Thirty years ago this year, also in Tampa, Whitney gave what has become known as the greatest rendition ever. The rearrangement into a 4/4 time and her voice at its best combine to make this a benchmark performance.
Still gives me chills.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 72 | February 9, 2021 2:01 PM |
Best version ever, in my opinion.
by Anonymous | reply 1 | February 7, 2021 2:38 PM |
Whitney brought class and prestige to the event unlike that whore who would perform in 2004.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | February 7, 2021 2:41 PM |
Best at shouting-singing.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | February 7, 2021 2:44 PM |
I was never a mega Whitney fan, but this is FLAWLESS.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | February 7, 2021 2:52 PM |
Absolutely beautiful rendition
by Anonymous | reply 5 | February 7, 2021 2:53 PM |
It was pre-recorded, though, wasn't it?
I don't believe she sang it live.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | February 7, 2021 3:06 PM |
It was acknowledged at the time that the vocal that aired was pre-recorded.
Whitney never tried to "trick" anyone.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | February 7, 2021 3:08 PM |
R6, yes and it was reported at the time that it was recorded in one take.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | February 7, 2021 3:23 PM |
Yes, it was pre-recorded because the NFL required it. She did the recording in one take with almost no preparation.
She sang it live a month or so later on her HBO "Welcome Home Heroes" special and it was BETTER than the recording.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 9 | February 7, 2021 3:51 PM |
And this year we are getting a poem!
by Anonymous | reply 10 | February 7, 2021 3:58 PM |
Phenomenal, but Queen Bey gave the best national anthem vocal performance at the Super Bowl of all time. People won't admit it because she never got on crack and is deemed as too perfect.
Also whispercoo overshadowed any and every aspect of the Superbowl that year, including the winning team, when she decided to show her titty.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 11 | February 7, 2021 4:03 PM |
R11 nice but doesn’t come close to Whitney’s
by Anonymous | reply 12 | February 7, 2021 4:14 PM |
CRACK IS WACK!! But Whitney's version both at the Super Bowl and on HBO still sends a chill down my spine. Amazing and so unforgettable.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | February 7, 2021 4:14 PM |
R12, Fair enough but Beyonce was singing live.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | February 7, 2021 4:15 PM |
Real people should sing the Anthem. Just don't get singers who believe it's a concert and sing it like a ballad with vocal masturbation points. Just do it simply and get on with it.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 15 | February 7, 2021 7:39 PM |
There will never be another rendition like hers. I didn't like the track suit, though.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | February 7, 2021 8:11 PM |
I love her outfit . It's understated but I think it's most appropriate for a sporting event.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | February 7, 2021 8:12 PM |
Was just listening to NPR discussing it
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 18 | February 7, 2021 8:32 PM |
[quote] Real people should sing the Anthem. Just don't get singers who believe it's a concert and sing it like a ballad with vocal masturbation points. Just do it simply and get on with it.
Agree. Unless it is a voice that is extraordinary and singular like Whitney Houston. Which is almost no one.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | February 8, 2021 3:28 AM |
[quote]I don't believe she sang it live.
She sang live into a dead microphone.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | February 8, 2021 4:16 AM |
I would bet money that R15 is from Alabama.
by Anonymous | reply 21 | February 8, 2021 4:19 AM |
No National Anthem is sung live at the Super Bowl.
Same with the half time show.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | February 8, 2021 4:21 AM |
I really do like it. The National Anthem is sort of an arrhythmic mess, weird structure - tough to sing. I like what she did with the arrangement. Those last three stanzas ending in "wave", the multi-tiered "free" and of course the iconic "brave." It's a big, bold, inspiring, IMO gorgeous interpretation. She lip synched it good too.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | February 8, 2021 4:23 AM |
Whitney is great. People said she is a decent person too. Love her.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | February 8, 2021 4:33 AM |
Nailed it. Like a kid in a mahogany coffin.
by Anonymous | reply 25 | February 8, 2021 5:18 AM |
It says something that 30 years later, they're still talking about her rendition. Clive Davis and her musical director Rickey Minor talk about how it came to be.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 27 | February 8, 2021 5:31 AM |
Whitney's version of the national anthem: The Greatest Ever.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | February 8, 2021 5:33 AM |
This was one of the best articles about it.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 29 | February 8, 2021 5:35 AM |
When she hits the high note at the end, it reminds me of the time we were in the back of Dionne’s soon to be repossessed Omni and my tongue just happen to hit her.........Bible.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | February 8, 2021 6:01 AM |
It was at that moment she became a cultural icon...
