Cringe inducing? The Fray rework the national anthem [video]

Nerves apparently got the better of Denver rock band the Fray during Monday night's performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the NCAA basketball championship in New Orleans. In an apparent attempt to explain his bungled notes, guitarist Joe King took to the band's official Twitter on Tuesday morning to admit defeat. "I'm going to ride home on the KU bus today," he said, referencing NCAA runner-ups Kansas. "My fingers froze last night. If anyone wants to join me I'll be at the loser bar tonight."

Critics haven't been kind to the Fray's reworking of the national anthem (video below). Entertainment Weekly gave it a thumbs up, but Yahoo called it "dreadful." The Houston Chronicle also used the D-word, and wrote that the Fray's attempt to turn it into a soft-and-cozy acoustic number was just "plain bad." 

The band initially seemed to be on the defensive. Monday night, guitarist Dave Walsh tweeted that the national anthem couldn't be all things to all people, and compared the differing opinions over the song to the way people choose sides over a peanut butter brand.

"Upon thinking about it, doing the National Anthem is a bit like choosing between Jif and Skippy," he wrote. "You just can't please everyone." 

The Fray walked on the basketball court Monday night looking ready for a march, with two guitars, a stand-alone drum and a tambourine. It didn't feel experimental so much as out of tune, as the guitars were pulling the song in conflicting directions. Vocalist Isaac Slade largely held the melody and did his best rocker-with-a-heart-of-gold growl. The rhythm was out of place, but that may have been more a factor of the guitars being botched. 

King shouldn't feel too bad, however, as he's not the only one to freeze under the spotlight of a national anthem performance. Last year at  Super Bowl XLV, Christina Aguilera lost her place in the lyrics, creating her own variations such as, "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last reaming." She later released a statement explaining that she'd gotten "lost" in the moment.

A magical singing voice? Dodgers want you for audition Saturday

It isn't just player talent that new Los Angeles Dodgers ownership will see in the coming days. Fans who think they deserve a shot at standing on Dodger Stadium grass can head to the ballpark Saturday for an audition. Yet there won't be any need for a glove, as the organization, now to be led by a group with Magic Johnson at the helm, is strictly looking for those who can stretch out their vocal cords. 

This weekend, the Dodgers will hold auditions to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a 2012 home game. A singer will be needed for a game as soon as April 3, when the Dodgers come home for a pre-Opening Day exhibition game against inter-league rivals the Angels. 

Auditions start promptly Saturday (March 31) at 9 a.m. and run through 6 p.m. Those hoping for a shot must be at the stadium before 11 a.m., and singers will perform on a first-come, first-serve basis. Bring a resume, a DVD of your performance and be prepared to sing a few bars a capella, begining with "rockets' red glare."

Photos: Great moments in Dodgers history 

No doubt this will be prime time for some spotting of former contestants on "American Idol" and "The Voice." Also, expect a crowd. The Dodgers warn that "based upon attendance, not all performers will have the chance to audition before 5 p.m., in which case, singers will be considered based upon their DVD submission." Auditions are open to all ages. 

On Tuesday night, it was revealed that a group including Magic Johnson will buy the Los Angeles Dodgers for about $2 billion. Times sports columnist T.J. Simers, however, writes that the news may not be so good for those who prefer their baseball music to be of the more traditional sort. Simers writes that Magic's agent Lon Rosen once worked for the Dodgers under Frank McCourt and was responsible for "scaling back" the organ work of Nancy Bea Hefley. 

Previous national anthem performers for the Dodgers have included Plácido Domingo, Slash, actress-singer Demi Lovato, a Dodgers Twitter contest winner and Javier Colon of "The Voice." 

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Magic Johnson is perfect fit for Dodgers

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-- Todd Martens

Photo: Dodger Stadium in 2011. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

M.I.A.'s halftime gesture said to be 'a case of adrenaline'

In early 1989 Madonna was the center of controversy over the religious imagery in the video for her "Like A Prayer." Twenty-two years later the song brought her Super Bowl halftime performance to an end with the all-together unifying message of "world peace," and it was her collaborator M.I.A. who was suddenly finding herself in the center of a media fracas.

The politically inclined pop star, whose real name is Maya Arulpragasam, flashed the middle finger when cameras briefly focused on her during Madonna's halftime show, inspiring apologetic statements from NBC and the NFL. "There was a failure in NBC's delay system," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy in the league's official statement. "The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans."

M.I.A.'s publicists at Interscope could not be reached for comment. However, a member of M.I.A.'s camp, speaking Sunday night from the Super Bowl host city of Indianapolis, said M.I.A. was struck with "a case of adrenaline."

"She wasn't thinking," said the source, who requested anonymity but was with the artist at Lucas Oil Stadium. "It wasn't any kind of statement. She was caught in the moment and she's incredibly sorry." 

Madonna's longtime publicist Liz Rosenberg could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for NBC said, “The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show. Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers.”

