How to Sing the National Anthem 9 Videos You Can Learn From

How to Sing the National Anthem 9 Videos You Can Learn From Sign up successful Some of them have been successful at it, and some havent. And to tell the truth, its one of the toughest songs to sing. Its wordy in its fast-moving rhythmic patterns, it requires a big range of both pitches and dynamics, and the longest-held note in the song is also the highest note. Lets take a look at some of the best Star-Spangled Banner performances as well as some not-so-great   and where each singer went wrong and right. Then,  well look at ways you can nail it yourself as you learn how to sing the national anthem! Whitney Houston Considered by many to be one of the best  Star-Spangled Banner  performances, Houstons soaring rendition (performed in 1991) is pretty exciting. Shes impeccably in tune, gives us plenty of her signature vibrato, and she lets the beauty of the words and melody shine through without distractingly excessive runs. Houston also isnt afraid to use a softer dynamic level to emphasize the meaning of certain phrases; it makes the audience listen harder, too. The legendary singer does have some facial tension that couldve been alleviated with a little self-massage. Renée Fleming Grammy-award winning opera superstar, Renée Fleming, is using all of her good training and technique here to sing a the national anthem in a  free and precise way. Her diction is great, too. But her best decision was to choose a key low enough to be comfortable enough for her to sing a dramatic high note on Oer the land of the free. Mike Eli This lead singer of the Eli Young Band, a popular country band, simply skips two lines of the song, and starts over. The bottom line? Mistakes happen. Performers blank. But what a professional does when they forget the  lyrics or another embarrassing mistake is to go on without making it completely obvious. Unfortunately, the singer here is also barely in tune and seems rushed throughout. Josh Groban Groban uses a broad range of vocal dynamics here to makes an otherwise lackluster rendition sound decent. Im not sure if he has facial tension, or if hes trying to convey emotion. Either way, he should just relax and allow spontaneous feelings to happen in the moment, instead of choreographing his face. Mariah Carey Shes known for being the best-selling female singer of all time (well-known for her five-octave vocal range) but you can hear a lot of breathiness and vocal swelling in Careys voice here (listen for the tiny moments where her voice suddenly isnt there). Toward the end of the song, when she sings, Oer the land of the free, and goes up into her signature whistle register, it seems out of place, almost as if she did it just to remind everyone that shes Mariah Carey. Christina Aguilera Aquilera is singing a cappella (and as far as I can see, she doesnt have an ear monitor). This makes it pretty tough for anyone to sing the national anthem in tune, but she does. Her higher notes seem secure and solid, albeit tight. Taylor Swift This 2008 performance of Taylor Swift isnt exactly fantastic. Theres virtually no power behind the voice and the higher notes are strained. What is fantastic, however, is that Swift doesnt aim to sound like anyone but herself, and thats important. Jennifer Hudson I consider this the gold standard of national anthem performances. Hudson doesnt start too low, and therefore breathy, as a lot of singers do. Her high notes are powerful and free, without any noticeable tension, throughout the entire song. Her vibrato is pleasant-sounding and at her command. And theres plenty of sincere drama, but she remains in control. Roseanne Barr Dont. Just dont. So, What Have We Learned? Tips for Singing the National Anthem As you learn how to sing the national anthem, keep these tips in mind: Get your physical energy up. Jumping jacks work great! Start low in your range, but not so low that youre breathy. Think about what the words mean to you. Dont just yell! Use different dynamics to your advantage. Sing a dramatic high note only if you have an emotional or lyrical reason (and its super solid!). Be yourself and dont imitate. [Editors Note: For a hilarious account of what its really like to sing the Star-Spangled Banner in front of a crowd, we love this post  by Chelsea Dyreng!] I believe that the most important keys to singing  the national anthem well are  to know your own voices capabilities and limits, and sing in your own style; its also important to match at least some of the drama behind the song. That means knowing the history behind it and keeping a high energy level up throughout the entire song. But there should be a balance. Dont let the need for a dramatic performance compromise strong and solid technique. Oh, and make sure that you know the words. Post Author:  Heather L. Heather L. teaches singing, piano, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as online. She attended Westminster Choir College and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli. Learn more about Heather here! Photo by Nathan Rupert Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher