Charlie Puth is set to perform the national anthem at Super Bowl LX today before Seahawks vs. Patriots.
Puth is nothing if not consistent, producing hit after hit over the past decade. He’s pieced together eight multi-platinum singles alongside four Grammy nominations. But I don’t care about all his other music. I care about how many seconds it’ll take him to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on Super Bowl Sunday.
Below, I break down what kind of Super Bowl national anthem we should expect from Puth and whether the over or under is the bet.
Super Bowl Anthem Over/Under Result
| Over 117.5 seconds | +128 |
|---|---|
| Under 117.5 seconds | -160 |
Odds via FanDuel
The UNDER hit for Charlie Puth's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Puth reportedly clocked in at 1:53 (113 seconds).
Last year, Jon Batiste went OVER the betting line of 120.5.
Super Bowl National Anthem History
At least four of the past seven National Anthem Overs have hit. Jon Batiste’s rendition last year came with some controversy, as it was graded both ways depending on the rules of specific books.
Batiste’s final line was set around 120.5 seconds. Puth’s line is set right around the same.
While that’s a relatively high line, nine of the past 13 National Anthems have cracked the two-minute mark, although it's been split between over and under 120 seconds over the past eight.
That brings us to one of the most critical factors to consider when capping the Anthem: the click track.
Anthem Click Track
Back in Super Bowl 47, Alicia Keys pieced together an absurd 156-second National Anthem. Back in Super Bowl 50, Lady Gaga droned on for 142 seconds.
Since then, I believe the powers that be have cracked down on anthem lengths. Anything approaching 150 seconds is considered too long.
Since Lady Gaga’s performance, I believe each National Anthem performer has used a click track in their renditions, which is essentially a metronome in the performer’s ear that helps them keep time — in turn, that takes away some of the creative freedom from the singer.
As such, seven of the past nine National Anthem performances have landed between 109 and 124 seconds, typically in the 65-to-70 beats per minute range. Meanwhile, Gaga performed at an insane 57 beats per minute.
Essentially, every performance is starting to regress toward a specific, predetermined average.
Although the musician isn’t as involved in the length of the anthem as they used to be, we should still talk a bit about Puth.
Charlie Puth Anthem Preview: What To Expect
There’s only one example of Puth performing the National Anthem on the internet, this self-made video from 2021:
There is very little we can take from this, given he’s not actually singing.
However, we can assume that Puth will support himself on the piano during the rendition. Many musicians have a supporting band, choir, or orchestra behind them, but some support themselves with their own instrument, such as Chris Stapleton with his guitar before Super Bowl 57, or Batiste with his Piano last year.
I actually think Puth’s rendition will be similar to Batiste’s. Puth's mentioned recently how he wants to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" with more of a jazzy feel, which is right down Batiste’s alley.
Throw in that both will be playing the piano, and you can see the potential resemblance.
But my main questions about Puth’s musical abilities center on his vocals. He’s obviously a fantastic singer, which he showcased immediately upon his breakout into the music scene with his hit tune, “Marvin Gaye.”
But Puth is a natural tenor who often sings in falsetto, described as “a method of voice production used by male singers to sing notes higher than their normal range.” This results in breathier, airier, more hollow, flute-like vocals.
Which brings us to the next part of our handicap: voice types and vocal registers.
Voice Types and Vocal Registers
Puth recently said that the only other New Jersey-born singer to sing the Super Bowl Anthem was Whitney Houston back in Super Bowl 25, which she performed at 117 seconds.
One would think he’d like to emulate Houston’s performance.
But herein lies the issue.
Houston was literally nicknamed “The Voice.” She had world-class, all-time breath support and range.
It’s worth noting that "The Star-Spangled Banner" was originally written in a 3/4 time signature at 106 beats per minute, with a duration of about 80 seconds. It’s a relatively up-tempo tune at its core, and it takes some real breath support to draw it closer to the two-minute range.
However, most artists have since transitioned to performing the national anthem in 4/4 time, giving them more beats (and thus more freedom) to emphasize or deemphasize. Alongside the slower tempo, the change in signature has also lengthened the traditional performance of the anthem — the only two singers over the past two decades to perform it in 3/4 time were Carrie Underwood (2010, 107 seconds) and Kelly Clarkson (2012, 94 seconds).
After much deliberation and some time with Google’s metronome feature, I believe that Houston performed the Anthem in 4/4 time at around 75-to-80 beats per minute. The tempo feels similar to Jordin Sparks's performance before Super Bowl 42, which I know was performed in 4/4 time at 82 beats per minute.
That performance clocked in at 114 seconds. Sparks is known for her strong, controlled breath support.
What am I getting at?
