Beyonce gets hate for lip synching anthem at Inaugural ball.

[BreakTheIce]

The jig is up. It took less than 24 hours for news to break that Beyoncé's striking live performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the inaugural ceremonies for President Barack Obama on Monday might have merely a lip-synced run-through of a track she recorded earlier.

The news is a shocker, considering the R&B queen is no stranger to big stages and annihilating them in real time. It's important to note that she did sing the National Anthem at the 2004 Superbowl live (at least, we think she did).

Nevertheless, the response to today's news has been swift and harsh. Fans that lauded her performance, right down to when she yanked the earpiece out of her left lobe, feel like they've been lied to. Like yesterday, Beyonce is currently a trending Twitter topic, but this time for all the wrong reasons.

"So, sincere question here, the pulling out of the earpiece was because the recorded version might throw off her lip-sync?" one Twitter user asked.

But the bigger idea and question to ask here is if whether Beyoncé lip-syncing is really such a big deal.

On one hand, no, it's not. This isn't a Milli Vanilli situation here and should not be treated as such. If Beyoncé did lip-sync, she was not mouthing over another woman's voice. It was her... just maybe not her at that moment. She recorded herself singing the best version of what, presumably, she didn't think she could do come show time. Was it the cold weather? Was it nerves? Only Queen B knows for sure.

Should she have wrecked an amazing ceremony because of an off key showing, for the selfish fact that singing live would earn her more respect than the possibility of people finding out that it was pre-recorded? Years from now, when critics and pundits look back at the best National Anthem efforts at inaugurations, Beyoncé will be likely be mentioned. She won't be banned from The Hall of Awesome Inaugural Performances. Either way, it was her voice. She sold the hell out of it. And that's alright.

But on the other hand...

It's a big deal. In a musical feats of strength contest, the National Anthem is arguably one of the heaviest weights to lift. Artists ranging from the likes of Christina Aguilera to Steven Tyler to Roseanne Barr can vouch for that. It's understandable that any artist who doesn't think they could do it justice pre-record their performance.

Still, it's the anthem. A song about the strength of its country should always be sung live to prove that very point over and over again -- especially on a stage that is reinstating the nation's leader. Not to mention that the leader is a man she's supported since he decided to make his first term run.

At the Neighborhood Ball on Inauguration Day in 2009 Obama and wife Michelle shared their first dance as president and first lady to Beyoncé's rendition of Etta James' classic "At Last." Last September Bey' and hubby Jay-Z a hosted a $40,000-per-seat fundraiser at Jay's 40/40 Club in New York City for his campaign. On the eve before election day last November, Beyoncé penned an open letter to Obama. "Everyday we see your heart and character, inspiring all of us to give more of ourselves," she wrote. "You are the leader to take us from where we are to where we need to be." Monday should have been a tremendous conclusion to a dream she, with her fame, love, and support, helped become a reality -- twice! Unfortunately, speculation is that she phoned it in at a time when America expected, and needed it to be real.

It also doesn't help that fellow pop star Kelly Clarkson, who performed "My Country 'Tis of Thee" prior to Beyoncé hitting the stage, did so without the help of a backing track. There's no telling how much Clarkson's stock his risen or how much Bey's has plummeted because of today's accusations. Many are comparing the two and their singing abilities, now putting Kelly ahead a mile of Beyoncé, because she rose to the occasion yesterday. Hopefully many more know better.

Whether it was a last-second cold or nerves that got to her, it's a shame to think Beyoncé might not have been up to the task.

http://www.billboard.com/column/the-...08107582.story

I personally think it was stupid of her to pull out the ear piece, but it could just be practice for the Super Bowl.

Love my girl Kelly though. Always amazing live

But seriously, I think it's a big deal. Why choose someone to do it who wouldn't even do it live? They could have just put Britney Spears up there to lip synch it away...

[G-Lexington]

She gets no hate. Nothing but love. She remains unfazed. "Lip-synch or live, that was Beyonce". And the woman lip-synched for her life.

Lex

[palbert]

This was a one-off, not a Milli Vanilli. I harbor nothing negative about her lip syncing.

[umjreon88]

Oopsie, and I thought it was "Live", was almost proud of her!

[TheSpectatingLoner]

The most romanticized version of the Star Spangled Banner is the one Whitney sang at the '91 Superbowl during the time of the Gulf War. It was also lip synced.

No one fucking cares. It's hilarious that the media wants us to.

[Rolyo85]

The shade, the shade of it all!


Nope.

Beyonce, shantay, you stay.

[MisterB]

I watched the inauguration live; IF she lip-synched, then she should get even more credit cuz it sure didn't look like she wasn't belting it out live. Both she and Ms. Clarkson were awesome.

Wouldn't it be nice to see folks get their skirts in such a dither over something that really matters? You know, like poverty in America? Hunger in America?

While we can't change whether she lipped/sang live, we certainly can do something about real stuff.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just tired of all the attention given to stuff that really doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. Sheesh.

[gsdx]

I read an article about that just this morning, but I can't find it now. The band was told about 10 minutes before the performance that she would be using the tape. Apparently, separate 'pre-recordings' are made of both the band and the singer in case of technical difficulties. The band didn't know why she would be lip-synching. They just knew that she would be.

This isn't the article I read, but it's similar: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...446_story.html

[G-Lexington]

The "story" has all the arc of a taut bowstring.

* Singer delivers "stunning" performance.
* It is leaked that singer lip-synched performance.
* People respond with (mainly) support for performer.

At this point, I'm beginning to think it was really nice for Obama to show up at that Beyonce gig.

Lex

[rareboy]

Look. At the last inauguration, Yo Yo Ma and Itsahk Perlman went through the same nonsense.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/ar...ic/23band.html

It has something to do with the acoustics and the temperature of course.

[BFizzle]

[jaysizzles]

some people just love to find fault with anyone...especially an entertainer and/or politician. I thought her performance was really great, and I did suspect that she lip-synched at the time because her performance was so pitch perfect, where Kelly's was a bit shakier. I appreciate that Kelly went for it, and she did great. I just don't really care in that case that Beyonce lip-synced...if she felt she could not do the song/performance justice for whatever her reasons were...then by all means use plan B, which apparently is standard procedure. If I'd paid for her performance (which I doubt I ever will), then I'd expect her to be live.

[jaysizzles]

shouldn't that say Fauxnews.com ?

[G-Lexington]

Now was that Beyonce's doing or Obama's?

Lex

[BFizzle]

Now was that Beyonce's doing or Obama's?

Blue Ivy's.

[MissAnne]

I thought that she was great. If she did lip sync, I feel a little dissapointed, but I can understand why she would do it.

Lip sync or not, she was really good and I couldn't tell at all. The people seemed to really enjoy it.

[chace1617]

i'm not sure if she actually lip synced or not. Beyonce almost always sings live and she has proven her amazing vocal skills numerous times. If she actually faked the singing this time doesn't make her worth less as an artist, there are many reasons why she might has done it. On huge events like this is difficult to sing live mainly due to technical difficulties. Maybe she was ill or had a soar throat that day so she prefered lip syncing than not delivering a 100% on a huge event like this and Obama. You can't just bitch about it when she deliveres 100% on her 2 hour long tours where she sings and dances live constantly.

[bobobo]

The irony of it all is that the U.S. is the only country that doesn't sing its national anthem but pays or asks someone else to do it for us. Of course, part of that is that its a dreadful tune that originated as a drinking song.

[loveguys72]

Trying to care. Failing.

[Lefty]

This is to fucking hilarious to grasp all at once.

Beyonce or Bouncy Butt or whoever pre-records to ensure a memorable and valid performance
in the event the situation un ravels. She then performs admirably under adverse conditions by
using here back up.

