While the halftime show for Super Bowl 50 was selected months in advance of the big game, with Coldplay taking the prize, it took a good deal more time for the NFL to figure out who they would get to sing the national anthem before the landmark contest gets underway. Their choice was none other than grammy-winning superstar Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga is set to sing the national anthem at #SuperBowl50 on Sunday... Which is kinda cool.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2016
This might frighten some people given the Gaga’s colorful history as an entertainer, but there is no doubt she can sing. Over the past year or so she’s devoted herself to showcasing her vocal talent rather than her creative side. Performing with Tony Bennett was one way to do that, as was her stunning performance of “The Sound of Music” at the Academy Awards.
So it’s not a question of whether she can do the anthem. It’s whether or not the pressure of being on perhaps the most televised event in modern history will force her to crack under the pressure. Most football fans have seen the best and the worst of the Star Spangled Banner over the years. The standard by which all others are measured is of course the late, great Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV between Buffalo and New York.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the unfortunate Christina Aguilera at Super Bowl XLV between Green Bay and Pittsburgh. While an iconic artist and richly talented voice, she made the much-feared blunder of messing up the words of the song, a mistake she still hasn’t lived down.
Lady Gaga is no stranger to big crowds, but the expectations of her will be higher than any other song she’s sung in her life because an entire nation will be watching and waiting to see if she messes up. People are cruel that way. They don’t witness races for the racing but to see the cars crash.
Here’s hoping she crosses the finish line unscathed.
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