And that was before she solidified it with The Bodyguard soundtrack the following year! There will never be another like her. She was a once-in-a-lifetime type of vocalist.
by Anonymous | reply 32 | February 8, 2021 6:10 AM |
never a fan of her bombastic style of singing, but yes, i think her version is the best i've heard...
sadly and ridiculous that 99% of singers who sing the song, make it about THEM and NOT about the song itself! of course today most singers sing at you not to you and are horrible storytellers, forgetting that is what a singer is suppose to be in the first damn place, a storyteller!...
lastly, countless singers around nowadays, but very very few incredible VOCALISTS!....
by Anonymous | reply 33 | February 8, 2021 6:26 AM |
Better than Roseanne? eh.
by Anonymous | reply 34 | February 8, 2021 6:41 AM |
Not to take anything away from Whitney, but Jennifer Hudson's rendition back in 2009 was absolutely stunning!
Especially considering it was her first public appearance after the murder of her mother and nephew.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 36 | February 8, 2021 6:50 AM |
R33 When singing the National Anthem, current (popular) seem to want to have their “Whitney” moment or their “Marvin” moment. I think it is funny that weaker vocalists will go for Marvin style as it is so much more difficult to execute.
Marvin Gaye’s 1983 rendition of the Star Spangled Banner only works because of his vocal and storytelling brilliance.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 37 | February 8, 2021 8:26 AM |
The two who performed it last night sucked so bad. That country guy was embarrassingly bad.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | February 8, 2021 10:55 AM |
I absolutely hate the way the national anthem has become a vehicle for singers to show off vocal gymnastics. It's become such a look-at-me event that I'd like to see it played as an instrumental only.
And--separate issue--it should be played like it used to, before the players come onto the field, so as to forestall stupid kneeling and other political gestures.
What place does it have in a sporting event anyway?
by Anonymous | reply 39 | February 8, 2021 11:41 AM |
Luther Vandross did an amazing job as well. He had extraordinary voice control here. Almost effortless.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 40 | February 8, 2021 11:56 AM |
r16, that style of track suit is back.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | February 8, 2021 12:01 PM |
Rickey Minor was an arranger/producer extraordinaire. Here he is with the amazing Gladys Knight doing the best version ever of The Way We Were.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 42 | February 8, 2021 12:10 PM |
So, I guess white people are incapable of singing the Anthem well?
by Anonymous | reply 43 | February 8, 2021 12:24 PM |
Whitney's version always bring tears to my eyes.. rivoting.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | February 8, 2021 12:55 PM |
After Whitney, this is my 2nd favorite Super Bowl National Anthem. Another masterclass in how to sing the Star Spangled Banner.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 45 | February 8, 2021 1:19 PM |
R45 Same here. No frills or bullshit in the interpretation and their harmonies are phenomenal
by Anonymous | reply 46 | February 8, 2021 1:24 PM |
The Dixie Chicks version was very unusual, as I don't think I've heard the National Anthem sung in harmonies. It is very nice rendition...I like it. Most singers try to belt it out, make it a powerhouse song. Nothing wrong with that, just this was different and refreshing.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | February 8, 2021 1:29 PM |
If they had to dress Whitney in a tracksuit couldn't they give her one with a better fit and one that didn't look like something a tacky suburban frau would think was "athletic looking"?
by Anonymous | reply 48 | February 8, 2021 1:39 PM |
I liked Whitney's tracksuit and everything about the performance. I had recorded it on a VCR tape and watched it over and over. I was so bummed when I discovered my now spouse had taped over it. Bless you internet.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | February 8, 2021 3:53 PM |
I actually don’t like all of the excesses of contemporary R&B, all that OTT warbling.
by Anonymous | reply 50 | February 8, 2021 4:11 PM |
[quote]I absolutely hate the way the national anthem has become a vehicle for singers to show off vocal gymnastics.
Sadly true. The National Anthem never used to be a big deal and was usually sang by nobodies, often school kids, at such events. Now, we've had to endure 30 years of recording stars trying to manufacture their Whitney moment They fail to notice how many stars aligned that day, from patriotic sentiments after the gulf war to a once-in-a-lifetime voice at its very peak. It was lightning in a bottle.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | February 8, 2021 4:12 PM |
Let’s hear it for The Star Spangled Note Strangler.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | February 8, 2021 4:15 PM |
A track suit may be appropriate for singing the national anthem at a sports event—I think that’s debatable—but her particular suit, in style or not, looked like one of those disposable Tyvek coveralls that house painters or CSI type wear. It looked cheap.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | February 8, 2021 4:23 PM |
I don’t understand how it’s a different “arrangement”. It sounds like it’s supposed to sound. Can someone explain specifically what things were different in Whitney’s version versus the standard anthem?
by Anonymous | reply 54 | February 8, 2021 4:35 PM |
Christina Aguilera should get special recognition for somehow inserting ten times as many notes than what were written on the sheet.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | February 8, 2021 4:38 PM |
R54, I think that Houston's version used a slowed down tempo.
