Common Sense

Ok, I've just gotta vent about this whole Ashlee Simpson lip syncing fiasco. And yes, it was a total fiasco, although I really felt bad for the poor girl. Even though she had a record contract thrown at her because of her older sister. Even though the live alternative would have been pretty bad (I saw the MTV Music Awards performance and wouldn't wish it upon anyone). Yes, even though she blamed her band. It's just a level of humiliation that makes my heart hurt.

But - and I say this with 110% conviction and the desire to educate the public on a topic of which I am an expert - you absolutely must realize that pop stars lip sync. It's such a common practice, it might as well be required for the gig. I can't believe that this latest blunder surprised anyone. More importantly, I don't understand why people can't just automatically tell the difference. Isn't it blatantly obvious when a live act isn't kosher?

Take the Destiny's Child opening performance at the Radio City Music Awards tonight. Total, complete lip sync. No question. If any of the group members deny this fact in the face of recent heightened live act scrutiny, they LIE!

Here are a few telltale giveaways that a live performance isn't authentic (in addition to the lips not actually being in sync with the music):

1. The rendition sounds a lot like the radio edit. No, wait, actually it sounds exactly like the radio edit. That's because it is. And you can tell, because you've heard the song so many times that you're now distinctly aware of where the vocal peaks and valleys are. It's impossible to recreate an identical copy on stage. It simply can't be done. Somewhere, everyone will sound just slightly different. That is, unless they're lip syncing.
2. You seem to be picking up multiple layers of the same voice. For example, a faint audio illusion of three Britneys singing, but just one Britney on stage. This is so the real Britney doesn't have to try as hard. The backup "voice" will even out the rough spots and allow her to rip off clothing and gyrate without the pesky fear that her voice will crack. Don't deny it, Britney fans!
3. The performance is accompanied by lots of complicated choreography. I don't even want to hear some lame explanation about how the most hard-working singers are in such good shape that they can pull off strong vocals and aerobic activity simultaneously. If you don't hear Janet Jackson panting and gasping through her lyrics, then it's no surprise that she isn't singing. Accept it and enjoy Rhythm Nation.

Hmm... so what category does the SNL faux pas fit in? None of them specifically. But let's remember that we're in a pop music era where any decent producer can churn out shiny, smooth, fabricated singles with  a little audio software. Most pop stars just aren't that good. They're usually quite cute in their videos, and often related to someone cute and/or famous, but rarely true vocal talents. Ashlee's debut album was a hit, and her record label wants to cash in, so now she has to perform as much as possible to keep record sales up. What's a girl to do when she can't carry the weight on her own?

Thanks, I feel better now. And for the record, I can't sing worth a damn, so this isn't some jealous, it-should-be-me-up-there thing. I just want musical artists to own up, and stop insulting our intelligence.

PS- Just watched Ashlee's performance on the Radio City Music Awards. The good news is that it was definitely live. The bad news is that it was definitely live.

Comments

[PorkEverlasting]

Yeah, thats why I stay away from pop music. I'll be the first to admit that I like some pop music, because well... its catchy. Thats what its supposed to be, and thats what it does. Unfortunately, thats _all_ that it does. Most "pop" music (spoken in the sense of bubblegum and boybands and most popular hiphop or whatever) has absolutely no depth, whether what you are looking for is emotional depth, politcal depth, whatever. And I think that its unfortunate that people buy into that. But what can I say, you just can't give people good taste. They either have it or they don't. I think until radio and mtv start playing good music, I'll just stick to my wonderful cd collection.

[langley]

I watched both of Ashlee's performances on SNL last night, and I think it was obvious she wasn't singing, even on the one song she got through. You could even make out the exact point where it went from her singing live, to the recorded track. She was SO bad live that the mix was way to noticable. erf.

Anyhow, what appears to have happened on SNL was, NOT that the band played the wrong song (as Ashlee's finger pointed) but more like whoever was in the control room started to play the wrong track, it caught everyone off guard, but at least the band was solid enough to roll with it. Not that Ashlee could have done much, other than just go with it and let everyone think it was a "technical problem" or some such spin.

I agree totally that most, if not all, pop singers lip sync. I'd be shocked if like...I found out some punk band was mouthing words. And by "punk" i don't mean Blink 182.

My two and a half cents.

