Lady Gaga goes tastefully soulful on National Anthem

Can you imagine the number of football fans out there lying in wait for Lady Gaga to screw up the words to the National Anthem? There had to be millions. But the newly Oscar-nominated singer made it through on the lyrical front with no issues as far as I could tell.

And if she took a few too many chances with the melody to please more conservative viewers (the kind that don't like undue celebrations in the end zone, either), it was fairly tasteful and respectful, a few soulful flourishes sprinkled throughout her emotional take on the song and a flashier ending than some viewers may have wanted. But her voice sounded great. It's a powerful instrument and she used it to her full advantage while rocking a red sequined pantsuit and matching red eye shadow with star-spangled platforms and shiny blue fingernails.

Gaga's performance was preceded by the Armed Forces Chorus, made up of 50 U.S. Service men and women from the premier military bands in Washington DC representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. They sang "America the Beautiful" and took more chances with the melody than Gaga did, but it was cool, the sort of choral treatment Brian Wilson would enjoy.