A Demonstration of the Serial Position Effect: “With white stripes and . . . ummm . . .” Christina Aguilera infamously botched the middle of “The Star-Spangled Banner” when she performed at the 2011 Super Bowl. But without singing them, try to recite the words of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Most Americans correctly remember the words at the beginning and the end of “The Star-Spangled Banner” but—like Aguilera—have difficulty recalling the words and phrases in the middle. An embarrassed Aguilera later apologized, saying “I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place” (Chen, 2011). Even seasoned performers are not immune to the serial position effect!

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