In one of his first appearances since the Black Pumas announced their “pause” in August, singer Eric Burton performed the National Anthem ahead of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday (Oct. 28).
Burton was chosen since his hometown team, the American League champion Houston Astros, was hosting game one of its series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sadly, it wasn’t the singer’s finest moment, resulting in a performance was closer to Fergie’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” than Whitney Houston’s moment of glory at the 1991 Super Bowl.
Burton’s hearty vocals were characteristically on point, but he struggled with the song’s lyrics. In the first verse, he sang, “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last streaming” (rather than “gleaming”). He repeated that line in the second verse instead of the correct lyric: “O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming.”
After those two early gaffes, Burton got back on track and delivered a strong finish a la Black Pumas’ performances at the Grammys and President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The crowd at Minute Maid Park appeared quick to forgive the flubs, giving Burton a resounding round of applause after he wrapped. It seemed to be an off-night for all of Texas, as the Astros blew an early 5-0 lead and eventually lost to the Phillies 6-5 in extra innings.
Eric Burton, lead singer of Austin’s own Black Pumas flubs lyrics of the National Anthem at World Series opener in Houston. pic.twitter.com/uWoknzStbs
— Ricky (@RickyG_TV) October 29, 2022
