Whitney vs. Jennifer: Who sings the best national anthem?

I'll rank them in order 1. Whitney - Soul, Power, and she made it sound like it was easy to do. Still one of my favorite performances since I was a kid 2. J-Hudson - Soul and emotion. J-Hud looks like she's about to cry, which is understandable with all that she's been through recently 3. Beyoncé - No soul or power. If you check out the Smithsonian, they have an exhibit with the actual flag that Francis Scott Key saw when he wrote the Star Spangled Banner. Towards the end of the exhibit, they have the most memorable moments of the national anthem being played and Whitney Houston's performance is listed there.

Well, I am not a big fan of Whitney, so I think I'd have to rank her third, although I can understand that it was probably a more emotional version simply becasue of the sentiment of the Persian Gulf war happening at that time. Yah, she does seem very relaxed and happy, but girl needed to step it up on the outfit. A baggy track suit and an ugly hair band? WTF? :) As for our Dreamgirls JHud and Béyonce, I might have to go with JHud, even though I love my girl B as an overall artist more... Béyonce's was clearly the most original performance and I remember at the time when I saw it live in 2004 that I didn't like it much, but it's growing on me as I rewatch it, so perhaps that's why people are generally ranking her third... it's a bit too unique for most people's tastes. Plus, she starts off rather low and slowly, rather than belting it the whole time, so in that sense, it's also the most technically challenging performance, because it shows her range and her control in different octaves and styles. But JHud knocked it out of the stadium last night. She looked so wistful and sad just before she started to sing, and I can only attribute that to her acknowledging that this was her first live performance since her family tragedy. I thought that she might have had trouble when I saw her face, but she just took the song on like a champ and belted it. All three are good for various reasons, and everyone is going to have their favourite based on their personal tastes, so no one should get in a snit about who prefers who, but my money's on JHud.

Cher. or Whitney. So powerful.

The fact that people are still talking about Whitney Houston's 1991 version tells you everything you need to know. That should take nothing away from Jennifer, Beyonce, or any of the other singers who have had the honor - they should all feel rightfully proud. But Whitney set a standard (and is the only artist who had her version released as a single which immediately hit #1 on the Charts, proceeds to charity of course).

Easily Whitney for the #1 spot. So free and joyful. It was easy to believe that the song actually described the country for a few minutes.

We aren't talking about style points, we are talking about sound and Whitney blows everyone out of the water. Her voice had texture that Hudson lacks and a depth that Beyonce will never have. If you want to scold on clothes wait 20 years and see what people say about you "Jack".

Whitney Houston was the most stunning talent to emerge in the latter half of the twentieth century. Period. The voice, the beauty, and the grace (at first) was one of the most breathtaking experiences to witness in person of my life. When that (young) woman would sing I could feel the presence of God. Then, she simply flushed it all down the toilet. What on earth happened? Drugs? Bobby Brown? Alas, the ultimate responsibility has to fall on Whitney for the decay of (one) of the greatest talents the world will ever see. I truly adore Beyonce, especially after her legendary rendition of "At Last" at the Obama Inauguration, but she is a lightweight compared to the Divas Houston and Hudson. Jennifer is now the heir apparent to the great Diva mantle, and her performance at the Super Bowl, in addition to her personal triumph over adversity, was nothing less than stupendous!

It's still Whitney. Jennifer Hudson was great yesterday and I really felt proud of her, but the old crackhead still beats her out for best national anthem. Just a thought: Could any male singer ever belt out the National Anthem in a respectable way? Who?

Too me Whitney Houston can't be touch.

I think to even try to compare Jennifer versus Beyonce versus Whitney's versions of the National Anthem is ridiculous. All three provided totally unique interpretations of the song as well as the musical arrangements being different. I still don't understand why people feel as if they have to make comparisons. Why not just enjoy their unique talents and their abilities to intrepret lyrics and just CHILL OUT!!!!

Whitney's performance is UNTOUCHABLE---absolutely classic, original and effortlessly "non-Hollywood" in execution. Her version became a MILLION SELLING SINGLE and hit the billboard music charts.
While I absolutely love Jennifer Hudson and think she's in 3rd PLACE (with a loving nod to Marvin Gaye's very original and powerful rendition)....I have to say...