[Luke]

Too tired to type a lot like everyone else but I totally agree w/ you Sarah. With Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and all these pretty wanabes coming into the music business, it will just screw things up. They edit a lot of stuff in the studio... I dont think any of the n00bs could perform as well as they do on a cd. *cough*Fergie*cough*

[tetro]

even though Christina Aguilera is a skank, you gotta admit she has vocal chops (it's clear when some of the volume's uneven when she moves her mic away from her face)

[Trevor]

It was not the fact that she was lip syncing that got everyone in a fuss it was more her reaction to the lip sync problems she had on SNL.

The fact she walked off stage while leaving her band mates to fend for themselves and then finding someone to blame it on (her band, SNL, etc.) but not herself. If she did not walk off stage and dealt with the problem (like go with the flow and lip syncing) it would not have been so bad, just a small lip sync reveal for the entertainment shows and no big whoop, but it shows her character as a person and as a performer.

[Eman Laerton]

You Have Bad Taste In Music
www.youhavebadtasteinmusic.com

[redfusion]

YAY for indie music.

[syndromes]

"PS- Just watched Ashlee's performance on the Radio City Music Awards. The good news is that it was definitely live. The bad news is that it was definitely live."

Haha, as Kevin would say, that's awesome!

Thanks for giving me a good chuckle Sarah :)

BTW, this coming from an Ashlee fan. Now if only N*Sync would come out with a new album already!

[anjori]

I really enjoyed this post of yours--it was a good read. Thank you.

[Matt]

Sarah - What most people have a problem with (IMO) is that Ashlee has publicly spoken out against singers who lip sync, and how much she hates it, and how she'd never do it... then something like SNL happens, and she emerges as a complete hypocrite. Not only is she caught "red-handed" but then she immediately blames her band (whose fault it was not), and then the next morning all her publicity people start the spin about how tired she was from being on tour, sore theroat, and finally 'acid reflux'... just my .02...

[scoob]

Amen, I have always wondered why people couldn't tell too.

Pisses me off.

And why we are at it, please stop putting in digital ads into sporting events. Under no circumstances should anyone be altered digitally during a "live" performance, like M. Jackson during his "special."

[Tracisj]

Exactly!
When Ashlee first came out she said that people who lipsynched were lame and that she would NEVER do that. I think that's what all the hubbub is about. She even had a Candies shoes ad out with her holding a Millie Vanilli(sp?) album up in the air(ironic eh?)as if to say "I'm a rock chick, I don't lip synch like those pop stars"
HA!! Yeah, ok honey

[Tim]

I wonder why SNL hasn't gotten more of the blame for having a such a craptacular performer on their stage. SNL really should consider putting that show to sleep. They used to push envelopes and be a great source of biting satire and commentary. Not so much these days...

[jackie]

i've seen almost all of her live performances and that is the first time I knew she had "help" (like Sarah said it's almost pathetically painful to sit thru one of her actual live performances). I don't believe she was totally lip syncing because in the first song you could actually hear an echo from where her voice and the track weren't in sync.

::shrugs:: people make mistakes and I'm sure EVERY artist has either had to make the decision whether to have a back-up track or cancel a performance. She did what she had to do. I think it's funny how all these people feel the need to tell her how much she sucks and how horrible of a person she is because she said she would never lip sync. How many times have you done something you said you would never do? That's right, get over it.

[Brad Miller]

Hey Sarah I would have to say you really know what your talking about. I just saw a video clip of Ashlee on SNL. This is not common like you said but you got to support that there entertainers. They have an "act". Which is cool to me, to each there own.

I'm a recording artist for a independent record label out of St. Louis(www.liberation-music.com). I'd would love to get a review from you if your interested. Please let me know what you think. I'm on purevolume.com, here's the link. http://www.purevolume.com/bradmiller

I was a solo artist but now we have changed our name to August Reliance. Please let me know what you think

[nealhamburger]

This Ashlee Simpson character sucks and so does the music industry! It's called psychological warfar and there are a lot of common everyday people brain washed by these bastards! If yall would just stop listening and stop watching this shit, it would go away. Radio City Music Awards? What the hell is that crap?! Screw the big 5 and all their lies and corruption! And screw all of you for even gining a shit!

[Johnny]

you know, on one end of it, it really is depressing to see how the music industry is run and how easily it can be for certain people to garner success (hmm, a microcosm of how society is run wouldn't you think?) but on the other end of thinking about it, for many of the musicians who are talented and can pen great music, their goals and definition of success have nothing to do with the popularity and the commercialization of their music. it's an art and you can compare it to art in that many do it for themselves. just think of a few musicians who're brilliant yet hate the spotlight.

but oh well, i guess the real loss is the masses who're increasingly being exposed to what they think are great music and sooner or later will never be exposed to what great music really is. sorry for the long post, i'm just a little passionate about this sort of thing as well. -johnny

[John-Paul]

I seriously doubt this kind of thing would happen at a Bad Religion or a Tenacious D concert.

