Many years ago I saw Tori Amos in concert. She was her usual perfect self, save for one song. She started to sing "China" and a sang a bar or two, stopped, and said, "Wait, I'm playing one key and singing in another." So she started over. The crowd loved her not because she was perfect but because she could admit that she wasn't.
& thats th way it should be! I've said it b4 & I'll say it again, I'd rather see a live singer that was drunk w/bronchitis giving it all they could, rather than lipsync to a track! @ least I saw a live show, otherwise I'd jus stay @ home!
I saw Chrissie Hynde totally forget the words to Don't Get Me Wrong years ago with the Pretenders. She laughed it off, figured it out, and started over and the crowd still had a great time.
If I'm at a live show, I want the band/singer to be live as well. Not pre-recorded. I'm there to see and hear them in person, not a recording that I could buy. The problem comes from the other people behind the scene pushing "bigger, better, more.. stuff". But I like to say the only pressure is that which you put on yourself.
Judging by artists like Rammstein, it's entirely possible to do "bigger, better, more" without having to lip sync... just gotta keep the fire department on standby. :P
I agree. There are plenty of true performers that can put on the spectacle, and deliver true live performances. Why throw money at pretenders? That is why I love rock, it's real. Sure, some of the older bands need to hang it up when the singer can no longer do it ,looking at you KISS, but at least you know you are getting an honest production even if Paul can't hit all the notes, skips a few words, or can barely move on stage in order to sing.
@@seanheath4492 Very true. Look at the epic stage shows Iron Maiden has put on over the years and the amazing vocal and musical performances they performed while doing so
@@seanheath4492 to be honest, Rammstein is not making the most demanding music for the performers. They are still a pretty good example for doing both, but the music is not that complex compared with other metal music. But another example for a band that can do both is Nightwish in my opinion. The show is not exactly centered around the musicians, but it is still nice and they are pretty good live. Other acts blew me away with their musical live performances like Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators or Dragonforce. They were pretty awesome and made a perfect atmosphere mainly with their music! I can really enjoy both, good show and good musicianship and I think this is quite important.
Part of the problem is that the artists are set up to fail from the over-use of technology in the studio. From autotuned voices to quantized drums and tempos - the bar is set unrealistically high. No human can sound like that night-in and night-out.
@@kidthorazine I've seen U2 and Cold Play live and they sounded better than the CDs. They were that good. So not sure why people don't think people can sing live most of the great ones do. The fakers never could so they pretend that no one can sing live which is a lie.
I come from a metal and punk background. And for me it's about the experience of the live show and the energy. If the artist is doing some mistakes, be it the Vocalist, Guitar Player, Bass Player, Drummer or the Keyboardist, that's fine. That is part of playing music live. Some of those moments can turn into vivid memories in your future. (I can remember so many funny moments from dozens of live performances) I expect an artist to perform live, when going to a concert. I can understand why in some other genres, other parts of the performance may be as important or more important than the actual singing (like the example you gave with K-Pop and dancing). I personally do not listen to music, where this is the case, so i can't judge if i would prefer dancign with lip sync, or actual singign with less/no dance moves. Greetings from Germany
Exactly. With rock, a lot of bands are better live than they are in the studio. A lot of songs sound best when performed in front of an energetic crowd, with the band feeding on that energy.
Well said! Imagine Blind Guardian doing The Bard's Song with Hansi Kuersch lip-syncing. Imagine Iron Maiden doing Fear of the Dark with Bruce Dickinson lip-syncing. I can't. :)
@@dumping7092 Fun Fact. Iron Maiden did a song on a TV Show, where they were forced to play to a backing track. Not only lip syncing, but the whole band was not allowed to play live. They did goof around like crazy, swapping instrument mid song. At some Point Dteve Harris did pöay Guitar and was "singing"
I get the whole lip syncing on movies. But on live performances I find it unacceptable. If you can't sing those songs, change the arrangements, the key...adapt the songs to what your voice is able to deliver. If you can't do that, retire already.
Maybe it should be the other way around. Instead of trying to sound perfect on stage because they sound perfect on the record, they should minimize the (post)processing and the effects applied on the albums so the record itself becomes more `natural` with it`s small imperfections and slight off tone or off rhythm or whatever. I think the audience doesn`t ask for perfection. A lot of people buy vinyl or go to small venues or bars with live music. We love crackles in music, we love bands that improvise, we love singers that can interact with the audience during a song. So in my humble opinion: yes, lip sync has it fields where it`s useful. And yes, you can`t expect to go to a show of Beyoncé and have no lip sync, because in a lot of modern pop stars it`s not about the singing, but about the act. It`s about the effects, the dancing, the wardrobe, the hair, etc. But maybe it`s also time to tone it down a little bit. Stop pitching every note/instrument/voice, just because it`s possible. We`re used to hear imperfections, that`s life. Leave the imperfections on the studio album and it will also give freedom in singing on stage.
It's interesting you used the word crackles. Many of us, myself included, grew up with vinyl and the reality that no matter how well an album was recorded it was eventually going to have crackles and pops on it. Even the most meticulous record collector could fall victim to dust. I wonder how much the rise of digital music and its perfect playback every time has contributed to the need for perfection in all things musical.
I’m old enough to remember a time when people went to a concert to respectfully listen to the artist sing. Today, touring artist hold giant “sing alongs” and I would have no problem with the artist singing along to their track too. I recall Barry Manilow, “I Write the Songs”, saying he was shocked when he realized the audience was singing along with him? He said I thought they came to hear ME sing? He said ultimately he decided it was a compliment that they knew all the lyrics. Personally, I understand the “celebration” of today’s concerts, but I miss the days of simply being enthralled listening to the sounds of Peter, Paul, & Mary. 😉
Since you mentioned Marti Nixon, she was also in “The Sound of Music” (the movie). However, since Julie Andrews was a suburb singer, Ms. Nixon’s vocal talents were not needed... but she was cast as one of the nuns. You can see her in the scene where Ms. Andrews is being dressed for her character’s wedding... she’s the redhead with a strong resemblance to Ms. Andrews. Ms.Nixon did admit that that role was her favorite...
I went to the last David Gilmour Tour back in 2015. As he was about to play "Time" from Dark Side of the Moon he forgot to change the guitar effect and was playing the first part of the solo of that song with a clean Guitar - noticed it - switched to the normal effect - and I saw him and his bassplayer (Guy Pratt) laughing their asses off as if they were saying "Oh no - not that mistake again) and were having a good time. I personally enjoyed to see that a guitar legend like Gilmour isn't as perfect as he is on the records - makes him more human and more sympathetic. This is what I expect of a live gig. An authentic situation - watching people play their instruments and singing - with all those imperfections and mistakes and variations they make during a guitar solo etc. Ever watched a concert of the Dave Matthews band, Beth? Every concert - yes every time they play their songs - they do it diffrently and have HUGE jam passages in many songs. This is - to me - the ultimate live experience. Just a band - celebrating their music with surprises we do not hear on the records.
According to Rebecca Ferguson, Loren Allred had been simply providing a female voice for "Never Enough," toward helping director Michael Gracey work out how that scene should play on screen. Rebecca happened to hear Loren singing "her" song, and was the one to suggest that it should be Loren's voice on the screen.
I very much appreciate your viewpoint here on the acceptance of imperfections, especially in a live artistic performance. I believe the problem largely does arise from the industry viewing artistic output as "product".
'Imperfection is okay'. One of the most difficult thing to keep in mind and live with. And one of the most important for being able to keep creating something at all
I'm so thankful that artists of the past did lip synching on tv shows. Now, we can see the artists and hear the studio versions of their songs. I might not have felt this way 30 years ago, but at 60 I can see the historic benefit of at least televised lip synch performances.
