To many, our national anthem is the best song ever written. So when an artist puts their own spin on “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the critics make themselves known.
On Sunday, Jewel performed the national anthem at the Indianapolis 500. Her acoustic rendition of the classic song left many divided. Was it amazing or did it leave little to be desired?
Armed with nothing but a guitar and a microphone, the 49-year-old singer-songwriter took the stage and performed an acoustic version of the song.
She performed a similar version three months earlier during the NBA All-Star game in Salt Lake City.
“For the love of God, STOP CHANGING THE MELODY AND RHYTHM OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. Jewel’s rendition is now in my top 3 least favorites,” one Twitter user wrote.
“Jewel butchered the national anthem at the Indy 500,” Nancy Gould chimed in. “People were trying to sing along but couldn’t because of the way she sang it. What a shame.”
“jewel’s national anthem for indy 500 might be the worst anthem rendition to date,” another person wrote.
And while there were plenty of critics, there were also some who felt neutral about Jewel’s rendition and others who believed she did a good job.
“It’s not Fergie bad. Not Houston good,” one person wrote, referencing Fergie’s 2018 performance of the national anthem during the NBA All-Star game.
“I don’t understand the hate towards Jewel’s rendition of the National Anthem? I thought it was lovely and had so much heart,” a Twitter user wrote in the star’s defense.
What do you think? Were you a fan of Jewel’s performance? Let us know in the comments.
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