(video)11 year old girl Harper Gruzins ridiculed by fans for her rendition of Star Spangled Banner

Jeffrey Crooks July 29, 2012 ALW NEWS, ENVIRONMENT, IN OTHER NEWS, VIDEO

It’s not easy to get up in front of a crowd of 22,000 people to do anything let alone sing the National Anthem. 11-year old Harper Gruzins did just that at a Dallas-Los Angeles MLS game.

Soccer Fans and the media have not been so easy on the girl after she sang the Anthem. Some fans going so far as to call it the worst National Anthem ever on sites like Deadspin, and Youtube. Those statements are a stretch considering some famous celebrities like Roseanne Barr, Steven Tyler, Christina Aguilerra, and several others have left fans with a bad taste in their mouth with their rendition.

Here is the Video of Harper Gruzins National anthem:

For more information on the 11 year old here is a link to her website.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Fred-E-Burrows/100001100418863 Fred E. Burrows

She was earnest and remembered the words . I don’t reckon to many of them could get out there and do that much. Leave the kid alone ya Bullies. You did fine Baby Girl , don’t let ignorant folk get to ya .
http://www.facebook.com/politicallyconservative Stephen Truesdale

I honestly think she did the best job she could and was not trying to ridicule the Anthem.She wasn’t that bad and she blew away Rosanne and Steven Tyler.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000185462002 Phillip Pessar

My ears are still bleeding.
Jess

This is awful and I blame the terrible parents for putting her up there. I also blame the agency that allowed her to go up there w/o giving her an audition first. She has her own website that states she is a professional, it sounds more like the parents are living through her and she lacks any real talent. FYI, there are a couple of 11 year old girls that have their own cds, sing opera, go in front of tens of thousands of people, and rock it. She should have never been allowed up there. Shame on her idiot parents
- mary
  
  Who cares about the quality of her singing… that is moot. She has the backbone of character that is missing from out youth today. While pursuing her dream other 11 year olds are selling drugs.
Moon Man

I will remember this as one of my favorites. Always easier to criticize
Tabitha in Texas

I’ve heard Harper sing live before and she’s actually quite good. I don’t believe she’s ever sung in an outdoor situation with all the noise, delay, and other issues that a professional struggles with in a sports arena. I’m sure the agency has heard her sing and that’s why she was selected to sing. I’ve never heard her go awry like this performance did.
Roberto

She makes Carl Lewis sound like Marvin Gaye.Her parents should lose custody for a day for allowing this ‘earsore’
Amysue

Grow up America. People criticizing this beautiful wholesome young girl are nothing more than social pygmy’s. She is a gorgeous beauty with a pretty bow in her hair, and dimples to match. And i’m sure she auditioned. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE, YOU CRUEL CRUEL PEOPLE????!!!! I can answer my own question. too much really really bad t.v. brainwashing everyone.
- Rich
  
  NOT!! Just sing the song and DON’T try yo jazz it up, make it plane and simple like it was written, the celebs that sing it with the screaming, screeching should have to buy everyone there a drink and a hot dog for having to stand there and listen to it.
  MAKE IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!!
Just sayin’

Was she trying to “channel” Whitney Houston or someone???
http://www.facebook.com/brandi.elegante Brandi Elegante

At least she tried! Half of the “professionals” who sing it can’t even get the words right!! Yes it wasn’t amazing! But good job girl for having the guts to get infront of that crowd and sing her heart out! Be respectful you mean people!!! that’s why kids these days are so mean! because they learn it from their parents!! Go girl keep working on it!! Dont give up!!!
http://www.facebook.com/religious.outlaw Religious Outlaw

Francis Scott Key would have been proud of Harper; and he would be deeply ashamed, embaressed, and dissapointed at the ugly hate filled bully that is America today. In his day you would have been hung or shot for speeking in such a manner about any child.
Mary Hoover

A $1 and a dream vs. an 11 year old with a dream…
My money is on the 11 year old.

There is no
explanation she needs to do and there is no excuse for the critics. No
wonder the children are afraid of being different from the norm. This
is what they have to look forward to. Its not how she sang of or she put
her hand over her heart, It is that she sang with all of her heart.
Character is the bottom line. She shined hers can you say the same?

How many of us wish we had this support of our parents… To pursue our dreams in the face of adversity. What changes would the worlds see then. We spend far too long picking of this girl instead of how to give other children the support she had. Im sure the juvenile dilinquent rate would be far less than it is if these kids knew how t persue a dream.

Some thoughts about this current state of affairs in the life of an 11 year old girl with a dream
.Mary Hoover

FIRST she was patriotic enough to put herself out there and sing our national anthem not once but twice. YOU do that.

SECOND she sang in front of thousands. YOU do that. Third she sang a second time knowing the criticism from the first time. YOU do that.

THIRD she has a dream and she took the advantage of an offer for her to try her dream out even though she may fail. She didn’t back away the second time after she was stung. YOU do that.

LASTLY She is the child on the brink of becoming an individual still with childhood dreams and she put her neck out and took RISKS twice. How many of us can say we did as much. NOW she has the experience of standing up to controversy and holding her head high. Can YOU do the same? she didn’t back away but went ahead knowing what critics were saying the first time.

HELL, id like her on any team of mine because she is proud of who she is, she took risks of criticism and twice and didn’t shy away from adversity. Who knows what this individual can do in life if she has been tested in the public eye and scruitinized by the time she was 11 and came out the other side still with her head held up high. She had the inner strength to see her through, the pride to believe in herself, the courage to risk ridicule to pursue a dream. She didn’t back down. Her spirit may be black and blue at the expense of the public, but she has a spirit and will that will take her far in life. If she can stand up for herself now… What will she stand for later in her life. She is one strong girl that is willing to follow her dreams. what a spark to follow that will lead to wonderful things in her future.

GIVE HER A BREAK because I doubt most of us will do what she did. I applaud her for her character and shame you for yours because is still holding her head high and still in the spotlight and we are all standing in her shadow.

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