The height of lame. You are the biggest star on earth, it is your job to be able to sing the song live on the biggest stage possible under whatever the condition.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/marine-band-confirms-beyonce-inauguration-performance-was-pre-recorded/

Beyoncé’s performance of the national anthem at President Obama’s second inauguration on Monday was everything it should be: soaring, moving, symbolic and musically superlative. It also wasn’t live.

The R&B diva only pretended to sing, lip-syncing the words to a backing track. What the listeners heard was a version she had recorded at a Marine Corps studio in Washington on Sunday night, a spokeswoman for the Marine Band said.

Whitney also lip-synced it. They say it has something to do with the acoustics or whatever, I don't know. I mean, Clarkson didn't lip-sync, neither did Aretha four years ago.

I must say, I'm impressed when you can flawlessly lip-sync your riffs and runs.

I was at the inauguration in person yesterday, and I wondered this about her and Kelly, hell, pretty much all of them, pretty much

for reason SFK lists above as possible reasons they do it. Doesn't everyone at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade do it, too?

Of course, being on floats, I can see why it happens there.

Side note: It's really bizarre to see a story about something you actually went to see live . Cool, but bizarre .

Macys Parade isn't even synched. But Beyonce managed to become the biggest singing star of all, and probably the biggest star of all since she is bigger than all the actors. You're Beyonce, you're the star, doing things big and amazing is your job. Faking it is the job for Milli Vanilli and Britney. If all you are going to do is lip synch there is no reason not to get Britney or Madonna..

Edited January 22, 201312 yr by quartermainefan

That's too bad because when I watched her I thought "flawless". Professionals lip synch all the time but I find this news to be particular disappointing especially remembering when she dramatically removed her ear piece mid way... for added effect.

Edited January 22, 201312 yr by Money

Yep... to be expected. That's why I'm not too impressed with much of today's talent. When it comes to something BIG, they need to pull off the national anthem LIVE. And acoustics DO play a part, but still... they can do it if they want to. Perfect example here... the first portion of this clip shows how the acoustics in a football stadium or an outdoor venue can be a bit dodgy, but still ok (1975 final playoff game)then on the last half, you can see where talent shines through, singing the damn song acapella after expecting to be singing live with a pre recorded tape. Beyone should be able to pull off THAT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud15TgnRjT8

I find this news to be particular disappointing especially remembering when she dramatically removed her ear piece mid way... for added effect.

Everybody fell out when she did that and now I think it was particularly brave if she was lip-syncing!

Everybody fell out when she did that and now I think it was particularly brave if she was lip-syncing!

There is nothing brave about lip synching. I am sorry, I have a zero tolerance policy for singers who don't actually sing.

So...lol

I've seen enough clips of Beyonce singing live for this to not even be an issue lol

Lip synching is fine with your own voice. From what I've read, it was a last minute decision and the notion that it was lip synched has been walked back. Maybe she didn't feel like she was up to hitting those notes, it was cold and since we know how people get skewered for messing up the national anthem, it's understandable that she might do that.

I think the White House let this leak because of her dramatic scene-stealing moment of ripping the ear-piece out (which was as to say, "I'm so good at this and I'm so into this that I don't need any help") which is just funny as heck if she really was just mouthing to playback. She took it a little too far there. it was the POTUS big day, Bey!

There is nothing brave about lip synching. I am sorry, I have a zero tolerance policy for singers who don't actually sing.

Not defending her, I mean, she was just trying to be dramatic with the earpiece like this:

Just surprised that she would boldly pull the audio track, her guide, out of her ear when she was lip-syncing.

Just surprised that she would boldly pull the audio track, her guide, out of her ear when she was lip-syncing.

If the speaker blasting your voice and you have it down in your head, why do you need the earpiece?

That said, the ear-piece moment is the moment of downfall. I really do think the WH didn't like that she spotlight hogged like that when she wasn't even being realz.

Because the speakers cause echo and reverb and can potentially throw you. The earpiece is like plugging your ear with your finger and hearing yourself talk in real time.

Ah, so this makes me wonder just how good she is at this art then IF it's proven accurate. There's no reason to believe it isn't accurate due to the original source, but still.