Watch! Top 5 national anthem blunders

10 June 2016 - 10:00 By Sefiso Hlongwane
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Getting booked to sing the national anthem at a major event is an honour for any artist.

Just Jinger frontman Ard Matthews forgot some of the lyrics to the national anthem during the announcement of the Springbok squad on live television
Just Jinger frontman Ard Matthews forgot some of the lyrics to the national anthem during the announcement of the Springbok squad on live television
Image: Picture: SYDNEY SESHIBEDI

Many will try anything - whether it's fiddling with the arrangement or striving for the glory notes that only powerhouses could ever hit - to put their own memorable stamp on the national anthem. Alas, not everyone reaches a level of true greatness.

It was recently announced that the winner of The Voice SA and three of the finalists will perform the national anthems of SA and Ireland over the next few weeks as part of the #LoveRugby campaign.

As they prepare to make their debut, we can only hope they don't mess up like these guys.

Warning: the videos below contain extreme cringeworthiness

Ras 'off-key' Dumisani
The reggae singer made headlines in 2009 when he mauled, mutilated and murdered the national anthem in an hilariously off-key rendition before South Africa played France in a rugby international. It was not just bad. It was not-knowing-where-to-look bad.

 

Ard 'stumbling-through' Matthews
Just two years after Ras' incident, Just Jinjer frontman Ard Matthews bungled the words to the national anthem on live television at the Springbok World Cup squad announcement in 2011.

 

Keri 'forgot lyrics' Hilson
The American national anthem is notoriously hard to sing and the lyrics are frequently botched, even by pros. Take Keri Hilson for instance - the singer has the vocal chops to make The Star-Spangled Banner soar, but it turns out she had trouble getting the lyrics right at an NBA basketball game in 2010.

 

Christina 'flubbing' Aguilera
Christina Aguilera also blew a few lines of the American anthem on live TV at the 2011 Super Bowl. She changed the words in the song's fourth line, merging the lyrics with the song's second line. And that final note? Yah!

 

Karen 'missed cue' Harding
More recently: The cringeworthy moment Karen Harding missed her cue and failed to sing the start of the British national anthem at the FA Cup final.

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