BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Beyonce admits not singing live
1 February 2013

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2013

Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Pop star Beyonce has admitted she did not sing the American national anthem live

during President Obama's inauguration last month. She revealed the truth at a news
conference for the forthcoming Super Bowl. This report is from the BBC’s Ben Wright:

It was one of the most talked about moments of the inauguration: Beyonce's

soaring, flawless rendition of the Star Spangled Banner in front of President
Obama and millions more.

But doubt was soon cast on the authenticity of the performance. There was

speculation it was taped, that the megastar had mimed.

Today came her response. She strolled into a news conference for Sunday's Super
Bowl, at which she will sing, asked the audience to stand and raised her microphone:

Beyonce singing American national anthem:

"Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light?"

After belting out the national anthem she asked, with a laugh, if there were any
questions. And then she admitted to singing along to a pre-recorded track last

week because she didn't have time to practise.

Beyonce said she had not wanted to risk anything going wrong on such a big
occasion.

But she will be singing live during the half-time show on Sunday - to one of the

biggest audiences of her career.

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2013

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

soaring

rising or flying up into the air

flawless

perfect, without faults

rendition

a version of a song or performance

authenticity

reality

speculation

guessing about a subject without enough evidence

taped

recorded (of a sound)

mimed

moved lips along to a song without making a sound

strolled

walked slowly and in a relaxed way

belted out

sang very loudly and with a lot of enthusiasm

pre-recorded track

song which been recorded earlier

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/02/130201_witn_beyonce.shtml

Related News story

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment -arts-21290682