Tiny but Mighty

September 24, 2018 1:23 PM

Seven year old Malea Emma gives a rousing performance of the US National Anthem at an MLS game (article).
posted by roaring beast (16 comments total)

Was not expecting that growl.
posted by cichlid ceilidh at 1:57 PM on September 24, 2018 [5 favorites]

best part was that little "thank you" and wave at the end.
posted by martin q blank at 1:59 PM on September 24, 2018 [11 favorites]

Holy crap!
posted by carter at 2:14 PM on September 24, 2018

Gave it the 'Retha treatment...
posted by jim in austin at 2:33 PM on September 24, 2018

Awwww.
posted by mondo dentro at 3:15 PM on September 24, 2018

Nailed it. Great job, kid!

It must be difficult to sing with the reverberations coming back at you like that. Either way, a great job.
posted by 4ster at 3:45 PM on September 24, 2018

Serious question: there is a quite few of these little powerhouses on the net yet over the years i can't recall one that achieved Whitney status though they could belt like no tomorrow. What makes the difference in terms of voice to achieve the promise shown.
Also: great job! And making Slatan smile about something unrelated to him....priceless!
posted by Malingering Hector at 4:03 PM on September 24, 2018

This kid is a pro already. Regardless, make Donald Trump watch that.
posted by beagle at 5:31 PM on September 24, 2018

Check this out: Malea doing Aretha. And, Tomorrow from Annie.
posted by beagle at 5:40 PM on September 24, 2018

This kid is a pro already.

That is a lot of oomph for forty pounds of person.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:42 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]

Well articulated vowels!
posted by greenhornet at 7:51 PM on September 24, 2018

So I really love this song. I also like Battle Hymn of the Republic a lot, too. I sang both in middle school, performed the Anthem at Padres game (in a choir, not as a soloist), and I seek out good renditions of each whenever possible. I don't consciously do it. I just find myself listening to Whitney's version and am like damn, I love the anthem. I love the flag, I love the weird rules that go with handling the flag (like not letting it touch the ground, folding it correctly, etc). All this stuff makes me emotional in ways I never thought I'd have as a jaded, weary adult. I have been leery of calling myself patriotic since 9/11 for many reasons, but I feel it when these kinds of performances happen (especially at ball games, jfc). I feel it whenever I see anything Trump hates triumph. Malea being the one to sing at this particular game is phenomenal.
posted by Hermione Granger at 8:58 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]

Very talented and absolutely adorable.
posted by zardoz at 9:22 PM on September 24, 2018

Serious question: there is a quite few of these little powerhouses on the net yet over the years i can't recall one that achieved Whitney status though they could belt like no tomorrow. What makes the difference in terms of voice to achieve the promise shown.

It is important to a future singing career to not blow out your vocal chords at the age of seven. I hope she's getting good technical training.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 9:45 AM on September 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Every morning at eight, the Coast Guard over at Trumbo Point and the Navy at Truman Annex broadcast the Marine Band (very quick and tight) version of the National Anthem and I am joyfully in the perfect spot to hear them simultaneously even though they are a mile and a bit apart. Vagaries of wind and weather sometimes obscure one or the other, but never both.

It kind of gives me hope on a daily basis that we will make it through, no matter what comes up today. Just get up and get going, there's something bigger out there to work for.

She's definitely got that spark.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 6:20 PM on September 25, 2018

It's like watching a toddler wrestle a wolverine to the ground. Damn.
posted by gottabefunky at 11:42 PM on September 25, 2018 [2 favorites]