Idina Menzel took a rare and daring step with her latest take on the Spangled Banner.
At Sunday's Super Bowl in Phoenix she delivered it acapella a move last attempted by Carrie Underwood at a big game five years ago.
Unfortunately Menzel lacks the beauty Underwood's voice has a quality which the country singer used to shade the anthem's natural bombast. As usual the Broadway star brought a more angular tone to her take. She could have used more sweet to balance out the tart.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage Singer Idina Menzel performs 'The Star Spangled Banne'r acapella a move last attempted by Carrie Underwood.Kevin Mazur/WireImage GLENDALE AZ FEBRUARY 01 Musician John Legend performs God Bless America during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1 2015 in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)Christian Petersen/Getty Images Idina Menzel brough a more regualr tone to her take of the 'Spangled Banner.' EnlargeCertainly Menzel's rendition on Sunday didn't want for physical power. In her run at this war horse the star proved yet again she has the lungs of death with an ability to sustain notes second to none. But her over deliberate phrasing made the already weighty piece clunk. In her past versions of the touchstone delivered at various games and events Menzel smoothed things with more graceful arrangements.
True it's rare for a singer to so vividly evoke the bombs bursting in air lyric. But in so doing Menzel's version may well have left some eardrums shuddering in surrender.
John Legend delivered a far more graceful take on America The Beautiful. The song which preceded Menzel's anthem found Legend embracing the notes with a certain suave as he accompanied himself on piano. While the star put some gospel punch into his performance his forte remains his pop warmth. That quality helped provide a sweet corrective to Menzel's shout.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images John Legend accompanied himself on the piano during his Super Bowl performance.jfarber nydailynews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment