Christina Aguilera's Superbowl Performance

[CoolBreeze]

Christina Aguilera, in her Superbowl performance of the Star Spangled Banner, has joined the rolls of self-centered and egotistical performers who have nearly ruined this nation's national anthem with excessive and insolent precocity that calls for some in-depth analysis of a particularly excessive nature of its own.

Regardless of what her intentions were, the fact is that she did her best to interject the theme with her own personal preferences, and self gratifying redolence. She did not appear to have sought to honor, in any way, the entire nation. But instead seems to have done her best to exude an indelibly specific and individual air of engagement that likely only honored those who enjoy her exorbitant use of a barely tolerable level of undulating vibrato. Furthermore, she was so obsessed with her own vocal style that she couldn't even remember the lyics properly, and misquoted them twice.

But hey, she was way better than, um, Roseanne Barr!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... html?cat=2

Now for part two:

What's up with all the hype on the Volkswagen Commercial?

Best in show: The honor this year goes to Volkswagen for a Star Wars -themed spot for its Passat. A little boy wanders his house decked out as Darth Vader , trying in vain to conjure the dark lord’s mind control. Dad gets home, Darth Jr. runs by and tries to command pop’s Passat with his Vader power. From inside the house, Dad pushes a button on his remote and the car starts. Darth Jr. jumps in wonder and triumph. Sweet, smart spot without a trace of special effects or sexual innuendo. Already a viral hit on YouTube.

While the commercial is cute, it is FAR from great. For one thing, it just goes on and on with some kid running around trying to do "something", but what? Just when I'm ready to fall asleep, the car rolls into the driveway and dad decides to pull a trick on junior by starting the car by remote and running him down. No wait... that's what I WISHED would have happened!... as the kid was right in front it. Personally I think it odd in this day and age of "parents being afraid of everything" would Volkswagen start a car by remote control with a kid standing right in front.

[jag]

Roasted dictionary for lunch, again, Coolbreeze?

OK, there are only...what?...something like 80 or so words in the National Anthem. Not like she had to recite Beowulf from memory. How does she remember her song lyrics when she performs in concert?

But, be that as it may, let's consider: Have you ever been at an event where the National Anthem was sung, en masse, and heard that not everybody around you knows the words? Give a listen, sometime--you might be surprised. Given, however, that Christina's a professional singer, yes, we might have expected a bit more.

What perplexes me is that she really misused her voice on it. Like her music or not, the woman is not a bad singer. She tried to sing the thing down in her "full" voice and had to push WAAAAYYY too hard to hit (and, unfortunately, miss) some of the notes. I've heard that she has a vocal range of something like four octaves or so. Why didn't she just sing it an octave higher? Her voice would have sounded less strident, the crowd would have appreciated it (everybody seems to like those high flourishes) and she might have been more relaxed so as to have better remembered the lyrics.

But, it's a done deal. AND, for all that we've been hearing about Christina's performance, we should give props to the lady who sang "America The Beautiful." Fine job!

[CoolBreeze]

Personally, I'm all for getting rid of that horrible song in the first place. It was an English drinking song and wasnt our Nation Anthem until 1931 or so.

It's impossible to sing by most. It's flubbed constantly, and as you say, people don't even know the words half the time.

America The Beautiful would be a better song by far, and if we didnt want to change the words to the current song, at least change the melody to something we can sing.

This old "tradition" crap doesnt hold water when the tradition is only 80 years old. Hell, my Aunt's older than that.

[Bob Campbell]

I'm thinkin' Road House Blues by the Doors for a new national anthem. Easy to sing, covers all the best things about America.

[Scott Reppert]

I hate to say it again, but it is all part of the "dumbing down" of America.

Christina Aguilera is not smart enough to know the words to the National Anthem...

[CoolBreeze]

Even if we could say the words in our sleep, we STILL couldnt sing the damned thing.

We COULD sing "Born in the USA" over and over however.

[The Interpreter]

So you are a birther?

[CoolBreeze]

Naw... I'm just a "you've got to dumb it down for the masses guy"... just like the Public School system.

[Bob Campbell]

Or the private school system for that matter.

[jag]

Bob and Coolbreeze both make valid points. The lyrics of the US National Anthem leave something to be desired. As poetry, they're fine. But must our NA have war as its central theme? As to the tune, well, as it originally was a drinking song, yes it's difficult to sing solo and sober as opposed to singing in a drunken group (something about singing with a group of like-inebriated people that seems to make the ol' vocal chords a bit more flexible).

[genlock]

One of the most beautiful national anthems is the one from France.
Read the english translation.

[genlock]

Arise, children of the Fatherland,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! The day of glory has arrived!
Contre nous de la tyrannie, Against us, tyranny's
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) Bloody banner is raised, (repeat)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Do you hear, in the countryside,
Mugir ces féroces soldats ? The howling of those ferocious soldiers?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras They're coming right into your arms
Égorger vos fils et vos compagnes ! To slit the throats of your sons and consorts!

Aux armes, citoyens, To arms, citizens,
Formez vos bataillons, Form your battalions,
Marchons, marchons ! Let's march, let's march!
Qu'un sang impur Let impure blood
Abreuve nos sillons ! Water our furrows!

Que veut cette horde d'esclaves, What does this horde of slaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Of traitors and conjured kings want?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, For whom are these vile chains,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter ! What fury it must arouse!
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer It is us they dare plan
De rendre à l'antique esclavage ! To return to the old slavery!

[just saying]

at least she was fully dressed

[AmpedNow]

Maybe she just got a case of nerves when she realized where she was taking her performance. It doesn't matter how famous someone is. An audience that massive would make anyone nervous.

She can sing, and has an amazing vocal range. She has also performed the anthem at previous events flawlessly. So, I'm willing to cut her some slack here.

I'm thinkin' Road House Blues by the Doors for a new national anthem. Easy to sing, covers all the best things about America.

I could go along with this.

[CoolBreeze]

Either you're a professional... picked for the job... or you're an amateur, all show and no go.

[genlock]

Looked like she was forcing the performance.

[Jay Nunley]

I'm surprised that everyone is surprised that she sucked and couldn't remember lyrics.