AM Prep-Music

FERGIE RIPPED FOR SLOW-JAMMING NATIONAL ANTHEM AT ALL-STAR GAME

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Star-Mangled Banner? Fergie has placed herself among those in the pantheon of singers who have gotten notice for singing the national anthem before a sporting event. Unfortunately for her, she’s in the section of that pantheon of those who have made a mess of it. Her slowed-down, bluesy take on “The Star-Spangled Banner” was mocked in person by fans and players at the Staples Center on Sunday — and was, for the most part, trashed on social media, too. Some have compared her performance to that of non-singers like comedian Roseanne Barr and track star Carl Lewis. But even Barr is trying to distance herself from Fergie, telling Fox her performance in San Diego years ago was nowhere near as bad as Fergie’s.

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001-w-35-(Oscar Wells Gabriel, AP entertainment editor, with introduction of Fergie at NBA All-Star Game)–You may not know who won the NBA All-Star Game. But, as AP Entertainment Editor Oscar Wells Gabriel reports, you’ve probably heard who did the national anthem. ((Wrap opens with raw sound)) (20 Feb 2018)

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002-w-39-(Oscar Wells Gabriel, AP entertainment editor, with introduction of Fergie at NBA All-Star Game)–The Star-Mangled Banner? AP Entertainment Editor Oscar Wells Gabriel reports Fergie’s rendition of the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game was poorly received. ((Wrap opens with raw sound)) (20 Feb 2018)

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003-c-22-(Oscar Wells Gabriel, AP entertainment editor)-“a thumbs down”-AP Entertainment Editor Oscar Wells Gabriel reports Fergie’s rendition of the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game was a bit of an air-ball. (20 Feb 2018)

<<CUT *003 (02/20/18)££ 00:22 “a thumbs down”

004-c-20-(Oscar Wells Gabriel, AP entertainment editor)-“a vanguard performance”-AP Entertainment Editor Oscar Wells Gabriel reports Fergie joins a list of performers who made a hash of the national anthem. (20 Feb 2018)

<<CUT *004 (02/20/18)££ 00:20 “a vanguard performance”

005-r-2:44-(Sound of Fergie, performing the Star Spangled Banner at the NBA All Star Game)–Sound, of Fergie, performing the Star Spangled Banner at the NBA All Star Game. ((Note: This is the full version of the anthem)) (20 Feb 2018)

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FERGIE ISSUES STATEMENT ON ANTHEM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fergie says she has always been “honored and proud” to do the national anthem — but she says she went wrong when she set out to “try something special” at the NBA All-Star Game. That “something” was a slow, sultry version of “the Star-Spangled Banner” that left the audience at the Staples Center and at home both amused and confused. Fergie says while she does try to take risks, she realizes her anthem rendition “didn’t strike the intended tone.” In her statement, Fergie concludes, “I love this country and honestly tried my best.”

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006-c-18-(Oscar Wells Gabriel, AP entertainment editor)-“tried her best”-AP Entertainment Editor Oscar Wells Gabriel reports Fergie has called a foul on herself for her rendition of the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game. (20 Feb 2018)

<<CUT *006 (02/20/18)££ 00:18 “tried her best”

007-c-19-(Oscar Wells Gabriel, AP entertainment editor)-“online ridicule, too”-AP Entertainment Editor Oscar Wells Gabriel reports Fergie is expressing regret over her widely-dissed take on the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the NBA All-Star Game. (20 Feb 2018)

<<CUT *007 (02/20/18)££ 00:19 “online ridicule, too”

PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC

NEW YORK (AP) — With President’s Day behind us, it’s a good time to take note of how many of the nation’s chief executives have made their way in pop music references. Billboard reports the site LyricFind calculated each song that mentions a U.S. president — whether positively or negatively. And the winner — in a landslide — is Barack Obama. He was name-checked 309 times in songs. That’s more than twice the number of references to runner up George W. Bush and the number three entry, Bill Clinton. And — this might be tweet-worthy — Obama’s total is nearly 10 times as many as his successor, Donald Trump.

DONOVAN WOODS CHALLENGING DIVERSITY IN COUNTRY MUSIC

NEW YORK (AP) — Donovan Woods says country music has a ways to go when it comes to being more inclusive. The folk singer-songwriter is out with a song titled “Burn That Bridge.” And in the video, the concept of falling in and out of love with each other — is represented by a gay couple. Woods says when it comes to embracing diversity, the country music industry is “not doing well at all.” He says he’s “shocked again and again” at how slowly things have developed. Woods tells Billboard there are a lot of artists “whose public persona still doesn’t match their private feelings about a lot of things.” He says it would be better if artists weren’t “afraid to sort of express their real opinions outwardly for fear of losing fans.” ”Burn that Bridge” is on Woods’ album, titled “Both Ways,” due out April 20.

“DESPACITO” AND THE OLYMPICS

NEW YORK (AP) — If, by chance, you decided to tune into the Winter Olympics to escape hearing the song “Despacito” — too bad. The song that dominated last year’s sales chart is also making its presence felt at the games in North Korea. Billboard reports that during the short program of the ice dancing competition show on American TV on Sunday — no fewer than three separate pairs performed to the Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee song. Don’t blame the skaters, though. Competitors were required to include a Latin rhythm into their routine — so many decided to go with “Despacito.”

by Oscar Wells Gabriel II

Follow Oscar Wells Gabriel II on Twitter at <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”https://twitter.com/OWGabriel2″>https://twitter.com/OWGabriel2</a>

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