Stephen Colbert and Patrick Wilson sang the national anthem at Citi Field to open the Mets-Yankees game on Friday. Watching it, you figure something funny is going to happen at some point, Colbert being Colbert and all, and Wilson sporting a goofy little mustache. But their performance is straightforward and earnest, delivered in clear two-part harmony, with an emphasis on the original melody and no showy melismatic runs. Colbert holds his own impressively alongside a stage-trained professional like Wilson, though when he hits an extended low note for the “rockets’ red glare” line, you’d be forgiven for laughing a little. He’s the kind of entertainer who sometimes can’t help being funny, even when he’s being serious. Watch it below.