I think stadium/arena tours these days are more about a show as you are rarely close enough to experience the live performance anyway. I personally wouldn't really go to those kind of gigs as I prefer more theatre, pub or specific music venues. Film is totally different and I never expect anything to have actually been performed as seen on screen.
I love how your commentary on lip syncing and perfection expectations could relate to many topics as well, this is a symptom of what our societies are about. I, for my part, prefer authenticity and raw, pure emotion to perfection and technicity. It's okay to fail, if not there would be no growth.
I love the "imperfections" of the real voice in a live performance with a great singer; it's, in my personal taste, what makes those experiences memorable.
I gone to Concerts live concerts I like hearing imperfection the mistakes it has a show it makes the Show unique The drummer missing a beat guitars playing the wrong note. I have gone to heavy metal and rock concerts most and I'm alive specially Metallica
Very interesting topic. I haven't been to many shows, and those have mostly been smaller venues. Not a fan of the larger venues/spectacles, as I want to hear the artist sing, and can't stand the crowds. I'd rather watch those on TV. Not that there haven't been a few shows that I wish I could have been at because of the atmosphere and significance of the event.
When it comes to a concert, I don't really want to hear a perfect performance. If that's what I get then I may as well have stayed home and listened to the album. The spots where it's different because they're really singing is what make the live performance interesting to me. That said if the focus of the performance is the show rather than the song itself then by all means lip sync, it'll be good for those who want the show more, just not for me.
I always feel that studio work should perfect and live work should have its flaws. In my mind, the studio is the perfect concept of what the music should be and live music is what can actually be performed on that night with those artistic subtleties that only a live performance can deliver. Its human and it should be that way
Exactly! Plus there's a lot of space for improvisations and putting songs in to different perspectives. After that, live experience is totally something else, something special.
I just love how you always put the human with all their emotions and vulnerabilities in the first place. I do believe this is the real beauty in everything we do. This is what makes you and your videos so interesting to watch for me! Congrats!
If it is a live concert i am expecting it to be live singing. I dont give a sh*t about perfection i want interaction. I can listen to the studio version at home or anythere else.
I think that, with looking at vocalists like Floor, who are singing live and do make mistakes (so very rarely with Floor), the performances become magical and something out of this world. However the metal genre allows for this because vocalists aren't expected to dance and jump around. So in genre's like Pop that require dancing and theatrics to be part of the performance, then lip syncing should be completely acceptable. I would just prefer it if they didn't do all the crazy dance stuff and rather sang because like I said to begin with, live singing can be magical and emotive. I'd rather cry than go 'WOW!!' Ashniko performed Daisy live (I think it was SNL) and she let her back up dancers do the flashy stuff and she focused on singing. I immediately respected her more. That's my long winded thoughts lol
I mostly think that it depends on what our expectations are for the particular act. Why are we seeing them in concert? If we're seeing a K-pop group, as mentioned in the video, we probably want to see the cool dance moves, so lip-synching makes that experience better by reducing what the performers have to concentrate on. If we're seeing a grunge band, an unpolished sound is kind of the point, and lip-synching makes less sense. In an extreme example, think of people who go to see Hatsune Miku in concert. The whole thing is manufactured, but they just want the concert experience.
Hi Beth. Take a look at Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry from Journey. They are one of the Best (or Best?) Voices for me. They are jumping on Stage and singing live, no lip sync. So it is possible. The problem is our time now: tecnic over tecnic, auto tune, everyone wants to be better than last. No good time for music. We should go back after the 90s 🙂 Greetings from Germany Roland
I can see lip syncing being used if a singer has a serious cold or is otherwise sick in a way that effects your voice. It’s so hard as a singer to carry on with a performance schedule with even the slightest sore throat or anything, but it also feels horrible to cancel on a venue or your band at the last minute...
I once was at a concert where the vocalist got sick a couple of hours before and hasn't been able to endure one song. The guitarist explained the audience what was going on and that people payed to see them live, and so the rest of the band stayed and played the whole gig, without the vocalist.
I seen Sting in concert after his second solo album, probably 1988. His throat was bothering him but he and the band put on an awesome show and he dropped a couple of the hardest songs, took a few extra short breaks. There seems to be a big difference between generations of performers, artists, musicians, etc. Maybe it's part of the industry now to sell mediocre singing as long as you can dance and look good. I'd pick a good blues musician/singer in a pub over the overproduces Vegas stage shows masquerading as music any day.
People don't go to concerts to hear the singers sing, they go there to watch them do their " performance" Which is basically just dancing, light shows and some pyrotechnics. Everything but singing.
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For live performance, i would never. For a YT video, I would maybe correct some of the parts, but only when the camera's not pointing at my face (cheating?).
If I go to a music concert, I expect that any singer is actually singing and that is what I am hearing. If they cannot do a credible job, then perhaps they should not perform live and simply be a studio musician/singer. I am OK with additional music effects manually triggered by musicians to add texture or bring it closer to a studio verison...I am even OK with a second (harmony) voice manually triggered by a performer to add colour to a performance....but the main/lead singer must be able to sing and not lip-sync...otherwise to me, I did not get what i paid for and would absolutely feel that I was cheated/tricked into spending my hard earned money to see something I could probably see in a video somewhere. Thanks for your video as it was informative.
In a live performance I want to be able to have interaction. I want the artist to let the crowd sing along and participate. Look at the Foo Fighters live performances.
Did you ever see some videos of 1960s bands playing before a live audience? Many were lip syncing to their studio recorded versions. The laughable part was most times the guitars were not even plugged in!
What a great topic for discussion. I understand and often expect lip sync on TV shows as there are many factors involved (most are those that you brought up). What I really don't like is when it happens in live concerts (clubs and concert halls). I accept but also not a fan of backing tracks but that is another conversation.
When you hear the modern pop singers, it's obvious they don't know how to sing. They're just shiny products of advertising, nothing else. That's why they lip sync. No excuses.
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.” ― Ludwig van Beethoven I agree about perfection. Only one person who walked the Earth is perfect and I won't see him until after I pass from this world. Singer: "I lip sync to save my voice." Manager: "Where would you like it saved?" Singer: "In that little wooden box." Manager (Looking for little wooden box and can't find it. Holds up another little box with a hinged lid): "How about this box?" Singer: "No that will make me sound like I'm in a tin can. The little box needs to be wooden not metal." (Canned laughter) Publisher: "Jokes aside, and the above joke needs to be thrown way to the side. This writer is horrible, isn't he? We'll just sack him and have a ghost writer finish this post." (Canned laughter) There are some situations lip syncing is valid. I think it is better if the artist is lip syncing to their own voice while dancing which takes a lot of need for breath control away. Not all actors can sing and not all singers can act. So I think it can be valid situation for lip syncing. I did see Styx in 2018. One of their singers/guitarists who I will call squeaky, had laryngitis. Despite this he sang and talked as he normally would with a healthy voice, just very raspy. He could have used lip syncing, but he opted for live. I got mad respect for Tommy Shaw already. This just made me even more of a fan. "Remember loose lips create lips sinking." (Canned laughter) Publisher: "Hey you! I thought we sacked you. Right! Walk the plank with you." (Canned laughter) Major: "Stop that! Stop that! This is just getting silly. And don't think that tin of laughter will work here." (Canned laughter)
I agree, only exception is for dancers, and I mean real dancers , like BTS. Sometimes they do ´dance performances’ without any singing and it’s still impressive and doesn’t bother me since it advertised as dance. But when they’re live ´, they’re live and you hear a lot of ´imperfections’.
oh Beth i love you so mutch, the imperfections are the most beautiful and interesting parts of everithing and in everyone. How could you enjoy life without them :)
Artists on major labels are slaves to the corporate machine - unless they own their own label, they're under strict stipulations which rarely includes originality - sometimes lip-synching episodes are forced on them...there's no room for art or creativity or even human error in the music industry anymore - it's literally *ALL* about the money...this is also the reason why mainstream FM radio is so terrible these days - in the early 1990's, congress passed the Telecommunications Reformation Act which basically took all power of choice away from the individual radio stations and forces them to play only the tracks deemed profitable by corporate... anyways, great video, Beth - you're always so intelligent, talented and pretty 💜
I'm glad I finished being a professional musician in 1984. Auto tune and Lip Sync. is immoral for paying audiences. In my day you could get up to 15% of record sales- and we lived well. Today it's a struggle. I still play afew gigs but no trickery on my bands part. Good luck in the future Beth. Terry from Oz.
now that i think about it, i seen Metalica live 3 times, and just by accident in local bars before they got big, and they sucked live. They needed the studio to make them sound ok. Now they made changes, but i wont see them live. Heart is another example, where when young or old, sound great live. I seen them live as my first concert, again before they got big, and they were great.
For me as an amateur singer, I've always loved singing as a hobby to express my feelings by singing an already written song by someone else who I can relate to. So if I ever had the chance to write my own songs and express my feelings and become vulnerable in front of people who'd appreciate it, then I'll give it my best and go crazy with my vocals rather than faking it on stage. Or else, I'll be avoiding the point of music as a form of art and a mean of expression and communication. I can't express myself if I'm not actually singing my own lyrics.
I believe it depends on the type of show and venue, live concert of course, you paid for it. Now a tv show or recording in front of a live studio audience it depends, that's for show and entertaining in my opinion.
Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) mentioned once his voice changes after a few shows, gets "raw" to quote him. I love that about a live show. The heart comes out in the raw sound. Live also allows more interactions with the crowd. making us a part of the show.
That was great, I loved it. Talking about it makes it more acceptable as it should be. It is when we keep things secret that people get hurt. Better to know it goes on and why. Thanks
A really good example of lip syncing can found in the movie "Eddie And The Cruisers" and the sequel "Eddie Lives." While filming, the singer watched the actor on the monitor. It made the performance seamless. These movies are a cult classic.
I prefer flawed live singing over lip syncing, but I can understand why some might choose to mime. Those that do ought to be up front about that fact to their audience before ticket purchases.
One of my favorite singers had to quit the band he was with because of the stress of touring. He developed insomnia and a host of other symptoms because of the pace. He was vilified by many fans when he announced and still some people hate him almost 4 years later but he is productive and happy with his music now and does tour but at a much less strenuous pace. Beth has reviewed him both solo and with his former band Avi Kaplan who was with Pentatonix. Not many people have that strength of will though. The record contract pending 5 year renewal was probably a major factor in the timing too.
The majority of bands and singers you see performing Live on TV use a backing track to assist filling out the sound. It’s extremely rare to see a pure live performance unless you go to a coffee shop or see a bar band or attend an open mic.
The are usually not allowed to play live on tv, because doing playback are fast and easy to make sound good. Playing live are much more work for the techs and the producer.
As a guitarist and vocal student that edits his own stuff this was very helpful. I think it is justified, people havent a clue what they want sometimes.
it depends on the show or the honesty of the singer, if i went to see tori amos sit at a piano and sing i would expect her live voice, faulty or not. but if she came out and said she hurt her voice and would be aided with her recorded voice i wouldnt fault her. the only other option would be cancel. i wouldnt care as much if it was a flashy high energy show tho. the entertainment isnt solely the voice but the stage act like steam powered giraffe or EXO
When I got to a music concert. I'm there to hear them sing or play. If they can't then don't do a music concert. If I wanted them to dance around looking like idiots and they do by the way. Then I can go watch there so called music videos and watch them try and dance. 99.9% of them are flat terrible at it by the way. There is an artist who's name escapes me right now said when asked about lip syncing. "I don't record a song I can't sing live." Now a days they are all so autotuned they couldn't sing live and sound even remotely good if there life depended on it. 90% of todays so called singers wouldn't have a job singing if they'd come along before autotuning. They wouldn't have been able to record anything because you actually had to be able to sing to record. It's not the case now. You barely carry a tune? Not problem we can autotune it to make it sound like you might be able to actually sing. As long as you have the look they back up. It's why most of the top 100 is total trash. It all sounds the same. And it's autotuned to death.
Real live voice with some imperfections is and will always be better than perfect recorded voice because it’s true. Emotions in live events are much more powerful and beautiful 😌
I think LS is appropriate if the artist is dancing, riding a horse or just tired, However I also feel that if they can sing without it they should---like you said---imperfections aren't bad---but people, the public seems to think so because they aren't on the stage. Thanks for a good talk.
There is just one venue where I am completely confident that lip-syncing does not happen, and that is the Eurovision Song Contest. The fact that lip-syncing is downright _prohibited_ there makes it more enjoyable for me - since so much of the performance is about the visuals, especially in later years with the introduction of CGI into stage performances, the only way that we can keep it the Eurovision _Song_ Contest is that we make sure that the artist (and the country they represent) "earns" the performance even voice-wise. Like you said about physical exertion at the same time as singing requiring training hard to work up that stamina, seeing an artist do this without getting winded and without losing vocal control amazes me to no end and is a huge part of the entertainment value of the show. Two examples off the top of my head is "Euphoria" by Loreen, and "Zero Gravity" by Kate Miller-Heidke. I agree that it's a grey area in most cases, and that the artist doesn't always get to call the shots on this since there is so much at stake for the entire team around them.
Nirvana had a dig at lip synching when they performed on TOTP if I remember correctly. My band did the same thing when we were asked to lip synch during a music awards ceremony that was broadcast live, so we switched instruments and singers. We weren't the only one. Apparently it was because the show producers didn't want any technical hiccups and probably didn't have to set and reset the stage for all the bands on the show.
What a brilliantly researched, considered and balanced deep-dive into a subject that I didn't even know I cared about, or thought about, very much. Your ability to look at both sides of the equation is so impressive. I've seen P!nk live, and she does acrobatics, tumbling, aerial feats -- the lot. And is 100% the real deal. Sings through the entire thing. I would consider her an athelete as well as an incredibly powerful vocalist.
Thank you so much. Yes! I have seen her live as well. Was one of my favourite live gigs. It is incredible to hear her sing live while spinning in the air. It can be done, but it is also very difficult.
I mostly go to blues and folk concerts and expect that there will be a sort of feedback loop between the artist's energy and the audiences. My best experience was Spirit of the West beginning Home for a Rest, where the lead singer dropped out after the first line and let the audience sing the intro. Apparently there are lots of good singers in Ottawa, because the band had to play an extra eight bars of the start of the fast section so the lead singer could break out of his appreciation and remember he was supposed to do the lead. I've sung in choirs for 50 of my 63 years on this planet and I only remember 3 perfect performances out of the thousands of hymns and anthems. But you have to keep trying because there is no feeling like it when you get it right.
😎😎😎 I being 65 years old, living in the U.S.A. Lived through the Milli Vanilli scandal . I remember seeing videos of people burning their records and posters. I went back and watched the video about the scandal. It's a shame how things happened and turned out. I must say, I really appreciate the hard work and research you go through to make these videos . I always look forward to each one. THANK YOU. 👍
I agree that lip syncing has its place in music videos or films, where the spectators know it's not a live performance. But if lip syncing is allowed at concerts, we would end up with people on stage selected exclusively for their looks and not for their talent. Nobody expects a perfect performance and small imperfections will go unnoticed by almost everyone, with all the background noise and the excitement of being there. Remember that the Beatles had to stop doing live concerts because the amps at the time weren't enough powerful to overcome the singing of their immense crowds... Who would have been able to detect imperfections there?
In the case of k pop they sing some parts the song but not the whole song cuz they need to concentrate in the dance and so many it is something that we the people who listen to them know it's not a secret
I’m not looking for an artist to be perfect but I am looking for them to be authentic. And playing a backing track while they lip sync is very shady to me. Especially if you paid to see those people play live. Not just singers but any artist/musicians.
I totally agree with you about the need for acceptance for imperfections. But it’s also important that we recognize the greatness of perfection. The creative and technical genius that goes into these productions. In film we have no problem accepting as great, things that are obvious fakes. Flying men, CGI, stunt doubles, and talking animals, but when it comes to music many of us turn into raving purists. It’s sad really.
There is a huge different between movies, that are not live, and live concerts. When i watch a movie, i know from the beginning that there is acting and cg imagery and stuff and - especially in translations - not the real voices of the actors. When i go to a live concert, i want to listen to the artists as they are and not how they sound on a record.
That’s not how I see it at all and I think it’s quite unfair to all the extremely talented artists that have embraced the new ways to express their creativity. They run the risk of being belittled because of their choice of expression. It’s kind of like expecting a photographer to paint for the gallery, because that is how real art is done. It does not sit well with me to want the artist display their rough sketch instead of the finished piece. When at a concert I try to appreciate everything about the show and try to let the experience offered by the artist be in focus rather than how that experience is being produced. I ramble. But I think this is important.
Why pay for lip sync live? Just put the music loud at home and party on!! While its great to hear the CD full power of a singer, the live energy is whats worth the show! Even with flaws
Personally, it depends on the genre of music, the circumstances, and the communication with the audience. If you're lying to the audience that it's a "live performance" when it's the musicians miming over the single, no. You're selling the audience on one experience and providing them with another. If you don't set that expectation that it is the musicians actually performing, then it's acceptable for certain genres of music. Pop, arena rock, and other big, production-heavy genres, yes, pre-recording parts of the set is fine. If it's folk, classical, punk, metal - genres where the musicianship is the focus more than a choreographed stage show - then I feel it shouldn't be done just because it does a disservice to the audience. And there are situations where you almost have to pre-record the audio because of timing and the venue. Super Bowl Halftime, the Inauguration Concert, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, etc. where they're broadcast live with a tight time schedule that eliminates the possibility of improvisation with huge audiences, yeah, pre-record the audio. Oh, and do NOT lie to the musicians. If the band thinks they're playing live and you're dubbing the track, that's not cool. Musicians sometimes alter their songs, changing lyrics, adding/removing solos or verses, changing equipment, or even adding or losing band members. If the musician believes they're performing live and the producer dubs them over with the album version without telling them, that's deceptive and robs both the musicians and the audience. I do feel, however, the audio should be recorded as close to "live" as possible. Record the audio during a dress rehearsal and use that rather than playing the studio track off the album. Basically, be as honest with the audience and performers as possible when you're playing live versus when you're using syncing. Most people aren't going to mind and the ones who will are going to be more upset you lied to them than if you were honest in the first place.
I've heard some bands who have grown older trying to sing their hits from 20 or 30 years ago. They just can't hit those sweet notes anymore. I don't normally like lip sync but would accept it there.
You find out if someone can sing when they do live. Some bands like the Cars were atrocious outside of the studio on tour. Couldn’t believe others thought the cat scratching was music.
If I go t6o a live concert I want them to sing and play live! If they don't do it... I can stay at home and hear the studio version of it. Sometimes such a live performance can even be better than the prerecorded one, because of the energy that flows between the musician and the audience. And then there are bands that shouldn't do studio versions of their music, because they are much better live.
It all comes down to Why did you come to the show. In a Spectacle, it will be ok, But Chris Cornell unplugged, is ALL about his voice, as it is that night, as it comes out with the atmosphere of the specific venue and with the Crowd. Personally, live music Is, THE PERFECT IMPERFECTION it's not to hear the record, but the VIRTUOSO I admire
Ill take a live concert or even live record and dont mind a slip up or bouncing voice while jumping around, but if you are live, sing. I dont want to pay to hear a recording at a "concert". One of my favorite bands is Y&T, and i went to their concerts in the 80, and even a couple years ago before covid, and even though band members changed, and voiced got older, they still have a great live sound.
When i go to a live concert, i expect to hear the band. I want a "unique" experience. A different sound. Crowd interaction. There is obviously still effects etc, even live, but that's just part of the sound. If they have a choire intro in some songs, i don't expect them to get one live. Maybe that's because pretty much everyone i know listens to rock/metal, guess it's different there. Wouldn't go to a live show if i know it's not live.
Im ok if a singer makes mistakes in a live show I can understand they are overworked & dont want to loose their voice but can actually sing really good. As long as they can sing really well in real life but lip sing here and there if their voice gets tired from doing shows constantly but I give promps to the singers that can sing & dance out there that never lip sing that is rare gift
Great video! I am a bit surprised you didn't mention Whitney Houston who sang the national anthem to a silent mic. As mentioned in your video, that was a last minute management decision who wanted the perfect performance. I am a huge Whitney fan so learning that she actually "lipsync" that never phased me. Here's why. Whitney DID SING LIVE to a silent mic. I repeat she was singing live (we actually see tension in her neck and "gospel" jaw). We just couldn't hear her. That's why it looks believable because she came prepared to sing and that's what we got. The recording just dubbed over by the studio version. Her music director Ricky Smiley was allegedly nervous not having a test run and sound check to pull off last minute. And while we will never hear the live version, I think it was live as a few reported (similar to how some artist actually sing live during the making of music videos but it's dubbed over). That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 👌🏾😄
Many years ago I saw Tori Amos in concert. She was her usual perfect self, save for one song. She started to sing "China" and a sang a bar or two, stopped, and said, "Wait, I'm playing one key and singing in another." So she started over. The crowd loved her not because she was perfect but because she could admit that she wasn't.
That's a true musician, right there.
& thats th way it should be! I've said it b4 & I'll say it again, I'd rather see a live singer that was drunk w/bronchitis giving it all they could, rather than lipsync to a track! @ least I saw a live show, otherwise I'd jus stay @ home!
I saw Chrissie Hynde totally forget the words to Don't Get Me Wrong years ago with the Pretenders. She laughed it off, figured it out, and started over and the crowd still had a great time.
If I'm at a live show, I want the band/singer to be live as well. Not pre-recorded. I'm there to see and hear them in person, not a recording that I could buy.
The problem comes from the other people behind the scene pushing "bigger, better, more.. stuff".
But I like to say the only pressure is that which you put on yourself.
Judging by artists like Rammstein, it's entirely possible to do "bigger, better, more" without having to lip sync... just gotta keep the fire department on standby. :P
I disagree. Its a show, a production. I just want it to look awesome. If they sing it live or lip-sync to their own singing then I couldn't care less
I agree. There are plenty of true performers that can put on the spectacle, and deliver true live performances. Why throw money at pretenders?
That is why I love rock, it's real. Sure, some of the older bands need to hang it up when the singer can no longer do it ,looking at you KISS, but at least you know you are getting an honest production even if Paul can't hit all the notes, skips a few words, or can barely move on stage in order to sing.
@@seanheath4492 Very true.
Look at the epic stage shows Iron Maiden has put on over the years and the amazing vocal and musical performances they performed while doing so
@@seanheath4492 to be honest, Rammstein is not making the most demanding music for the performers. They are still a pretty good example for doing both, but the music is not that complex compared with other metal music.
But another example for a band that can do both is Nightwish in my opinion. The show is not exactly centered around the musicians, but it is still nice and they are pretty good live.
Other acts blew me away with their musical live performances like Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators or Dragonforce. They were pretty awesome and made a perfect atmosphere mainly with their music! I can really enjoy both, good show and good musicianship and I think this is quite important.
Part of the problem is that the artists are set up to fail from the over-use of technology in the studio. From autotuned voices to quantized drums and tempos - the bar is set unrealistically high. No human can sound like that night-in and night-out.
nobody can sound like that live period. A least not without a rack full of digital effects and that only goes so far.
Correction: no pop "artist" can do that. Classical singers do it every night.
@@robhendrikx2198 I guaruntee you that no classical singer sounds perfectly quad tracked live.
@@kidthorazine I've seen U2 and Cold Play live and they sounded better than the CDs. They were that good. So not sure why people don't think people can sing live most of the great ones do. The fakers never could so they pretend that no one can sing live which is a lie.
@@Physics072 lol at U2 sounding better live ..hahahah or cold play....their voices are not the most challenging
I come from a metal and punk background. And for me it's about the experience of the live show and the energy. If the artist is doing some mistakes, be it the Vocalist, Guitar Player, Bass Player, Drummer or the Keyboardist, that's fine. That is part of playing music live.
Some of those moments can turn into vivid memories in your future. (I can remember so many funny moments from dozens of live performances)
I expect an artist to perform live, when going to a concert.
I can understand why in some other genres, other parts of the performance may be as important or more important than the actual singing (like the example you gave with K-Pop and dancing).
I personally do not listen to music, where this is the case, so i can't judge if i would prefer dancign with lip sync, or actual singign with less/no dance moves.
Greetings from Germany
Exactly. With rock, a lot of bands are better live than they are in the studio.
A lot of songs sound best when performed in front of an energetic crowd, with the band feeding on that energy.
Well said!
Imagine Blind Guardian doing The Bard's Song with Hansi Kuersch lip-syncing.
Imagine Iron Maiden doing Fear of the Dark with Bruce Dickinson lip-syncing.
I can't. :)
@@dumping7092 Fun Fact. Iron Maiden did a song on a TV Show, where they were forced to play to a backing track.
Not only lip syncing, but the whole band was not allowed to play live.
They did goof around like crazy, swapping instrument mid song.
At some Point Dteve Harris did pöay Guitar and was "singing"
@@HeavyMetalDeathMan I heard a similar story of Muse. Well done by both bands :)
Thank you Beth. Perfection isn’t possible. And we shouldn’t expect it.
I get the whole lip syncing on movies. But on live performances I find it unacceptable. If you can't sing those songs, change the arrangements, the key...adapt the songs to what your voice is able to deliver. If you can't do that, retire already.
Exactly!!
If you can't do it, change profession
Maybe it should be the other way around. Instead of trying to sound perfect on stage because they sound perfect on the record, they should minimize the (post)processing and the effects applied on the albums so the record itself becomes more `natural` with it`s small imperfections and slight off tone or off rhythm or whatever. I think the audience doesn`t ask for perfection. A lot of people buy vinyl or go to small venues or bars with live music. We love crackles in music, we love bands that improvise, we love singers that can interact with the audience during a song.
So in my humble opinion: yes, lip sync has it fields where it`s useful. And yes, you can`t expect to go to a show of Beyoncé and have no lip sync, because in a lot of modern pop stars it`s not about the singing, but about the act. It`s about the effects, the dancing, the wardrobe, the hair, etc.
But maybe it`s also time to tone it down a little bit. Stop pitching every note/instrument/voice, just because it`s possible. We`re used to hear imperfections, that`s life. Leave the imperfections on the studio album and it will also give freedom in singing on stage.
It's interesting you used the word crackles. Many of us, myself included, grew up with vinyl and the reality that no matter how well an album was recorded it was eventually going to have crackles and pops on it. Even the most meticulous record collector could fall victim to dust. I wonder how much the rise of digital music and its perfect playback every time has contributed to the need for perfection in all things musical.
I’m old enough to remember a time when people went to a concert to respectfully listen to the artist sing. Today, touring artist hold giant “sing alongs” and I would have no problem with the artist singing along to their track too. I recall Barry Manilow, “I Write the Songs”, saying he was shocked when he realized the audience was singing along with him? He said I thought they came to hear ME sing? He said ultimately he decided it was a compliment that they knew all the lyrics. Personally, I understand the “celebration” of today’s concerts, but I miss the days of simply being enthralled listening to the sounds of Peter, Paul, & Mary. 😉
Since you mentioned Marti Nixon, she was also in “The Sound of Music” (the movie). However, since Julie Andrews was a suburb singer, Ms. Nixon’s vocal talents were not needed... but she was cast as one of the nuns. You can see her in the scene where Ms. Andrews is being dressed for her character’s wedding... she’s the redhead with a strong resemblance to Ms. Andrews. Ms.Nixon did admit that that role was her favorite...
And, injection of useless trivia here: Marni Nixon has been in my house.
There's an interesting history of Black singers dubbing for white actors in classical Hollywood.
I went to the last David Gilmour Tour back in 2015. As he was about to play "Time" from Dark Side of the Moon he forgot to change the guitar effect and was playing the first part of the solo of that song with a clean Guitar - noticed it - switched to the normal effect - and I saw him and his bassplayer (Guy Pratt) laughing their asses off as if they were saying "Oh no - not that mistake again) and were having a good time. I personally enjoyed to see that a guitar legend like Gilmour isn't as perfect as he is on the records - makes him more human and more sympathetic.
This is what I expect of a live gig. An authentic situation - watching people play their instruments and singing - with all those imperfections and mistakes and variations they make during a guitar solo etc.
Ever watched a concert of the Dave Matthews band, Beth? Every concert - yes every time they play their songs - they do it diffrently and have HUGE jam passages in many songs. This is - to me - the ultimate live experience. Just a band - celebrating their music with surprises we do not hear on the records.
According to Rebecca Ferguson, Loren Allred had been simply providing a female voice for "Never Enough," toward helping director Michael Gracey work out how that scene should play on screen. Rebecca happened to hear Loren singing "her" song, and was the one to suggest that it should be Loren's voice on the screen.
If you want to see someone sing and “dance” at the same time. Check out Elvis Presley’s 1970 live version of suspicious minds.
I very much appreciate your viewpoint here on the acceptance of imperfections, especially in a live artistic performance. I believe the problem largely does arise from the industry viewing artistic output as "product".
'Imperfection is okay'. One of the most difficult thing to keep in mind and live with. And one of the most important for being able to keep creating something at all
I meant that its worth the wait. I love how she is as a teacher of voice. Will analyze things and background on styles etc. Very bright woman
I'm so thankful that artists of the past did lip synching on tv shows. Now, we can see the artists and hear the studio versions of their songs. I might not have felt this way 30 years ago, but at 60 I can see the historic benefit of at least televised lip synch performances.
I wouldn't pay to see anyone lip-synch live personally.
Same. Even if there voice is horrible, at least I am aware that they actually sound like crap.
I think stadium/arena tours these days are more about a show as you are rarely close enough to experience the live performance anyway.
I personally wouldn't really go to those kind of gigs as I prefer more theatre, pub or specific music venues.
Film is totally different and I never expect anything to have actually been performed as seen on screen.
One of the best live performers I've ever seen is Pink. She's doing all kinds of acrobatics but still singing live beautifully.
I love how your commentary on lip syncing and perfection expectations could relate to many topics as well, this is a symptom of what our societies are about. I, for my part, prefer authenticity and raw, pure emotion to perfection and technicity. It's okay to fail, if not there would be no growth.
