PINEDA. Big, brilliant finale ended up as a musical botch.

BEFORE ARNEL PINEDA OPENED his mouth to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Pacquiao-Clottey fight last week, things were looking great. After all, Arnel is the lead singer of the popular Journey band, and possesses some of the most magnificent pipes in the pop-rock world.

Indeed, Arnel’s confident and earnest rendering of the anthem initially galvanized the crowd, stirring them to heights of musical delight and fervor. Yes, he adjusted the traditionally martial tempo of the song, but the effect was moving rather than off-putting.

Then, just as Arnel’s perfomance was about to peak on a triumphant note, the “birit” singer upped the vocal ante a big notch higher, and let loose with a final “operatic” ending that was meant to conclude the anthem with a thrilling flourish.

Unfortunately, the overly ambitious singer misjudged his “attack” to hit the “impossibly” high note by just a smidge—but, it was enough to render it sour instead of spectacular, and his big, brilliant finale ended up as a musical botch.

Naturally, after the dastardly deed was done, the “birit” lovers pooh-poohed the tiny glitch. However, more judicious commentators observed that Arnel shouldn’t have gotten carried away, because his ungainly additional flourish distracted from the intended uplifting effect of the patriotic song, and called attention to himself.

That’s a big no-no in patriotic performances, where the focus should be on the anthem and all it stands for, not the singer.

To be sure, Arnel’s singing was still much better than the listless performance of the woman who dolefully intoned the national anthem of Ghana, Clottey’s country. And, it definitely wasn’t as silly as the performance of the three skimpily dressed cheerleaders who sexily “harmonized” on the American national anthem.

Despite that, however, Arnel’s rendition has gotten him in dutch with the National Historical Institute, which wants our national anthem to be performed simply and traditionally, no extra flourishes, please.

Updated version

Well, Arnel is in good company, because other name singers like Christian Bautista and Martin Nievera have also been rapped by the NHI for their “too individualistic” or updated versions of “Lupang Hinirang.”

To our mind, hoever, the big lesson other performers can learn from this latest musical flub is for them to steer clear of the “birit” route in singing, because it calls too much attention to the singer, not the song.

Trouble is, smug or insecure singers have a hard time learning that lesson, because they’re too wrapped up in themselves. So, unless they eat a really big mouthful of humble pie, they’re doomed to continue singing the “birit” blues.