Jamie Foxx Sings National Anthem, Adds Hallelujah – Why All The Criticism? #LeaveJamieAlone [Video]

With so many headlines criticizing Jamie Foxx singing the national anthem and folks on social media claiming that Foxx destroyed the song, this reporter clicked on the YouTube video below with trepidation, expecting to hear a cracking voice — or to see Jamie forgetting the lyrics to “The Star Spangled Banner” — but after watching the entire performance, this journalist doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.

A notoriously difficult song to sing, the national anthem as sung by Foxx, sounded just fine — and there was no major flub or faux pas or even voice cracking sounds that deserved the roasting that Jamie is receiving the morning after the big mega-fight, a victory for Mayweather that prompted the fighter to decide to give up his championship belts, as reported by the Inquisitr.

Since when is there a specific time & place to give God the highest praise? Yes @iamjamiefoxx said Hallelujah to please God not you. Jamie

— throwsomecheezeondem (@mitchem_m) May 3, 2015

In fact, Foxx’ decision to add the word “Hallelujah” a couple or a few times at the end of the national anthem was met with verbal agreement with this writer, and the multitude of videos on YouTube showing Jamie singing the national anthem, like this one of Foxx at the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight uploaded by irunsny 15 hours ago to YouTube, which has gained 71,909 views proves the performance’s popularity — and its description bespeaks of the spiritual aspect Foxx infused.

“Jamie Foxx takes them to church…”

Jake Gyllenhaal laughed during the national anthem, reports TMZ, about the Southpaw star who is being called a real boxer in his own right, and is winning praise for a punishing workout routine that includes thousands of sit ups per day.

Searches on YouTube for Foxx singing the national anthem turn up videos with more than 100,000 views combined.

The first time this reporter realized the Renaissance man was more than a comedian was during Foxx’s rendition of “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary,” the popular English nursing rhyme, as turned into a soulful and sweet song — but also sexual and NSFW song — as shown below.

Admittedly, while Foxx’s singing of the national anthem wasn’t necessarily as jazzy and beautiful as Marvin Gaye’s historic singing of the national anthem — although some panned that version, too, whilst others love it till this day — Jamie’s singing and unfair criticism makes this writer hope for the #LeaveJamieAlone hashtag to go viral as a result.

Marvin Gaye Sings Star Spangled Banner – 1983 All Star Game – Los Angeles, CA from Neil Gronowetter on Vimeo.

[Image via YouTube]