Jewel’s national anthem at Indy 500 splits fans.

Singer Jewel’s Unique National Anthem Performance Divides Fans at Indy 500

Jewel accompanied herself on the guitar as she sang the anthem word-for-word, clad in a cowboy hat. Her over two-minute rendition received over 200,000 views on Twitter.

While some listeners enjoyed Jewel’s version, others took to social media to express their disappointment. One user wrote, “This is the perfect example of how not to do the national anthem. It was to the point of being disrespectful.” Another user tweeted alongside a trash emoji, “‘Sings’ is one way to put it.”

.@jeweljk sings the national anthem at the greatest spectacle in racing. 🇺🇸 #Indy500

📺: NBC and @peacock pic.twitter.com/rpjuG1o2dk

— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2023

Why Some Fans Found Jewel’s Performance Disrespectful

One user explained, “To anyone wondering how it’s disrespectful, it’s because she (and, unfortunately, the majority of celebrities who sing the national anthem) used the moment to draw attention to herself rather than sing it the way it was written, which would keep the focus on the country.”

Despite the criticism, Jewel appeared to overwhelmingly win listeners over with her unique style. One user wrote, “All things being equal, I prefer a more traditional rendition, but, that said, hers was heartfelt and moving. Completely Jewel’s style. One very positive thing about her slower tempo was that the audience could not help but focus on the words.”

Another agreed, “She didn’t change words, and really it gave me more time to think about the importance of the song. Find other things to be offended by, but not a beautiful rendition of our national anthem!”

One user even called Jewel’s performance “one of the best versions I’ve heard,” adding, “Artists have artistic license to make slight changes and this is melodically in line with the original. She just sang different partials up or down that would fit the chord. One. Of. The. Best. Ever.”

Indy 500 Winner Celebrates with Crowd

Josef Newgarden would go on to win the Indy 500, which he immediately celebrated by getting out of his vehicle and leaping into the crowd watching the race.

Overall, Jewel’s performance may have divided fans, but it certainly got people talking and sparked a lively debate about the best way to perform the national anthem.

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