Update: Inaugural official says Beyoncé ‘did not sing live’
Washington (CNN) - An inaugural official who asked not to be identified told CNN Wednesday that pop star Beyoncé lip-synced her performance on Inauguration Day.
"She did not sing live," the official told CNN. A pre-recording of the artist's rendition of the National Anthem was played instead. What was heard by spectators and viewers was the sound of that recording, according to the official.
The official said Beyoncé made the decision herself the night before Inauguration Day.
Beyoncé arrived so late Sunday night she did not have time to rehearse with the U.S. Marine Band, which was asked to accompany the pop star's performance, according to the inauguration official.
"Because she didn't have time to rehearse with the Marine Band, she decided to use her recording with the Marine Band," the official added. "It was all Beyoncé."
The official was somewhat puzzled by Beyoncé's decision, noting when she made the pre-recording, "she was spot on."
She recorded her part separately from the band and her rendition was married with the band's music, the official said.
The taped performance should take nothing away from her skills as a live artist, the official said. "She's actually a very good live singer," the official added.
CNN has still not received comment from Beyoncé.
If you have it on Memorex why was she there. Fake is fake, how do we know that she can really sing, maybe every song we think she is singing is really a fake sung by someone else. How do we know she isn't another Milli.?? Faking is like lying, once someone lies to you can you ever trust them again?
Some performers dream of singing at the White House or on Inaugaration Day. And some singers just limp-sync when the opportunity comes.
And the world didn't end on Monday January 21st because Beyonce taped her song.
Better yet, why is this news and why was this "official" so hateful? Rethug maybe? Even lying altar boy, who is back with her crazy math, wanted to be near Beyonce and I am glad that she didn't give him a chance and pretended he was a gnat (which he is).
And this over-paid, over-priviledged "star" got how much to do nothing more than move her lips!!!???
Stay classy, Beyonce
What is the big deal!!! This issue is total nonsense!!!
Why bother faking it. If it's prerecorded then just stand there while it plays. It's obvious she was trying to fake people out thinking she was singing. It's very different to sing live than have a performance pieced together in a recording studio? 50+ take and Autotune to get the performance called 'live'. That's what 'music' is now a days. It's more computers than talent. The Pro Tools box should get more credit than the singer.
Exactly, there's actually real issues deserving of our attention..this is truly a non issue. Must be a slow news day.
Pretend singing for a pretend president...
If CNN digs further they'll find the truth. I was with her the night before the performance. We were doin crack and her voice was real rough in the morning. She had to use a recording. She got a problem with the rock. It's gon come out soon, you heard it here first ladies and gents. My girl is amazing but she got problems. It's a bad drug ya know?
Who cares, everything is fake these days anyway. We live in a plastic, carbon copy, prefabricated society. We cling to it as we reject reality of the mirrored image projected and reflected back at us. Yeah, ah, what he just said? 🙁
WHO CARES!!!? One of the better renditions of our national anthem, whether taped or live! Agree, lets move on to something important!
SOOOO out of all the killings that are taking place in the U.S, do we really have time to worry about Beyonce' lip singing??????
What??!? Beyonce lip-synced?!! Before I heard about this, I was upset that President Obama has been in lock-step with so many Bush-Cheney policies such as the use of killer robot drones, keeping Guantanamo open, keeping the rollback of Habeas Corpus in place, and letting unconstitutional provisions of the PATRIOT act stand, but all those pale in comparison to this shocking outrage.
Stopmakingexcusesforafraudandliar!!
Lance Armstrong can ride a bike too, Barry Bonds can hit the stuffing out of a ball too but if they use things to enhance their performance they are cheaters. When a singer uses things to enhance their performance or even a substitute for a performance it's all good.
Just like the president..smoke and mirrors.
This news is very disappointing. Doesn't she need some kind of approval before pulling a stunt like this? Also, I wonder if she got paid. They could have just played the tape and payed the debt instead.
And yet somehow Kelly Clarkson managed to sing live with the Marine Band; and James Taylor both sang and played live...
Now that we know it was lip synced i think it would have been better to hear her sing it live it makes you wonder why she didn't?
The pre-recorded singer, the teleprompter president and the "eat healthy while I eat a 3,000+ calorie lunch" first lady. How appropriate.
Thumbs down Beyonce! You don't see Celine Dion or any great ones lip sync!
We all know she has a great voice. I'm not really a fan of hers but I have no problem with lip syncing in such cold weather.
Just Saying – I'm a musician and I care. Pretending to be a musician when you're just acting cheapens everything it means to be a musician – which speaks to the dedication required to perform and entertain in front of a real audience. It takes serious dedication and lots of personal grief to get there. I respect Karaoke more than lip-sync artists because at least the Karaoke folk are actually putting it on the line...
That explains her open, exposed throat and her snatching the earplug from her ear....the temp was low 40's and singers will tell you they must keep their throats warm if they're going to perform live when it's cold. So she knew she was gonna fake it. I guess everyone is mad 'cuz they expected more... I'm thinking all the hoopla is probably because there is still speculation that she faked her pregnancy and used a surrogate. LOL, if you think about it, the idea of "faking" things might be starting to dog Bey's footsteps....