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Lip Sync Scandal Strikes Again
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Once again a musical performer on the popular program "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) has been accused of lip syncing a performance. This time it was hip-hop artist Kanye West. While there is much speculation as to whether he actually sang the song or not; the controversy over live performances being live or not is not a new one.
Years ago there was a television commercial for an audio tape that boasted it was so clean and clear that a listener could not tell the difference between the tape and a live performance. While audio tape is not the question the issue still remains. However, artists lip syncing - lip syncing is singing or miming to a recorded track - is not new. Guest stars who appeared on the popular music show "American Bandstand" routinely lip synced their performance. If a band appeared as the guest there was always some room for doubt but if a solo artist was on things became a little more obvious when a single person was on stage with a full band or orchestra being played. During the performance there were very few close up shots of the singer's face just to make sure no mistakes were picked up.
In those days pop and rock stars would lay down the tracks for an entire album in a day. By the end of the week the album was ready for release. Today artists take months just to record one song. Albums can take years to complete because it is more electronic and engineering manipulation than singing and playing.
In those days these same acts performed live shows without the plethora of electronic equipment needed today. Fans who traveled with the bands, 'a la the Greatful Dead and the Deadheads, fans knew the show was live because no two shows were exactly the same. With today's younger performers every show is exactly the same with no variation.
As for wanting to hear the same music in a concert as on the album, why pay the hundreds of dollars for a concert if it's going to sound exactly like the album? Granted some people may go to a show jut to "see" the "star", but people also go to watch a performance looking to see more than just what's on an album.
The age of the eighties brought the music video. The early videos were more live performance; today they are mini movies or visual stories. As a result many of the younger pop stars don't know how to interact with an audience; the live show becomes an extended video.
Lip syncing is neither new nor is it going to go away. Like mobile phones and computers the pretend singer is here to stay.
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