College Football Fans React to Paige Blake’s Electric Guitar National Anthem at Wembley
A national anthem unlike anything college football fans expected took center stage at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, September 19, as Kansas and Arizona State met in London for the inaugural Union Jack Classic.
Before the Big 12 matchup began, guitarist Paige Blake performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” entirely on electric guitar — without singing a single word. The unconventional arrangement quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the pregame ceremony, drawing both praise and criticism from viewers.
A Different Take on the National Anthem
The Union Jack Classic marked a major moment for college football, bringing Kansas and Arizona State to London for the first-ever matchup between the two programs at Wembley Stadium. The game gave both teams an opportunity to compete outside the United States while introducing the traditions of college football to an international audience.
For the national anthem, organizers turned to Blake, a Los Angeles-based blues and rock guitarist. Her performance had been announced on August 21, setting the stage for an unusual interpretation of one of America’s best-known patriotic songs.
Rather than singing the anthem, Blake carried the entire melody through her electric guitar, giving the familiar pregame tradition a distinctly rock-inspired sound. Her own website describes her as a blues and rock guitarist and designer, with musical influences including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nancy Wilson and Jimi Hendrix.
Inside Wembley, the thousands of fans in attendance joined in by singing along. At times, the crowd’s voices became louder than the guitar, turning the instrumental performance into a collective rendition of the anthem.
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
Fans Had Mixed Reactions
The response was more divided among viewers watching from home.
Some fans questioned whether an instrumental electric-guitar version was an appropriate way to perform the national anthem, while others appreciated Blake’s decision to give the song a more unconventional musical treatment.
The performance also prompted comparisons with Jimi Hendrix, whose legendary electric-guitar interpretation of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock remains one of the most famous versions of the anthem. Blake has cited Hendrix as one of her musical inspirations, adding another connection between the two performances.
Social media reactions reflected that divide, with some viewers criticizing the departure from the traditional format and others praising Blake’s musicianship and creative approach.
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
A Memorable Opening to the Union Jack Classic
The unusual anthem performance came before a historic game at Wembley, where Arizona State ultimately defeated Kansas 24-17. The inaugural Union Jack Classic drew more than 46,000 spectators and brought the atmosphere and traditions of American college football to London.
Whatever viewers thought of Blake’s interpretation, her performance ensured that the national anthem became part of the conversation surrounding college football’s first major outing at Wembley.
For some, it was a fresh and expressive take on a familiar tradition. For others, it was a little too far removed from the version they expected.
Either way, the electric guitar rendition gave the opening ceremony a sound that fans were unlikely to forget.
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram