Skip to main content

Staying Level-Headed on Beyonce-Gate


Let's put this Beyonce fiasco to bed. The mere thought that this lip-sync tid-bit has grown from a story to a so called "act-of-disrespect" is ridiculous and borders on insanity. More so, it reveals just how much of a jump-the-gun society we have become with the opportunity for instant attention and cynicism right at our finger tips. 

From the print and social media, to television and blogs (now including this one), everyone has an opinion, and unfortunately, the majority are reacting as if Beyonce presented some type of disservice to her country in her performance of the Star Spangled Banner during the President's inauguration. Many have called the act a moment that cheated us all, and some have gone as far as saying it ruined the day. 

Seriously? Let's relax, folks.


What makes matters worse is the performance of former American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, in her rendition of "My Country Tis' of thee". After all, if Clarkson can do it, why can't Beyonce, right? 

Wrong. 

Look, noone has confirmed or denied that Beyonce lip-synched her performance this past Monday. Not even the United States Marine Band who played behind the superstar's voice - recorded or live. And let's say for the sake of argument that she did indeed commit this "grand crime of atrocity" in our nation, so what? 

We've seen many performers at many inaugurations before "fake" their performance, including acts such as famed Cellist Yo-Yo Ma going through the motions with his hands in 2009. These things happen all of the time on late-night shows and award shows every night and every year. 

I can understand if this was one of her shows in which people paid their hard earned money for, but it wasn't. 

And to be honest, in frigid cold weather as well in the midst of terrible acoustics, I don't blame Beyonce. In fact, I applaud her for protecting her wind pipes - her money maker - and for wanting her performance on such a historic day to sound the best it possibly could with all of the varying external negatives. 

Either way, whatever you believed took place, you cannot deny it was her voice who sang that beautiful rendition of our national anthem. 

And while we're at it, let's throw an Oscar nomination her way, as I, and I'm sure many of you, would have never insinuated the claim if not for the uprising and sudden speculation. 

So chill out. 

The inauguration was great, and Beyonce's performance was a part of that. 

One thing is for sure, Beyonce will use this as motivation for her upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance. 

A performance that will also be sure to swing everyone in the extreme direction of an opinion once again. 

Cue Twitter.

Recent Favorites

Dome Pondering Movie Review: The After (2023)

What is it about? In a short film, a grieving man confronts his past when he comes face-to-face with a passenger.  Who is in it? David Oyelowo - Dayo Jessica Plummer - Amanda Amelie Dokubo - Laura  Favorite Scene: It's an extremely short film, so...the final few moments.  Favorite Quote:  None. (not much dialogue) Review: This eighteen-minute masterpiece is amazing. You're absolutely taken on this ride of emotions that ultimately leaves you with a great realization of questioning what we value in life.  The lead character, in eighteen minutes, is powerful. His grief is carried through the film, exploding at the end. It very much leaves the viewer with so many questions - what was his life before the tragedy? What was his life after that moment? Did he ever reconnect with that family? Did he rediscover happiness?  Again, a very, VERY, powerful eighteen minutes that will jolt the heart, mind, and soul about life, what is important, and what we overvalue in its place.  Grade: 4/5

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Thoughts

There's something wrong with the All-Star Game.  Yeah, we've definitely had this conversation before. Expect to pick up this very discussion (again) in July when Major League Baseball has their version in the "Mid-Summer Classic" when it is the ONLY current topic to bounce around in the stratosphere of sports discourse.  What's wrong with the All-Star Game?!  I'm not dismissing the obvious - yes, the NBA All-Star Game is very much at an alarming point of necessary refinement and change - evaluation is needed. What we saw on Sunday night was not disappointing, but outright embarrassing. Also yes, gone are the days when the game flooded your television screen at a respectable 6:30pm on NBC, and you were wowed by the athleticism and star power of the first half of the game, and treated to what felt like the world's best players playing pickup basketball on the grandest stage.  Now? Not so much. So yeah, we got the message. The outrage - and shock TV and hot t

Quick Ponder: Daily Armor

Imagine, if we can see the dents and scratches, the smashes and chaos,  on the daily armor, each of us put on. Just imagine.