O Say Can You Sing? Semi-Finalists Announced
A few months ago, the National Museum of American History, along with USA Weekend magazine, announced O Say Can You Sing?, its Star-Spangled Banner singing contest. Over 800 people posted video entries on YouTube, and now, 15 semi-finalists have been chosen on the basis of vocal performance, originality, accuracy, and popularity on YouTube.
A panel of judges including pop singer-songwriter and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and Grammy Award-winner José Feliciano, among others in the biz, will make the final call on May 19. But, in the meantime, watch the semi-finalists battle it out for the chance to be flown out to Washington, D.C. with a friend to perform at both the museum and the Baltimore Orioles vs. Atlanta Braves game on Flag Day, June 14.
There are the operatic notes of Angela Carr of Nashville, Tennessee; the rock stylings of Maurice Mataban of Saint James, New York; and the precocious performance of 7-year-old Drew Sellers of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, to name a few. Who's your favorite?