UnNews:Did Obama lip-sync oath?

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23 January 2013

The man with the golden voice: But did President Obama stay silent this week?

WASHINGTON D.C., United States -- Conflicting reports have emerged over whether President Barack Obama actually spoke at his inauguration, with some sources claiming that he opted to perform to a pre-recorded backing track.

After the US Marine Corp confirmed that the music at the ceremony was not live, some reports suggested the President had pre-recorded his oath in a studio on Sunday night. If the claims turned out to be true, it is not clear what Obama's official status would be, but the President's acts would not be without precedent.

In 2005, the newly elected Pope Benedict clearly mimed through some of his maiden speech in St Peter's Square, falling notably out of synch during the parts said in Chinese. In 2011 the royal wedding was nearly derailed when cameras picked up Kate Middleton half-heartedly flapping her silent lips during a performance of God Save the Queen.

However, Obama has received support from an unlikely source. President George W Bush, said his successor did "a beautiful job". "When I heard the news this evening that the oath was pre-recorded I really laughed," he told ABC News. "I thought it was funny because the weather down there was about 46 or 44 degrees and for most presidents that is just not good swearing weather. But he did a beautiful job with the pre-record. Next time I'll probably do the same."

Sources

• Leverage, "Beyonce: Confusion over "lip-syncing" claims" BBC, January 23, 2013