1 Little Bit Of Good In Worst Version Of National Anthem Ever

For the first time in almost forever, a divided country reached virtually unanimous agreement over an issue of importance, with Americans of all types led to common ground by the singer Fergie and her unforgettable performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" at Sunday's NBA All-Star game.

As 19,000 people packed the Staples Center in Los Angeles and millions of other Americans perched in front of televisions around the country, Fergie walked to center court. A snare drum began to beat at death-march speed and Fergie began singing something that sounded like ... at first the national anthem but sung really, really slowly without concern for pitch until Fergie began to sound more like Betty Boop doing Marilyn Monroe doing "Happy Birthday Mr. President."

Fergie plodded along with along with no cohesive style that wasn't helped by her writhing while singing the anthem as if she wanted to marry it.

Players had difficulty controlling their expressions, perhaps so they wouldn't appear so freaked out, then soon looked like this.

Some people let their faces say it all.

Viewers watching at home weighed in on Twitter, likely expecting a fight. Fergie was so bad, though, nobody could bring themselves to disagree. Tweets even showed a strong consensus on this: Fergie had just dropped the worst version of the national anthem, ever.

She altered it to include her own flourishes, but the main problem was that it was so all over the place that it turned into an anthem far removed from its essence — one that it was barely recognizable.

Even dogs were confused.

#Fergie hits that HIGH note during #NationalAnthem pic.twitter.com/2NlAOT1vXE
— RrrrK (@soulballet) February" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/soulballet... 19, 2018

The anthem is too steeped in history to alter it by ripping out its core. Sometimes the best way to make a great song better is to perform it straight but with lots of heart. Take a lesson from the late Whitney Houston, whose version at the 1991 Super Bowl shortly after America went to war inspired the country and helped unite it. Many consider it one of the most stirring versions ever recorded.

Focus on what unites you, America.

Top Photo: LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Singer Fergie sings the national anthem prior to The 67th NBA All-Star Game: Team LeBron Vs. Team Stephen at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)