Brandy Sings US National Anthem At Sony Ericsson Open

Published: Monday 28th Mar 2011 by Sam

Smokey voiced songstress Brandy took centre-stage at the opening of the Sony Ericsson Open over the weekend to perform the US national anthem (‘The Star Spangled Banner’).

Find out how she fared after the jump…

Though solid (as with most Brandy showings), the performance was perhaps a bit too restrained. For, over the years the song has gained the International recognition it has for being quite the opposite (see: shameless oversinging, adblibs, runs, and the like). Still, not bad…just not great.

Your thoughts?

Posted under:

Comments 61

Please Post Your Comments & Reviews

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. truthis March 28, 2011

    It was OK..plain and lazy but not bad!

  2. CognacJones March 28, 2011

    I’d rather hear it done right than like Christina Aguilera

  3. Jay Scorpio March 28, 2011

    SIMPLE YET PERFECT!!!

  4. gavin gavalli March 28, 2011

    it was ight!!!! SHE NEED TO HURRY UP AND COME OUT WITH A ALBUM!!!!!

  5. Robjr559 loves Ciara March 28, 2011

    I loved the way she sang it even tho it was a little safe. Better safe then all that screaming other singers do

  6. ヅ•·.·´¯`·.·•-ΛalexisR-♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ★ ☆ ✰ T.I.P.•·.·´¯`·.·•ヅ March 28, 2011

    This wasn’t for the opening. This was the during the middle of the tournament and the begging of the second week basically.

  7. MISSLALA March 28, 2011

    Brandy did good! here tone alone can get her through a song! Safe-but Solid!

  8. carl March 28, 2011

    It was boring, won’t be down in the history books.

  9. Prince&Queen March 28, 2011

    @RobJr559 this was indeed too Safe. Not all singers scream when they sing especially not Queen Bey who does Powerful “Belting” on a song. it is definitely not better to be safe. When singing a song like this Safe is BORING.

  10. royalkev March 28, 2011

    There wasn’t any tricks and vocal gymnastics going on, but Brandy still sung with a strong clear voice. I love her tone , the approach and runs she does use in her style of singing. It’s clever and flattering for her vocals.

    *Updated*ThePagewithroyalkev.b*******.com

  11. 2bad2bme March 28, 2011

    Everybody acts like the girl sung at the super bowl or something, damn.
    Anyway Sam, learn how to spell before you throw shade and write posts please

  12. OSO March 28, 2011

    perfection to me!
    the world needs a new album Brandy!
    the best vocalist HANDS DOWN!

  13. Galuda March 28, 2011

    She was a little too restrained for me.
    Would’ve been nice if she gave the same passion and intensity as she does in her bathroom videos…

  14. justcurious March 28, 2011

    it was appropriate for the event. i’m sure tennis fans don’t want to hear all that whooping and hollering. she sounded great!

  15. OMAR March 28, 2011

    Honestly I would prefer if she screams – it sounded like she didnt want to be their

  16. King David March 28, 2011

    Did she forget any words? Did she get up there and gallop around stage while swirling her lace front? I think not? She is saving her voice for the recording if the album and her your to support that soon to be platinum plus album! Nuff said #thatisall

  17. King David March 28, 2011

    Of and tour were the misspelled words dont judge me:)

  18. Judge & Jury March 28, 2011

    She aint no whitney houston!!! Having said that I prefer viral train wreck versions like Xtina Aguilera’s, haha.

  19. Nicole March 28, 2011

    Lovely!

  20. LouLou March 28, 2011

    No she is not Whitney Houston. She is the vocal bible and your favorite singers favorite singer. One of the greatest vocalists to ever bless a stage.

  21. Keona March 28, 2011

    In class havent listened yet but if BRANDY song it I know she killed it:)

  22. B March 28, 2011

    I can appreciate this clean solid effort. To me, she said “I’m gonna sing this normally and show that you don’t need vocal acrobats to sound good!” I say bravo!!! Oversinging is annoying and I’m tired of some of these singers being praised for not knowing how to show restraint. Every song doesn’t require that you scale the scale!

