Nobody is questioning that they can sing dear, people can sing and still mime. We aren't asking if they can sing, just if they were miming tonight (which they were).

I didn't think they were miming but anyway it doesn't matter to me.I always enjoy seeing them.

I think they mimed to a vocal track that was recorded by the band to sound "live". A lot of artists do this and it is getting harder to tell, but they were pretty obvious with it. Plus there were no imperfections or breathing in the entire performance. Though that is also sometimes faked to make it seem more convincing.

I'm questioning if they can sing, but I've managed to escape them for the most part.
They sang out of key through the whole of TXF series and had massive backing tracks to cover their voices. They also had massive favouritism from the show to push them for the win - they still failed.

Four of them are known to be heavy smokers, which runs against the idea of taking any vocal training seriously.

Worst of all they represented their own country by miming at the Olympics. Hello rest of the world look how shit we are.

As I say, I haven't seen this performance, but most of the singers on the show have tended to sing to a backing track which is quietened through the verses and boosted for the chorus to create greater impact.

Have to admit they are the best marketing campaign in the history of music.

Heavy? Sheesh these boys are doing a 10 hour day 6/7 with cameras following their every move. I don't dispute they probably smoke but doubt it is heavy!

Get real. 1D (and Olly Murs) are not popular because of their singing ability now are they even thought the marketers have them as the most successful XF acts?

More to do with Simon Cowell's ego and the money-spinning target audience who couldn't care less whether they are musically talented at all. That is not what their typical fans buy into.

Another million plus mugs, posters and T shirts, etc, were sold after that miming performance. Now that is talent.

I have to agree. If it wasn't so blatant you'd almost admire the talent it takes to create such a money spinning venture. It is like money laundering in human form.

I think One Direction are pretty rubbish but there is a market at the moment for boybands and they are cashing in on that.

Not really when you think of the recent chart performance of The Wanted or Union J.

The talent is understanding the mentality and figuring out the numbers that share the same mentality. It all adds up to big bucks. The real singing/musical talent is the draw to the show. Mediocrity are the cash cows. Simon Cowell has that well worked out.

A bit like quality designer wear but most people buy Primark.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This !!!!

They all looked as if they wanted to be anywhere else but there ,they had no zest about them at all

As for them miming ,the only thing that made me doubt it ,was Niall keep fiddling with his Ear-piece as if he couldn't hear through it properly ,

I just watched the UK performance and now I get where this comes from.

Though I still don't get why would you mime a pre-recorded performance "playing at home", it does look suspicious.

But the US version is definitely live, There are huge differences between the two. Harry's vocals look a lot rougher on the US version and Niall shortcuts through his notes.

Miming or not, they didn't look as though they were enjoying it.

May be they are moving on, maturing and wishing they were credible artists or something rather than a product of a brand? Who knows?

Yes I agree but if you also look how they hold their mikes (a reason posters here were saying they were miming!) which is the very same and also same throat muscle movement in both performances.

The USA X factor was their first performance and as someone who has followed all their tv performances , the first couple of live performances are usually a bit rough around the edges . I still don't think they mimed on either performance . I await tonight's AMA's performance going on you tube.

They've talked a lot about the new album sounding "different" and they got some kind of writing credit on a bunch of the tracks this time. They're trying to be a little more credible.


Just for you, I watched it again. Harry opens the first two lines of the performance with big, very audible breaths. Zayn breathes extremely clearly and sharply in between each line. Niall and Louis both have audible breaths, although very quiet. Only Liam didn't breathe audibly, and he only had short lines and quickly moves the mic away from his mouth after each one. Watching the hand movements, all of them are being very careful not to breathe into their mics if they don't have to.

Error-wise, Liam drops the mic away from his face and fades out pretty badly on "still." Also, on the last group "life" everyone ends at a different time. Messy.

Watch again with headphones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Z7EH3t00k

I've watched both the US and UK performances. Definitely live on the US show. The verses at least. Some off notes and the one guy, Louie, sounded bloody awful (how did he get into the band?!!) For the chorus I think they were all singing live over a pre-recorded backing track but the verses were definitely live. I'm not a fan but I'll give them it was a decent vocal performance from 3 of the group!

On the UK show the whole thing sounded mimed to me but of course I'm not 100% on that. They sounded far more note perfect and polished to me. Even Louie sounded almost in tune!

In the US I doubt they'd have mimed the whole thing anyway as lipsynching on live tv seems to be frowned upon a whole lot more there (Ashley Simpson's mishap on SNL being a prime example) but here more acts seem to mime on tv and have done for decades (ever seen the 60's pop show Ready Steady Go? All mimed!). A lot of acts today of course sing live but with pre-recorded backing vocals, we all know that. Even great singers like Beyonce and Mariah do that! If they're singing all the main parts of the song live it doesn't bother me much if they have pre-recorded backing vocals accompanying them, especially if they're dancing around like crazy (who wants to hear a wobbly, out of breath vocal?!). But in the case of One Direction there isn't really any excuse for miming as they don't dance, they just stand there looking bored stiff!!

Anyway, definitely live on US XFactor (Louie would never have mimed to such an abysmal vocal, lol!) and the others sounded a little wobbly in places but (to me anyway) they sounded mimed on the UK show. But who knows, eh?! All I know is that Louie and the Irish guy are damn lucky to be in the group with such weak voices!

Miming on X factor.

You're absolutely right. Audible breaths. That won't convince some people though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvyO...e_gdata_player

I suppose these people will also say this American Music Award performance was mined.

That is despite Niall dragging his solo slightly, Zayn trailing on the end of his last solo and Harry finishing abruptly.

Sigh*........ or maybe a few will surprise us and except that the boys have good vocals. They have far improved in 3 years.

Yup, they were definitely live there. Harry and Liam have by far the best voices, imo. Apart from Harry's slightly off note at the end there, lol. But good performance. I still think there was a lot of miming going on on UK X Factor but they were live on US XF. They clearly make the effort to sing live in the US. I agree that Zayn always looks so damn miserable though!

This is exactly why they care a jot if Tamera sings flat or forgets her words as all they have to do nowadays is record it once, fixing any off notes and redoing any missed vocals, and then just mime their way around the world.

No wonder the singing standard isn't important in these shows any longer.

"the boys"

We've been invaded by 1D fans.

Their X Factor auditions were three years ago! Of course they sound different. Three years ago they barely knew each other. Also because they are so young their voices will gradually mature.
I thought they sang very well tonight, particularly Harry who really has come into his own. I also believe it was live.
However, speaking as a huge fan of 1D I think their management really need to give them a well deserved rest. They have had an incredibly hard schedule of tours/promotions and whilst I know that they need to 'strike while the irons hot' a few weeks relaxation on a deserted beach somewhere would do them the world of good. Everyone needs a holiday.

They mimed in the UK but not in the US.

They didn't seem to be miming, they would have given Louis better vocals if they were. The reason they sound a bit different on the US is because Harry is straining on the chorus and it's making him hoarser over time.

It was prerecorded however, so I wouldn't be surprised if they'd done it a few times and picked the best one or spliced them together.