Fergie butchers American national anthem during NBA All-Star show
When we think of Fergie we tend to associate her with the catchy, likeable tunes of her Black Eyed Peas day, so her latest performance came as something of a shock.
While appearing at an NBA All-Star game over the weekend, the singer was scheduled to perform the American national anthem in what many believed would be in traditional fashion.
The artist, 42, instead offered audiences at the veune and at home an altogether different version of Star Spangled Banner.
Opting for a more experimental and jazzed-up version of the patriotic song, she decided to blast out a remix of sorts that sounded more Marilyn Monroe meets Jessica Rabbit than anything people could take seriously. The cameras even caught a few NBA players having a giggle as she belts out the famed lyrics.
The responses to the official NBA All-Star account were varied, to say the least.
Eight-time Grammy Award winner @Fergie to perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to tip-off of the 2018 #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/ybapnmlc2m
— 2018 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 18, 2018
People all over felt confused, bemused, and generally unimpressed by what they were experiencing.
The general vibe on Twitter was one of mockery and, in some cases, disgust.
Just watched about 5 seconds of #Fergie singing the anthem & couldn't continue. Why do singers feel the need to butcher the anthem?
— More Olympics Please! (Mark) (@The_Mark_Hill) February 19, 2018
Why Fergie do herself like that?
— DRUNK AUNTIE (@ohmyitsriy) February 19, 2018
Wake up to Fergie's shocking national anthem, 9 red cards in a Brazilian football match and a kid jumping off a roof onto a trampoline that break. God I love the internet
— Garehh (@Garehh_) February 19, 2018
Some really went for her, implying her rendition was a complete car crash.
Now y’all know the #Fergie National wasn’t worse than when Carl Lewis thought he could sing it before the Bulls game… lol “Uh Oh” pic.twitter.com/laguOaZjF2
— Ashley Moore (@MooreAshleyE) February 19, 2018
Horrible rendition. If the melody wasn't bad enough, it was peppered with a slew of flat notes all over the place.
— Balder Odinson (@odinson_balder) February 19, 2018
Whys Fergie sounding like this guy pic.twitter.com/aP0QwA9CQc
— James (@jamesssmooree) February 19, 2018
The internet were not prepared to let this one slide – not one bit – claiming her performance was fitting when a person like Donald Trump is president.
Let's be real, #Fergie gave the U.S. the anthem it deserves right now.
I mean you see who the president is, right? pic.twitter.com/Lbkymqd1co
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 19, 2018
We LOVE you, Fergie! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6OseJwA7nl
— Chris Crocker (@ChrisCrocker) February 19, 2018
While the vocals were at times impressive, audiences were not convinced the overall tone and direction it went in was the most suitable, especially when players and the crowd could be seen having a sneaky laugh at her expense.
Just watching all the players’ reactions to Fergie has me dying pic.twitter.com/1887xdKW2M
— Athlete Tweets™ (@AthleteTweetsO) February 19, 2018
Fergie shared her vocals to a star studded audience that included music royalty Beyonce, DJ Khaled, Odell Beckham, chat show host Jimmy Kimmel, Arnold Schwarzenegger, legendary basketball player Michael Jordan, and ex-footballer Thierry Henry, who were all present for the event.
Previously, Fergie has bravely spoken out about her chemically-induced dementia following a meth addiction, and continues to raise awareness and raise the conversation when it comes to drug abuse and mental health.
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