When Air Force Master Sergeant Jennifer Sherman was chosen to sing "God Bless America" during the World Series, she was enthralled. Her performance left some viewers scratching their heads, however.
Sherman chose to reinterpret the patriotic anthem, and received a mostly negative reaction across Twitter.
The Iowa native accelerated the song at some points, and held some notes longer than their normal duration. There were also rising inflections in unusual places, and other liberties taken with the song's melody. Twitter did not respond well to the changes.
"Apparently this is the remix to God bless America," @TJFsports wrote.
Sporting News reported that fans in the stadium tried to sing along with Sherman, but could not follow her unique rendition.
"If you're going to ask people to sing along with God Bless America it's probably best to stick with the basic melody," Erin Faulk said.
"I mean I'm tired of God Bless America, too, Lady Singer, but that doesn't mean you get to sing a different song with the same words," @Marc_Normandin lamented.
"Dear singers: Don't try to make God Bless America your own. It's ours," Lisa Guerrero wrote, summing up the words of many other Tweeters.
Other social media users defended Sherman, and criticized those who slammed her performance.
"Twitter is wrong tonight talking about the U.S. service woman who sang God Bless America," ESPN college football reporter Jared Shanker said.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) tweeted that she rather enjoyed Sherman's interpretation.
"Kudos to Master Sergeant Jennifer Sherman from WAFB @whitemanspirit who sang a terrific "God Bless America" at the World Series!" she exclaimed. "Great job!"
"God Bless America" and the National Anthem are high-anxiety performances in stadiums, where the singer's echo bounces back to them behind the melody. There is also the fear that the vocalist will forget the words, and the pressure of millions of viewers watching them on television.
"God Bless America" was written by prolific composer Irving Berlin in 1918, and revised by him in 1938 with the lyrics that are known across the country today.
Click here to watch MSgt. Sherman's performance on Deadspin.
