Bob CollinsQuestion: At a time when fake things — fake performances, fake girlfriends — ends careers and images, how is it that lip syncing escapes scorn?
This performance yesterday? It was fake.
And the Marine Corp band was faking it to, according to Washingtonian.
But to close observers, it appeared the performer was not singing live. To press seated just below the podium, in front of the “President’s Own” Marine Corps Band, it was evident that the band wasn’t actually playing during the song–even though band director Colonel Michael J. Colburn was conducting energetically and the band members mimicked blowing into their instruments. Separately, at one point during her performance, Beyoncé removed her earpiece.
A hint as to the actual origins of the version Beyoncé sang came from her own hand: On January 20, the day before the ceremony, Beyoncé posted pictures to her Instagram account that appeared to show her in a recording studio. In one, she holds a copy of the sheet music to “The Star Spangled Banner” in front of a microphone attached to a recording device, and in another she sits in front of recording equipment while members of the Marine Corps Band stand clutching sheet music behind her.
The media was in perfect position to detect the fakery, but chose to gush on about the performance anyway.
The lesson? Trust the old-timers:
