Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference

Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference'Any questions?' pop star says with a laugh $(document).ready(function() { $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .email-content').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').hide(); } ); $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .print-page').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').hide(); } ); }); By

Beyoncé opened a Super Bowl press conference on Thursday afternoon in New Orleans with a rousing rendition of the national anthem – and this time it was definitely live. After a rapturous round of applause by the media in attendance, the singer took questions about her upcoming Super Bowl gig as well as her controversial lip-syncing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Obama's second inauguration last week.

"I am a perfectionist. One thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed, and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra," Beyoncé said. "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 my president and the inauguration, and I did not want to take away from that. I decided to go with a pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry. And I am very proud of my performance."

Readers' Poll: The Greatest Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Beyoncé added that she will be "absolutely singing live" at her Super Bowl performance this coming Sunday. "I am well rehearsed. I will absolutely be singing live. This is what I was born to do." 

She stayed mum on the details of her halftime show performance, particularly whether she would be joined by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a Destiny's Child reunion. "I can't really give you any details, I'm sorry," she said, though she did comment on the recent release of "Nuclear," Destiny's Child's first song in eight years. "I was so excited 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 the sisterhood we have."

Asked whether she has any plans to tour in conjuction with her new album on the horizon, Beyoncé teased: "Soon. I may have an announcement after the [Super Bowl] performance and the fans should just stay tuned."

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Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference

Beyonce Sings National Anthem Live at Super Bowl Press Conference'Any questions?' pop star says with a laugh $(document).ready(function() { $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .email-content').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').hide(); } ); $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .print-page').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').hide(); } ); }); By

Beyoncé opened a Super Bowl press conference on Thursday afternoon in New Orleans with a rousing rendition of the national anthem – and this time it was definitely live. After a rapturous round of applause by the media in attendance, the singer took questions about her upcoming Super Bowl gig as well as her controversial lip-syncing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Obama's second inauguration last week.

"I am a perfectionist. One thing about me, I practice until my feet bleed, and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra," Beyoncé said. "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 my president and the inauguration, and I did not want to take away from that. I decided to go with a pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry. And I am very proud of my performance."

Readers' Poll: The Greatest Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Beyoncé added that she will be "absolutely singing live" at her Super Bowl performance this coming Sunday. "I am well rehearsed. I will absolutely be singing live. This is what I was born to do." 

She stayed mum on the details of her halftime show performance, particularly whether she would be joined by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a Destiny's Child reunion. "I can't really give you any details, I'm sorry," she said, though she did comment on the recent release of "Nuclear," Destiny's Child's first song in eight years. "I was so excited 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 the sisterhood we have."

Asked whether she has any plans to tour in conjuction with her new album on the horizon, Beyoncé teased: "Soon. I may have an announcement after the [Super Bowl] performance and the fans should just stay tuned."

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Exclusive Download: Icky Blossoms' Dance Anthem 'Babes'

Click to listen to Icky Blossoms' 'Babes'

Earlier this year, the Omaha, Nebraska-based three-piece Icky Blossoms signed to Saddle Creek Records, and they are recording their debut album with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, to be released later this year. The album's first single is the girl-power dance anthem "Babes." "This song was written with images of powerful, tough women in our minds," Icky Blossoms' Sarah Bohling explains. "We wanted there to be a dance anthem about the almighty woman. Women of the world, take over!" You can download Icky Blossoms' "Babes" for free here.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Exclusive Download: Icky Blossoms' Dance Anthem 'Babes'

Click to listen to Icky Blossoms' 'Babes'

Earlier this year, the Omaha, Nebraska-based three-piece Icky Blossoms signed to Saddle Creek Records, and they are recording their debut album with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, to be released later this year. The album's first single is the girl-power dance anthem "Babes." "This song was written with images of powerful, tough women in our minds," Icky Blossoms' Sarah Bohling explains. "We wanted there to be a dance anthem about the almighty woman. Women of the world, take over!" You can download Icky Blossoms' "Babes" for free here.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

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Free Download: Chuck Ragan's Anthem 'Camaraderie of the Commons'

Click to listen to Chuck Ragan's 'Camaraderie of the Commons'

Singer-songwriter Chuck Ragan released his latest album, Covering Ground, in September, and has spent considerable time touring in support of the record inspired by two decades on the road. The album's bonus track, the acoustic "Camraderie of the Commons," is a powerful "rally for hope" inspired by Garrett Hardin's term "the tragedy of the commons," Ragan says.

Ragan explains that Hardin's tragedy of the commons referred to a "problem in which a community or group of individuals, living and working independently will eventually extinguish and eliminate a limited common resource."

Though his song "Camraderie of the Commons" was inspired by this idea, Ragan considers it to be a "positive mockery of the term itself."

"The first time I read this term and found the meaning, it stuck with me in a way where I realized that whether we understand the initial outcome of our acts or not, whether we deplete our resources or not, there are common bonds, communities and individuals who truly wish to make a difference in this world within the time that we're here and preserve as much as we're able to for the young ones who'll follow us," he explains. "Even if we as a society have passed the point of no return and at times live in a way that is of detriment to our longevity."

Chuck Ragan's upcoming Revival Tour dates can be viewed here. You can download Chuck Ragan's hidden track "Camraderie of the Commons" for free here.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Free Download: Chuck Ragan's Anthem 'Camaraderie of the Commons'

Click to listen to Chuck Ragan's 'Camaraderie of the Commons'

Singer-songwriter Chuck Ragan released his latest album, Covering Ground, in September, and has spent considerable time touring in support of the record inspired by two decades on the road. The album's bonus track, the acoustic "Camraderie of the Commons," is a powerful "rally for hope" inspired by Garrett Hardin's term "the tragedy of the commons," Ragan says.

Ragan explains that Hardin's tragedy of the commons referred to a "problem in which a community or group of individuals, living and working independently will eventually extinguish and eliminate a limited common resource."

Though his song "Camraderie of the Commons" was inspired by this idea, Ragan considers it to be a "positive mockery of the term itself."

"The first time I read this term and found the meaning, it stuck with me in a way where I realized that whether we understand the initial outcome of our acts or not, whether we deplete our resources or not, there are common bonds, communities and individuals who truly wish to make a difference in this world within the time that we're here and preserve as much as we're able to for the young ones who'll follow us," he explains. "Even if we as a society have passed the point of no return and at times live in a way that is of detriment to our longevity."

Chuck Ragan's upcoming Revival Tour dates can be viewed here. You can download Chuck Ragan's hidden track "Camraderie of the Commons" for free here.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

Kelly Clarkson to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVI

Kelly Clarkson performs during the Allstate Fan Fest at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Jax Brewery Parking Lot in New Orleans.

Kelly Clarkson will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl on February 5th at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Though Clarkon's appearance has not been formally announced, a person close to the event has confirmed the booking with the Associated Press.

Clarkson will join a slate of musical performers for this year's Super Bowl including Madonna, who will perform during halftime with guests M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj, and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who will sing "America the Beautiful" as a duet.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

View from Amazon here

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Kelly Clarkson to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVI

Kelly Clarkson performs during the Allstate Fan Fest at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Jax Brewery Parking Lot in New Orleans.

Kelly Clarkson will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl on February 5th at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Though Clarkon's appearance has not been formally announced, a person close to the event has confirmed the booking with the Associated Press.

Clarkson will join a slate of musical performers for this year's Super Bowl including Madonna, who will perform during halftime with guests M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj, and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who will sing "America the Beautiful" as a duet.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Find music selection in Amazon here

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