Houston and Sparks are typically described as sopranos (I believe Houston is a spinto soprano, while Sparks is a mezzo-soprano), while Puth is a tenor who typically utilizes the falsetto vocal register.
Here are a few of the key differences between the two, as described by SingingLessons.co:
“Falsetto is a vocal register that occurs when a singer produces high-pitched notes by allowing only the edges of their vocal cords to vibrate while the main body of the cords remains relatively relaxed. This results in a light and airy quality to the sound. It’s typically used for very high-pitched notes in the male voice range, but can also be used by females … Falsetto often has a breathy and ethereal quality. It lacks the richness and power of a full voice, making it suitable for delicate, high-pitched passages but not for sustained, powerful singing … Falsetto typically covers a limited range, mainly focusing on the uppermost notes of a singer’s range. It’s used for specific high notes or embellishments within a song.”
“Soprano is a voice type within classical and operatic singing. It refers to the highest vocal range for female singers. Sopranos sing in their full vocal register, which means their entire vocal cords vibrate to produce sound. This produces a fuller and more powerful sound compared to falsetto … Soprano vocals have a bright, clear, and powerful sound. Sopranos are known for their ability to sing high notes with precision and resonance, making them well-suited for a wide range of musical genres, including opera, classical, and some contemporary styles … Soprano singers have a broader vocal range that encompasses the higher notes of the musical scale. Sopranos can sing both high and lower notes within their range, allowing for versatility in their performances.”
Houston and Sparks sustained their renditions for over 110 seconds despite singing at a relatively quick, near-80 beats-per-minute tempo, thanks to their extraordinary breath support and soprano-like voice types, which enable versatile performances filled with powerful, sustained singing.
It’s worth mentioning that Sopranos can also utilize the falsetto register, but they don’t have to.
Puth uses the falsetto register to sing above his natural range — a good example being all of his uber-high-pitched vocals in the hit song “See You Again."
To be clear, Puth could sing in his normal range as a tenor and belt out the anthem, but his past vocal performances indicate he prefers to sing in falsetto to give that airy feel.
Given this stylistic preference, I don’t believe Puth will draw out notes or emphasize/deemphasize the way Houston did, even when performing the Anthem in 4/4 time. While he likely won't sing the entire Anthem in falsetto, he likely will for the bigger, more expressive notes that might be out of his range, which likely won't allow him to draw them out as past sopranos have.
There’s also the chance that he simply can’t reach the natural vocal range that Houston can, or doesn’t have the same level of breath support, which is why he prefers to sing in falsetto.
How to Bet Charlie Puth's Anthem Prop
While I believe most national anthem performers will use a click track to stay in the 65-to-70 beats per minute range, Puth’s potential desire to emulate Houston might put him closer to the 70-to-75 beats per minute range.
Additionally, I suspect that, compared to Houston, Puth either A) doesn’t have the same level of breath support, B) can’t reach the same vocal range, or C) prefers to sing in a falsetto style.
That all leads us to the same conclusion: I don’t think Puth will wail as Houston did. His vocal performance will likely be more limited and thus shorter.
That's especially true for the big, soaring notes that are typically drawn out longer. Throw in that he'll likely perform at a quicker tempo than the past few National Anthem singers, and we're looking at a shorter rendition.
If Puth does approach the 75 beats per minute range, I think he’ll fall well short of the 117-second mark Houston reached. But, if Puth opts for a slightly slower tempo, I’m still uncertain he’ll reach the two-minute mark based on his stylistic preference or vocal inabilities.
I placed a rather large wager on under 123 seconds before a monstrous amount of action hit that side, moving the line down to 117.5 seconds at FanDuel Ontario (-142 odds to the under). As you might expect, I feel most comfortable with anything under two minutes, but I still lean toward under 117.5 seconds (even with the juice), given I think he'll ultimately trend toward over 70 beats per minute.
This, of course, being under the assumption that your book is grading the prop based on the first word spoken to the last — or, from the start of "O say can you see" to the final note of "Brave." Always check your book's rules before placing a wager like this. For what it's worth, FanDuel Ontario has the full details listed as follows:
"Settled from when Puth begins audibly singing to when he finishes the word “brave” for the last time regardless of note length. Excludes music/background vocals."
Pick: Under 117.5 Seconds (-142, FanDuel)
Author's Note: I’m no musician, but I have recently begun taking guitar lessons with an old guy named Pat from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia — he’s a wicked guitarist who used to open for Gordon Lightfoot (can I get any more Canadian?).
Additionally, my wife, Kathryn, has a decade's worth of musical theory classes under her belt. This analysis has been considered at length in collaboration with Pat and Kathryn, just so you know I'm not pulling it out of thin air.
