Super Bowl!

[Mirror Image]

You must not be a fan of singing, John. Thousands aren't, no shame in it. I never thought I would actually say something nice about anyone who calls herself Gaga, but her voice is tremendous (last year at the Oscars, she equaled Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music bit). She did better with the Anthem than almost anyone I have ever heard do it, and at 64 years old, I have heard a few! She could have made it easily as a serious vocalist, maybe she just realized the money was in pop, I don't know...



No it's not. Your reaction may be subjective, but the fact that she was brilliant is anything but.

FWIW, I was pleased to see the Panthers get sent to the house too. Even if they are back next year, Peyton will be gone, they can have what's left after that.   

One can be a fan of singing and doesn't have to like Gaga in the process of course. There are thousands of great vocalists, but this doesn't mean I like all of them. The very nature of subjectivity means that a performance or a piece of art is completely wide-open to criticism and the main one I have against her goes to the fact that I prefer to have our National Anthem sung straight without the vocal pyrotechnics, but it's not like I like our National Anthem to begin with. Oh, how unpatriotic of me. I'm such a commie....lol.

[Marsch MacFiercesome]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RNUN8ujsI0

Out of Lady Gaga's entire oeuvre (if I may call it such), I only like one song a lot: "Love Game."

It just gives you that campy 'sixteen-year-old realness going on sick-en-ing' feel. Ha.  Ha.  Ha.

I love the refrains.

She's better soap opera in this than the male soap opera known as the Super Bowl.

[Brian]

You must not be a fan of singing, John. Thousands aren't, no shame in it. I never thought I would actually say something nice about anyone who calls herself Gaga, but her voice is tremendous (last year at the Oscars, she equaled Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music bit). She did better with the Anthem than almost anyone I have ever heard do it, and at 64 years old, I have heard a few! She could have made it easily as a serious vocalist, maybe she just realized the money was in pop, I don't know...

Her collaborations with Tony Bennett seem to have produced a big effect - now Gaga has evolved into a more soulful singer, relying less on electronics and elaborate production. There's an almost jazzy or gospel quality; John probably wouldn't like to hear Nina Simone sing the anthem, either.

By the way, at my Super Bowl party, the only better anthem we could think of was Whitney Houston's. (starts after 1:00)

https://www.youtube.com/v/N_lCmBvYMRs

...but between us, I might like Gaga's better. WH's backing from the Florida Orchestra is kind of gaudy and unworthy of her voice.

[Gurn Blanston]

One can be a fan of singing and doesn't have to like Gaga in the process of course. There are thousands of great vocalists, but this doesn't mean I like all of them. The very nature of subjectivity means that a performance or a piece of art is completely wide-open to criticism and the main one I have against her goes to the fact that I prefer to have our National Anthem sung straight without the vocal pyrotechnics, but it's not like I like our National Anthem to begin with. Oh, how unpatriotic of me. I'm such a commie....lol.

It's OK, I don't much like it either.   I'm sure Pete Seeger could have written something more appropriate...

What I am saying is that you liking it or not is subjective. Whether she sang it very well indeed is not subjective, it is a fact, based on the generally accepted definition of what singing well is. I know what you mean about great vocalists not doing something well, opera signing singing Lieder is a fine example of it. But in this case, I really do feel that your dislike of her (for whatever reason) is tainting your judgement. I will toss Roseanne Barr into the ring of Anthems you should deplore.

[Gurn Blanston]

Her collaborations with Tony Bennett seem to have produced a big effect - now Gaga has evolved into a more soulful singer, relying less on electronics and elaborate production. There's an almost jazzy or gospel quality; John probably wouldn't like to hear Nina Simone sing the anthem, either.

By the way, at my Super Bowl party, the only better anthem we could think of was Whitney Houston's. (starts after 1:00)

https://www.youtube.com/v/N_lCmBvYMRs

...but between us, I might like Gaga's better. WH's backing from the Florida Orchestra is kind of gaudy and unworthy of her voice.

Yup, that one had a lot going for it too. It is #1 on my list. I'm calling Gaga's top 3 though.   

[Mirror Image]

It's OK, I don't much like it either.   I'm sure Pete Seeger could have written something more appropriate...

What I am saying is that you liking it or not is subjective. Whether she sang it very well indeed is not subjective, it is a fact, based on the generally accepted definition of what singing well is. I know what you mean about great vocalists not doing something well, opera signing singing Lieder is a fine example of it. But in this case, I really do feel that your dislike of her (for whatever reason) is tainting your judgement. I will toss Roseanne Barr into the ring of Anthems you should deplore.

Thankfully, I don't subscribe to what universally accepting singing is nor do I remotely care. I can make up my own mind about whether it's good or not. My judgement is only tainted by my general dislike of 1. her own voice and 2. how she sung the Anthem. But, like I said, I don't like our National Anthem to begin with so she didn't ruin it that much for me. Roseanne Barr, however, could ruin anything. That's pretty obvious.

[Karl Henning]

Mercy!  My favorite Super Bowl reading, I think.

Super Bowls are so august they are usually denoted with Roman numerals. This year's, however, is designated Super Bowl 50 because Super Bowl L looks weird.

Super Bowl Sunday: The day America celebrates football --- and brain damage

[springrite]

Vanessa got up and watched her first NFL game. For that purpose, it is an excellent game with a bit of everything and good coaching, excellent play and especially on-field decision-making by the Broncos. It took Vanessa less than half of the the first quarter to understand the game and from then on, she was a Broncos fan. She was so nervous in the fourth quarter but ecstatic in the end.

I hope she can go to a game (maybe college game) next time she's in the US.

PS: Since I left the US in 2002, in m mind I really have no place for Panthers, Jaguars, Texans... Somehow they all sound and feel so USFL or XFL...