The NBA All-Star Game went off without consequence Sunday. However, the song of inspiration that prefaced the game brought a few more surprises than the game itself.
The festive NBA game, which features the league’s best players, took place in Chicago. It ended with a final score of 157-155, with Team LeBron, led by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, edging Team Giannis, which was led by Milwaukee Bucks standout Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Chaka Khan, the legendary R&B songstress, gave a nearly three-minute rendition of the emotional song Sunday evening prior to tip-off. Khan, a Chicago native, presented in Chicago Bulls colors from her hair color to her form-fitting ensemble Sunday. Her vocal stylings, which are often riddled with runs and high-pitched tones, were on par with previous performances.
Though some would say Khan gave a signature performance, many responded with shock and awe at her gospel-inspired version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” On Twitter, several expressed their amazement and the assessment that the 66-year-old’s singing felt more like a shrilling shout than a soul-stirring sing-along.
Some drew comparisons to Fergie’s 2018 NBA All-Star Game national anthem performance, which was also panned universally.
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