Reflecting on his emotions before singing the traditional anthem, Meat Loaf said, “It’s one of the warmup songs I do before I go on stage. Then I go out and sing stuff that doesn’t resemble it.” He added, “It’s a very dramatic song, and I’m going to sing it slow and dramatic.” Dressed in a rainbow brocade vest, a blinged-out shirt, and black pants, he mesmerized the audience with his powerful voice.

But his rendition lasted just 84 seconds — not even close to Marvin Gaye’s record of 2 minutes and 21 seconds at an NBA All-Star game.

”No falsetto screeching”

When he stepped onto the field, many likened him to John Kruk of the Philadelphia Phillies. However, Meat Loaf described himself as “an American League kind of guy,” adding that he was “more conservative than any individual you’ve ever met.”

There’s no doubt about it — baseball and rock ‘n’ roll fans were doubly blessed when Meat Loaf sang the anthem that day. “I believe in Santa Claus, Christmas, the Easter Bunny, and the designated hitter,” he humorously declared, reminding us all that joy and nostalgia often go hand in hand.

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