...that the 2nd BEST Performance I have ever seen of the National Anthem AFTER WHITNEY HOUSTON's was when FANTASIA sang it Acapella.

I dare anybody to SEARCH YOUTUBE for that clip and try and claim she didn't redefine that song and make it her own. I WAS BLOWN AWAY much the way I was when I first heard and purchased Whitney's single.

I love BEYONCE's singing, but her performance was too predictable and "show-biz." Sort of reminiscent of Jessica Simpson's performance---manager and "ratings analysts" arrange for SUPERSTAR to SING NATIONAL ANTHEM.

I found Jennifer Hudson's version powerfully BOMBASTIC and incredibly well sung...but it didn't move me beyond the church.

Whitney and Fantasia's versions were "OTHER-worldly."

What I PRAY TO GOD SOMEBODY WOULD DO FOR JENNIFER....is get her some "outstanding" material for her CDs before it's too late.

That mess about a "Pockee-book" and most of the other songs on that CD will please her hardcore fans--but it's not going to gain her the recognition and attention she deserves as an artist.

I don't know WHEN Black women singers stopped singing about life, the world and doing covers of a few White Rock Bands and SHOW TUNES to show themselves as Ecclectic and well-rounded.

If you go back and listen to the old ARETHA-GLADYS-DIONNE albums when those ladies were just "girls" and ruling the charts....they all had EXCEPTIONAL, biting, original and very "risky" material. They were willing to take chances and not just rely on their voices.

A big voice does not make a star. Just ask Patti LaBelle about the 1960's and how she couldn't get arrested but Diana Ross (gifted in a "magical" soft-voiced way) was for many years the biggest solo act in the world. The "big voices" couldn't touch her sales and appeal.

And as much as I love Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia and all these new girls of late, I really don't see them breaking out and reaching SUPERSTARDOM unless they do what Mary J. Blige and Barbra Steisand and Madonna and all the other "smart girls" did....and get some unqiue and catchy MATERIAL. Something that isn't ALWAYS about I love/needs me/wants me a Man. And then sing the shit out of it.

Where are the Roberta Flack women of today with clever lyrics and SOCIAL MEANING?

More than anything---take a few risks. Make some "interesting" videos----and above all else---BE UNPREDICTABLE.

A lot of these new girls are either "boring as hell", "self-hating & weak" or both. Seriously--I really wish BLACK WOMEN DIVA SINGERS would come out from wherever they're hiding.

Crossing my fingers for Whitney's big return. HER, I love.

Why is it necessary to compare? All three ladies performed extemely well using the gifts that God gave them. Let's celebrate and support each of them rather than rate them for who is better. There have been many who have performed well .. let us not forget the Marvin rendition.

Why cant all of them sing the National Anthem as written. Cant they find the correct notes? It is a shame to do the caterwalling they do to our national song. Next time, please learn the music.

Juniper... I was KIDDING about the style stuff... chill. I recognise that sarcasm doesn't come across well in chat rooms and blogs, but I would have thought it was obvious I was joking. That being said, I am not a fan of Whitney and never have been, but as I said, it's a personal choice, and I respect if you think she's tops. As others have said here, it really doesn't matter which one you like best. There's really no point to compare. But, since that's what this post is about, I'm allowed to have my opinion like everyone else, and I preferred JHud's, then Béyonce's, version over Whitney's. They are all good singers, and they all did good jobs. 'Nuff said.

Whoever composed this article should have been ashamed of themselves to resurrect such a vocal powerhouse up against something that hasn't even esteblished itself yet. Shame on you....especially when they both have lovely voices, despite the fact that one has untouchable presence.

Gee Kola, what nostalgia. Although I agree with you 99%, save for Fantasia. It is Fantasia more than JH who needs a song writer like Roberta had. She is such a great waste.

But then, with lack of good lyric only, how can one explain the effect of music like Oumou Sangare's or Tania Maria's? I dont understand the words, but I know their meaning.

nhlanhla,

You must not have read what I wrote. Did you skip this sentence, LOL?:



[And as much as I love Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia and all these new girls of late, I really don't see them breaking out and reaching SUPERSTARDOM unless they do]



I definitely include Fantasia as a missed mark.

But also be sure to notice that Fantasia's CD sales on her first CD were 2 million copies (she's also had 4 #1 singles (1 pop and 3 r&b/the pop chart #1 was "I Believe").....Jennifer's first CD has yet to go to platinum, and I'm sorry, but other than 3 or 4 cuts, the songs on there don't do justice to Jennifer's huge, theatrical voice.

Would Barbra Streisand record a collection of mostly C-class songs? Do you remember the caliber of material that the young Aretha Franklin came out with when she first hit the boards?

Then there's the "image" problem that Jennifer will face because she's "thick" and looks like a "real" Black Female instead of a Mexican.

If you notice--they will let Christina Aguilerra get away with Crappy Material--because she's the right IMAGE that Whites & Negroes adore and worship, they constantly play her records and promote her based on her GIFTED VOCALS---but they ignore the fact that her material is boring, crappy, unoriginal and flat.

Well Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia's black asses won't be getting that treatment. They'll have to fight for every inch of the pie they get.

Don't think I don't love and adore Jennifer Hudson---I really do. That's why I'm very concerned that J RECORDS is not taking her gift seriously. They're just throwing her "routine church voice" cuts and doing the same thing they do with all Hefty Black Chick singers---giving her the Big Church Mama BLAST image. Having a HUGE bombstic voice is nothing. Chaka Khan, Anita Baker and Natalie Cole made it because of their exceptional material---NOT their gorgeous voices believe it or not. It was those strong ass songs that broke the door down. Otherwise, Tata Vega, Jennifer Holiday and countless other black girl singers would have made it big too.

ESTELLE doesn't have the gifted voice Jennifer has...but her CD has the kind of material that Jennifer could really breathe life into. I actually listen to my ESTELLE CD much more than the J-Hudson one.

I'm mad that these girls aren't being developed and groomed the way they would have been in the old days. It's a shame they don't look at themselves "SCIENTIFICALLY" and come up with some strategies.

I love Oumou Sangare. Rokia Traore is even better.

Whitney first .. one of the best sets of pipes in popular music. Hands down. And it's a tie between Jennifer and Beyoncé. I hadn't heard either of the two performances previously. I have to admit that after hearing Beyoncé's song "If I Were a Boy" and all the fiddling around with echos and such on her high notes, I didn't know if she could pull it off, but she did. Her voice doesn't have the depth of either Jennifer or Whitney, but there is an appealing sweetness to her voice that comes through fine. As for Jennifer, what power .. and I didn't know that the national anthem was a slow jazz number. But she handled it beautifully.

Numero uno: Whitney Numero dos: J Hud Numero tres : B -Whitney was obviously comfortable and was in a playful mood that matched the spirit of that moment. And the voice was perfection. -J Hud was really feeling the anthem -B was just performing it( I love Beyonce when she is doing her upbeat songs/performances)

It will always be Whitney's version that's untouchable. It's because she made you listen to the words. The national anthem is a story. I mean, when Jhud sings, I just hear a very loud voice, like she doesn't even get what the song is about. I think Beyonce is too damn polished and I love it, but that's her packaging. As far as who looked the best singing the National Anthem, of course Beyonce has got it made in the shade. I feel sorry for Jhud, considering her tragedies i can't imagine rebounding after something so dark. It's very hard to criticize her at the moment. Her face was flawless and she looked lighter like she hasn't left her room in months. I just pray for her. I hope she doesn't push herself too hard to get back in the spotlight.

Yeah sis: maybe I had greater expectations for Fantasia than for JH. So she was a greater disappointment to me - even with the number 1 chats. I'll check out Rokia Traore (I hope she's not Sudanesse - Africans are legendary when it comes nepotism. lol

i absoloutley adore Beyonce's singing..Whitney is a legend and Jennifer Hudson is just great ..i don't think it's possible to compare them as they all have different voices and they all sang it beautifully...i love B W and J

Jennifer should not even be in the comparison because her performance wasn't live. Whitney #1, Beyonce #2, J Hud shouldn't even be on the list.

I agree with Bill. Sing the national anthem (any country's national anthem) the way it was written using the correct phrasing and tempo. An anthem is intended to signify love of your country. It is not a time for you to promote yourself and your particular singing style. I don't remember when that started - a while ago, I think - but I disliked it from the very first.

1. Whitney Houston 2. Jennifer Hudson 3. Beyonce