UPDATE: Brietbart has the video of the event…

DENVER – Mayor John Hickenlooper was “apparently surprised” when the National Anthem wasn’t sung at the beginning of the State of the City address (read the full thing here). Instead “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” was sung by singer Rene Marie.

At the start of the event Tuesday morning, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem.

Instead, she performed the song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which is also known as the “black national anthem.”

When she finished, the audience responded with mild applause. The national anthem was never performed.

Apparently no one knew that she was going to do this except for her closest friends and husband. Unfortunately for her none of her closest friends and husband have half-a-lick of sense between them.

Marie told 9NEWS she kept her plans to switch songs quiet until the very last moment. She says only she, her husband and a friend knew she was going to sing something other than the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

She says she wanted to express her love of her country by mixing the lyrics of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” with the melody of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

“When I decided to sing my version, what was going on in my head was: ‘I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman, as a black person,’” said Marie.

Hmmm… I wonder where she is in the Obama supporter list. I’m sure she’ll show up somewhere in the next few days. When asked if she regrets the song change she said:

Marie says if she had the benefit of doing it over, she would sing the same song. When asked if she would apologize for what happened she said, “No I do not.”

The song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” is known as the “Black National Anthem”. Which means that the “National Anthem” is then the “White National Anthem”? These protests really get on my nerves. Who thye hell does this lady think she is? I would have booed the shit out of her and loudly at that. A video of the song is below. Notice all of the black fists in the air and who introduces the singer…