VIDEO: Beyonce press conference features National Anthem, no lip-synching


Global mega-star Beyonce met with the media on Thursday, in what has become an annual tradition for the Super Bowl halftime show. Although she did answer some questions about the show and her preparation, she opened the press conference with a perfect rendition of the National Anthem.

Beyonce sang the Anthem in response to criticisms about her choice to lip-sync during Inauguration weekend. When asked about that choice, Beyonce stated that she had gone with the lip-syncing due to insufficient time to prepare for the Inauguration. She has been preparing her Super Bowl halftime show for the past six months, and that cut into preparation time with the Inauguration band.

Beyonce made it clear that the Inauguration was not about her, but rather about President Obama, and she did not want there to be timing issues or any other problems that would make a mess of the events. She declared that she would most definitely not be lip-synching at the Super Bowl.

Beyonce was asked whether Jay-Z or a reunited Destiny's Child would make appearances, but she would reveal nothing. She did say, however, that there would likely be a special announcement after the show, and that fans should pay close attention.

Here is a full transcript for Beyonce's press conference:

(on what happened last week at the Inauguration and if the attention is taking away from her moment at the Super Bowl) "Well, I am a perfectionist and, one thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed. I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra. It was a live television show and a very very important emotional show for me, one of my proudest moments. Due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about the President and the Inauguration, and I wanted to make him and my country proud. So I decided to sing along with my pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry and I'm very proud of my performance."

(on there being a lot of rumors about a Destiny's Child reunion during halftime and who to expect to perform with her) "I can't really give you any details. I'm sorry."

(on if people will hear from Destiny's Child any time soon) "Well, we just had a new release - the love songs Destiny's Child album. We did a new song. It was so exciting to hear us together again. I just kind of dropped on the floor and felt like a little teenager again when I heard us harmonize. There's nothing like our connection and the sisterhood we have. So it's always such a pleasure to be around them professionally and personally."

(on if she's excited to perform at the Super Bowl) "Oh my God, I'm so anxious, yes."

(on if she was nervous about putting out her new documentary) "I'm very nervous. I'm still very nervous. It was really interesting directing and editing myself, seeing all the mistakes that I made and still putting it in the film and seeing life as if it wasn't me and I feel like it's time. It's time for people to really get to know me and to see a different side. I'm really curious and scared and every night I'm like, ‘Now, it's too late. It's coming out,' and I'm happy with it."

(on who she's rooting for in the Super Bowl) "Man, I can't say that either. I can't say that. I can't say that."

(on if she'll be singing live during halftime or if she'll be singing along with the track) "I will absolutely be singing live. I'm well-rehearsed and I'll absolutely be singing live. This is what I was born to do and what I was born for."

(on why she decided to show a video of her baby right now before the Super Bowl) "Oh my God, I feel like my daughter has changed me and changed my life, and has given me so much purpose. I feel like this movie is, like I told A.J., it's very necessary and I think it shows a human side. We're all human. I feel like, at some point, (with) my child, my job is to protect her and I'm happy that I could tell my story on my terms."

(on how she mentally prepares to perform live on this big stage) "Like I said, I've had a 16-year career and all of the things that I've done has prepared me for this. So I'm ready."

(on if she says peace to the haters) "I love haters. No shame. No hate."

(on if she feels pressure for the halftime show) "It is nerve-racking and it is something that we've been preparing for about four or five months. So, of course I'm nervous and I think, when I was driving up, I just got chills because I saw the SuperDome and there's so much history there. My family is from New Iberia, Louisiana. It really makes me emotional to have a halftime performance. I think of all my heroes, and it's the one thing when I'm no longer here (that) it's what they're going to show. It is something that I'm so honored to be doing at 31-years old. When I got into the SuperDome, I took my shoes off and I planted my feet into the ground and I just ran. I'm trying to learn to live in every moment because these moments are not promised to us and I'm so, so happy right now in my life. I feel so full, and this is such a huge opportunity. I take it very serious, so I'm excited."

(on if she is using social media more right now because of the attention she received after the Inauguration) "No, I have been taking pictures and tweeting, not tweeting, but using Tumblr and focusing on my website for the past six months. I feel like the fans are a part of this and I want them to be a part of every step of the way."

(on the difference in the pressure that she felt singing during the presidential inauguration from singing at halftime of the Super Bowl) "I feel like this weekend I am performing at the halftime show, and I feel like before, the event was not about me. So, I am excited to have done both, but now I am on to the halftime show. Thank you."

(on whether all of the criticism from her performance at the Inauguration affected how she will perform at half time of the Super Bowl) "I always sing live. This inauguration was, unfortunately, a time where I could not rehearse with the orchestra, actually, because I was practicing for the Super Bowl. It was always the plan."

(on what she will be performing at the Grammy's) "Well, who said I was performing at the Grammy's? I don't have that much going on (laughing). I don't know if I am performing at the Grammy's."

(on whether she was singing along with a pre-recorded track at the inauguration or whether she was lip-sinking) "Typically, they have you sing a pre-recorded track because anything could go wrong. So, I did sing along with the pre-recorded track."

(on whether pre-recorded tracks are just a part of craft that she is in) "Absolutely."

(on her regular football viewing routine with Jay-Z) "Well I can't take you through what Jay-Z does. He will have to tell you himself, but I can tell you for the past few months I am usually on the computer pulling references, looking at my rehearsals, and I have been so focused on this halftime show. But, I do fall asleep and wake up with a lot of football. I know every little detail because of fantasy football, and I have the upmost respect for the players."

(on what she will do to relax after the Super Bowl) "Oh my God, I can't wait. I am going to enjoy my daughter. I am going to enjoy my daughter. I miss her. I am working so hard, and I keep saying, ‘Mommy will be done Sunday at nine o'clock.'"

(on her halftime set and how quickly she and her crew have to move it) "There (are) I think seven and a half minutes for the volunteers to put the stage together, and it took so many months to decide just what the stage was, because so many things that were in my head just wasn't possible to put together in that amount of time. So I met the volunteers, and they are so incredible. We're working together, and I can't give too much away, but I can say that every little second matters and we're working."

(on how she decides what songs to perform at half time) "That was one of the hardest things. I have so many songs, and trying to condense a career into 12 minutes was not easy, because all of my songs are like my children."

(on when she will be going back on tour) "When am I going back on tour? I would say, soon, and I may have an announcement after the performance, so the fans should stay tuned to see."

(on whether this has ever been an aspiration for her, and where it ranks for her) "This has been an aspiration for me. I just thank God that I am given this opportunity. Like I said earlier, you work very hard for these moments, and I am just hoping that all of my life lessons and all of my experience I can feel and I can use in this performance."

(on what color her toothbrush is and why she chose that color) "I love that question. It's truly multi-colored. It's blue, and white. Blue and white, I think. Blue and yellow, maybe."

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