I thought she did a very good job even if I don't particularly care for TSSB as a song. Given the complicated feelings that African Americans may naturally and understandably have about patriotism, the flag and the anthem, it is quite remarkable that for many people the most indelible version of TSSB is one by an African American woman.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | February 8, 2021 4:42 PM |
[quote] Given the complicated feelings that African Americans may naturally and understandably have about patriotism, the flag and the anthem
Isn’t that a stereotype, to say that African Americans are or should be unpatriotic?
by Anonymous | reply 57 | February 8, 2021 4:46 PM |
R54, I hope I don’t lose you in musical terms but the traditional timing is 3 beats to the measure. 1-2-3, 1-2-3. It swings like a waltz with the accented beat falling on the 1.
Whitney’s version uses a 4 beat per measure arrangement. 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. It swings more symmetrically with the beat falling on the 1 and the 3.
by Anonymous | reply 58 | February 8, 2021 4:48 PM |
[quote] Isn’t that a stereotype, to say that African Americans are or should be unpatriotic?
What I meant was that it would be understandable if many African Americans experience conflicting feelings about the expression of patriotism and the symbols associated with it, given the long history of continued oppression they have been subjected to. Not to say that they cannot or aren't patriotic, but I'd find it very reasonable if African Americans felt uncomfortable in the presence of loud and gaudy displays of patriotism, which often come from segments of the population who preach hatred, bigotry and racism.
by Anonymous | reply 59 | February 8, 2021 5:00 PM |
[quote]No National Anthem is sung live at the Super Bowl.
Then how did Christina fuck up the lyrics??
by Anonymous | reply 60 | February 8, 2021 5:07 PM |
NOTHING can beat this SSB, sung at the Salt Lake City Olympics right after the Sept 11 attack. The flag was from the WTC.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 61 | February 8, 2021 5:55 PM |
Comparing the sheet music of Whitney’s version to the standard version, it looks like the primary change is to add an extra beat to the first note of every measure to make it 4/4 instead of 3/4.
by Anonymous | reply 62 | February 8, 2021 6:16 PM |
Did her version of SSB chart on the Billboard charts? Or was it ineligible?
by Anonymous | reply 63 | February 8, 2021 6:39 PM |
Its not just the beat that's unique in Whitney's version. There's also Ricky Minor's brilliant fusion of classical, jazz and church styles as he describes above. The final product is magnificent.
And TSSB is one of the ugliest national anthems on the planet. So quite the achievement.
by Anonymous | reply 64 | February 8, 2021 9:18 PM |
R62, you’re right. It slows down the song and I would say there are a couple of places where she’s rushing because, like we all, was used the 3/4 arrangement.
R64, I don’t know if it charted but it was released as a single and rereleased after 9/11, with all proceeds going to charity.*
*Auntie Dionne was not involved in this particular charity.
by Anonymous | reply 65 | February 8, 2021 9:19 PM |
R65, Cousin Dionne, no? Wasn't Dionne's mother Cissy's sister?
by Anonymous | reply 66 | February 8, 2021 9:24 PM |
R66, people from the South, and black people across the country by proxy, all refer to older first cousins-once-removed as Aunt or Uncle.
by Anonymous | reply 67 | February 9, 2021 2:16 AM |
[quote]I don’t understand how it’s a different “arrangement”. It sounds like it’s supposed to sound.
Her version, and those inspired by it, have become so ubiquitous that many like you now think it's the default. She changed it.
by Anonymous | reply 68 | February 9, 2021 2:33 AM |
Not only was Whitney gorgeous with a stunning sounding voice, she knew how to build a song.
Her National Anthem is the one every other is compared to. No one comes close
by Anonymous | reply 69 | February 9, 2021 3:11 AM |
Magnificent rendition!! Still gives me chills!
They should just use this every year. It would save us from the embarrassment of something like yesterday’s attempt.
by Anonymous | reply 70 | February 9, 2021 4:24 AM |
[quote] Her version, and those inspired by it, have become so ubiquitous that many like you now think it's the default. She changed it.
As was pointed out, the change was mostly lengthening the first note of each measure. To musicians, that is probably considered a “huge” change. To everyone else, it’s going to sound the same although noticeably slower.
by Anonymous | reply 71 | February 9, 2021 1:49 PM |
[quote] people from the South, and black people across the country by proxy, all refer to older first cousins-once-removed as Aunt or Uncle
R67, Bobbi Cristina Brown and Dionne Warwick were first cousins once removed.
Whitney Houston's mother and Dionne Warwick's mother were sisters. Whitney and Dionne were therefore first cousins. Whitney herself corrected interviewers when they referred to Dionne as her aunt. She'd point out that Dionne was her cousin. If anything she probably thought of Dionne as a much older sister rather than an auntie.
by Anonymous | reply 72 | February 9, 2021 2:01 PM |
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