By Ariana Chiarenza
Fergalicious definition: not this performance. On February 18, 2018 Stacy Ann Ferguson, better known by stage name Fergie, performed a heavily-criticized rendition of the Star Spangled Banner for the 67th NBA All-Star Game. The 42-year old singer, formerly a member of The Black Eyed Peas, made a name for herself outside the band with hits such as “Fergalicious,” “Glamorous” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”. Despite this, her “bluesy” performance garnered national ridicule and confusion.
Even only a few lines in the audience could tell something was different about Fergie’s performance. By the fourth line the camera pans to Steph Curry and it becomes clear from his confused expression that this performance is nothing he dealt with before. Some speculate that Fergie was attempting to emulate the same soulful vibes as Marvin Gaye, who’s historic 1983 is considered possibly the sexiest version ever. If this was Fergie’s intention, it wasn’t well-received.
Off-key and breathy, Fergie continues her performance as famous spectators look on, the likes of Chance The Rapper and Jimmy Kimmel suppressing laughter. Kimmel, who was not aware that he was on camera at the time, came forward on his talk show to address his reaction to Fergie’s unexpected rendition, “When it comes to the National Anthem, don’t [take risks].” As Fergie catches her audience off -guard with sudden and flat belted notes, the camera shows many other athletes either trying to contain their laughter.
Owning eight Grammys total, six of which were won while still performing as part of The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie has been performing since the early 2000s and officially split from the group in 2017 to pursue her own music and other ventures, including a successful clothing line. While her break from The Black Eyed Peas continues, Fergie’s National Anthem hasn’t been her first music controversy. In 2016, she released the music video for her song “M.I.L.F.$”, which involved many celebrity mothers; including Chrissy Teigen and Kim Kardashian West as lingerie-clad 1950s housewives. The nature, lyrics, and concept of the song garnered comment from music fans, being both ridiculed for its poor taste and odd concept while praised for its positive view on femininity after childbirth.
After her Star Spangled fiasco, Twitter exploded with criticism and humor. The video of her performance raked in over 20 million views in a little over a week. Many question why she was allowed to perform in the first place, or if there was a rehearsal involved. For most, her performance is seen as an insult to both the National Anthem, and the United States. Fergie stated, “I’m a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn’t strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best.”
