Soul Rebels’ Paris Anthem Performance Draws Mixed Reactions

The Soul Rebels performed an upbeat, jazz-style instrumental version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints played at Stade de France on October 25, drawing mixed reactions from viewers online. The eight-piece brass ensemble from New Orleans played after the teams took the field for the NFL game in Paris. Its arrangement differed from the more familiar versions of the anthem typically heard before sporting events. Some social-media users praised the performance, while others criticized it or said it sounded disrespectful. Those posts reflect individual reactions and do not establish the musicians’ intent or how representative the responses were. The performance added a New Orleans musical element to the pregame ceremony. The Soul Rebels had also released a song titled “Saints in Paris” in the days before the game. A report citing NOLA said the group was scheduled to perform on the sideline at the end of each quarter; the pregame accounts did not establish whether those later performances took place. The game was part of the NFL’s international schedule, with the league bringing the Steelers and Saints to Stade de France in...