Cyndi Lauper Botches 9/11 National Anthem; Why Don't Our Singers Know the Lyrics?
Singer Cyndi Lauper has tarnished her reputation after botching the lyrics of the national anthem.
Performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the U.S. Open as a part of commemorating September 11 on Sunday, the 58-year-old sang incorrect lyrics.
“O’er the ramparts we watched,” sang Lauper, donning a dress featuring the Statue of Liberty, “as our flag was still streaming.”
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However, the actual lyrics are “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.”
During the performance, the singer did not reveal any indication of her error, but afterword, explained it on her Twitter account.
“I got choked up in the middle of remembering 9/11,” she wrote, “I hope I didn’t mess up too badly. I wanted it to be comforting.”
The complex words of the Francis Scott Key poem have tripped up many performers in the past, including Christina Aguilera earlier this year at the Super Bowl.
Aguilera’s error, singing “gleaming twilight” instead of “gallantly streaming,” was viewed by over 100 million people. She later said, “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.”
Viewers took to Twitter to express their disdain for the recurring botched performances, with Joe writing, “I’m so done with these divas riffling all over the national anthem. Sing the song the way it was written. Idiots.”
“Cyndi Lauper latest star to flub the national anthem. Maybe we should report when they DO get it right- that’s become rare!” Wrote Twitter user, Melody.
Ben wrote, “Cyndi Lauper flubs national anthem. Could a duet with Christina be next?”
In a reportedly stunning separate performance of the national anthem Sunday, singer Charice afterward tweeted, “Shaking… Crying… One more performance,” ahead of singing “God Bless America,”
“I’m done! Tears of joy,” Charice wrote on Twitter once the NFL game was underway.
