On Sunday, Alicia Keys took her turn at delivering the national anthem – “The Star Spangled Banner” written by Francis Scott Key – at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Louisiana which was televised on CBS.
As promised by the singer-songwriter Keys, she sang her own rendition of the song which began in the typical melody as written long ago – but then flared into the jazz melody and arrangement Keys chose to incorporate. She accompanied herself with her own piano playing as she sat on a make-shift stage on the football field as images of overseas American soldiers were periodically put on the screen for the audience to see.
The performance appears to have gone without incident or controversy as viewers of national events such as previous Super Bowls and even President Barack Obama’s second inaugural ceremony two weeks ago. Unlike two years ago when Christina Aguilera flubbed the lyrics of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, Keys had no problem remembering the words. Unlike Beyonce Knowles who caused controversy with lip synching – or singing along with a pre-recorded track – at President Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 22, 2013.
Without any National Anthem controversy, attention will likely be paid to the main event – the Super Bowl game – instead of a singer’s performance.
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