I love the "imperfections" of the real voice in a live performance with a great singer; it's, in my personal taste, what makes those experiences memorable.
I gone to Concerts live concerts I like hearing imperfection the mistakes it has a show it makes the Show unique The drummer missing a beat guitars playing the wrong note. I have gone to heavy metal and rock concerts most and I'm alive specially Metallica
Very interesting topic. I haven't been to many shows, and those have mostly been smaller venues. Not a fan of the larger venues/spectacles, as I want to hear the artist sing, and can't stand the crowds. I'd rather watch those on TV. Not that there haven't been a few shows that I wish I could have been at because of the atmosphere and significance of the event.
Great video, Beth. For me, personally, if I’m going to see a band or performer or artist “live”, then I expect them to be performing “live.”
I enjoy hearing the imperfection because then I know it’s actually a live performance.
When it comes to a concert, I don't really want to hear a perfect performance. If that's what I get then I may as well have stayed home and listened to the album. The spots where it's different because they're really singing is what make the live performance interesting to me. That said if the focus of the performance is the show rather than the song itself then by all means lip sync, it'll be good for those who want the show more, just not for me.
I always feel that studio work should perfect and live work should have its flaws. In my mind, the studio is the perfect concept of what the music should be and live music is what can actually be performed on that night with those artistic subtleties that only a live performance can deliver. Its human and it should be that way
Exactly! Plus there's a lot of space for improvisations and putting songs in to different perspectives. After that, live experience is totally something else, something special.
I just love how you always put the human with all their emotions and vulnerabilities in the first place. I do believe this is the real beauty in everything we do. This is what makes you and your videos so interesting to watch for me! Congrats!
At least we know Adele doesn't lip sync when she stops and swears to start a song over again.😂
I have used pre recorded backing tracks, but my vocals are always live.
Indeed, Beth, the light shines through the cracks.
You earned a subscriber thanks to your wise words.
If it is a live concert i am expecting it to be live singing. I dont give a sh*t about perfection i want interaction. I can listen to the studio version at home or anythere else.
This.
Lip syncing is only expected in a top of the pops esque stuff
Someone on tour can’t sing full out. Artists on tour can’t sing full on after night and keep their voice. It would be the shortest tour in history.
I think that, with looking at vocalists like Floor, who are singing live and do make mistakes (so very rarely with Floor), the performances become magical and something out of this world. However the metal genre allows for this because vocalists aren't expected to dance and jump around. So in genre's like Pop that require dancing and theatrics to be part of the performance, then lip syncing should be completely acceptable. I would just prefer it if they didn't do all the crazy dance stuff and rather sang because like I said to begin with, live singing can be magical and emotive. I'd rather cry than go 'WOW!!' Ashniko performed Daisy live (I think it was SNL) and she let her back up dancers do the flashy stuff and she focused on singing. I immediately respected her more. That's my long winded thoughts lol
My favorite Nightwish iteration. She's amazing!
I mostly think that it depends on what our expectations are for the particular act. Why are we seeing them in concert? If we're seeing a K-pop group, as mentioned in the video, we probably want to see the cool dance moves, so lip-synching makes that experience better by reducing what the performers have to concentrate on. If we're seeing a grunge band, an unpolished sound is kind of the point, and lip-synching makes less sense. In an extreme example, think of people who go to see Hatsune Miku in concert. The whole thing is manufactured, but they just want the concert experience.
Hi Beth.
Take a look at Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry from Journey. They are one of the Best (or Best?) Voices for me. They are jumping on Stage and singing live, no lip sync.
So it is possible. The problem is our time now: tecnic over tecnic, auto tune, everyone wants to be better than last. No good time for music. We should go back after the 90s 🙂
Greetings from Germany
Roland
I can see lip syncing being used if a singer has a serious cold or is otherwise sick in a way that effects your voice. It’s so hard as a singer to carry on with a performance schedule with even the slightest sore throat or anything, but it also feels horrible to cancel on a venue or your band at the last minute...
I once was at a concert where the vocalist got sick a couple of hours before and hasn't been able to endure one song. The guitarist explained the audience what was going on and that people payed to see them live, and so the rest of the band stayed and played the whole gig, without the vocalist.
never thought about these things for live concerts. makes sense.
I seen Sting in concert after his second solo album, probably 1988. His throat was bothering him but he and the band put on an awesome show and he dropped a couple of the hardest songs, took a few extra short breaks. There seems to be a big difference between generations of performers, artists, musicians, etc. Maybe it's part of the industry now to sell mediocre singing as long as you can dance and look good. I'd pick a good blues musician/singer in a pub over the overproduces Vegas stage shows masquerading as music any day.
People don't go to concerts to hear the singers sing, they go there to watch them do their " performance"
Which is basically just dancing, light shows and some pyrotechnics. Everything but singing.
@@BoleDaPole That does seem to be the modern trend. All flash no substance.
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I only " EXPECT REAL LIVE VOICE " IN Live concerts, ...VOICE, then the SHOW. " ,,, anything ELSE is about ...SHOW...
Lip synching and auto tune are for people who cannot sing. How did artists sound so good 40 years ago ? Talent.
For live performance, i would never. For a YT video, I would maybe correct some of the parts, but only when the camera's not pointing at my face (cheating?).
If I go to a music concert, I expect that any singer is actually singing and that is what I am hearing. If they cannot do a credible job, then perhaps they should not perform live and simply be a studio musician/singer. I am OK with additional music effects manually triggered by musicians to add texture or bring it closer to a studio verison...I am even OK with a second (harmony) voice manually triggered by a performer to add colour to a performance....but the main/lead singer must be able to sing and not lip-sync...otherwise to me, I did not get what i paid for and would absolutely feel that I was cheated/tricked into spending my hard earned money to see something I could probably see in a video somewhere. Thanks for your video as it was informative.
Totally interesting
In a live performance I want to be able to have interaction. I want the artist to let the crowd sing along and participate. Look at the Foo Fighters live performances.
Did you ever see some videos of 1960s bands playing before a live audience? Many were lip syncing to their studio recorded versions. The laughable part was most times the guitars were not even plugged in!
Watch old tv performances of the Partridge Family it is just too comical for words
What a great topic for discussion. I understand and often expect lip sync on TV shows as there are many factors involved (most are those that you brought up). What I really don't like is when it happens in live concerts (clubs and concert halls). I accept but also not a fan of backing tracks but that is another conversation.
When you hear the modern pop singers, it's obvious they don't know how to sing. They're just shiny products of advertising, nothing else. That's why they lip sync. No excuses.
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”
― Ludwig van Beethoven
I agree about perfection. Only one person who walked the Earth is perfect and I won't see him until after I pass from this world.
Singer: "I lip sync to save my voice."
Manager: "Where would you like it saved?"
Singer: "In that little wooden box."
Manager (Looking for little wooden box and can't find it. Holds up another little box with a hinged lid): "How about this box?"
Singer: "No that will make me sound like I'm in a tin can. The little box needs to be wooden not metal."
(Canned laughter)
Publisher: "Jokes aside, and the above joke needs to be thrown way to the side. This writer is horrible, isn't he? We'll just sack him and have a ghost writer finish this post."
(Canned laughter)
There are some situations lip syncing is valid. I think it is better if the artist is lip syncing to their own voice while dancing which takes a lot of need for breath control away.
Not all actors can sing and not all singers can act. So I think it can be valid situation for lip syncing.
I did see Styx in 2018. One of their singers/guitarists who I will call squeaky, had laryngitis. Despite this he sang and talked as he normally would with a healthy voice, just very raspy. He could have used lip syncing, but he opted for live. I got mad respect for Tommy Shaw already. This just made me even more of a fan.
"Remember loose lips create lips sinking."
