Beyonce performs the national anthem during a press conference for the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show at the New Orleans Convention Center.(Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
By Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports
NEW ORLEANS - Beyonce had a very bold answer for critics of her inaugural performance.
The Grammy award winning performer opened her Super Bowl press
conference with a rousing two minute live rendition of The Star Spangled
Banner, followed by an admission that she did indeed use a pre-recorded
track while singing the anthem at President Obama's inauguration nearly
two weeks ago.
"I am a perfectionist. I did not
have time to rehearse with the orchestra for a live television show and
a very very important emotional show for me one of my proudest
moments," Beyonce told the assembled crowd at the New Orleans Convention
Center. "I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about the
president and the inauguration and I wanted to make him and our country
proud so I decided to sing along with my prerecorded track. I'm very
proud of my performance."
Nearly two weeks after the "did she or didn't she lip sync" debate
began, the singer said she would not be utilizing the same kind of
assistance during Sunday's Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show, which
she's been preparing for over the past four months.
"I will absolutely be singing live," Beyonce said. "This is what I was born to do."
The Grammy award winning performer hadn't commented on the inauguration
lip syncing controversy publicly prior to the press conference, although
the U.S. Marine Band confirmed the morning after the inauguration that
she was lip-syncing and the band only pretended to accompany her, then
by evening retracted that confirmation, saying no one in the band was in
a position to know. Beyonce said that while she did use a pre-recorded
track of her vocals at the event, she was also singing along at the
time.
Now that she has buried that controversy, the biggest mysteries of
Sunday's performance will be whether she'll be reuniting with former
bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to perform as Destiny's Child and whether her husband Jay-Z will make an appearance onstage.
"I don't know," she said coyly. "I can't really give you any details. I'm sorry."
Beyonce said that one of the hardest things in putting the set list
together has been deciding which songs to add to a 12-minute
performance. She hinted that fans will likely be able to see much longer
sets in the next year or so, saying that she may have a tour
announcement right after the performance.
At least one player in Sunday's game is disappointed he'll be
missing the show. Baltimore Ravens receiver Torrey Smith said he wishes
he could watch Beyonce's halftime performance instead of being in the
locker room. Watching a recording of it later off his DVR just won't be
the same.
"I definitely want to see her sing something that's
high tempo, and also something where she can show her voice," Smith
said. "She's so talented. There aren't too many people like her. Maybe
she should do Crazy in Love. Jay Z coming out would be pretty cool."