Alicia Keys Super Bowl National Anthem Criticized For Being Too Long

Keys, who wore a floor-length red dress, sang the anthem while seated behind a white grand piano. Her version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” took two minutes and 40 seconds to sing.

  Photo: Reuters Keys performs the National Anthem

The previous performer to have the longest Super Bowl national anthem is Natalie Cole, who sang it in one minute and 52 seconds. 

Now, Keys is being criticized not only for singing slowly, but also for sitting down during the song. 

Twitter users commented on how long it took Keys to finish the anthem. One reader commented that it was “One of the worst anthem renditions I have ever seen or heard. What a funeral durge. Too slow.”  

Prior to her performance, Keys spoke to MSN about the anthem, saying “I have to rehearse it totally, as if it’s a brand-new song because it is actually a brand new song in the style that I’ll deliver it.”

According to the Huffington Post, critics slammed Keys for sitting down during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

"It was disrespectful," one morning show producer told the publication. 

"They had enough time and manpower to think of this before the performance. They could have had her stand at her piano keyboard and sing. To me and a lot of my friends, she sounded great but the visual was wrong."

Keys is not the first performer to be criticized for their singing. Beyonce, who also performed at the Super Bowl, made headlines when it was revealed that she lip-synced at President Obama’s inauguration last month. 

Regardless, Keys seems unfazed by the critics. “Crazy excited for my first @BlackBerry project!! It involves my beautiful fam!! ;-) …  #KeepMoving,” is her latest tweet. Keys has been named the newest global creative director for BlackBerry.