Video: Steven Tyler Botches National Anthem
Would this have survived more than one round of auditions on American Idol?
Steven Tyler became the latest celebrity singer to croon a less-than-perfect rendition of the National Anthem, doing the honors at Sunday's NFL playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass.
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The newly engaged Aerosmith rocker and American Idol judge, 63, missed some of the lyrics and plenty of the notes in the iconic song -- singing "as bombs bursting in air" versus "the bombs bursting in air" and "oh the land of the free" rather than "o'er the land of the free."
The packed crowd seemed to snicker as Tyler -- wearing a ratty fur coat, sparkly Patriots scarf and shades -- struggled through the song and squealed at the high notes.
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The critics weren't any kinder. "Let's just say the rendition probably wouldn't get him to Hollywood," the Associated Press sniffed.
Sports blog Deadspin wondered whether the performance was "the worst pre-game performance ever," on par with similarly disastrous showing by Roseanne Barr, Michael Bolton, Carl Lewis and Christina Aguilera. Hometown paper The Boston Herald defended Tyler, calling the performance "pretty decent."
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Tell Us: What'd you think of Tyler's anthem?
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17I have heard so many people talking about "Steven" I just had to take time out of my "very busy" schedule to see what the deal was.....I listened TWICE and ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE.....Changing as bombs brust in the air ..as for as..over the land of the free..I think is correct ,,just sang it to myself that is the way I sing it and heard it numerous times before...Hey HE IS WONDERFUL I have ENJOYED "Aerosmith" my whole life and ones that are my friends know my age... So let the man be the MAN he is and Be Thankful he has entertained us for as long as he has...IT IS an OUTSTANDING SINGER..
btw, his "messing up lyrics" was minor: "as" instead of "the" etc. it's not like he re-wrote the lyrics the way xtina aguleira did. i think he did a pretty good job.
it's sounded like steven tylar singing the national anthem. i mean, that's what u get with him. he's not aretha franklin. as for flubbing the lyrics = both unprofessional and disrespectful.
horrible rendition of the National Anthem! He screwed up the words and it was just horrible. I have seen him in concert and he was much better than he was yesterday! If you are going to the National Anthem, you NEED to make sure you know the words!
XD this is funny
I love it. Why is this a story? and the pats won. HAHAHAHA.
Well I messed up a few of my words but oh well, people will get my point..
I dont knwo why the MEDIA has to be SO RUDE. I thought you did great STEVEN TYLER, dont listen to any one. He didn have to sing for everyone at that game or all the people watching the game so how bout we all say he did good because I dont thank any one could have sang it better.. So there for keep doing your thang & I love you on american idol you great.. =)
How did he mess up?
This Is our NATIONAL ANTHEM FOLKS!!!! NOT a SHOWTUNE!!
Whati si wrong with you? He did GREAT!!! Thati is your sexiest man alive, forget about all the Clooneies and Pitts of the world!
Steven Tyler looks just like Joan Rivers lol!!!!
he didnt mess up the lyrics that bad really. people are too harsh on him
OMG he is 62 and a ROCK STAR!! I thought he did awesome, he cried when asked to do this, he was that honored so the media really has to ruin that for him- shame on you! He hasn't sold over 150 MILLION records and won GRAMMYS for nothing!! This sh&* makes me sick...I have heard far worse renditions, why don't you get up and sing it?
He sounds a lot better when he has a band playing behind him
And? He's a rock star, not an opera singer - which is exactly how he sounded.
I listened a couple of times, and it wasnt to bad, I have heard worse.