By 3 News online staff
Beyonce may have lip-synced her rousing rendition of the United States national anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration yesterday.
- WATCH: Beyonce sings for Obama
Reports began surfacing after the ceremony that the US Marine Corps Band had not been playing during Beyonce’s performance.
She had also pulled out her earpiece partway through the song, causing many to wonder how she had still managed to pull off such a flawless performance.
Beyonce has received rave reviews for her performance, but a representative for her backing band, Kristin DuBois, claims she was just mouthing the words to a pre-recorded studio version of the track.
DuBois tells the New York Post, "All music is pre-recorded for the ceremony because there are so many eventualities and conditions that day. We performed, live, the band. But we received last-minute word that Beyonce was going to use the pre-recorded vocal track. Those were the instructions we were given."
It's still unclear why the Grammy winner chose not to sing live, like fellow performer Kelly Clarkson, but band director Colonel Michael J Colburn reveals Beyonce only had one day to prepare for the gig since she has been busy rehearsing for America's Super Bowl half-time show next month.
Colburn told news website Buzzfeed, "As soon as we get information from the Presidential Inaugural Committee (about) who the guest artists are going to be, we make contact with them, find out how we can prepare arrangements that will really kind of flatter their voices - of course in the right key.
"We had Kelly in over the weekend to rehearse and record. Beyonce, she's getting ready for the Super Bowl, so we didn't have a chance to do anything with her until last night."
The day before the ceremony, Beyonce posted photos to Instagram showing her recording ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ in a studio with members of the Marine Corps band.
Beyonce has been accused of lip-syncing before – at the 2009 Academy Awards with Hugh Jackman. The claims were never resolved.
Pre-recorded versions of inauguration performances have been used before, too. Cold weather and wind prompted cellist Yo Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman to mime their item during Obama’s first inauguration in 2009.
3 News / WENN.com
source: newshub archive