Lakers fans (and foes) take to Twitter to offer post-loss locker room music selections

The Los Angeles Lakers were bested by the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, ending both Phil Jackson’s coaching career and any plans for a championship parade in L.A.

As diehard fans lamented the team's second-round elimination in the playoffs, others decided to have a bit of fun and take to Twitter and throw out their picks for what tunes the team could potentially have played in the locker room, post-loss.

Twitter was riddled with a wide range of picks -- tracks from Rick Astley, Chris Brown, Drake and Notorious B.I.G. proved to be especially popular –- and although there are way too many to list, here are 10:

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-- Gerrick D. Kennedy
twitter.com/gerrickkennedy

Photo:  Kobe Bryant walks off the court after Game 4 on Sunday. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Linkin Park: The perfect soundtrack to interpretive ice dancing?

A week after lamenting the somewhat traditional music choices used in the pairs and men's figure skating competition, the Olympic oddity known as ice dancing modernized things a bit Monday night. The sport, which NBC seems to believe is more entertaining than ski jumping (it is not), has already brought Johnny Cash to the ice, courtesy of U.K. skaters Sinead and John Kerr.

On Monday night, the touchy-feely brother-sister duo went the hard rock ballad route, using Linkin Park's "Krwling" in a presentation that had John looking like a vampire ripped straight from the "Twilight" series. The version of the cut, a remix of the band's "Crawling," was light on the vocals for the first half of the skate, but Chester Bennington's pained yell soon filled the Pacific Coliseum, giving the local rockers their very own "Blades of Glory" moment. 

The Olympic skate is available for viewing on the NBC site, or you can watch a non-Olympic run-through of the performance below:

Olympic moment to look forward to: When Johnny Weir meets Lady Gaga

The most musical of Olympic events is figure skating, although often the soundtrack choices veer toward the traditional. It's not until the non-competitive exhibition event at the end of the games that we get a peek at the true musical tastes of the competitors. 

That's why Pop & Hiss thinks it's a shame that U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir wasn't consulted for the Team USA Soundtrack that's selling on iTunes. There's some Mariah Carey, Gloriana, Puddle of Mudd, Sugarland and 3 Doors Down, but from start to finish, the thing is absent a whole lotta fun, instead opting for mid-tempo songs with silly, wannabe-taken-seriously lyrics. Yes, we know, as NBC's mini soap operas keep trying to remind us, these Olympic sports are deadly serious events, and competitors are no mere mortals. They deserve only the most pompous of ballads. 

Thankfully, Weir brings some lighthearted risk-taking to the events, and should he skate in the Feb. 27 exhibition gala, there's a good chance he'll be on the ice to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." Sure, it's a chart-topping hit, but if you're wearing pink and feathers, your music better not be Sting. Additionally, these exhibition events are typically filled with the likes of Coldplay and U2, so let's credit Weir for being a little more flippant in his musical choices, although points also go to teammate Evan Lysacek for recently incorporating a dash of the White Stripes. 

Still, this writer's heart belongs solely to Jessica Dubé, the Canadian who survived a blade to the face, and skated earlier this week with partner Bryce Davison to "Requiem for a Dream." It was a well-chosen contemporary choice, and one that came from one of cinema's modern great composers, Clint Mansell. 

-- Todd Martens

Lakers get the full band treatment

Not every musician who performs at Staples Center rakes in big bucks from the appearance, but the perks can be nice.

Kimi Yoshino writes in today's Times about the official Los Angeles Lakers pep band, which has been making a cheery clamor in support of the home team since 1979. It's composed of former members of the USC marching band, an ensemble that has performed with the likes of Radiohead and OutKast at the arena. 

During Laker games, however, the USC band alums are ensconced up near the cheap seats, delivering brassy renditions of hits from the likes of Katy Perry and System of a Down. Yet you may have to squint -- or bring binoculars -- to see them. 

Yoshino writes: 

Until a few years ago, they relied on old-fashioned lung power to make themselves heard. Now, microphones pipe their sounds through loudspeakers, a necessary byproduct of moving from the 400,000-square-foot Forum to the 1-million-square-foot Staples Center, said John Black, the team's vice president of public relations.

It's so effective, their playing often gets mistaken for canned music. "I just assumed it was the sound system," said Lakers fan Bridget Hatziris, whose company owns season seats in Section 117, across the arena from the band. "I come pretty often, but I didn't know."

Mortgage broker Hector Zuniga, 33, of Brentwood, knows the band all too well. Every home game, he sits in the first row of Section 307, so close to the band members that he sometimes has to squeeze by them in the aisle when he goes on a food run.

"I'm a trumpet player, so I appreciate it," Zuniga said. "But it gets annoying after awhile."

The gig comes with an extra ticket, but don't think of it as a future career -- band members only get paid $10 per game.

-- Todd Martens

Photo credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times