(Canned laughter)
Publisher: "Hey you! I thought we sacked you. Right! Walk the plank with you."
(Canned laughter)
Major: "Stop that! Stop that! This is just getting silly. And don't think that tin of laughter will work here."
(Canned laughter)
No excuse for lip synching during a live performance ever.
Agreed.
I agree, only exception is for dancers, and I mean real dancers , like BTS. Sometimes they do ´dance performances’ without any singing and it’s still impressive and doesn’t bother me since it advertised as dance. But when they’re live ´, they’re live and you hear a lot of ´imperfections’.
Another example would be The Diva Dance from The 5th Element. The singing is by French opera singer Inva Mula.
oh Beth i love you so mutch, the imperfections are the most beautiful and interesting parts of everithing and in everyone. How could you enjoy life without them :)
Playing live id expect a mistake or two that is what makes live music special I don't want to hear perfection but honesty,
Artists on major labels are slaves to the corporate machine - unless they own their own label, they're under strict stipulations which rarely includes originality - sometimes lip-synching episodes are forced on them...there's no room for art or creativity or even human error in the music industry anymore - it's literally *ALL* about the money...this is also the reason why mainstream FM radio is so terrible these days - in the early 1990's, congress passed the Telecommunications Reformation Act which basically took all power of choice away from the individual radio stations and forces them to play only the tracks deemed profitable by corporate... anyways, great video, Beth - you're always so intelligent, talented and pretty 💜
I'm glad I finished being a professional musician in 1984. Auto tune and Lip Sync. is immoral for paying audiences. In my day you could get up to 15% of record sales- and we lived well. Today it's a struggle.
I still play afew gigs but no trickery on my bands part. Good luck in the future Beth. Terry from Oz.
now that i think about it, i seen Metalica live 3 times, and just by accident in local bars before they got big, and they sucked live. They needed the studio to make them sound ok. Now they made changes, but i wont see them live. Heart is another example, where when young or old, sound great live. I seen them live as my first concert, again before they got big, and they were great.
For me as an amateur singer, I've always loved singing as a hobby to express my feelings by singing an already written song by someone else who I can relate to. So if I ever had the chance to write my own songs and express my feelings and become vulnerable in front of people who'd appreciate it, then I'll give it my best and go crazy with my vocals rather than faking it on stage. Or else, I'll be avoiding the point of music as a form of art and a mean of expression and communication. I can't express myself if I'm not actually singing my own lyrics.
I believe it depends on the type of show and venue, live concert of course, you paid for it. Now a tv show or recording in front of a live studio audience it depends, that's for show and entertaining in my opinion.
Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) mentioned once his voice changes after a few shows, gets "raw" to quote him. I love that about a live show. The heart comes out in the raw sound. Live also allows more interactions with the crowd. making us a part of the show.
That was great, I loved it. Talking about it makes it more acceptable as it should be. It is when we keep things secret that people get hurt. Better to know it goes on and why. Thanks
A really good example of lip syncing can found in the movie "Eddie And The Cruisers" and the sequel "Eddie Lives." While filming, the singer watched the actor on the monitor. It made the performance seamless. These movies are a cult classic.
I prefer flawed live singing over lip syncing, but I can understand why some might choose to mime. Those that do ought to be up front about that fact to their audience before ticket purchases.
One of my favorite singers had to quit the band he was with because of the stress of touring. He developed insomnia and a host of other symptoms because of the pace. He was vilified by many fans when he announced and still some people hate him almost 4 years later but he is productive and happy with his music now and does tour but at a much less strenuous pace. Beth has reviewed him both solo and with his former band Avi Kaplan who was with Pentatonix.
Not many people have that strength of will though. The record contract pending 5 year renewal was probably a major factor in the timing too.
The majority of bands and singers you see performing Live on TV use a backing track to assist filling out the sound. It’s extremely rare to see a pure live performance unless you go to a coffee shop or see a bar band or attend an open mic.
The are usually not allowed to play live on tv, because doing playback are fast and easy to make sound good. Playing live are much more work for the techs and the producer.
As a guitarist and vocal student that edits his own stuff this was very helpful. I think it is justified, people havent a clue what they want sometimes.
it depends on the show or the honesty of the singer, if i went to see tori amos sit at a piano and sing i would expect her live voice, faulty or not. but if she came out and said she hurt her voice and would be aided with her recorded voice i wouldnt fault her. the only other option would be cancel. i wouldnt care as much if it was a flashy high energy show tho. the entertainment isnt solely the voice but the stage act like steam powered giraffe or EXO
When I got to a music concert. I'm there to hear them sing or play. If they can't then don't do a music concert. If I wanted them to dance around looking like idiots and they do by the way. Then I can go watch there so called music videos and watch them try and dance. 99.9% of them are flat terrible at it by the way. There is an artist who's name escapes me right now said when asked about lip syncing. "I don't record a song I can't sing live." Now a days they are all so autotuned they couldn't sing live and sound even remotely good if there life depended on it. 90% of todays so called singers wouldn't have a job singing if they'd come along before autotuning. They wouldn't have been able to record anything because you actually had to be able to sing to record. It's not the case now. You barely carry a tune? Not problem we can autotune it to make it sound like you might be able to actually sing. As long as you have the look they back up. It's why most of the top 100 is total trash. It all sounds the same. And it's autotuned to death.
Real live voice with some imperfections is and will always be better than perfect recorded voice because it’s true.
Emotions in live events are much more powerful and beautiful 😌
I think LS is appropriate if the artist is dancing, riding a horse or just tired, However I also feel that if they can sing without it they should---like you said---imperfections aren't bad---but people, the public seems to think so because they aren't on the stage. Thanks for a good talk.
There is just one venue where I am completely confident that lip-syncing does not happen, and that is the Eurovision Song Contest.
The fact that lip-syncing is downright _prohibited_ there makes it more enjoyable for me - since so much of the performance is about the visuals, especially in later years
with the introduction of CGI into stage performances, the only way that we can keep it the Eurovision _Song_ Contest is that we make sure that the artist
(and the country they represent) "earns" the performance even voice-wise.
Like you said about physical exertion at the same time as singing requiring training hard to work up that stamina, seeing an artist do this without
getting winded and without losing vocal control amazes me to no end and is a huge part of the entertainment value of the show.
Two examples off the top of my head is "Euphoria" by Loreen, and "Zero Gravity" by Kate Miller-Heidke.
I agree that it's a grey area in most cases, and that the artist doesn't always get to call the shots on this since there is so much at stake for the entire team around them.
Going to a live concert, I want to hear the performers as they are at the time.
Nirvana had a dig at lip synching when they performed on TOTP if I remember correctly. My band did the same thing when we were asked to lip synch during a music awards ceremony that was broadcast live, so we switched instruments and singers. We weren't the only one. Apparently it was because the show producers didn't want any technical hiccups and probably didn't have to set and reset the stage for all the bands on the show.
What a brilliantly researched, considered and balanced deep-dive into a subject that I didn't even know I cared about, or thought about, very much. Your ability to look at both sides of the equation is so impressive.
I've seen P!nk live, and she does acrobatics, tumbling, aerial feats -- the lot. And is 100% the real deal. Sings through the entire thing. I would consider her an athelete as well as an incredibly powerful vocalist.
Thank you so much. Yes! I have seen her live as well. Was one of my favourite live gigs. It is incredible to hear her sing live while spinning in the air. It can be done, but it is also very difficult.
