the women drool, Michael sang the American anthem prior to Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. Midway through the rendition, he suffered a brain cramp, paused and looked at one of his hands upon which he'd written some lyrics. He then continued, pointed a finger at his temple to let everyone know he'd blundered, and then continued. Towards the end he gave it the soulful effect that made the women drool.
5. Tom Wright: The onetime commissioner of the Canadian Football League sang the Canadian anthem with his daughter Jodi prior to a game in Ottawa. Sadly, the CFL board of governors who didn’t see eye-to-eye with Wright were not pleased. Apparently, they didn’t think the figurehead of a Canadian institution should be doing such a truly patriotic thing.
6 . Carl Lewis. The infamous American track star, who viewed himself as somewhat of a singer, attempted to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a National Basketball Association game in 1993. He started out dragging the first few words and fell apart after that, losing his voice at one point and saying, "Oh, oh." And then it really got bad and he said, "I’ll make up for it." If it had been a track meet, he would have been disqualified.
7. Whitney Houston: The once-great singer could have used a bodyguard after her interesting rendition of the Star Spangled Banner prior to Super Bowl XXV. With her headband pushing up her whacky hairdo, poor Whitney was but a shade of herself. Her eyes had the glaze of someone who felt no pain. Houston, we had liftoff after seeing her forgettable performance.
8. Lucy Lawless: The New Zealand-born actress known for her role as Xena: Warrior Princess sang the American anthem prior to an Anaheim Ducks’ home game. She wore a jacket covering up her amplitude, as it were, but nearing the end of the song she removed the jacket and revealed a bright-red boostier, similar to what she wore in her Warrior Princess role, and, whether planned or not, a fully-visible nipple. This was way before Janet Jackson’s famous wardrobe malfunction. "Is it anything less than a fine production when the fine people of Disney are involved," remarked the Ducks’ announcer. One thing is for sure: This Warrior Princess gave new meaning to the word breastplate in that moment.
9. Jerry Stackhouse: The Dallas Mavericks’ star sang the American anthem prior to one of his team’s home games. He had such a serious demeanour – then again, has this guy ever smiled? – he gave new meaning to the expression game face. Stackhouse’s rendition was slow and soulful and the crowd loved it. But, hey, what would you expect from a home crowd?
10. Jessica Simpson: She sang the American anthem prior to the Indy500 in 2004. She looked marvellous: her long blonde locks flowing in the breeze; her ample body parts practically bursting for breathing room; her, well, let’s get back to the topic at hand, her signing. We rather enjoyed it, but remember being captivated by more than just that. Guess that’s what got Tony Romo hooked, too.
