Here's Where the Super Bowl Beat the Daytona 500

Other than the crowd size, not much to compare the Super Bowl and Daytona 500...

However....

Kelly Clarkson performed the National Anthem at both venues.

I thought her Daytona 500 screaming rendition was awful.

Her Super Bowl performance was head and shoulders above her Daytona 500 effort.

I still and always will prefer a band to play the Anthem, but I was glad to not have it severely botched as we have seen so many previous times at the big events.

Kelly Clarkson sings National Anthem at Super Bowl: 'I've never been more nervous in my life'
The 'American Idol' alum hit all the notes and got the words right

By Joyce Chen / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, February 6, 2012, 11:30 AM

The ladies ruled the night on Super Bowl Sunday, with a trifecta of musical powerhouses Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Madonna herself taking the field at halftime in a glitzy, golden flurry of pizzazz.

But the single voice that kicked off what would turn out to be an amazing game for the New York Giants belonged to "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson.

The singer gave a soulful rendition of the National Anthem, hitting every note and remembering every word despite being "really nervous" prior to her all-star performance.

"Just finished rehearsing the anthem in Indy ... wow, I'm actually really nervous about singing at the Super Bowl ha!" she wrote on her WhoSay account. "Here's hoping I nail it and don't screw it up!"

And Clarkson, 29, had good reason to be anxious.

Last year's Star-Spangled Banner singer, Christina Aguilera, was skewered by the media after she flubbed the lyrics.

At one point, Aguilera belted out, "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last reaming," where the lyrics should have been "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming."

Said one Twitter user at the time: "Egypt thanks Christina Aguilera for botching the national anthem and bumping them off the Twitter trending list."

Thankfully, Clarkson's feedback was a lot more positive.

"Guess what ... I've never been more nervous in my life than singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl tonight ... wow that was almost not fun I was so nervous!" she wrote on her account after the game. "Fun night overall though!

"Thank you everybody for all of the nice things you're saying about my performance! I really appreciate it. "

jchen@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/television/super-bowl-2012-kelly-clarkson-sings-national-anthem-madonna-nicki-minaj-m-i-a-tackle-halftime-show-article-1.1017886#ixzz1ldhU9N00

Now and again, Martinsville will use the Virginia Tech "Highty Tighties" Regimental band for their National Anthem. That group won 1st place in the Presidential Inaugural parades every 4 years for years and years. They even used to play "Dixie" at the Inauguration. If you move this clip up to about the 7:15 mark you'll hear one of their Martinsville National Anthems and the other stuff on the clip isn't bad either. Sure beats using those recording "artists."

Dave, bet you also remember the old Drewry Mason High School band playing the anthem at Martinsville. They would march around the track stopping at each turn to play a song before playing the National Anthem. Any band, even with an off-key note, beats a rendition done by a voice with a total disregard for the music. I also liked the Statler Bros. recording used at Richmond.

Did anyone else note the fact that hardly a single NFL player or coach acknowledged the Anthem with their hands over their heart or even paying attention? That really sets me off when I see that. Just further cements my disgust with the NFL. If you doubt me, watch the next NFL game and see what I mean.

Wally, I couldn't disagree more with the National Anthem portion of your comment.

Is the almighty dollar THAT important?

To be subjected to someone like Roseanne Barr desecrating our National Anthem at a major event is revolting to me.

I don't blame the "artist" however. It's the venue, the NFL, Major League Baseball, the individual racetrack or stadium that is to blame. They don't have to use someone who totally disrespects our flag and our country and subject the audience to it.

I can't imagine why you would possibly love such a deal, but that's your choice here in the good ole USA.

NB,

I remember Drewry Mason well.

By the way, Kenneth Campbell at Richmond used to book the Statler Brothers on various tours. In addition to his racetrack duties in the early days, he also booked and toured with Roller Derby on the east coast and with Lawrence Welk.

For a number of years at Richmond we used a very talented officer of the Henrico County Poliice for the National Anthem.

I also used to enjoy the barbershop quartet used at Watkins Glen and Dover.

Not sure who started it some years back, but having the NASCAR pit crews line up as they do for the National Anthem adds a lot of class and respect.