But this is the Stanley Cup Final, folks. Even if you like Jimerson’s “he’s one of us” folksy nature, we can all agree there are more prominent options to showcase local artists. We don’t?
Fine. FINE.
Let’s say Pittsburgh hero Jeff Jimerson comes down with a nasty case of laryngitis this week and after much debate as to whether or not it’s worth even playing the National Anthem at all — or, hell, even the game — the city rallies around him and, with reluctance, seeks a different voice.
The series is tied 2-2, but the Penguins have a great opportunity to take an advantage into Game 5 with a kickass anthem. Here’s a list of Jimer-less options that would instill some real Pittsburgh pride on the rest of the country.
Christina Aguilera
Okay, sure, Aguilera hasn’t had a great history with the anthem and big sporting events lately, but she’s clearly the best singer to ever come from the area, and she could be game for some anthem redemption. Plus, The Voice is on NBC, and so is the Stanley Cup Final, so it’s a natural tie-in. Aren’t you tired of all the love Carrie Underwood is getting? She’s from Oklahoma. Aguilera is obviously the first choice.
Mandy Moore
No, Moore isn’t from Pittsburgh. She’s from New Hampshire and got her start in Orlando. But This is Us is super popular these days, and her connection to the Pittsburgh area has been cemented. Also, for what it’s worth, it’s an NBC show. If there’s ever an adopted daughter to get the crowd going, it could be Moore.
Wiz Khalifa
Okay, I did some Googling and I could not find any version of Wiz Khalifa doing the National Anthem. But this is an anthem … of sorts. Oh, it’s NSFW, by the way. We maybe should have put that above the video. Sorry about that.
Jackie Evancho
She’s obviously done the song in front of a crowd before, though the sellout for Game 5 might be the biggest audience she’s performed in front of this year. Zing!
Daya
Are we looking for Grammy-award winners to perform? What about one who has already performed Penguins games? Move over Jimerson. Daya’s available. (She’s available, right? Or is Jimerson just doing the games because everyone else already said no?)
William Fitzsimmons
Did you know, the guy who wrote and performed the sappy songs on Grey’s Anatomy is from Pittsburgh? There’s no video I could find of William Fitzsimmons singing the National Anthem, but I’d have to imagine playing live in front of millions of people on TV would be a McDream come true.
Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips
Fun Fact: I saw the Flaming Lips in 1994 or 1995 just outside Philly and they were terrible. No, Jeff Jimerson wasn’t singing for them, but Wayne Coyne was. And he’s from Pittsburgh!
Rusted Root
Remember Rusted Root? The super popular-at-one-time jam band that did such songs as the one embedded right above these words? Well, I couldn’t find anything on them singing the National Anthem either, but I did find this YouTube of a presumably drunk fan singing it after one of their concerts. Fireworks! America!
Shanice
Did the Rusted Root reference make you nostalgic for ’90s local music? How about we go back a few years? What’s Shanice doing? The answer is nothing.
George Benson
Did you know: George Benson is still alive. And he’s still playing that smooth, smooth jazz to, presumably, adoring fans. That’s reason enough to bring the Pittsburgh legend out for a run at the Anthem.
Anti-Flag
Okay, this last one is a bit out of left field, yes. But if we’re dipping into the nostalgic acts of Pittsburgh’s past, why not punk rock group Anti-Flag? They’re touring the country this summer on the Vans Warped Tour. Topical and different enough to get everyone to stop talking about Dierks Bentley for quite a while.