Andra Day Soars With Emotional Performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at Super Bowl (2024)

Andra Day has moved Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and millions of viewers around the world with a touching rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl LVIII.

Also known as the Black national anthem, Day delivered an emotional iteration of the timeless song in the midst of Black History Month. The hymn, originally penned by James Weldon Johnson with music by his brother John Rosamund Johnson, reflects on the ongoing struggle for racial equality and imagines a liberated future for Black Americans.

Dressed in a gray coat with matching pants and heels, Day took center field and imbued the powerful lyrics with her own personal flair, flanked by six backup singers. “Facing the rising sun of our new day begun/Let us march on ’til victory is won,” she sang, showing off her vocal range.

Her performance was met with a rapturous reception from the crowd.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the Super Bowl last year, with American Sign Language performer Justina Miles offering her interpretation alongside her. Alicia Keys and Mary Mary have previously performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” for the Super Bowl, though Ralph was the first Black woman to perform the ballad on the field before the game.

Day rounds out a trio of Super Bowl openers including Reba McEntire, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Post Malone, who performed “America the Beautiful.” Their performances kicked off the biggest football game of the year, in which the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the San Fransisco 49ers. Usher will perform the much-anticipated halftime show.

Day recently played a role in Titus Kaphar’s“ExhibitingForgiveness,” which was an official selection in the U.S. Dramatic Competition of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. She also won a Golden Globe in 2021 for her portrayal of Billie Holiday or “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.”

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Andra Day Soars With Emotional Performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at Super Bowl (2024)

FAQs

What impact did Lift Every Voice and Sing have? ›

Set against the religious invocation of God and the promise of freedom, the song was later adopted by NAACP and prominently used as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Who is singing Lift Every Voice and Sing at the Super Bowl 2024? ›

Andra Day has moved Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium and millions of viewers around the world with a touching rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl LVIII.

Did Andra Day do her own singing in the Billie Holiday movie? ›

So, does Andra really sing all of the Billie Holiday songs in the movie? Everything you see and hear in the movie is 100% Andra. All of her preparation — the smoking, drinking and screaming — gave her voice the "gravel and grit" that the blues singer was known for.

Why was Lift Every Voice and Sing destroyed? ›

The exaggerated heights of the singers can be emblematic of metaphorical heights that can be reached following liberation. The work of art was destroyed soon after it was open to the public due to the lack of financial support Savage received to bronze the sixteen-foot tall structure.

What is the main idea of the poem "Lift Every Voice and Sing"? ›

The lyrics of Lift Every Voice and Sing serves as a reminder for Black Americans that each generation has had to lift their voices, along with those within their community, to demand and protect their human rights.

Who is the black singer at the Super Bowl? ›

All about "Lift Every Voice and Sing," known as the Black national anthem, being sung by Andra Day at the 2024 Super Bowl. Singer Andra Day performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which is widely known as the Black national anthem, at the start of the 2024 Super Bowl.

Do singers actually sing at the Super Bowl? ›

Sometimes, they don't. Some singers need or prefer to rely on a backup vocal track when performing live to ensure an airtight performance. How can you tell if someone is lip syncing? Sometimes it's blatantly obvious, like when their lip sync is off and their mouth isn't moving in time with the lyrics.

Who sang the Black national anthem at the Super Bowl last night? ›

Watch Andra Day Perform the Black National Anthem.

Is Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl 2024? ›

After playing four consecutive nights on her Eras Tour in Tokyo, Swift has arrived in Las Vegas for the 2024 Super Bowl.

Did Taylor Swift make it to the Super Bowl? ›

Swift wasn't the only big name to grace the Super Bowl. Others in attendance included Beyoncé — who dropped two new singles during the game — Elon Musk, LeBron James, Lady Gaga, Khloé Kardashian, and many others.

What is Andra Day famous for? ›

Andra Day (née Cassandra Monique Batie) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame with her hit debut single, "Rise Up," from her 2015 Grammy-nominated album, Cheers to the Fall.

How much weight did Andra Day lose for Billie Holiday? ›

The Golden Globe winner admits that her weight loss wasn't always healthy and made her "very weak" over time. Andra Day's powerful performance as late singer Billie Holiday in The United States vs.

Who inherited Billie Holiday? ›

Billie Holiday

She was 44 years old. At the time, she had almost no money in her bank accounts, but she reportedly had about $750 strapped to her leg. Her estate, which included royalties, image, and publishing rights, ended up going to Louis McKay, her estranged third husband who had been abusive to her.

Why is it important to lift every voice? ›

For more than a century, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has held a powerful place in American history. The hymn is known as the Black National Anthem, but it's more than that. It's a history lesson, a rallying cry, a pledge of unity, and as people gather to fight for equality and justice, it is an ever-present refrain.

What is the thesis of Lift Every Voice and Sing? ›

Thesis: Through their use of literary devices, both James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar demonstrate the challenges of achieving liberty and democracy and offer insights into the struggle for these ideals.

What are some of the historical events that have been associated with Lift Every Voice and Sing? ›

12, 1900: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Was First Publicly Performed. As part of a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12, 1900, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was first publicly performed by 500 school children at the Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida.

Why is singing voice important? ›

Successful singing promotes self-esteem, general confidence and also self-efficacy. The voice is a key component of who we are; its use reflects our mood and general psychological wellbeing, which is communicated to ourselves as well as to others (see also educational benefits below).

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