Los Angeles, Jan 23 (IANS): Singer Beyonce Knowles is being praised for giving a spectacular performance at US President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony but the backing band says she mimed the national anthem.
According to the Marine Corps Band, which performed with the singer, the decision to mime was taken at the last minute on Jan 21, reports thesun.co.uk.
"We did pre-record it and it was Beyonce's decision at the last minute to go with the pre-recorded version," Kristen DuBois, spokesman of the band said.
"Those were the instructions we were given. We don't know the reason why. All music is pre-recorded for the ceremony because there are so many eventualities and conditions," she added.