Did or didn't she? Beyonce questioned on lip-synced anthem
WASHINGTON (AP) - There's no question Beyonce's rendition of the national anthem was a roaring success. The mystery: was it live or lip synced?
On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Band told news outlets that Beyonce had lip synced at President Barack Obama's inauguration. Master Sgt. Kristin duBois said the band was notified at the last minute that Beyonce would use a pre-recorded voice track.
But by late afternoon, the Marine Corps backed off that statement.
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Gregory Wolf said that because there was no opportunity for Beyonce to rehearse with the Marine Band, it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill advised. Instead they used a pre-recorded track for the band's portion of the song.
"Regarding Ms. Knowles-Carter's vocal performance," Wolf's statement continued, "no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded."
A representative for Beyonce did not respond to requests for comment.
DuBois declined to answer further questions. Earlier in the day, she told The New York Times that the rest of the inaugural performance was live and they did not know why a recorded track was used for the national anthem.
"It's not because Beyonce can't sing. We all know Beyonce can sing. We all know the Marine Band can play," she said.
Kelly Clarkson's representative said she sang live to perform "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."
Inaugural organizers did not respond to requests for comment.
All inaugural music is pre-recorded in case weather conditions or other circumstances could interrupt the program.
The use of a recording is typical in big events. In 2009, cellist Yo-Yo Ma was questioned about "hand-syncing" for Obama's first inauguration. Ma said instruments weren't functioning properly in 19-degree weather.
Even in good conditions, producing good sound can be a challenge in a large open space.
Some artists choose to lip-sync. Whitney Houston's memorable performance of the national anthem in 1991 at the Super Bowl was sung to a track.
NONE OF THESE SINGERS CAN SING WORTH A CRAP THEY NEED COMPUTERS AND SUCH TO MAKE EM SOUND GOOD.
pre-recorded? ok why did she need to appear in person? this administration and it's hangerson need to real and honest with Americans.  great voice - sure.
I'm not concerned about lip synching. If the conditions don't permit the artist to perform at their best then use a prerecorded track. First, I would imagine that it's very hard to warm up in conditions that cold. Second, the anthem should always sound as good. If the conditions or venue are going to have a dramatic impact on the sound quality of the anthem then use a studio version. No story here...move along KOMO.
 @MikeCoomer Clarkson and Taylor seemed to do just fine.
Recordings sound so much better ........... I don't know what the fuss is about. She has qualified already as a great singer. Oh ............ and what a babe.
Did anyone else hear how badly Kelly Clarkson sounded before her? And not just her caterwauling, but just her voice being totally overpowered and drowned out by the band. Perhaps it was just the broadcast I was listening to, but lip-synching or not, Beyonce's performance sounded WAY better, so I can't really fault her.
Awhile back, I considered Beyonce just another pop singer. However, I happen to YouTube: "Beyonce sings Halo in Hospital". After listening to her live performance, I realized that she is an extremely talented live singer. If Beyonce did lip-sync, I have no idea why? I know Yoyo Ma lip-synced his cello performance during the pres' first inauguration. We all know Yoyo Ma is very talented (for those who are biased against pop singers). Maybe the environment wasn't adequate for such talent to truly blossom. I mean, this is their careers. Most people don't understand the dynamics when it comes to singing and playing acoustic instruments in varying environments.
Sounded like a cat fight. No respect for the song.
 @contraryjim Which one Kelly Clarkson's or Beyonce's rendition?
Oh wait Both...  never mind
Why is everyone in the pic unhappy?
 @bobalouie Sounded like a cat fight. No respect for the song.
 @bobalouie Next up Joe Biden in a new episode of Cringe.
So KOMO, what happened? Backtracking? Your headline earlier said she HAD lip-sync'd...catching some flack, eh?
 @takncarabizniz Notice that KOMO also reported as indisputable fact â and trumpeted in the headline â about the developmentally delayed girl supposedly being dumped in the middle of nowhere by a cruel and uncaring bus driver who happened to randomly swing through her neighborhood.Â
Does it surprise anyone?  Everything else about this Administration has been a  fraud
Pretty bad to do it with the whole country watching. Could have picked a better venue.
By the way. Kelley Clarkson was awesome.