Why did her lipsync come off as more real and sincere and showing respect for the people than
all the bullshit shuck and jive the administration proceeded to hand out LIVE(ish) from their
teleprompters, minions and the combination thereof?

I am not an afficianado of the "B" girl but, I prefer her 'memorex moment' to the excrement
our administration tried to cram down our throats and the media tried to create a shitstorm
out of a fart in the wind.

[Orlandude]

Non-issue. So she lip-synced. So what. Her decision. Regardless, she made a stunning performance enjoyed by all.

[gsdx]

The irony of it all is that the U.S. is the only country that doesn't sing its national anthem but pays or asks someone else to do it for us.

Whose idea was it to ask Roseanne to sing, and if she was paid to sing, did they ever get a refund?

There should be pride in a national anthem. There was no pride in Roseanne's version. The whole thing was a terrible joke.

[Sausy]

It was noted that in situations like this most performers do recorded versions just in case of less than optimal conditions. It was fantastic no matter what...another poster here who won't be hatin'!

[Stoowii]

Blue Ivy's.

Yas!
---

Here to end all doubt, here's my ex:





Unfazed.

[MoePhoenix7]

And if she would have sang live and fucked up ala Christina Aguilera morons would still have their panties all up in a bunch.

When it comes to the National Anthem as a singer, you're kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. It's a thankless performance imho.

Personally, I don't care. This is still the Holy Creole's world and we're just living in it.

[Beachguyj]

Y


Unfazed.

She's lucky she didn't pull some of that wig off.

[LilBit]

I think she should be charged with treason.

[JockBoy87]

There would be enough people around her at the time to confirm this rumor if it's true.

[RazorzEdge88]

[jaysizzles]

^ he even had notes in front of him!

[Beachguyj]

That reminds me one time I was working as a server in a fancy Kosher wedding banquet hall. One time the maid of honor wanted to sing a song for the couple and she was so bad I almost burst out laughing. I had to hold it in but I was smiling from ear to ear and the guests were smiling back at me because we all knew how bad she was and to make matter worse she did 2 encores.

[MoufOfKhaos]

Huh. Let me find where I put that fuck to give.

I'll come back when it's in my hands.

[Rolyo85]

The hilarious part? He is a tone-deaf moron who doesn't know the words to his own anthem, but he has a magnificently resonant voice..

[thatgirl]

Beyonce’s Emerald Earrings Cost More Than Your Dream House (with Gold Pool) (and Gold Lifeguard)


^ I'm more shocked by this story. Those ugly earrings were worth...

$1.8 Million.

[Laufey]

With Britney I think it's more okay than for others because she doesn't try to make people believe it's live vocals (most of the time they just use the CD vocals). So it has become common knowledge that Britney lipsyncs and people who go see her live do it more for the show rather than live vocals.

But then there are acts which often lipsync and get away with it because they aren't dancing (much) and only use pre-recorded vocals, so most people believe it's live.

Celine Dion's Las Vegas show is such an example.

[loki81]

I'm not losing sleep over it or anything, but it's a little classless... I probably wouldn't care if it didn't seem like she was trying to hide it, complete with an entire orchestra literally going through the motions and pretending to play music.

[Lefty]

Bottom line...

She is a product of Show Business. She makes he living giving GOOD SHOW.

She gave good show, she was there (not a hologram) They were there, not
holograms. GREAT SHOW and the technical/cameras etc did a Tremendous JOB.

They were LIVE and the people got their show.

Half the amateur ad-libbing lip synching sycophants here should take notes and
try harder to do as good a job..

JMHO over a trivial matter.

[TheSpectatingLoner]

And if she would have sang live and fucked up ala Christina Aguilera morons would still have their panties all up in a bunch.

When it comes to the National Anthem as a singer, you're kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. It's a thankless performance imho.

Personally, I don't care. This is still the Holy Creole's world and we're just living in it.

