During Alicia Keys’ performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, something unexpected happened that caught everyone’s attention – the crack in her voice while singing “If I Ain’t Got You”. The moment drew notice on social media as viewers speculated about what could have caused the crack and how it may have affected the rest of her performance.
As the moment was captured by many on social media, Apple, the official sponsor of the show, was quick to take action. The halftime show was watched by millions of viewers and such a mishap could have a negative impact on both the artist and the brand. To the surprise of many, the original video of the performance was replaced with a smooth, edited version that removed the noticeable crack in Alicia’s voice.
alicia find the keys girl https://t.co/g9mGwMiZq5
— janito (@yassnito) February 12, 2024
Many people were quick to point out the change, including music professor Robert Komaniecki who was one of the first to spot the editing on the NFL’s YouTube channel. In his post on X, he expressed his disappointment at the removal of a humanizing moment in live performances. He believes that part of the appeal of live singing is the vulnerability and possibility of mistakes that make the performance more genuine and relatable.
Personally this kinda grinds my gears because part of what makes live singing commendable is that mistakes may happen, and you’re vulnerable. I wonder if she or her team was consulted for this edit, my guess is probably not based on the fast turnaround, but who knows
— Robert Komaniecki (@Komaniecki_R) February 12, 2024
On the other hand, some came to Alicia’s defense, like music producer and singer Jermaine Dupri who refocused the conversation to her incredible performance as a whole. He took to his Instagram to give his own positive review of the show, congratulating both Alicia and Usher for their amazing performance and stressing the importance of not giving in to negative vibes.
However, the most important takeaway from this seemingly insignificant incident is the power of editing and how easily it can change the narrative of an event. As pointed out by The Verge, the quick and subtle change made by Apple shows how easy it is to manipulate what goes down in history.
It raises questions about how much control we have over the content that we consume and the dangers of altering reality to fit a certain image or narrative.
Overall, the crack in Alicia’s voice may have been edited out, but it sparked a conversation about the impact of technology on our perception of events.
