04/19/24
February 12, 2012
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Not a Whitney Houston fan by any standard or stretch of the imagination, but that was an incredible rendering of the national anthem she did. I also liked the mini-tribute at the end of the overnight Sportcenter.
posted by NerfballPro at 12:17 PM on February 12, 2012
North Dakota getting rid of Fighting Sioux? Not so fast.
posted by rcade at 06:05 PM on February 12, 2012
Yeah, Houston is just about the only one whose ever made that anthem sound beautiful. Oh, sure, it has a bunch of positive ideals and patriotic thoughts associated with it, so it gets a pass by most people (like some of the more obnoxious Christmas songs), but the National Anthem is a lousy piece of music - unless sung by a truly inspiring singer. Like Houston.
I mean, seriously, she hits that notoriously difficult "land of the free" note and then effortlessly kicks it up a few more notes. And listen to how she modulates her voice when she hits some of the other high notes in the song - without losing strength, pitch or color.
Seriously, I've heard a few opera singers nail the anthem, but I don't know that there's been a better version of it since Houston sang it in '91. I will gladly go out on a limb and say that that is the definitive version of the U.S. National Anthem.
posted by Joey Michaels at 09:23 PM on February 12, 2012
They released that version of the anthemas a cd single, and I bought it. It is just as good in rewatching as I remember.
North Dakota getting rid of Fighting Sioux? Not so fast.
I can't believe people are pushing it even if the school may end up facing sanctions over it.
posted by bperk at 10:32 PM on February 12, 2012
Zambia wins the Africa Cup of Nations after an epic penalty shootout, in the city where, in 1993, most of the national squad was killed in a plane crash. Not a dry eye in the house.
posted by etagloh at 12:15 AM on February 13, 2012
Whitney's version is great, but my vote goes to Marvin Gaye giving America soul at the NBA All Star Game in 1983.
posted by rcade at 08:58 AM on February 13, 2012
You know, I feel like Marvin Gaye's version is in an entirely different category because he re-invents the song. Its a fabulous interpretations, no doubt, but its in a class by itself.
Sort of like this versions.
Whitney's version is a fairly traditional take on the Star Spangled Banner, but her performance proves that only a very few people could actually sing it properly - and that the vast majority of traditional performances fall far short.
posted by Joey Michaels at 07:11 PM on February 13, 2012
Beyonce, to be fair, did a lovely version of the song, too; I just think Houston's trumps it.
posted by Joey Michaels at 07:13 PM on February 13, 2012
No love for Enrico Palazzo?
posted by Bonkers at 10:13 PM on February 13, 2012
Really, you can't go wrong with Detective Frank Drebin.
posted by Joey Michaels at 02:04 PM on February 14, 2012
In light of recent news:
The best performance of the US national anthem at a sporting event.