This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
I mostly go to blues and folk concerts and expect that there will be a sort of feedback loop between the artist's energy and the audiences. My best experience was Spirit of the West beginning Home for a Rest, where the lead singer dropped out after the first line and let the audience sing the intro. Apparently there are lots of good singers in Ottawa, because the band had to play an extra eight bars of the start of the fast section so the lead singer could break out of his appreciation and remember he was supposed to do the lead. I've sung in choirs for 50 of my 63 years on this planet and I only remember 3 perfect performances out of the thousands of hymns and anthems. But you have to keep trying because there is no feeling like it when you get it right.
8:44 I expect to get what I'm paying for. If a singer cannot deliver, why is that singer keeping my money?
Darth Vader is the James Earl Jones lip syncing CHAMP!
Imperfection matters..there are people Who just want to be entertained and there are people who cares and understand music.
I think most of, if not all, the vocals in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH were filmed live.
😎😎😎
I being 65 years old, living in the U.S.A.
Lived through the Milli Vanilli scandal .
I remember seeing videos of people burning their records and posters.
I went back and watched the video about the scandal.
It's a shame how things happened and turned out.
I must say, I really appreciate the hard work and research you go through to make these videos . I always look forward to each one.
THANK YOU.
👍
Thank you James. It's always fun researching these!
Their mgmt company painted them into a box it was really sad i felt so bad for them
I still wait for you reacting to Band-maid....
I KNOW you will love it!
the MONKEES from the 1960s were in the "it's not us" boat. they COULD perform, sing and play their instruments, but their label had other ideas.
They had to work really hard afterwards to convince people they could indeed sing and play instruments live.
Some really interesting points raised there.
I agree that lip syncing has its place in music videos or films, where the spectators know it's not a live performance. But if lip syncing is allowed at concerts, we would end up with people on stage selected exclusively for their looks and not for their talent. Nobody expects a perfect performance and small imperfections will go unnoticed by almost everyone, with all the background noise and the excitement of being there.
Remember that the Beatles had to stop doing live concerts because the amps at the time weren't enough powerful to overcome the singing of their immense crowds... Who would have been able to detect imperfections there?
In the case of k pop they sing some parts the song but not the whole song cuz they need to concentrate in the dance and so many it is something that we the people who listen to them know it's not a secret
I’m not looking for an artist to be perfect but I am looking for them to be authentic. And playing a backing track while they lip sync is very shady to me. Especially if you paid to see those people play live. Not just singers but any artist/musicians.
Live singing is more..awesome 🤩 Amazing live performances.
I totally agree with you about the need for acceptance for imperfections. But it’s also important that we recognize the greatness of perfection. The creative and technical genius that goes into these productions. In film we have no problem accepting as great, things that are obvious fakes. Flying men, CGI, stunt doubles, and talking animals, but when it comes to music many of us turn into raving purists. It’s sad really.
I love this insight! Thank you for commenting
There is a huge different between movies, that are not live, and live concerts. When i watch a movie, i know from the beginning that there is acting and cg imagery and stuff and - especially in translations - not the real voices of the actors. When i go to a live concert, i want to listen to the artists as they are and not how they sound on a record.
That’s not how I see it at all and I think it’s quite unfair to all the extremely talented artists that have embraced the new ways to express their creativity. They run the risk of being belittled because of their choice of expression. It’s kind of like expecting a photographer to paint for the gallery, because that is how real art is done. It does not sit well with me to want the artist display their rough sketch instead of the finished piece. When at a concert I try to appreciate everything about the show and try to let the experience offered by the artist be in focus rather than how that experience is being produced. I ramble. But I think this is important.
Why pay for lip sync live? Just put the music loud at home and party on!! While its great to hear the CD full power of a singer, the live energy is whats worth the show! Even with flaws
Personally, it depends on the genre of music, the circumstances, and the communication with the audience. If you're lying to the audience that it's a "live performance" when it's the musicians miming over the single, no. You're selling the audience on one experience and providing them with another. If you don't set that expectation that it is the musicians actually performing, then it's acceptable for certain genres of music. Pop, arena rock, and other big, production-heavy genres, yes, pre-recording parts of the set is fine. If it's folk, classical, punk, metal - genres where the musicianship is the focus more than a choreographed stage show - then I feel it shouldn't be done just because it does a disservice to the audience. And there are situations where you almost have to pre-record the audio because of timing and the venue. Super Bowl Halftime, the Inauguration Concert, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, etc. where they're broadcast live with a tight time schedule that eliminates the possibility of improvisation with huge audiences, yeah, pre-record the audio. Oh, and do NOT lie to the musicians. If the band thinks they're playing live and you're dubbing the track, that's not cool. Musicians sometimes alter their songs, changing lyrics, adding/removing solos or verses, changing equipment, or even adding or losing band members. If the musician believes they're performing live and the producer dubs them over with the album version without telling them, that's deceptive and robs both the musicians and the audience.
I do feel, however, the audio should be recorded as close to "live" as possible. Record the audio during a dress rehearsal and use that rather than playing the studio track off the album.
Basically, be as honest with the audience and performers as possible when you're playing live versus when you're using syncing. Most people aren't going to mind and the ones who will are going to be more upset you lied to them than if you were honest in the first place.
I've heard some bands who have grown older trying to sing their hits from 20 or 30 years ago. They just can't hit those sweet notes anymore. I don't normally like lip sync but would accept it there.
You find out if someone can sing when they do live. Some bands like the Cars were atrocious outside of the studio on tour. Couldn’t believe others thought the cat scratching was music.
If I go t6o a live concert I want them to sing and play live!
If they don't do it... I can stay at home and hear the studio version of it.
Sometimes such a live performance can even be better than the prerecorded one, because of the energy that flows between the musician and the audience. And then there are bands that shouldn't do studio versions of their music, because they are much better live.
It all comes down to Why did you come to the show. In a Spectacle, it will be ok, But Chris Cornell unplugged, is ALL about his voice, as it is that night, as it comes out with the atmosphere of the specific venue and with the Crowd.
Personally, live music Is, THE PERFECT IMPERFECTION it's not to hear the record, but the VIRTUOSO I admire
@8:07 oh my...! I found lindsay lohan in you, especially in the "parent trap" movie, you're so gorgeous!
Ill take a live concert or even live record and dont mind a slip up or bouncing voice while jumping around, but if you are live, sing. I dont want to pay to hear a recording at a "concert". One of my favorite bands is Y&T, and i went to their concerts in the 80, and even a couple years ago before covid, and even though band members changed, and voiced got older, they still have a great live sound.
The Sideways video on this is spot on.
When i go to a live concert, i expect to hear the band. I want a "unique" experience. A different sound. Crowd interaction.
There is obviously still effects etc, even live, but that's just part of the sound.
If they have a choire intro in some songs, i don't expect them to get one live.
Maybe that's because pretty much everyone i know listens to rock/metal, guess it's different there.
Wouldn't go to a live show if i know it's not live.
Im ok if a singer makes mistakes in a live show I can understand they are overworked & dont want to loose their voice but can actually sing really good. As long as they can sing really well in real life but lip sing here and there if their voice gets tired from doing shows constantly but I give promps to the singers that can sing & dance out there that never lip sing that is rare gift
Great video! I am a bit surprised you didn't mention Whitney Houston who sang the national anthem to a silent mic. As mentioned in your video, that was a last minute management decision who wanted the perfect performance. I am a huge Whitney fan so learning that she actually "lipsync" that never phased me. Here's why. Whitney DID SING LIVE to a silent mic. I repeat she was singing live (we actually see tension in her neck and "gospel" jaw). We just couldn't hear her. That's why it looks believable because she came prepared to sing and that's what we got. The recording just dubbed over by the studio version. Her music director Ricky Smiley was allegedly nervous not having a test run and sound check to pull off last minute. And while we will never hear the live version, I think it was live as a few reported (similar to how some artist actually sing live during the making of music videos but it's dubbed over). That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 👌🏾😄