Hmm, pop music can be catchy. I absolutely love Britney Spears Toxic and I'm not even ashamed to admit it. It's a good song, I think, but I still hate most pop music.

Actually, a lot of songs I hate will get lodged in my head when I hear them enough, like Outkasts Hey Ya. I hated that, heard it so much I liked it. When eminem released his new song recently, I wanted to hear it but didn't want to have to suffer through hours of crappy pop music on the station that would play eminem.

So I just downloaded iTunes and voila! Was able to download Toxic as well, without having to buy the britney album (trust me, wasn't gonna happen)

But all in all I love iTunes. I can see why so many people are converts, I've gotta get an iPod next semester now :o)

[Scheda]

YAY SARAH!!! Go you.

[Allen]

Office Space Quote fits:
"No Talent Ass Clown"
:o)

[soaringhigh]

In the old days, I wish some of the bands would've lip synced. Like Led Zepplin, you heard the record, then went to the concert and said no way. Concerts just couldn't do what a expensive studios could, with how many do-overs.

[ericthedj]

I think you've summed up the whole thing perfectly. The only thing I can add is one question. Is there anything wrong with any of this? It's pop music, it's what pop music has always been, and it's why it's so "popular". Geez, how many talented performers went on American Bandstand with their instruments to lip sync and pretend to play along with their radio single? People want to hear their pop they way they hear it on the radio... even when it's live. Did anybody out there really expect a stellar live performance by Ashlee Simpson??? Ever??? It sugar sweet, made for the masses, pre-packaged and shallow... and that's why we LOVE IT! LOVE LIVE POP MUSIC!

[Jason aka the Dark Magician]

Your right Sarah. It is obvious that now Ashlee is a big hit she is being shoved into the public spotlight with the only real experience of any kinda of performing is when she was on 7th Heaven, which personally i thought she should have stayed blonde she was so much cuter that way. Poor Ashelee will be eternally cast into the shadow of 2 things 1) her sister. 2) this embarassing fiasco. Im not saying that feeling like this for her should mean we go out and get talent but i mean there should be some kinda sympathy for her.

[Worldtechguy]

Holy Crapola, The 'Stones lip synced on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964! Lip Synching has been around as long as 78 RPM records! If Ashlee were a little smarter (???) she would have said, Oops, I was lip synching to the wrong song! Nothing would have been made of this. If I were her band mates, I would foul her up in her next live performance, much like a football offensive line falls down to show the running back how important they really are.

[PorkEverlasting]

The real reason that the Stones (and so many other groups back then) lip synced when they were on TV was that live sound reproduction wasn't good enough to capture what the band was doing without sounding totally craptastic. Thats the reason that they did it back then. It wasn't to cover over lackluster performances.

[Frank]

What's ironic is that Ashlee's entire career is predicated on the fact that she's NOT like her sister. Her coming out as a typical pop-star-lip-syncer just kills her entire image.

Don't forget to play picture war with Sarah! http://www.fperkins.com/chat/picturewar/war.aspx

[Ivan Barreda]

Aside from the fact that Corporate America and the media elite are in bed with children,yes what Sarah says is completely right. I mean I already knew Ashlee was a fraud,but the masses didn't know she was a fraud because Corporate America makes sure it hides that fact from you(but not from me). It is very interesting that she called her little dance a Hoedown because it serves a double meaning of describing herself(ho..cough,cough..ho). I mean it isn't the fact that we don't want them lip-syncing but the fact that we pay to see and expect more from them. I appreciate bands like 3 Doors Down that say(the lead singer)that he doesn't always have the voice but when he's on tour he goes out there and does his best. It's a job for them and they enjoy it,but for ppl like Ashlee(Lohan,Duff) it is to be a Disney slave and sell your soul to corporate America for a measly sum of money.

[Jason]

If your going to lip sync, Id rather you just play the CD and stand there and wave to say hi! Then to pay decent money for a fake show. Why go live if your not live. I dont care how your voice sounds on live. If you can't do it live, then dont do it at all. Everyone wants money, that is the point. All others who pay for it, are just victims. Take for instance, ICE Cubes song telling everyone that the music buisness is just like being Pimped!

[mike]

pop music SUCKS.

That's why I'm staying with country.

