The Matt Walsh Show - Matt Walsh Ranks The Worst National Anthem Performances

Episode Date: July 4, 2023

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So we could do something really uplifting and patriotic today for July 4th, but we're not really into uplifting content on this channel, so that's not what we really do here. So instead we're going to rebuke, rebuke those who have failed in their own patriotic duty, specifically while singing the national anthem. Now, as I understand it, singing the national anthem is difficult. It's a difficult song to sing.

While so hellless while I at the last gleaming raw strike. I can't judge that because every song is difficult for me to sing because I have the singing voice of like a demented cow. For people who can sing, it's a difficult song to nail, which is all the more reason why you just have to be, take it simple, sing it as it's supposed to be sung. But what we know is that there are a lot of people who get the chance to sing the national anthem and they want to do their own thing with it. And catastrophe is the result. So we're going to do a top five, I guess the top five of the worst national anthem performances of all time. And we'll start with this one.

You know, this is a singer from the 90s. It gets kind of a bad rap. But he deserved it for this performance of the national anthem at a NASCAR race in 2004. Here is Scott Stap of Creed. Listen. Oh, say, can you see by the dawn lie. What so proudly we? here

as the twilight's last gleaming you know I mean he's at a disadvantage because he's singing a cappella to begin with and also he can't sing so that's the other so he's really two disadvantages I'm six feet from here turn out of thinking

it's not nearly as bad as some of the other ones on this list but it's still that's like your classic that's sort of your classic bad national anthem performance I think it deserves a spot on the list. Really it represents many other bad national anthem performances. We're just picking on Scott Stapp, which is unfortunate. But here's where we get into the really into the nitty gritty. So number four is Christina Aguilera

at, I believe, the Super Bowl in 2011. And here's how she did. So she's on, I think she's on pitch. I can't really. tell. As far as I know she is, that's not the issue. So before, Scott Stapp can't sing, here she can sing, but she's doing way too much. So she's turned the national anthem into an opportunity to show off her vocal range. It's not about the flag. It's not about the country. It's not about patriotism. It's all about, look at me, Christine Aguilera. If you want to perform a song like that, you can perform your own songs like that. That's fine. But it's the national Anthem, it is not supposed to be a, it's not written to be a vocal showcase. And any attempt that you

make to turn it into that, it's going to be terrible. And so that's number four in the list. Now we get into the really, really bad stuff. Next is the band, the fray, performing at the final four about 10 years ago. And here's their take on the National Anthem. You can always tell, that's why, I think that's why when you watch this, these national anthem performances, the performers always have their eyes closed because they don't want to see the reaction of the people in the crowd. Because you can tell based on the reaction of the athletes that are standing on the court or the field, if they have this like, what the hell's going on kind of expression, you know that you're not doing it the right way. And that was the case here.

I mean, the national anthem, look, I don't know how many times I have to say this. It's not a folk song. I love folk songs. That's not what the national anthem is. It can't be that, okay? It was not written in most cases. If you just got a folk singer strumming the acoustic guitar and singing some song about whatever, I will like it. I'll be into it. But the acoustic guitar does not belong on stage during national anthem performance, and it does not belong at a church. Those are the two places. It does not belong.

Okay, number two, we go to convicted child sex predator R. Kelly, who before he went to prison, used to be a big time pop star. And it was in that capacity that he was called on years ago. I don't know how long ago this was. This was a while ago to perform the national anthem before some kind of big boxing match. And we can only assume that he came up with this arrangement after getting punched in the head 15 times himself.

Because otherwise I can't explain it. Let's listen. Yeah, no, that's... So the national anthem is not a folk song. It's also not whatever that... It's not elevator music or R&B. I don't know what the hell he was trying to do there. That's not what it is.

Listen, here... For the National Anthem, remember that it was written by Francis Scott Key, as he was remembering Fort McHenry in Baltimore being bombarded during the War of 1812. You should be able to imagine that happening. You should be able to imagine people marching into battle while listening to the song. If you can't imagine the National Anthem being performed as troops are marching off into battle, then it's not a good performance. Finally, we get, I mean, nothing could ever top this. This performance will live in infamy. This is Fergie at the NBA All-Star game in 2018.

Go ahead. What's so proud that you ask? I don't think, there have been some really bad ones that people will nominate as the worst. I mean, the Roseanne performance we didn't even put up. But I don't think anyone quite, any gets quite as bad as that. And that's a national tragedy. That is a, that's like Pearl Harbor. That is Pearl Harbor in music form.

I think we should at least talk about charges of treason for anyone who performs the national anthem that poorly. And if I was theocratic, theocratic, fascist dictator of, of the country, and you performed like that, they're going to haul you off the court and throw you in prison. That's what needs to happen. So, don't sing the national anthem like that today. but do enjoy yourself. Now that we've afflicted all that on you,

have a happy July 4th. God bless America.