Jesse McGuire, the "Star-Spangled Banner"...and How He Won the Panthers-49ers Playoff Game Before Kickoff

The word "viral" has become a household term in describing the Internet's most relevant and popular posts. Would one ever assume a trumpeter's rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" to go viral, though?

As unpredictable as the Internet may be, astoundingly, Jesse McGuire's performance of our national anthem has become a popular topic on social media.

Right now, the trumpeter's tribute has been shared roughly 22,000 times and has become the subject of intense debate on Twitter.

The national anthem is often reserved for singers--the piece's double-octave necessitates control and range, all very difficult to maintain vocally--but now that trend may be cause for deliberation.

Why? Because Mr. McGuire, clad in a Panthers' jersey, brought Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium to tears before the start of the Panthers-49ers game.

In fact, the performance has garnered so much attention that Twitter users felt compelled enough to share their own thoughts on what they had heard.

Jesse McGuire is no stranger to the anthem--or playing it on the field for that matter! McGuire is known for his signature performance of America's theme song, mainly for his ease and dexterity with his instrument.

Perhaps this enacts a new measure for "Star-Spangled" players. Maybe we will see more instruments take the field, instead of all those voices?

But one thing is for sure, and that is McGuire's rare ability to appeal to a wide array of ears (a different player yields a different performance, so there is something very special with this specific moment in time where conditions were aligned perfectly).

If you're a fan of Jesse McGuire you can purchase his music on his website. But in the meantime, relive the emblematic performance here.

This is just a taste...