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Lip-synching on TV shows - Why does it matter?


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Old 31-05-2012, 13:20
AdzPower
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After seeing the backlash to Cheryl performing on the voice, it made me wonder why people care so much, chances are, you arent a fan of the singer in question anyway, only their fans will watch and enjoy it regardless of live singing.
But my main is that why does it even matter? Ok, if they lip-synch on tour, they deserve a slap on the wrist, but just to promote a single on a TV show? Why do people even care? Im a big Britney fan and she has lip-synched a lot in the past, and still does for promo appearances, but when I saw her last year on tour she sang all but 2 songs live, yes, bad on her for even lip-synching those, but I got over it.
But anyway, I was just wondering why people make such a big deal out of it, back in the 90's it was done all the time, and no one batted an eyelid! Do you think that if someone lip-synchs they arent able to sing? Because the artist has to record the song in the first place, which requires them to sing.
And how does one person lip-synching a song on a TV show negatively impact your life in any way? (if you care that is).

Just putting it out there, what are other people's thoughts?
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:24
walterwhite
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I think the most important aspect of a performance is singing, if they can't do that then they shouldn't be performing live.
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:38
Dan Sette
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I suppose it depends on the circumstances.

If miming to a song for a promo video - then I think that's fair enough. You watch the promo as an addition to buying the recorded song.

However. If you are performing on a show whose raison d'etre is a LIVE performance, then you should perform live.

Unless you are worried you can't cut the mustard, or have something to hide that you don't want subject to scrutiny.
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:40
Master Ozzy
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Take Cheryl as an example...she cannot sing Call My Name live. She sang some of it live, but not all of it. I just think it's pathetic to release a song that you can't even sing live. She's supposed to be able to sing, yet she can't sing her own song live. What also annoys me is the excuse "She had to mime it though as she had such heavy choreography/dancing". Beyonce has choreography that's a million times more complex than what Cheryl had, but she doesn't mime. That's because Beyonce is able to dance and sing at the same time!! Artists who aren't, should make the choreography and dance routines less complex. I think it's ridiculous how so called "artists" rake in a fortune each year when so many can't even sing their songs live. I would never go to see Britney live.
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:41
doinitwrong
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I think the most important aspect of a performance is singing, if they can't do that then they shouldn't be performing live.
Totally agree with you there on that one mate!
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:44
harveybest
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Agree with above two post's..........just about anyone can sound ok in the studio. If you cant do it dont bother.
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:54
Zack06
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It matters when people aren't made aware of it. In the early 2000s it was standard for everyone to mime so no one really paid attention, but now it is more standard for people to sing live, with all the biggest stars except Britney and Justin Bieber singing live, with a backing track or otherwise...

And it's even worse when a performer is relying on miming as the only way they can perform their own music acceptably, even recording 'as live' vocals with microphone breaths and wrong notes to fool people...

I feel like if a performance is mimed people should be made aware, otherwise it's tricking the public into thinking that they are a live singer when they are not, and it brings into question whether they should even be in the industry at all if they can't perform their own music live.
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:56
harveybest
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It matters when people aren't made aware of it. In the early 2000s it was standard for everyone to mime so no one really paid attention, but now it is more standard for people to sing live, with all the biggest stars except Britney and Justin Bieber singing live, with a backing track or otherwise...

And it's even worse when a performer is relying on miming as the only way they can perform their own music acceptably, even recording 'as live' vocals with microphone breaths and wrong notes to fool people...