[gunner]

What's lame is that she first tried to blame it on the band, then wouldn't own up to it until the media started running away with the story. Then again, I don't really care about her or her music, so it's no big deal. >:)

[A.j.]

i hate the whole pop thing...with a passion...
The Used...Finch...Lost Prophets...Thrice...
Brand New...thats some good shit...i just think for the people who pay cash for live stuff...should get just that...or you might as well stay home and listen to the cd...i love the fact that that ashley chick blamed her band...that's awesome...if she was a dude...her ass would have been kicked...

[Andrew Lardi]

GREAT article!!!!!! I agree 100%

[the fuse]

lmao...o man you nailed it

[Some Guy]

yeah, this is all true. But Ashlee Simpson is still really hot, and so is her sister. *Thumbs Up!*

[Ian]

Sarah - I couldn't agree anymore with your comments about Ashlee Simpson. You really hit the mark on this one. I'd like to add just a side comment for you and everyone reading this as well.

Ashlee Simpson's lip sync is a symptom of a relationship between 2 entities: The Pop Music Industry and the Public. The symptom/problem is the "pop" music makers are trying to appeal to the public (that's how they make $$$) and this is where the public is to blame. Actually, it's 13 year old girls who fawn over N'Sync and Ashlee and Brittney and the like.

Can any of these so-called artists or musicans actually play an instrument or are they limited to singing? Can anyone remember when music invovled instruments, chords, riffs and NOT dance routines and costumes?
Even KISS could _PLAY_ music and THEY wore MAKEUP! I'm not the biggest KISS fan, but the very least I could respect them.

The marketing and propoganda that these kids are "buying" into almost makes me want to vomit. The MAJORITY of POP music is ruining our country's musical output/quality and these kids keep buying this marketed crap, because NO ONE has shown them otherwise!

The good news: kids grow up; they learn (with shame); they move on to _actual_ music. Proof: Find anyone over the age of 19 who actually loves N'Sync today for their great music and thought provoking lyrics.
The bad news: there are YOUNGER kids who have not learned yet! Proof: New Kids on the Block --> N'Sync --> Ashlee Simpson.

And we can see the vicious cycle of pop crap ever increasing in this country. Please, for the love of music, TEACH some kids or any kid something else than this pop crap!

Sheesh!

[Dustin]

WOW, What a rant!!! Don't get me wrong Sarah, I totally agree with you,its just not often we see such fierce honesty in your writing. GOOD JOB! oh yeah, everyone, save yourself the trouble and don't listen to the CRAP

if you want some good music search "MIDTOWN" on itunes

[Steve]

"Just watched Ashlee's performance on the Radio City Music Awards. The good news is that it was definitely live. The bad news is that it was definitely live."

- OUCH!!!

[Hayward]

Just how low can (G4)TechTV/Screensavers SINK???

It was already hitting the skids when they ceased San Francisco production but now that it is in La La Land... its bordering... no make that WELL into NAUSEATING. (complete with ECSTATICALLY cheering for ANYTHING remotely sexual suggestive or blantant sponsor whoring now sizeable audience... do they just hawk them off the street or what??)

Almost NO usable content (and VERY few calls... maybe because no ones watching?... at least live)... it is all fluff and almost pubescent teen mentality subject matter.

Especially the already lame LAN party segments... now they have the Computer Game Super Model in the studio for the MAYBE 19 year old co host to DREWL over and make really crass passes at... and they basically because it is broadcast tell him to go away... if it were HBO it would be just "F.O. !!! you lame AH!!".

I have rarely watched more than 5 min of it since the move... tonight's major scale tech model rocket segments were the RARELY interesting subject matter...and a major portion of the show even.

But it has gotten SO BAD I even question why I even have it as a DVR event and bother scanning it (usually barely stopping... if not just outright deleting)

It was really great seeing Jessica, and some of the other earlier (AND CLASSIER) TS ladies back before the END of the SF time... now I don't think they could even PAY her, Erica, Kate, Morgan, or Leo or any of the others that made the show notable enough to step foot in that studio even with full travel expenses.

Doubt we will ever see those great Bert Monroy Photoshop segments anymore either
--

[Adell]

There are a lot of things that happen in live production that most people either aren't aware of or don't know how to spot.

For example - the popular show 'Riverdance' is tap-synced.

Yes, that's right. Of course the dancers are really dancing - but the perfect snycopation and concussive sound that the producers have decided are the pinnacle of the show - is all on tape. Much of the 'live' music and virtually all of the vocals are as well.