 @Klondiko After a few shots of whiskey and a few joints yes she was -hic- amaz -hic- ing
She didn't lip synch, there is video without the house music...she sang the whole song...she just sang with a backing track.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2tCNth-N9Z0
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http://gawker.com/5978067/beyonce-lip+synched-coping-with-the-7-stages-of-star+spangled-grief?utm_source=jalopnik.com&utm_medium=recirculation&utm_campaign=recirculation
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 @Ihateupeople http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/afterhours/inauguration-2013/did-beyonce-lip-sync-the-star-spangled-banner.php
If your going to fake it ... do not get caught... for you people who go crazy to attend live concerts just remember you could have paid good money to listen to a overgrown jukebox ....
Well that still shows some talent... for today's music industry and artists anyway!
Beyoncé is pretending to be a singer.. just Obummer is pretending to be a president.
This isn't news. Its done all the time. Heck, half the stars can't sing at all except in a studio with a good mixing board.Â
Beyonce has a great voice and can sing very well live. There was really no reason for her to pretend. I'd rather hear her true voice with maybe a few mistakes in pitch than get a theatrical performance, otherwise, why not just play the recording without her.Â
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Just another fraud.
Good singer; bad choice to agree to that arrangement.
I don't care if she lip syncs, yodels, or whistles, just watching Beyonce is enough for me.
Lip synching is common, I'll give her that. But it bothers me because of how theatrical she was in pretending that she was really singing. All those dips and twerks were quite unnecessary given this information.
I know I'll get flamed, but I just cannot stand when everyone customizes our national anthem to showcase their 'talents.' Â In this case, she is truly is talented, but lots and lots of wannabes butcher this song, thinking they are too. Â It's a beautiful song, why mess with it? Â I doubt other countries have people warbling their anthems like that.
Ducking now!
 @Doxie --- Say what?!? Talented? Um...no.
 @Doxie showcase their 'talents.'  What talent? Did I miss something, maybe I blinked?
A rather a painful few minutes, fortunately there is a mute button..
 @DoctorPC It's not my style, but she's got some pipes.
 @Doxie I personally think that butchering the National Anthem should be illegal so no flaming here!
 @Doxie I'll flame you by saying DAMN RIGHT!!!
@Doxie  I'm with you - I've got the fire extinguisher! Â
@Doxie I wont flame you, I totally agree with you.
...but really, who cares?
Pathetic.
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More pathetic is the apologetic, defensive tone of the article. Â
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Then again. a pretend anthem for a pretend president?
@newspuppy Dont be butthurt because the president you voted for did not win. Lip syncing is not uncommon; Whitney Houston did it at George HW Bush's inauguration in 1991
In this case, it is understandable. At least we know she really does know how to sing and does it well.
Anyone can sing when you dub, edit and record many times over...it's embarrassing that she didn't know the words well enough to perform it live. So really, it's not "understandable"...it's our National Anthem and everyone should know it !!!
 @takncarabizniz Is there any evidence that she didn't know the lyrics? Certainly, the article doesn't say so. Or is this just more theorizing about "evidence" that Obama is "not a real American"?
 @C T  @takncarabizniz Gawd, give it a rest, we've done this over and over sooooo many times. it's old news and in the end does it even matter anymore?
@C TÂ Â It's because the EARLIER article indeed indicated she had...this article has been changed since my comment.
Kelly sang for real why couldn't she? What your evdence she knew them? And you come off with 2nd part about Obummer I really don't think he was in it . Please get back on your meds.
LOL
That would explain the look of panic on her face when her earpiece decided to go on the fritz...
It's tough to sing steadily and clearly when you're freezing cold. Go ahead and try inhaling a deep breath of cold air and then singing properly. So I have no problem with that. I just don't like it when people go all warbly with the Star Spangled Banner. I know it's a stylistic choice, but I think it cheapens the song. It's strong enough to stand on its own.
@spacegoddess   I wish singers would drop all the trills and warbling too.  Sing the song, put emotion into it!  But if you can't sing it live, just smile while they play the recording.Â
Meh, perhaps she had a cold or respiratory issues and there was nothing to be done...it's not like they could reschedule the Inauguration. Unlike many popular musicians, Beyonce is a legitimately talented vocalist so I know this wasn't some sort of cover up and consequently, this probably isn't going to change anyone's prior opinions about her.Â
 @windtreeman Beyonce is a legitimately talented vocalist What ?, Not on this planet
 @DoctorPC Look, I don't like even a single song she's ever sang; not one piece of music she's attached her name to her in her entire career but that doesn't mean I'm going to blatantly ignore the fact that she's a legitimately gifted singer.Â