Does It Really Matter If Beyonce Lip-Syncs?

     Do we really care if Beyonce lip-synced our National Anthem at the second inauguration festivities for President Barack Obama?  I don't care...and quite frankly...I don't believe you should either. 

     Don't we have enough BIGGER problems throughout this country and around this planet than worrying whether Beyonce sang The Star Spangled Banner live or if she "mouthed" the words?

     I have watched Beyonce's Capitol Hill performance from January 21st, 2013 numerous times and it appears to me that this superstar recording artist was clearly singing live.  But...and I do say but...if Beyonce did lip-sync America's national song...it wouldn't be the first time an entertainer did so. 

     The late, great Grammy Award winner, Whitney Houston lip-synced a magnificent, iconic rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at the 1991 Super Bowl.  In 2009 - at the Super Bowl that year -

Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson, lip-synced The National Anthem.  And...it's happened dozens - if not hundreds more times - by other performers.

     We know that Beyonce can sing.  This is a celebrated headliner - not someone who was appearing in front of the public for the first time.  Beyonce Knowles is the third most honored woman in Grammy history with a total of 16 awards.  And with 44 total nominations, only Dolly Parton has been Grammy nominated more times.  Dolly has 45.

     All that being said though...it's not that easy to sing any song - let alone the Francis Scott Key lyrics and John Stafford Smith music for The Star Spangled Banner - when it's performed outdoors - in the bitter cold - in front of about a million people in person - and more than 20-million Americans on television.  Furthermore, band instruments can go out of tune when being played in less than comfortable temperatures. 

     But again...what's the big deal?  Whether Beyonce sang live or to a pre-recorded track is much ado about nothing.  She gave President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Americans all across the United States a beautiful and moving version of our National Anthem.  Whether Beyonce lip-synced it or not is really not that important.

     So why then are so many people going crazy and making such a huge fuss over Beyonce's inauguration presentation?  And why is the question of this week - "Will Beyonce lip-sync the songs she performs at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday, February 3rd?"  Come on, everybody.  Get a grip on it.  We've got enough troubles to grapple with in this country.  We have other more pressing issues to be concerned with - and whether Beyonce sings live or whether she lip-syncs - isn't one of them.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

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