As fans know, Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige was tapped to perform the U.S. National Anthem today at this year‘s annual showdown at the Kentucky Derby. Beaming in a royal red, the singer undoubtedly hope to disprove the naysayers who graded her last stab at the historic number with great mixed review.
Spectators were glued to the Derby to have one question answered: not what’s in the chicken wraps Could Blige best her NBA All-Star performance?
One of few urban acts to ever grace the Kentucky Derby stage, see Mary unwrap a fresh, soulful spin on the historic number below and you tell us :
Yes, she nailed it! The arrangement, though similar to NBA showing in parts, was still a much much better display of her vocal skill and control. Bravo Mary!
Tidbit: See yesterday’s soundcheck before today’s big showing:
(source: Kentucky Derby)
Your thoughts?
39 COMMENTS
Watch: Mary J. Blige Dazzles The Derby With the U.S. National Anthem | Gossip File This Moment
May 5, 2012 at 7:32 pm
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Rashaan
May 5, 2012 at 7:38 pm
GREAT JOB MARY!!!!!!!! Very soulful but extremely classy!!!!!!!
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Darshelle Jones
May 5, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Excellect range control.
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Whitney RIP
May 5, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Outstanding rendition !
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toohotfortv
May 5, 2012 at 7:52 pm
umm… it was aight.
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millhouse
May 5, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Ummm… Was I the only one who heard her go flat on the most important note of the song?!?! -__- it was all good till the end when she fuckd it up…. SMH … Those white people at the Durby seemed to Love it tough…
except for….
@ the 1:45 mark look at the soldiers expression when Mary goes for the high note, and look at the lady behind him holding her chest and cringing. lol
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RIHANNANAVY CAPTAIN
May 5, 2012 at 8:59 pm
The Queen slayed! Enough said.
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Beyonce's Kryptonite
May 5, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Mary J. Blige gets a standing O from me.
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bhjewelrydesigns
May 5, 2012 at 9:02 pm
BHJewelryDesigns – Custom-Made Jewelry
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MONINJBHJV
May 5, 2012 at 9:16 pm
THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Storm
May 5, 2012 at 10:02 pm
@millhouse —
@ the 1:45 mark look at the soldiers expression when Mary goes for the high note, and look at the lady behind him holding her chest and cringing. lol
You probably never serviced in the military… I am retired. Did 21 plus years (I serviced in Iraq, Kuwait and Panama). It doesn’t matter who would’ve song the Nation Anthem… As a Soldier we DO NOT smile or grin or LOL when the National Anthem is performed or played.. That’s our call of duty..it’s our secret code and proper protocol.. Enough said. ***Freaken’ AWESOME JOB… You Nailed MJB!!! Thank you for keeping it classy and traditional….!!!!!! U SO ROCK OUT LOUD!!!!
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Eyebrow
May 5, 2012 at 10:38 pm
What’s in the new chicken wrap?
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Teamkimbitch
May 6, 2012 at 12:00 am
Hey Shug Avery
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Brooklynn
May 6, 2012 at 12:38 am
She did great. I loved it. I’d like to see your fav get in front of 150,000+ with no music, no pre-recorded vocals, no background vocals and do the same. I think not. The Queen reigns supreme.
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JER
May 6, 2012 at 1:34 am
uht uhn. UHT UHNNN. I AM NOT HERE FOR MARY J BLIGESES to fuck up the national anthem AGAIN. This is the 2nd time she caught sqawking away
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wuz in dem chicken raps?
May 6, 2012 at 1:49 am
crispy chicken!! Wrapped up in a…flour tortilla!!!!
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Mary J Blige performs US National Anthem at Kentucky Derby [Video] | SoulCulture
May 6, 2012 at 2:01 am
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wuz in dem chicken raps?
May 6, 2012 at 2:07 am
mary will never beez as classy as queen bey bey! LMAO @ this mess!!
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JuanR
May 6, 2012 at 3:09 am
THE QUEEN!
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Deji
May 6, 2012 at 3:27 am
Listen to Afrodisiac by Teni! She’s the new Sade!
