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Charlie & Debbie

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The Top Three National Anthems At Sporting Events

Charlie & Debbie February 13th

At this point, I don’t pay too much attention to The National Anthem being sung at the Super Bowl or any sporting event.  What should be a solemn and spiritually uplifting moment of respect for the greatest country in the world, has become a politicized one where cameramen are looking for someone choosing to push his/her agenda.  However, a country artist, Chris Stapleton was slated to perform Fracis Scott Key’s masterpiece, so I was in.  And boy, am I glad for that decision.

It’s a tricky thing singing this.  Most of the time if brings nothing but venom and criticism.  Especially, when you do what Chris did.  Although pretty straight forward, there was kind of soulful, bluesy thing working here.  Choosing to interpret The Anthem, even in a slightest way is usually a path to social media stoning, but not last night.  This was a “wow” moment that made the game memorable even before it began.  Chris Stapleton will always be remembered for this moment.  And his version now takes its rightful place in my top three sporting event National Anthem performances ever.  Where?  That’s for you to decide.  Here are the other two.

MARVIN GAYE AT THE NBA ALL-STAR GAME 1983

The game was held in Los Angeles and one of the most soulful singers the world has ever known, Marvin Gaye took to center court and delivered an interpretation of The Star Spangled Banner that had a cool factor to it.  I’m sure others had tried to interpret the song before at an event, but I surely didn’t remember them.  This was a “moment” for sure.  Unfortunately, it was to be one of his last in the public eye as he soon after passed away from a gunshot wound.

WHITNEY HOUSTON SUPER BOWL 1991

Our country was just ten days into Gulf War 1.  It was the first official conflict our nation’s armed forces had been engaged in since Vietnam.  We were at war.  And this performance completely united a country.  I was in college and if you can imagine anything making a room full of frat guys cry, chances are a woman singing The National Anthem isn’t what pops into your mind.  That’s what happened though.  And although not an “interpretation” like Marvin Gaye’s or Chris Stapleton’s, to me it remains the gold standard.  Whitney’s no longer with us.  This moment is near the top of a huge list of career highlight performances.

2023 Super Bowl: 10 Best Commercials from Funny to Heartwarming

With Super Bowl LVII officially in the rearview, let’s dig into one of the biggest attractions of the game: the commercials!

As with previous years, millions of dollars were spent by many brands in an effort to make a lasting impression on those watching. Of course, by “those watching,” we mean the millions of people tuning in around the world. Many major brands bought ad time this year but so did some surprising brands, too. (Fun fact: AdAge reports a 30-second spot during this year’s Super Bowl costs around $7 million. Many of the ads were 60 and 90 seconds, so that’s quite the expense.)

In 2023, the “Big Game” ads were strong. They featured plenty of celebrities, laughs and even some tender moments. Now that we’ve seen all the spots, here are the ten ads we thought were the best Super Bowl commercials this year. Let the debating begin!

  • Amazon

    This Amazon ad about a loved, but lonely family dog certainly tugged at the heartstrings. The ad is titled “Saving Sawyer,” which is also the name of the dog that stars in this ad. Per Amazon, Sawyer used to be a stray dog. He landed in a shelter and was rescued by his owner five years ago,  And now he’s the star of a major Super Bowl ad! What a story!

  • Bud Light

    This Bud Light ad starring Miles Teller was super cute and has probably given plenty of people a few ideas on how to pass the time while on hold.

  • Busch

    This ad for Busch Beer featured a surprise cameo from Sarah McLachlan spoofing her gutwrenching ASPCA ads. Even though McLachlan’s work on behalf of animals is incredibly noble, you have to give her credit for having a sense of humor.

  • Disney

    With Disney celebrating its 100th anniversary, the company bought a 90-second spot honoring its rich legacy of storytelling that has been passed through the generations. We’re positive everyone watching the Super Bowl has fond memories of many of the film’s highlighted in the ad.

  • Dunkin'

    We all know Ben Affleck loves Dunkin’, but working the drive-thru is fandom on a whole other level. Of course, wife Jennifer Lopez doesn’t seem too happy about her husband’s side-hustle. However, that’s not stopping Jenny from wanting a glazed donut.

  • The Farmer's Dog

    Yet another beautiful Super Bowl ad starring a dog! This time around, pet food subscription brand The Farmer’s Dog showed the beautiful story of a woman and her dog. We see the two as a child and a puppy all the way through to the woman becoming a mother. It’s okay if some dust got in your eyes while watching this one.

  • Rakuten

    Shopping app Rakuten hit us right in the nostalgia with their 60-second spot starring Alicia Silverstone and Elisa Donovan reprising their roles of Cher and Amber from the classic teen comedy Clueless. If you didn’t love this ad, we have just one word for you: Whatever!

  • T-Mobile (Bradley Cooper and His Mom)

    Sure, there was likely some sort of script for this T-Mobile ad, but it just feels like Bradley Cooper and his mom, Gloria, were allowed to riff and adlib. They looked like they were having the most fun together, which was really sweet.

  • T-Mobile (New year. New neighbor.)

    T-Mobile had two outstanding ads during the Super Bowl! The second one that aired starred John Travolta, Zach Braff and Donald Faison singing about T-Mobile’s Home Internet service to the tune of “Summer Nights” from Grease. (Side note: Travolta is 68 and still looks incredible!)

  • Workday

    Some of the biggest rock stars in the world have had it with the corporate world using the term “rock star,” and they are putting their collective foot down. Seriously, who really wants to upset the likes of Paul Stanley, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gary Clark Jr. and Billy Idol? We certainly don’t!

 

 

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