  23. B March 28, 2011

    And we all know Brandy can sing her face off!

  24. KEN March 28, 2011

    Great job, this wasnt the damn super bowl, she didn’t need to do much.

  25. Kisses March 28, 2011

    YASSSS! I love her 🙂 She did good…..

  26. March 28, 2011

    I didn’t really like it. She sings better in her bathroom acappelas.

  27. LouLou March 28, 2011

    And it’s good to see a lot of these Beyonce fans show respect to Brandy on this site. It’s refreshing.

  28. TRGreaves March 28, 2011

    it was just Ok nothing special..she didn’t sound bad though..but I’m just saying I’ve heard better

  29. The Life Size Bobble Head Formally known as Rhitard The Goat March 28, 2011

    DEAD @ da 3 ppl sayin she need 2 release an album- jus make sure wen she release 1, u purchase it legally! #thatsall4now

  30. Wendell “wendy” williams (aka i’m a billy goat) March 28, 2011

    Huh??? Brandy sounded great to me!

    Good job Bran, I’m waiting on a solid CD from you girl!

  31. princebarbietv March 28, 2011

    She held back to much.

  32. AuntieJackie March 28, 2011

    I loved it. She COULD go hard if she wanted, but why OVER sing it? People are tired of that.

  33. GROW UP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! March 28, 2011

    AUNT JACKIE.

    WE AGREE TODAY. WHO KNEW.?I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WOMAN. I REALLY AM LOOKING FOWARD TO KNEW MUSIC FROM HER

  34. incognegro March 28, 2011

    Brandy did a wonderful job – it was controlled, with some melismas, but overall a respectful performance. But riddle me this??? Since when did singing the National Anthem like your having a vocal seizure become the standard? Yes, there is this belief that the National Anthem showcases a vocalists range and power – but at the same time, it can also show their control. Artists get so wrapped up in doing vocal acrobats during the National Anthem that they forget the melody of the song, they forget the purpose of the song, and in some cases they forgot the words (throwing a little shade, but Team Aguilera all day, she is a vocal beast). But the point is, I would love to see these vocal powerhouse try and sing a tame version of the National Anthem, because my fear is that they would not know how to. Being a singer does not mean singing loud, or stringing together complex notes and melismas – sometimes it’s about singing a song correctly, whereby technique and execution is rated more than one’s creative interpretation. Brandy is a beast – that goes without question…and she understands, as does other veterans, that singing yourself into vocal rest does nothing more than ruin your voice.

    All in all, beautiful performance Brandy!!!!

  35. SAYINSOMETHIN-NICE March 28, 2011

    For those that dont know..

    This was for a charitable event for those in Japan.. They managed to raise $300,000 over 1 weekend, it wanst about Brandys career or proving a point that shes the vocal bible. Those of you that say she wasnt trying hard enough need to think about the reason first.

    She played tennis and lended her vocals for this event.. respect that. And Sometimes less is more. Ane she werent straining unlike others.

    This performance was casual and simple. When the album comes out.. is when the vocal slaying begins.. Cant wait for that.

  36. Fatima March 28, 2011

    So you all WANT oversinging? I don’t get any of you.

  37. Robier March 28, 2011

    THE KEY WAS WAY TOO LOW. # THE END

  38. Keona March 28, 2011

    I love brandy to death but I was expecting more from her she did a good job however I expected more

  39. hyenamylena March 28, 2011

    i like it

    the single best performance of this is still beyonces at the superbowl

    still makes me do the epic s**** cry #missjiA

  40. Beystanbish March 28, 2011

    Lmao @ the life size bubble. Cause they show drop her ass or acted like they didn’t even know her when her album Human dropped. Talk is cheap. That is all . Oh she did good.

  41. Clos March 28, 2011

    That was so beautiful! I just love her voice and her control! This is how it should sound for the most of the part!