I work in 'the biz' and there are several things that happen in productions in order to enhance the overall experience. It is, after all, - theatre.

And as we, who work in this field, have to remind ourselves from time to time, - regrettably it's not called Show Art, . . it's Show Business.

[bamshackle]

yeah i just saw her snl mess up, and it wasn't that bad. Bad would be seeing her show on MTV. Millions already knew she couldn't sing. If any one wants the link to the video just go to my site and its on the main page. But save your self sometime and drag your finger nail across a chalk board, cause that is what this poor girl sounds like.

[John]

GO METRIC NOW!!! www.atomandhispackage.com

[Derek]

I saw that snl performance and at first i felt bad for her because it was someone elses mistake and she had to take all the embarasment of it but then when she came back at the end and blamed it on the band who was obviously not at fault and were able to adjust to the other song without it even being noticable unlike somebody, caugh ashlee caugh, i pretty much lost any simpathy i had for her. What happened to the good music. I'm 15 and everyone my age is listening to people who can't and don't even sing. I like Aerosmith they actually sing there songs and if you have ever seen them perform it's really obviouse in a good way.

[Jacob]

I don't think that they're surpried that she lip synced, I think it is the fact that it was on SNL, which is like a entertainment sin. Look at any tapes from the past SNL and none of them lip sync, the other thing is the way that it happened. That they played the wrong track and everything. It's really no big deal that she lip snyced, just where she did it.

[Dillon Curtner]

Hey Brad, I just listened to your stuff. Let me just say.....Wow. Honestly, I wasn't expecting that. You are definitely very good. Now I know I'm not Sarah, but I like to think I know a thing or two about music. Do you play a lot around St. Louis? If you do I might have to come see a show. You have just gained a new fan.

[Eddie Presley]

The fact they lip sync isn't so bad, it's that they are passed off as legit talent that perform live legitimately is what is so bad. Madonna and Janet Jackson have always blended lip sync and live vocals in their shows as have many acts, but they weren't studio product churned out for a quick buck. With the pitch controls and aural effects available now, you can make any non singer sound great in the studio and pass them off as some sort of legit talent. If you just like the sound of the music and don't care about the performer, great, enjoy it, but I think this cheap female pop product really sets women and girls back by decades. They are controlled by men twice their age for the sole purpose of making money for those men, they are dumped at the first sign their popularity is waning, and usually they have to peddle their trade to the lowest common denominator by using their young sexual attributes to get anyone to even notice them. It's not just shame on Ashlee, but a shame on anyone who gives money to this stream of fake pop product.

[Chip Daiger]

Cmon...isn't this the problem with music today? Everyone in the industry is in complete denial of any reality (and I'm not talking about P2P...against it). The Music Industry is lacking the commitment to find/develop any talent. They feel they can dupe the public with "real" talent. Too easy...and now a discerning public is backlashing...get to work Execs and find/develop REAL talent...

[Evil Bastard]

That's why I haven't listened to commercial radio in a long time. WXPN 88.5/88.1 from Univ. of PA is the only music radio I will listen to. Real musicians/singers. But the bulk of my musical collection is mostly instrumental, jams, techno, spacey ambient, etc.

[Ivan Barreda]

Thank you chip,I appreciate that some ppl understand the Disney slaves put up by Corporate America are corrupting a beautiful art form like this. The reason it hasn't changed though is the fact that we live in a conformist society(not all of us,just most of us). The Music Industry wonders about this and the fact that the industry is having it's problems,this is one of the causes. The plastic talent that passes around us and leeches off of little children is a major factor that we should all try and stop.

[darkspark]

oh, it's a common practice alright... but it's a big deal because she was caught doing it (at least to me, the whole thing is not about she's doing it but how she was (badly) caught)

it's like, everyone lie... but u do so without the obvious (so no one knows)... once u r caught, it looks real bad (and pple complain/fight/argue/lose trust/etc. ... but if u get away with it, most pple don't care--just like it never happens

[Kt]

I don't see symphonies playing along with a recording in a live performance.
The score:
Classical musicians: 1
Today's mainstream "artists": 0 ..or -1, maybe! (tee)

We need more people with musicality in the industry. Christina Aguleria and Jessica Simpson can genuinely sing. We need more of them... not more fabricated 15-minutes-of-fame music.
I'd like an acoustic revival. Singer, guitar, piano. That's GOOD TIMES.

...I'm so glad I go to a performing arts school where we can have impromptu [usually nice sounding] instrumental jams. :D