Actor Damian Lewis' rendition of the English national anthem ahead of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix left many viewers, well, scratching their heads.
The British actor, best known for starring in TV dramas including Homeland and Band of Brothers, performed a very different edition of God Save The King than what we're used to. Accompanied by a saxophonist, some felt that 52-year-old Lewis' style had a touch of an Elvis influence to it.
Watch Damian Lewis singing the English national anthem at the British Grand Prix:
Lewis, who released his debut music album Mission Creep in June, opened proceedings at the grid ceremony in front of around 160,000 fans at Silverstone, with millions more watching on TV via Sky Sports F1 or Channel 4.
In the build-up to the performance, Lewis said: “Never in a million years did I think I’d be singing the national anthem or playing a gig with my band at the British Grand Prix. It’s so special, with a unique festival atmosphere and I’m honoured to have been asked.”
Here's how some on social media reacted:
Mission Creep, a personal collection of rootsy rock and jazz-tinged songs, was released by Decca Records on June 16. Lewis has since sold out shows in London at The Omeara, The Tabernacle and Hoxton Hall, as well as at the Wilderness, Cheltenham Jazz and Black Deer festivals.
He recently acknowledged how “dangerous” it was for him to be “tiptoeing into another area of the arts”.
“I suddenly had a lot to say. People will judge if [the album is] any good or not, but for me, it felt entirely natural,” he said.
Lewis’s performance on July 9 forms part of Silverstone’s commitment to enhance its music and the arts offering.
