(Photo: Steven Tyler) As critics shame Steven Tyler for bungling the National Anthem before the Patriots-Ravens NFL playoff game this weekend, one thing is certain: the American Idol judge and sometime Aerosmith frontman was just the latest in a long line of Americans who have butchered the patriotic song. TIME take a look at the 10 most ear-wrenching renditions of the anthem
By DAN FLETCHER Wednesday, Oct. 06, 2010
Roseanne sings the National anthem
This is quite possibly the worst rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" ever. Ever. The thing is, we're not sure whom to blame. True, Roseanne makes no attempt to sing in anything that resembles proper pitch. But shouldn't the real blame lie with the organizers of this 1990 San Diego Padres game? Did they really think the shrill comedienne had a set of hidden pipes as yet unrevealed to the American public?
Hockey Girl
This amateur songstress's performance was an undeniable, unadulterated disaster. She forgets the lyrics twice and sneaks off for a cheat sheet, only to fall flat on her back as she returns to the rink. That final embarrassment was enough to make her leave the ice for good, song left unsung.
Chattanooga Police Officer
Immortalized by a TV news crew, this 2006 performance of the national anthem by a Chattanooga police officer is downright shameful. His fellow officers struggle to remain stoic as he butchers the lyrics from beginning to end. The awful rendition is made worse by the occasion — a memorial for fallen officers.
Carl Lewis
It doesn't matter how fast Olympic champion Carl Lewis can run — he will never escape his inglorious 1993 national anthem performance. Midway through, Lewis promises he'll "make it up" to the booing crowd, only to butcher the remaining few bars. American idol he may be, but American Idol? Certainly not.
Oh, and by the way, dude can't throw a baseball, either.
Anonymous, Enthusiastic Man
The worst national anthems might be the ones where the performer can't tell how bad they truly are. That's why we'd be remiss if we didn't include this viral video favorite, of a man's emotionally charged (and melodically bereft) rendition. Luckily for this guy, it's impossible to find any details on who he is or where this takes place. We'd want to toil in anonymity after a performance like this, too.
R. Kelly
We understand the desire to put your own spin on the national anthem. And crooner R. Kelly was likely modeling his performance after Marvin Gaye's epic 1983 NBA All-Star Game rendition. Still, this interpretation spins a bit out of control. The audience — who did not want to clap their hands, thank you very much Mr. Kelly — soundly booed his ill-advised smoovification of the Francis Scott Key original.
SEE MORE ... (You will be surprised who is mentioned as Number 10 worse singer ..)
SEE MORE ... (You will be surprised who is mentioned as Number 10 worse singer ..)
Note:
The Giro has a slideshow of the ten best and worse singers of America's National Anthem.
THE BEST .... BY Whitney Houston