  42. Blanco Family March 28, 2011

    what makes Trent/Sam an expert in vocals and the art of singing. they seem to swag like ther experts in vocal techniques.. they need to post a vid of themselves singing and performing live

  43. RONALDMATTERS.COM March 28, 2011

    Brandy be SLAYING them in the bathroom performances but put her in front of an audience and she wanna sing all calm n’ s***…. # BitchBooBye

    *whips hair back n’ forth*

  44. QUEEN RIHSUS March 28, 2011

    DUMB FLOP MURDERING B****

    #NEXT

  45. BrandyNMonicaStan March 28, 2011

    Bee slays everything she does, absolutely love it!

  46. QUEEN RIHSUS March 28, 2011

    I WONDER HOW SHE MANAGES TO CLOSE HER EYES AT NIGHT, KNOWING SHE BRUTALLY MURDERD SOMEONES MOTHER, SISTER, WIFE etc….

    #CAREERISDONE

  47. Brockastar22 March 28, 2011

    Brandy slayed this..just goes to show you don’t have to oversing..i love her to pieces!!!

    @queenrihsus #killyaself & watch your mouth..if you have nothing nice to say dont say it at all..especially when you dont even know all the facts!!!

  48. Spunkypoop March 28, 2011

    SING IT BRANDY! Im patiently waiting for this album… ((biting my teeth))

  49. KaVion March 28, 2011

    I love Brandy, still anticipating this album!

    She definantly did good, I agree it wasn’t jawdropping.
    She was probably nervous to f*** it up, after seeing the backlash Christina got for just a few mistakes.

  50. Quiana March 28, 2011

    It was nice, but I was a little bored.

  51. QUEEN RIHSUS March 28, 2011

    @Brockastar22

    WHO GON CHECK ME F** ?

  52. whatyousay March 28, 2011

    Real talk, for a person that can sing as such like Brandy, it was just ok. Brandy really should have use this as a platform to show that she really do have talent. She has been doing bathroom interviews with her voice, and now she had all the chances to show case her voice and did just ok? I am a fan of Brandy, but since she dosn’t have a label that I know of and she has been doing studio bookings for a new album, she act like she didn’t need the extra help, to let all her fans know I still have it.

  53. Criss March 29, 2011

    @ROBIER

    Agree. If she sang in a higher key, it would sound much better. She literally went for a safe rendition. I love Bran’s low notes but when she hits her highs, its just as impeccable. Brandy’s my fave artist but she needs to be fearless in her live showings and stop with the pre-recorded vocals and/or lowering the key by an octave.

  54. nickalus Randle March 29, 2011

    LOVE BRANDY LOVE HER VOICE !!!

  55. Tristan March 29, 2011

    I agree with most of you. I felt her rendition of the US anthem was good, but not great. She played it a bit on the safe side, but at the same time we all know what Ms Norwood is vocally capable so therefore we shouldn’t really be downing her for keeping it simple. Sometimes less is more.

  56. credits March 29, 2011

    That’s right brandy! show ’em who the real queen B is!! haha When she’s not belting and screaming, you really have to listen to the way she is singing to be able to appreciate it. Her voice has so much depth and when it’s time for her vocal acrobatics, they are smooth, clear and perfect! It’s like in gymnastics when the athlete is doing all of those flips, they are sharp, and finishing with a perfect landing. That’s brandy’s voice.

  57. Drew-Shane March 29, 2011

    YAWN!

  58. KWON_THE_LEO March 29, 2011

    SIMPLE..ELEGANT..CONTROLLED..PURE…PERFECTION!!!

    BRANDY SHOWS HERE THAT YOU CAN SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM EFFORTLESSLY WITHOUT ALL THE “SHOUTING”

    LOVE LOVE LOVE HER!!!

  59. JimmyBoy March 30, 2011

    I think it was perfect for what it was. I mean it is a national anthem not a club banger. I thought it was respectful and appropriate

  60. Marla March 31, 2011

    Overdoing it at an event for charity would have seemed pathetic and just like she was trying too hard to impress. It was a perfectly sung, flawless performance with no music accompaniment. Trying too hard is never good. She SHOULD save her best effort for the Super Bowl when she does it. This was very well done.

  61. Brie March 31, 2011

    This is the best Brandy has ever sang this song…why are people acting brand new?

Recommended Posts
..**