Kat DeLuna + National Anthem = Disaster
WHY do people have to do this? WHY do people have to butcher the National Anthem? WHY must they think they are on American Idol or something and do things to it that were never meant to be done? Mariah Careyitis has infected entirely too many singers today, professional and otherwise. They think volume (and lots of it) plus horrendous vocal runs plus some twitching equals good singing. No, it makes you sound like a cat in heat with a fish bone caught in its throat. (No, I didn’t mean to make a cat/kat pun.)
And what’s with the “I’m all that” head bobs and hair flips and finger points? Was this supposed to signify feeling? She looked like she was having a seizure. They make medication for that, you know. You can’t hide a lack of vocal talent with runs and hiccups and tics and sexay gyrations. And you don’t look cool, you look like a moron.
This is why I will listen to the first few notes to see what is going on, and then mute the television whenever it is performed at a sporting event I am watching…very, very few singers or musicians can do it and do it right. It’s a hard song to do and if you can’t do it properly you just look stupid. You know, this isn’t a showcase for your supposed vocal styling or dance moves. This is supposed to be a reverential moment to honor our country. IT’S THE NATIONAL ANTHEM! GET UP THERE, SING IT CORRECTLY, AND SHUT UP WITH THE CRAP!
It would have been an act of kindness and national pride if one of the defensive ends from either team had just shot up and taken her out at the knees.
Now THIS is how you do the National Anthem…properly, reverently. With actual talent. It isn’t about you the singer, it is about the words and the patriotism behind them. Oh, and it helps to have a strong voice and extended range. This is Daniel Rodriguez singing. (btw, I was there for this performance…it raised goosebumps on my arms. People around me were in tears. No, I didn’t take this video.)
Disclaimer: Great. I should point out that no, I don’t think every rendition of our National Anthem should be done by opera singers. I just happened to hear this live and thought it was good. I like all kinds of music and when a non-opera singer does the Anthem well and not screw it up, I’m all for it. Does that about cover it?
moar caek and earplugs to dlisted
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The Star Spangled Banner is a fairly difficult piece to sing well. It takes up a full two octaves, which is almost the entire vocal range of a normal person (some singers have a larger vocal range, through practice and natural ability, but two octaves is pretty much normal and usual).
Assuming you have a normal or slightly above normal vocal range, if you don’t start on just the right note, which is at the bottom of your range, you won’t be able to get to the high notes at the end, which are going to be at the top of your range. It’s a piece that requires a fair bit of practice and a good deal of vocal discipline.
I’d have to say that Kat DeLuna hasn’t got the chops (vocal ability) to sing it properly, nor does she have the vocal discipline necessary. She’s all over the place, likely because she lacks control and is seeking to hide that lack of control by all that warbling and “stylistic interpretation”.
So, a word of advice for Kat: If you ain’t got the chops for it, don’t take the gig. You just make yourself look like a damn fool.
Comment by Exyank — September 17, 2008 @ 8:57 am
I’ve both sang and played the National Anthem, and I agree it is a difficult piece. I agree, you have to know what you’re doing. Frankly, 99% of the people I’ve seen perform it just can’t do it.
Comment by k — September 17, 2008 @ 9:02 am
Honestly, I don’t see what’s so special about the national anthem singer in your second video – sounded like a typical operatic white guy who likes using too much vibrato to show of his vocal chops. Honestly, I don’t understand what is so impressive about excessive vibrato…singers like Chris Cornell, Bono, Adam Levine, et. al. are all living examples of what a good singing voice can sound like without having to feel like you went and saw Phantom of the Opera.
I agree with you that Kat De Luna should be flogged and peed on for such a piss-poor embarrassing performance of a sacred song, but please don’t think that everyone needs to sound like your token white opera singer in order to sound good!
Comment by RichieBeeGood — September 17, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Daniel Rodriguez is of Puerto Rican heritage, which I believe is Hispanic. He is far from a “token white opera singer.” There are plenty of non-opera singers who can do the Anthem tastefully, I just happened to hear this performance live and thought it was well done.
And I’m not saying every rendition has to be operatic. I love all kinds of music, from classical to rock to jazz to blues to whatever inbetween. But a rendition of the Anthem should not be disrespectful. And if a singer has to use runs and trills to try and cover their inability to sing the song, they shouldn’t sing it.
Comment by k — September 17, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I love the typical white guy comment. Well deluna sounds like typical black person singing the song, which more often than not, contains about 700 extra notes. I know the typical black people thinks that they are better at music than everyone else; but why? Do they think skin pigmentation affects vocal chords? I don’t think she tried to cover up the song with her new notes, she just thinks that’s the “cool” way to sing it.
Comment by josh — September 17, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
Not to mention the fact that it’s kind of a long slow song anyway, and adding those 700 notes (heehee) makes it even longer. There are also people in the stands (vets, etc.) who like to sing along, and they can’t when the tune’s going all over the place like a Water-Wiggle.
Comment by Jannah — September 17, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
YOWCH!
Comment by Cringe — September 17, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Never sang the national anthem, but played it many times as part of an orchestra. Somehow it has morphed into something barely recognizable. The tempo is supposed to be quite brisk. It’s really not this long drawn out epic ballad.
Comment by Steve — September 17, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
@6-
When done properly, our National Anthem should only take 1 minute 39 seconds. Because people with no talent insist on putting flair on the song and extending it out, then the length ends up making the song longer.
At military bases, Retreat signals the end of the duty day. The Bugle Call + Star Spangled Banner is about 1 minute 58 seconds. It is possible to sing the National Anthem in that time.
Comment by CK — September 17, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
“Somehow it has morphed into something barely recognizable.”
Exactly right. DeLuna’s version was absolutely horrific. Who thought choosing this girl was a good idea? There are lots of great singers out there, why the infatuation with not overly talented “pop sensations”?
Comment by Rachel — September 18, 2008 @ 12:09 pm