Fake It When You Make It: Public Outrage Over Beyonce’s Inaugural Lip-Synch

Fans went H.A.M. over Beyoncé’s concert-worthy rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” during the inauguration… that is until word got out that she lip-synched the whole thing.

According to Master Sgt. Kristin duBois, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Band, the Marine Band played live for every song (including Kelly Clarkson’s) — EXCEPT Beyoncé’s national anthem. duBois revealed that both the band and Beyoncé bluffed their way through a prerecorded version.

(Record skips…what?)

A spokesman for the Marine Corps later tried to sweep the revelation under rug by saying that, although the band was definitely faking it, “no one in the Marine Band was in a position to assess whether [Beyoncé's vocal performance] was live or prerecorded.”

However, the damage had already been done. Queen Bey fell from the public’s good graces almost faster than she had achieved it, with some Twitter fans even comparing her to Lance Armstrong, and Milli Vanilli (a bit much if you ask me).

However, while Kelly Clarkson may have won the crowds over with her powerful, and LIVE, performance of “My Country ’Tis of Thee,” music industry insiders say that the use of a recording at big events is pretty typical. Joe Levy, the editor of Billboard magazine said:

“It’s not a big deal, inside the music industry or out.”

Many fans originally compared Beyoncé’s inaugural performance of the national anthem to Whitney Houston’s famous performance of it in 1991 (aka “The Greatest National Anthem Performance Of All Time”). Ironically enough, Whitney’s was later found out to be pre-recorded as well. Since then, many other stars, such as Jennifer Hudson, gone the same route.

Of this live lip-synching “trend,” Levy added:

“It is a common practice in high-profile settings where it is impossible to hear yourself. There are times when you want it to be perfect, and a presidential inauguration ranks as one of those. It’s got nothing to do with your ability to sing or not. Nobody questions [Beyoncé’s] ability to sing. ”

That may be the case, but not for nothing, come February 3 when Bey hits the stage for the SuperBowl’s halftime show – “ain’t nobody got time” for her lip-synching!

Watch her performance again below and then let us know your thoughts on Beyoncé’s lip-synching controversy!

[Source: Daily News]