# Who was the "pop sensation" that did the national anthem for MNF tonight? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765 "2008-09-16T00:34:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/21 "2008-09-16T18:26:18Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Yeah, I’ve heard much, much worse than that. I was expecting her to forget the words or something. Exactly. I don’t think anyone actually gets booed singing that song unless they really really torture it or they forget the words. In the video, it appears they’re cheering for her throughout the song. They don’t start booing until the Eagles walked onto the field. They weren’t booing her performance, they’re taunting the oppossing team. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/22 "2008-09-16T18:34:59Z")
Also, c’mon, give the girl credit for doing a live performance and not lip synching to a recording like so many “pop sensations”. The draw back of singing live is, of course, it’s much harder to be perfect. Sing less than perfect, the armchair critics jump all over you. Lip synch to a recording of yourself singing perfectly… the critics jump all over you. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/23 "2008-09-16T18:37:08Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Sing less than perfect, the armchair critics jump all over you. Lip synch to a recording of yourself singing perfectly… the critics jump all over you. Lip synch to a recording of someone else singing perfectly and they take away your Grammy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/24 "2008-09-16T18:53:05Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Heh…I made a joke back when American Idol was doing concert tours with their finalists after the season was over. I called the tour [“Melismania!”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melisma) In this case it’s more like miasma. This isn’t Roseanne or Carl Lewis, but it’s pretty awful. (I usually don’t watch the Star-Spangled Banner, and when DeLuna was announced as “pop sensation” instead of “recording artist” I got an extra-bad feeling.) Way too much showy melisma, which was made worse by the fact that she was off-key a lot of the time. The growly stuff doesn’t suit this song at all, nor does the black preacher-style diction she tossed in there a couple of times or the hand gestures. It’s a very bad performance in every way. I’m sure nerves were to blame and I do feel some pity for her, but it’s easier to forgive that kind of thing when the performer isn’t going beyond her abilities by showing off. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/25 "2008-09-16T21:40:53Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Heh…I made a joke back when American Idol was doing concert tours with their finalists after the season was over. I called the tour [“Melismania!”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melisma) Rod: Ow my frickin’ ears! ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/26 "2008-09-17T00:26:40Z")
> [@A.I.Wintermute](#): > > From the reactions in this thread, I was expecting a lot worse. Ditto. Rather too frilly… make that far too frilly, and a few mis-hits, but undoubtedly a live performance, and she’s got some lung power there. Definitely cheers in the background until the end. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/27 "2008-09-17T03:15:05Z")
Well, I’ve heard worse…but that doesn’t mean she was any good. Pitch, gestures, growls, and then on that last “free”…oh, my. And then she added another “the brave” which was totally unneeded. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/28 "2008-09-17T12:16:17Z")
She certainly was a “pop sensation.” A vey unpleasant sensation at that. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/29 "2008-09-17T12:50:31Z")
The last time she sang the word “spangled” it sounded like she was about to vomit. She also pronounced many words like someone who doesn’t know any English. Very weird. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/30 "2008-09-17T13:18:33Z")
You know what a cat looks like a few days after it has been ran over (bloated, and hair fallen off)? Yeah, her face looks just like that. [http://blog.nj.com/hobokennow/2007/08/katdeluna.jpg](http://blog.nj.com/hobokennow/2007/08/katdeluna.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/31 "2008-09-17T13:33:33Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > I didn’t ask what she sounded like. that’s what headphones are for. Headphones? This is a job for Rubber Ball Gag. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/32 "2008-09-17T13:49:17Z")
> [@SP2263](#): > > The last time she sang the word “spangled” it sounded like she was about to vomit. She also pronounced many words like someone who doesn’t know any English. Very weird. She consufes “spangled” with “mangled”. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/33 "2008-09-17T14:34:12Z")
She can sing. I just think that someone told the poor girl that this was her big debut and chance to shine, so she better give it all she got. So she did. However, the national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing, even for experienced singers. She would have been better served keeping it simple if she wanted to stay on key. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/34 "2008-09-17T14:36:39Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > …This is a job for Rubber Ball Gag. Do not taunt Rubber Ball Gag. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/35 "2008-09-17T16:06:41Z")
> [@torie](#): > > She can sing. I just think that someone told the poor girl that this was her big debut and chance to shine, so she better give it all she got. So she did. However, the national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing, even for experienced singers. She would have been better served keeping it simple if she wanted to stay on key. She comes across well in heavily produced recordings (except when pretending to sing opera – an opera singer she ain’t), but based on the football performance, I expect that without the close guidance and control of a recording producer, she is a lost lamb. Give her a few years and she might improve, but for now she is just a lump of raw talent that should not be let out in public on its own. > **[MTV Shows & Movies - Watch on Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/brands/mtv/#ftag=PPM-18-10caf1c)** > > Stream MTV Original TV shows and reality TV shows, including Siesta Key, Beavis and Butt-head, Aeon Flux, and more. > **[MTV Shows & Movies - Watch on Paramount+](https://www.paramountplus.com/brands/mtv/#ftag=PPM-18-10caf1c)** > > Stream MTV Original TV shows and reality TV shows, including Siesta Key, Beavis and Butt-head, Aeon Flux, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/36 "2008-09-17T17:59:52Z")
> [@dgrdfd](#): > > You know what a cat looks like a few days after it has been ran over (bloated, and hair fallen off)? Yeah, her face looks just like that. > > [http://blog.nj.com/hobokennow/2007/08/katdeluna.jpg](http://blog.nj.com/hobokennow/2007/08/katdeluna.jpg) Oh, my… ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/37 "2008-09-17T18:07:53Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d hit that! With a +5 Singing Flail of Learning. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/38 "2008-09-19T06:18:03Z")
A good national anthem should be singable by the average person. A singer performing it at an event should really be leading a sing along with the crowd. People will never sing along with you if you don’t sing it straight. This seems to be an ongoing problem for various different anthems and the artists who perform them. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765/39 "2008-09-19T20:33:39Z")
eh, I didn’t hate it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-pop-sensation-that-did-the-national-anthem-for-mnf-tonight/463765.md?page=1)