Beyoncé Lip-Synced the Star-Spangled Banner at Inauguration, You Guys

Yesterday Beyoncé delivered a hair-raising, down-right awesome version of the Star Spangled Banner at Barack Obama's second Inauguration. Everyone was like, “daaamn, Beyonce's the shit because she torn out her earpiece midway through. Damnnnn that Bey knows how to keep it real.” We can all agree it was fuckin' cool, right?

I guess, if you consider “pressing play” awesome. Today reports surfaced that B wasn't singing at all. She was lip-synching. In otherwords, that heartwarming moment of Bey's spirited patriotic pride was kinda phony. Via the 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.

So what did the crowd hear? Depends on what was being piped at you. The television and YouTube audience listened to something myjestic and pristine. But here's a Jumbotron FAIL video from far away on the Mall during the National Anthem. B sounds like dubstep, minus the LFO drops. Maybe the scratchy track was in her ear?

Nothing is sacred.

Brandon Wenerd is BroBible's publisher, writing on this site since 2009. He writes about sports, music, men's fashion, outdoor gear, traveling, skiing, and epic adventures. Based in Los Angeles, he also enjoys interviewing athletes and entertainers. Proud Penn State alum, former New Yorker. Email: brandon@brobible.com