The Star Spangled Banner is becoming the center of a clash between differing agendas in baseball (click the link to read the Chesney story). The league, which is trying to attract the younger fans that have fled the game for basketball and football, wants to connote hipness with its singer selections. Broadcasters, meanwhile, are eager to cross-promote their own actors and recording artists, which is why Fox has lobbied for "American Idol" participants in the past. And then there are the teams, which seek out local talent with deep ties to their franchises. If that weren't enough, there's one more problem: A number of otherwise attractive candidates won't go near one of these patriotic hymns for fear of falling flat on their vocal chords. Two stars who fall into that camp: Billy Corgan, of Smashing Pumpkins, and Jon Bon Jovi. (Mr. Bon Jovi has said only a New York Giants Super Bowl appearance would get him to sing the anthem.)
No comments:
Post a Comment