January 23, 2012

Stars a spanglin’!

Steven Tyler’s rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner at the AFC championship yesterday and all of the criticism it sparked goes to show once again how very seriously Americans take their national anthem. (I can’t even imagine Dutch people ever being outraged about a rendition of the Wilhelmus, because that would pretty much never happen.) With Tyler sounding like..well..Tyler, and him having sung the Star-Spangled Banner twice before, I do wonder just what they were expecting from him?..

Anyway, here are some of the best (I use the term ‘best’ loosely here..) renditions of the American national anthem in history (or: on YouTube).


For an excellent analysis of this performance, read Jaap Kooijman’s article ‘Bombs bursting in air: the Gulf War, 9/11, and the Super Bowl Performances of ‘The star-spangled banner’ by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey’ (also quoted in his book ‘Fabricating the Absolute Fake’).


This one brings a tear to my eye every time.


I especially enjoy the hearing-impaired version going on in the lower left corner.


It’s the barber shop version BABY! (With a wee Nick Carter!)

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Posted at 16:08 • No Comments

November 18, 2008

The 6th Backstreet Boy


he also sings along it seems. sooooooooooooooo funny.

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Posted at 20:08 • 1 Comment

June 6, 2008

BSB 4 ever

AJ
AJ McLean is the living proof that it is possible to have a successful solo-career post-boy band. He performed in Amsterdam last week and… I’ll just let the footage speak for itself.

He plays an instrument now AND he has a kind of LA pirate-look (including nose ring) going on, both very un-boyband-ish elements. Plus: he is an ex-alcy & druggie, adding emotional depth to his songwriting. So wouldn’t you say it’s about time the world started taking AJ seriously as a solo-artist?

AJ before ↓
AJ1

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Posted at 11:31 • 4 Comments