Alicia Keys Plays Piano Version of National Anthem

Unlike recent Super Bowl national anthem performances from other musicians, Alicia Keys opted to play piano while singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Viewers on Twitter had mixed reviews for Keys, who just days before game day was appointed BlackBerry's global creative director.

Keys is the first artist to use a piano during a national anthem performance at a Super Bowl since Billy Joel in 2007.

I love Alicia Keys but dear me,come on. That had to be one of the longest anthems ever. It was no Whitney Houston #alltimefavourite

— Sara Orlesky (@saraorlesky) February 3, 2013

I clocked Alicia Keys at 156.4 seconds, breaking the SB mark of 152 seconds by Natalie Cole and choir in 1994.

— David Barron (@dfbarron) February 3, 2013

DID ALICIA KEYS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF HER PERFORMANCE TO TALK ON THE PHONE

— America's Car (@PTCruiserUSA) February 3, 2013

Sandy hook elementary chorus singing America the beautiful and Alicia keys national anthem makes me proud to be American

— Kate Upton (@KateUpton) February 3, 2013

Gotta say @aliciakeys and Jennifer Hudson both put on beautiful performances!

— Megan Nicole (@megannicole) February 3, 2013

How about that dark minor chord on the final "land of the free"? Pretty tasty. Nice one, Alicia Keys. #StarSpangledBanner

— jian ghomeshi (@jianghomeshi) February 3, 2013

Woke up dreaming about how this place will b filled later! I'm so excited! Better go back 2 sleep 4 a little bit! #SB47 twitter.com/aliciakeys/sta…

— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) February 3, 2013

Almost ready to sing at the @superbowl! Is this football appropriate? Heels are my version of cleets! ;-)#SB47 twitter.com/aliciakeys/sta…

— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) February 3, 2013

Kelly Clarkson sang the national anthem in 2012, a year after Christina Aguilera flubbed the song's lyrics at the previous Super Bowl (watch below). Other past performers include Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, Neil Diamond, Diana Ross, Jewel, Harry Connick Jr., Dixie Chicks and Cher.

Keys, a 14-time Grammy winner, will embark on a North American concert tour in March. Her fifth studio album, Girl on Fire, debuted atop the Billboard 200 albums chart in November.

Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images