I feel like if a performance is mimed people should be made aware, otherwise it's tricking the public into thinking that they are a live singer when they are not, and it brings into question whether they should even be in the industry at all if they can't perform their own music live.
Back in 2000 it was standard you say..........who with?
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:57
doinitwrong
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It would serve somebody right if they got caught out in a way such as this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc27kgv0Fq0 whilst lip-synching!
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Old 31-05-2012, 13:59
Zack06
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Back in 2000 it was standard you say..........who with?
How many people sang on TOTP, Big Breakfast etc live...? People mimed everywhere, but it was only after Pop Idol/XF that more and more people became aware of it imo...
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:01
harveybest
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Sorry I thought you meant live gigs.
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:02
Zack06
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It would serve somebody right if they got caught out in a way such as this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc27kgv0Fq0 whilst lip-synching!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E9ZwD0r_64 this one is pretty funny....
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:03
MizManiac
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Easy- i remember the disaster of 'All About Eve' on TOTP years ago...Much safer to sing live!
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:07
johnnybgoode83
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I think the most important aspect of a performance is singing, if they can't do that then they shouldn't be performing live.
Gotta agree with this
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:13
Tiki - Taka
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKnGMdSQdM
Muse were asked to lip sync on an Italian show.... so they all switched instruments... haha
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:14
mills705
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as others have said- whats the point in recording a song you cant sing live?! Especially if its due to choreography. The singing comes first.
I know the Beatles and Muse have swapped places as tv shows have asked them to mime before. Matt Bellamy decided to play the drums on an Italian TV show. They only got found out when the woman went to interview them and realised she wasnt talking to matt!
edit- as shown above by tika!
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:23
johnnybgoode83
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKnGMdSQdM
Muse were asked to lip sync on an Italian show.... so they all switched instruments... haha
If I were asked to lip sync on TV I would tell them to take a hike.
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Old 31-05-2012, 14:53
PJ1893
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as others have said- whats the point in recording a song you cant sing live?
^ this is how I feel about it too. Miming to a backing track which features all the high notes already pre-recorded for the star, suggests to me that the artist can't actually sing the song in the first place without the aid of technology. It's a form of cheating imo.

I like a good stage show and dance routine too - BUT I think more often now-a-days stars are using the 'big dance routine' as an excuse for the fact they can't sing the high notes themselves. They're cheats.

Also, stars shouldn't make out they are singing live just because they're singing the odd bit live over a backing track.
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Old 31-05-2012, 15:49
Scrubber
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If you're singing on a kids tv show, or something crappy then by all means lip-sync because they wont know the difference.

Two reasons you shouldn't do it on proper shows is because A it's like they think we are stupid and wont notice, which is insulting. And secondly (especially on shows like xfactor/thevoice) the artists are supposed to be showcasing their talent and setting an example. Miming tells me they either don't care about giving people a good performance or they simply cannot sing.
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Old 31-05-2012, 16:10
doinitwrong
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Some singers and/or bands have apparently set up anti-lip synching campaigns.
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Old 31-05-2012, 17:06
little-monster
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I suppose lip synching is only an issue if your paying to see them in concert
If they do it on Tv shows, i guess it doesn't really matter. It still gets several thousand people who never heard it before to go out and buy it.
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Old 31-05-2012, 17:17
D.A.N.N.Y
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If you are performing in front of a audience you should sing live especially if it's a talent show that is all about the voice being able to sing
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Old 31-05-2012, 17:33
WhisperingGhost
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How many people sang on TOTP, Big Breakfast etc live...? People mimed everywhere, but it was only after Pop Idol/XF that more and more people became aware of it imo...
I agree with you. TOTPS, CD:UK, Live and Kicking - it was rare to have an artist or band sing LIVE. It was still frowned upon in the media, but artists just got on with it, always giving the excuse that it was easier for the programmes to manage if they mimed.
Then when Pop Idol etc.came along and these non professional singers were asked to sing LIVE every Saturday, people were even more annoyed (it seemed anyway) when supposed professionals couldn't do it.
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Old 31-05-2012, 18:05
sparkle22
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agree with most of the comments however back in 1991 totp brought a live rule in for a few years.
2 unlimited,celine & mariah sang live very well now of course both mariah & celine lip synch most tv performances.
Since they sing mostly live on their tours it dosen't bother me so much for a TV appearance especially in the morning.
But not on tour I got britney's femme fatale DVD not one song live not even dont let me be the last to know.
Back in the day she did some good live performances blue peter,SNL wonder what happened.
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Old 31-05-2012, 18:12
maninthequeue
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However. If you are performing on a show whose raison d'etre is a LIVE performance, then you should perform live.

This for me is the issue, that is why any popstar who lip-syncs when appearing on the Idol, The Voice or the X-Factor franchise I have contempt for.

Hence, had Cheryl Cole done that performance on So You Think You Can Dance then I would not have had a problem with it, but as the show was The Voice, then I'm unhappy (with the show's producers and the artist) that she was allowed to put in that performance.
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