Carla Bruni's 'dying cat' rendition gets audience's thumbs down

London, July 20 (ANI): French First Lady Carla Bruni's rendition of a Bob Dylan classic at Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday bash turned out to be a flop show, as music fans likened her voice to the sounds of a "dying cat".

The supermodel-turned-singer crooned 'Blowin' In The Wind' at Radio City in New York on Saturday, as part of a star-studded concert to mark Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday.

But it was 67-year-old soul legend Aretha Franklin - in a stunning black dress encrusted with crystals - and queen of disco Gloria Gaynor, 59, wearing a full-length pink gown, who brought the US crowd to its feet.

However, Carla's husky version of Dylan's protest anthem, with former Eurythmics songwriter Dave Stewart, 57, got a muted applause by everyone but her husband.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, 54, clapped enthusiastically at the end.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, Carla further left the audience amazed when she sang one of her own songs in French, and told the audience in English they could "dance and dream" to her performance.

"It was a ridiculous sight - hugely embarrassing," the Daily Express quoted a concert-goer as saying.

Even internet circles were buzzing with appalled reaction to Carla's singing. (ANI)