In a baffling turn of events at a recent event, soulful singer Andra Day found herself in an unexpected spotlight as she was reportedly booed for singing the Black National Anthem. The audience, it seems, was blissfully unaware that the Black National Anthem is a powerful symbol of unity and resilience within the Black community.
Meanwhile, country music queen Reba McEntire took the stage with the “Real National Anthem,” and fans erupted in cheers, as if she had just single-handedly saved democracy. Apparently, in this alternate reality, the national anthem that’s been inspiring patriotic sentiments for centuries is now deemed more ‘real’ than others.
Critics are scratching their heads trying to understand how an anthem meant to celebrate diversity and African American heritage could be met with such disapproval, while a classic rendition of the national anthem by McEntire was treated as a heroic act. Perhaps it’s a reminder that even in the realm of music, perceptions can be as out-of-tune as a badly played kazoo. One can only hope that someday, the audience will be more harmonious in their appreciation of diverse expressions of national pride.
