Who is the biggest Diva of them all? The U.S. National Anthem, which borrows its melody from a historic British drinking song, has undergone enormous musical change in the hands of pop music vocalists. Famously, José Feliciano, Marvin Gaye and Whitney Houston each changed the meaning of "The Star Spangled Banner" by finding new approaches to the performance. Countless others have followed in their footsteps. Now every major sporting event is an excuse for pop divas to make their own creative interpretation. So who does it best? Or worst? Jan Diehm and Michelle McGhee, data journalists at The Pudding, analyzed the pitch fluctuations of over a hundred famous performances to answer these questions and more.
Check out Jan and Michelle's full analysis at pudding.cool
Sign up for the Switched On Pop Newsletter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Listening 2 Daft Punk: Homework
The Jonas Brothers' Yacht Rock Revival
From Westeros-techno to trance metal: Eurovision 2023
Who killed the key change in pop music?
A.I. Drake has put music in a tailspin
BTS goes solo together
This Generation's Caroline Polachek
The Shakira Conspiracy
Reinventing Bach
100 gecs and the new sound of hyperpop
Switches Brew
Modern Classics: Seal - Kiss From a Rose
How John Denver got huge in Asia
Chartbreakers: Jersey Club, Complicated Country, and 50s Crooners
Five years later, the legacy of Nipsey Hussle's "Victory Lap"
“Flowers” and the art of the response song
Rihanna Party! ICYMI
The L.A. guitar shop that reinvented indie folk
A History of Whammies at the Grammys - Into It with Sam Sanders
Wonders: Bobby McFerrin
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Good One: A Podcast About Jokes
Vulture Festival Podcast
The Vulture TV Podcast