Sophia Michaels
Gavin Degraw has not had good luck, in general, when it comes to singing the National Anthem. Last year, when he sang the patriotic tune before a Stanley Cup playoff game, he infamously slipped and fell on the ice. Well, at least he didn’t come to any physical harm while singing the anthem before the boxing match between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury II tonight. But, some of his sonic choices are getting a little negative feedback on Twitter, causing the singer to trend, and give everyone who loved his early stuff pause, worrying whether he was ok or not.
While unique renditions of the anthem are becoming quite prolific at this point — a few commenters brought up Fergie’s insanely offbeat jazzy version of the song before the NBA All-Star game in 2018 — Degraw’s issues mainly stemmed with shying away from high notes or flubbing time signatures. Still, there were plenty of people who appreciated Gavin’s rendition, and even more who brought up just how much they loved some of his early 2000s breakouts, including “I Don’t Wanna Be,” and “Chariot.” (Both are confirmed bangers, as is his entire 2003 album, Chariot.) Most of all, people were relieved he’s ok.
A small sampling of reactions:
Let’s just all agree to never let Gavin DeGraw sing the national anthem again, yes?
— Chad. From KC. (@TheChad_KC) February 23, 2020
Gavin DeGraw is trending and y’all almost gave me a heart attack👀 He wasn’t THAT bad. Y’all just love to hate on people 💅🏻 Anyways – *inserts pic of when i met him over 10 years ago cause it’s my time to shine* pic.twitter.com/mXNyTibUYn
— Bre💘 (@xdelicatedaisyx) February 23, 2020
I see Gavin Degraw trending and immediately think he died or some shit. And instead y’all are just complaining saying he sounded bad singing the National anthem which btw he didnt. The amount of people claiming it was the worst rendition they’d ever heard like Fergie doesnt exist pic.twitter.com/4pbxSmQjBH
— mikayla kennedy (@mikayla_kat) February 23, 2020
Gavin DeGraw just sang the worst national anthem I have ever heard in my 21 years of existence
— 𝕽𝖔𝖇 (@RSPacker) February 23, 2020
Why the fuck is Gavin Degraw singing the National Anthem with the raspy gumption of someone straight out of a 30-day rehab stint?
— Cognoscenti of Chaos (@PeriwinkleRip) February 23, 2020
gavin degraw is giving fergie a run for her money when it comes to unique versions of the national anthem
— abi (@abigail15369) February 23, 2020
idc if he cant sing the national anthem gavin degraw SNAPPED when he came up with “i don’t want to be” and thats all that matters to me 😭😭😭
— rory || tcw season 7 spoilers (@skywalkerscotts) February 23, 2020
Given all the nostalgia tours that are going around lately, maybe this will be what spurs a Degraw comeback? Stranger things have happened in the year 2020, even two months in. Watch his performance above and decide for yourself whether it was great, bad, ugly or simply unexpected. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury won the fight with a TKO.
Written by: Uproxx
