In an error-filled, embarrassing rendition of the national anthem, Grammy-nominated Black Pumas singer Eric Burton flopped big time at the 2022 World Series opener between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros.
The massive flub took place Friday night as the 33-year-old Texas native took the field at Minute Maid Park to patriotically belt out “The Star-Spangled Banner” to the Houston crowd and team members assembling for the game. His voice was great, but he got the words wrong in more than one instance. The New York Post called it a “banner botch.”
Burton was last seen on the national stage performing at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, but this time his singing was more memorable, unfortunately.
The first error occurred when he sang “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last streaming,” instead of “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming.” Oops.
MONUMENTAL interpretación del #NationalAnthem por Eric Burton en Houston 👏👏👏👏#MLBenFOX presenta #WorldSeries, juego 1 en FOX Deportes. ⚾🔥 pic.twitter.com/KgxbSsN1e0
— foxdeportes.eth (@FOXDeportes) October 28, 2022
After that glitch, he either got thrown for a loop by his realized mistake or had a brain freeze because not long afterward, he missed the line “O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?” entirely. Instead, he sang off-key a repetition of the erroneous line “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last streaming.”
Following that egregious goof, he seemed to regain his poise and remembered the actual wording. He wrapped up with no further missteps and received thunderous applause as he finished up. It is Texas, after all, and fans seemed to give Burton an “A” for effort.
Social media was not quite so forgiving.
“Dude just sang the National Anthem in four different keys, with three different tempos, and rearranged half the words,” one person tweeted.
Dude just sang the National Anthem in four different keys, with three different tempos, and rearranged half the words. #WorldSeries #nationalanthem
— Nathan Lean (@nathanlean) October 28, 2022
“Eric burton is a 6 time Grammy nominee… there’s a reason he’s only a nominee what a horrible performance,” another snarked.
Eric burton is a 6 time Grammy nominee… there’s a reason he’s only a nominee what a horrible performance
— Homey Samuel (@Vallango_5) October 28, 2022
One user named Michael Ball, who appears to be a Democrat, offered advice to the besieged singer, “Someone tell Eric Burton to learn the lyrics to the National Anthem before you sing it before game 1 of the #WorldSeries.”
“It’s more than a little nerve-wracking being out there. Yeah, he erred. Big deal. He honored all the rest very, very well.. and sang the most of it strong and beautiful,” someone else commented.
It’s more than a little nerve-wracking being out there. Yeah, he erred. Big deal. He honored all the rest very, very well.. and sang the most of it strong and beautiful. Comment on the positive, you buncha whiners. #NationalAnthem #EricBurton
— Rick Singer (@ricksinger) October 29, 2022
The incident was evidently an omen for the Astros. Early on, they jumped to a 5-run lead. But the Phillies tied up the score at the top of the fifth. Then, Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto, who had 2 RBIs earlier in the game, slammed a solo home run in the top of the 10th that the Astros could not overcome.
The Astros lost 6-5 in Game 1 to fall behind 1-0 in the best-of-7 series.
Game 2 is Saturday night. We’ll see if it is as event-filled as the first one.
Meanwhile, the hits keep coming for Burton on Twitter:
Was it just me or did Eric Burton mess up the national anthem?#WorldSeries
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) October 28, 2022
Uhhh dude just messed up a BUNCH of the lyrics to the national anthem. What the actual f. 🇺🇸 #WorldSeries
— Brian Fink 🎙 (95%) (@brianfink) October 28, 2022
Aaaaaand we've already screwed up the National Anthem. World Series is off to a banger of a start.
— Jarrett Bellini (@JarrettBellini) October 28, 2022
This guy doesn’t know the lyrics to the anthem.
— Dan King (@Kinger_DC) October 28, 2022
Is it just me or has this World Series national anthem singer gotten the lyrics wrong like 3 times
— Ryan (@ryanstahl_) October 28, 2022
For a 6x Grammy nominated artist you’d think you would take the time to learn the national freaking anthem if your gonna be performing at the World Series on network television #WorldSeries
— Ross Deaton (@RossDeaton1) October 28, 2022
Burton has received Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best American Roots Performance, Best Rock Performance, and Best Rock Album as a member of the Black Pumas, which is based in Austin, Texas. Their “Colors” single, released in 2019, was certified gold by the RIAA according to Yahoo! Sports.
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