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@NajSinger
May 6, 2012 at 5:18 am
Did anyone else notice that the announcer said she’d sing “A” National Anthem and not “Our” National Anthem as is commonly said before a performer sings the US National Anthem? #LowKeyDisrespect
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Mr.Geezy
May 6, 2012 at 6:33 am
I feel Mary held her own.
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IMO
May 6, 2012 at 8:09 am
Awful, as per usual! Gosh, may she never sing this EVER again! Heard child birth in more tune
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mobwife
May 6, 2012 at 8:56 am
GIRL YOU BETTER “WERK”!
MJB sang the hell out of that song! Now that’s how you deliver the U.S. National Anthem! This is the THIRD BEST rendition I’ve ever eard after Whitney Houston followed by Marvin Gaye!
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mobwife
May 6, 2012 at 9:03 am
PETA, I wonder why breeding is acceptable when it’s horses for say the KY Derby? Oh right, I forgot…..LOL
–>fanatical, fringe, racist organization
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Anne
May 6, 2012 at 10:05 am
Good job Mary!
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Anne
May 6, 2012 at 10:07 am
Nice, soulful rendition but not feeling the dress and hat.
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Anne
May 6, 2012 at 10:08 am
or gloves.
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JohnVidal (RIPWhitney-true great)
May 6, 2012 at 10:21 am
Her voice is not for this. Just that
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VA STAND UP!!
May 6, 2012 at 11:09 am
I’m sorry but she didn’t sound that good at all to me. I don’t see this as any better than her last trainwreck performance of this song. The National Anthem is a tough song to say and not everyone can handle it. This just isn’t a good song for Mary to sing. In fact she wasn’t even ‘singing’ she was screaming. There was nothing ‘soulful’ about this performance it was just painful to watch. And to think this was just her sound check. Eek!
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BOOBOO
May 6, 2012 at 12:52 pm
IT WAS BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME
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Deveal2014
May 6, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Loved it !!!!!Love her
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Tru Voice
May 6, 2012 at 2:07 pm
She did the best she could do. Take that how you want.
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godblessedone
May 6, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Mary J did an excellent Job… she the best……..been a fan since day one…..Haters aint nothing but amirers…….God Bless u Mary J…. do u baby…..Stop hating people .let me see u sing…. Give back ……married…. role model….. where is your recording contract…… Hello…. haters…….let’s just support each other……. that was a beautiful……love me some Mary J……you go girl…….. it dosen’t matter if you good or bad people going to talk about u anyhow…… so it like whatever…..Mary j …. is still the best in the game…. if u worred about what people say about u all the time u will go crazy…. president obama is a good man … that talk about hime too… sad…. when u are a hater on others …. u are a unhappy person… yourself……
people even talked about jesus….. and God ….and jesus and God are amazing…. the best……. Good…….. it werid the more u messed up and this world the more people accept u and like u but if u doing the right things and positve then something is wrong with u…. I’m on God side for life and Mary J…. she a good person …….blessings to everyone…….
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Johnb
May 6, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Y’all love to hate on Mary ! Smh and she is way to classy ! Y’all must have been watching a different video 0.0 and why do you have to compare her to beyonce beyonce is trash compared to Mary ! Beyonce can’t do what Mary has done ! Mary came in the game and made a whole new genre ! Beyonce came in r&b and sold out for more record sells she can’t do r&b she is too pop now ! She needs to get back with kelly she knows r&b but Mary did her thing ! Mary is the queen !!!
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Boopi
May 6, 2012 at 6:31 pm
@Eyebrow LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Much better Mary YASSSS!! She seems to do better under pressure.
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ass
May 7, 2012 at 1:15 am
@johnb
stay delusional! Bey bey eats mary live on her worse day. I love mary, but she falling off. Oop!
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ass
May 7, 2012 at 1:21 am
just kidding! Mary did a decent job. I don’t know why beyonce was brought up. Lmao! Some people need attention.
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Anne
May 11, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Guess Im the only one who thinks the outfit is hideous.
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