So, Do You Actually Know the National Anthem?

Aguilera takes flak, but most Americans don't know lyrics

By Nick McMaster

Posted Feb 12, 2011 6:46 AM CST

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So, Do You Actually Know the National Anthem? — Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem before the NFL football Super Bowl XLV game between withe Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Krupa)

OK, so by this point pretty much every American knows that Christina Aguilera butchered the national anthem. But could you do any better? The Daily Beast set to find out by asking a random sampling of Americans (living in the "random, well-educated, professional city" of Portland) to sing the "Star Spangled Banner," on the spot, for a chance to win a $10 prize. Clark Merrefield found that Aguilera was in good company—only 11% of the 73 adults were able to recite the lyrics without mangling them. “Isn’t that sad,” one despondent contestant said after trying and failing. “I don’t know the national anthem.”

(More Christina Aguilera stories.)

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