A familiar refrain from Hiruy Tirfe’s ‘MNF’ national anthem: ‘Philly fans will always be honest with you’
Tirfe, who was born in West Philadelphia to immigrant parents and raised in Upper Darby, was inspired to pick up music by the Roots. He said he "did not look at any comments" following his rendition.
Hiruy Tirfe had one job before Eagles-Cowboys Monday Night Football game: perform the national anthem in front of thousands of fans at Lincoln Financial Field and millions more watching on television.
The Philadelphia-area saxophonist had one admission about his preparation.
“I didn’t practice,” Tirfe told The Inquirer. “I hate to admit that, but, you know, I didn’t.”
Tirfe’s jazz-influenced rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner quickly sparked national conversation. Some viewers criticized his unconventional interpretation, while others appreciated his creativity.
But Tirfe, who was born in West Philadelphia to immigrant parents and raised in Upper Darby, isn’t particularly concerned with the criticism.
“I did not look at any comments,” he said.
Tirfe had performed the anthem at other events, although Monday marked his first performance for an NFL team. He knew the song well and understood its significance, but wanted to leave his own musical signature while respecting the melody.
His goal was to communicate unity and energize Eagles fans before the rivalry game.
The Eagles gave Tirfe a two-minute window for his performance, which had to accommodate the team’s pregame presentation and the flight of Lincoln, its live bald eagle.
After a sound check, he spent roughly three hours at the stadium waiting for his moment.
His primary concern when he stepped onto the field wasn’t forgetting a note. It was remembering to look up. He said he tends to look down while playing and wanted to take in the experience.
“Eyes up. Eyes up,” Tirfe said he told himself.
From his perspective, the performance received an encouraging response inside the stadium. Tirfe said fans began applauding before he finished, then grew louder as he reached the final notes.
“Philly fans will always be honest with you,” he said.
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He described Philadelphians as authentic, particularly when it comes to music and sports, and said the reaction reassured him.
“I served my purpose,” Tirfe said.
Online, the response was more divided.
Tirfe learned about the attention through friends and fellow musicians who sent him news articles and social media posts. ESPN also shared the performance on its social media accounts.
But he hasn’t sought out the criticism.
“Not everybody, you can’t please everybody,” Tirfe said.
He also disagreed with the notion that his arrangement strayed too far from the anthem. While jazz musicians frequently embellish familiar melodies, Tirfe believes preserving the original composition’s recognizable structure is essential.
“I can strongly say that the core foundational sense of the melody was still there,” he said.
To him, the debate comes down to musical preference.
“Some people like extra seasoning, some people don’t like seasoning at all,” Tirfe said. “It’s all good.”
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For those unfamiliar with Tirfe, Monday offered an introduction to a musician whose career has been deeply rooted in Philadelphia.
Tirfe grew up surrounded by the city’s jazz and hip-hop communities. He later attended the University of the Arts and developed relationships with musicians who established national careers.
Among his peers were drummer Justin Faulkner, who has performed with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, and saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins.
But Tirfe credits The Roots with inspiring him to pursue music professionally.
“If it wasn’t for The Roots, I would not be in this game,” he said. “I would not be doing music as a career.”
He recalled attending the group’s free Fourth of July concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where he watched The Roots perform alongside Earth, Wind & Fire.
Years later, Tirfe would work alongside The Roots, Patti LaBelle, and other prominent musicians. Those collaborations taught him how to perform, navigate the music business, and become a bandleader.
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Monday’s performance also arrived at a significant moment in his career.
Just three days earlier, on Oct. 23, Tirfe released his second album, The Threshold, the follow-up to his 2024 debut, 10,000 Hours.
The timing, he insisted, was coincidental.
One track, “Ben Franklin — Remix,” landed on a Madden NFL soundtrack, a connection Tirfe believes may have helped bring him to the Eagles’ attention.
He hopes his performance encourages new listeners to discover his music.
And despite the criticism, he stands by the performance, which he believes reflected the musical identity he brings to his albums and live shows.
Years from now, he hopes viewers remember something beyond the unusual arrangement.
“Honesty and sincerity and just love through the instrument,” Tirfe said.
A crucial crossroads is here. The Eagles have reached the bye and, as timing would also have it, the NFL trade deadline, mired in their worst stretch of the Nick Sirianni era. There’s no doubt the franchise needs to course correct, but how? With who? Will players be on the move? Could coaches’ jobs be on the line? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner conduct an autopsy of the Eagles after their seventh straight loss — a 19-11 defeat to the New York Giants — and look at the big picture of an organization that has swiftly fallen far from its Super Bowl glory two years ago. Listen here.
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