Even though I don't care that Beyonce lip synched, singing live and knowing the words are pretty doable. Seeing Christina and the Steelers both fail in a few hours was definitely a highlight of that particular Superbowl.

[BreakTheIce]

And if she would have sang live and fucked up ala Christina Aguilera morons would still have their panties all up in a bunch.

When it comes to the National Anthem as a singer, you're kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. It's a thankless performance imho.

Personally, I don't care. This is still the Holy Creole's world and we're just living in it.

That's not true, some people have sung it live with praise and some people have lip synched it without backlash.

In Beyonce's case, the backlash stirs not from the fact that she lip synched, but because she tried to make it look live by having the ear piece in. She removed the ear piece to hear the backing track so stay in synch with it.




^Those are lipsynched and great, nobody hated



^That's live and nobody hated because she didn't mess up the lyrics like Christina and didn't oversing it

[EvilTwinTwo]

I was wondering what stan for which irrelevant "DIVA" would try and make a big deal about this. Looks like according to most people on here or in the real world it's an EPIC FAIL.

Instead on concentrating on the positives of the inaguration we choose to dwell on the petty.

How about the fact the Obama made history by being the first President to mention gays in his address:





How about the fact that history was made with Richard Blanco being the first openly gay Inagural Poet:





I think Anderson said it best:

Anderson Cooper Defends Beyoncé's Lip-Synched Inauguration Performance: 'So What?!'

[loki81]

Instead on concentrating on the positives of the inaguration we choose to dwell on the petty.

How about the fact the Obama made history by being the first President to mention gays in his address

How about the fact that history was made with Richard Blanco being the first openly gay Inagural Poet

why can't we talk about both?

there are already multiple threads discussing those two things.

[MattClaimer]

She should get hate, whatever the reason for choosing to NOT sing. It's an honor and a privilege to even be asked to give such a performance at such a time/event.

If you're a professional singer/artist or whatever, and you can't come out and REALLY sing our National Anthem, then you SHOULD get hate. Don't care who you are. Show respect and honor for the country that made you what and who you are, show respect and honor for being asked to provide your voice in such a way before the nation's people.

Shame on Beyonce and all those who were behind her NOT performing.

[EuroSoccer]

Huh. Let me find where I put that fuck to give.

I'll come back when it's in my hands.

[crimsonpaine]

In my opinion, one does not lip sync the National Anthem.

I know a lot of artists lip synch, some better than others and some get caught in rather embarrassing or humorous ways.

If I wanted to hear a recorded version of someone singing, I would buy a CD.

Do I hate her because of it, no, just disappointed.

[dereperez]

http://www.billboard.com/column/the-...08107582.story

I personally think it was stupid of her to pull out the ear piece, but it could just be practice for the Super Bowl.

Love my girl Kelly though. Always amazing live

But seriously, I think it's a big deal. Why choose someone to do it who wouldn't even do it live? They could have just put Britney Spears up there to lip synch it away...

But even Britney's lip-synched pre-recorded voice is horrible.

As for Beyonce...it's all good. It's still her, just at a different time.

[BreakTheIce]

I was wondering what stan for which irrelevant "DIVA" would try and make a big deal about this. Looks like according to most people on here or in the real world it's an EPIC FAIL.

Instead on concentrating on the positives of the inaguration we choose to dwell on the petty.

Bitch why don't you go sit on a dick. There's a topic for that and not everyone here is from the US so we don't particularly care about what your government does.

[Laufey]

But even Britney's lip-synched pre-recorded voice is horrible.

[dereperez]

I said that as a Britney fan. She's a great entertainer and has a good pop voice. Retract dem claws!

[BustinJeiber]

Beyonce lipsynching is NEWS? Holy moly, jimmy joe!

They were probly trying to prevent something like this happening.

[Stoowii]

-----------------------------

Beyonce lipsynching is NEWS? Holy moly, jimmy joe!

It is. Care to name other times when she has?