90s band Boyz II Men have been torn to shreds over their a cappella version of the US national anthem at the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix. Photo / Fox Sports
90s band Boyz II Men have been torn to shreds over their a cappella version of the US national anthem at the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix. Photo / Fox Sports
F1 fans have been left stunned by iconic 90s band Boyz II Men’s rendition of the US national anthem at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Iconic 90s band Boyz II Men promised to deliver a “pretty sexy” version of the US national anthem at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but the performance has fallen flat for many fans.
Ahead of the second running of the race on the Las Vegas strip, it was announced the trio would sing TheStar-Spangled Banner at the event, which drew some enthusiasm from fans of the band.
The four-time Grammy Award-winners, who are known for some of their classic songs such as End of the Road and I’ll Make Love to You, came into the event teasing that it would be as memorable as their 1998 Super Bowl and 1996 Olympic Closing Ceremony performances.
Unfortunately, the rendition belongs more in the realm of anthem fails, with social media users quickly turning on the performance, claiming it was “flat”, “off-pitch” and “a gimmick”.
A third added: “I can’t believe I’m saying this but Boyz II Men are flat.”
A fourth posted: “Well, I think Boyz II Men are past their prime.”
A fifth responded: “Love Boyz II Men but … f***ing hell, they just butchered the national anthem. Yikes.”
A sixth tweeted: “Boyz II Men, that was a f***in AWFUL national anthem lmaooo [sic].”
A seventh said: “Haha wow, Boyz II Men absolutely butchered that anthem. How can someone not notice when practising it [and] say nah guys this is crap? [sic]”
An eighth lent their perspective: “Not sure it is my ears or if that’s a failed national anthem a cappella from Boyz II Men.”
And there were plenty more along those lines.
Announced a month before the event, the band promised something special.
“I’m not sure if F1 has ever experienced hearing a Boyz II Men anthem, but we’ve been told it’s pretty sexy,” band member Wanya Morris joked.
“I don’t know if that’s how it’s supposed to feel, but I hear it makes for a good night.”
While it wasn’t a complete trainwreck, there have been some truly awful versions of the anthem performed at sporting events in the past.
Earlier in the year, country singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress butchered the national anthem at the MLB’s Home Run Derby, later admitted she was drunk when she performed.
But she’s far from alone, with Roseanne Barr’s 1990 rendition at a San Diego Padres game – complete with shout-singing the verses of The Star-Spangled Banner while grabbing her crotch and spitting on the pitcher’s mound – is the bar for comparing lowly attempts at the song.
On that occasion, NBA stars including Steph Curry and Draymond Green started giggling during Fergie’s rendition.
While there wasn’t anyone laughing at the Boyz II Men version, the reaction at the end of the performance was lukewarm at best.
While the Las Vegas Grand Prix itself failed to reach any great heights, the race has decided the 2024 world championship, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claiming his fourth straight title.
Max Verstappen (left) won his fourth consecutive world title. Photo / Getty Images
In a race won by Mercedes’ George Russell, who became the seventh driver this season to claim multiple wins – an F1 first – Verstappen finished fifth but ahead of his closest rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris.
It was enough to give the Dutchman an unassailable lead at the top of the drivers’ championship leaderboard.
The attention now turns to the constructors’ championship, with McLaren sitting on top on 608 points, but Ferrari have now closed the gap to just 24 points after claiming third and fourth in Vegas.
