DAVID BIANCULLI

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GREAT PERFORMANCES: “STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACULAR”
September 13, 2014  | By David Bianculli

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

 

Here’s a live musical performance that’s guaranteed to be off-key. Well, off-Key, anyway. It’s a celebration, live from Baltimore, of the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key’s composition of what became our national anthem. At some point in tonight’s show, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks (pictured), backed by the U.S. Marine Band and the Morgan State Choir, will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” – but before that, lots of other people will sing other songs in this televised concert. Included on the set list: Train and Melissa Etheridge singing “This Land is Your Land,” Kristin Chenoweth singing “Till There Was You,” and Smokey Robinson singing “The Tracks of My Tears.” I’m not sure what, if anything, that has to do with “the Star-Spangled banner,” but really, who cares? Check local listings.

 
 
 
 
 
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