Marine Corps spokesman: Inaugural music was pre-recorded

A spokesman for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is speaking out about Beyoncé reportedly lip-syncing the Star Spangled Banner at President Obama's second inauguration, saying a live performance by the USMC band was “ill advised.”

Capt. Gregory Wolf, USMC’s media officer, tells ITK in an email that the Presidential Inaugural Committee requested that the band accompany Beyoncé as she sang the national anthem at Monday’s ceremony.

The entertainer had received rave reviews for her rendition of the patriotic tune, which she performed following Obama’s swearing-in ceremony.

According to Wolf, “there was no opportunity” for the pop singer to rehearse with the Marine Band ahead of the inauguration. As a result, Wolf says, “it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill-advised for such a high-profile event.”

The official said each piece of music used during the inaugural festivities is pre-recorded to use on the fly “in case of freezing temperatures, equipment failure, or extenuating circumstances.”

While a spokesman told TMZ.com earlier Tuesday that the pop star was singing along to a pre-recorded version of the anthem, Wolf contends, “Regarding Ms. Knowles-Carter's vocal performance, no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded.”

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