Eric Burton, lead singer of Black Puma. (Syndication: Arizona Republic)
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The singing of the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series between the Astros and Phillies had MLB fans doing a double-take.
Very few people get to sing the national anthem on the biggest stage in sports. The ones who do know they’re being judged against all the renditions that have come before them.
Being memorable is a double-edged sword. You may go down as a great. You can even more easily go down as a joke.
Unfortunately for Eric Burton singing the anthem before Game 1 of the 2022 World Series, his rendition was memorable for the wrong reasons.
Burton stepped up to sing before the Astros and Phillies got going and completely messed up the lyrics to the song.
Twitter was in disbelief with many wondering if they heard correctly.
did he forget the words to the anthem or did i?
— cal (@calliemelancon) October 28, 2022
HE MESSED UP THE ANTHEM. PHILS IN FOUR. AMERICA’S BIRTHPLACE WILL AVENGE
— postseason baseballin’ (@inthephanattic) October 28, 2022
mans messed up the lyrics of the national anthem in the World Series
— amelia (@menesesmenace) October 28, 2022
Pro tip: if you’re singing the national anthem at the opening game of the World Series, learn the words.
— David Carpenter 🇺🇦 (@DCinLF) October 28, 2022
Anthem dude The Phillies
🤝
Not ready for this stage
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖍𝖆𝖉🌑𝖜 (@_ShadowStro) October 28, 2022
So it was a rough showing for Burton. Who is he?
World Series: Who sang the National Anthem before Game 1?
Eric Burton is a singer-songwriter who leads the Austin-based psychedelic soul band the Black Pumas.
Burton and the Black Pumas were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020 under the Best New Artist category. They have since been nominated for five other Grammys.
The band has performed on half a dozen national TV shows but it seems like the World Series and the national anthem was the thing to flummox Burton.
It happens. No one would accuse the Star-Spangled Banner of being an easy song to sing.