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Posted on 02/04/2006 1:06:28 PM PST by sully777
LONDON (Reuters) - After an infamous tiff between Elton John and Madonna over lip-synching, Britain's Musicians' Union has called on performers to come clean -- audiences should be told if they are miming rather than singing.
The union is urging promoters, producers and artists to back its campaign for lip-synching to be clearly labeled during TV shows, in pop arenas and on stage.
"Stand up and be honest about it. We won't knock you for using recordings," said union spokesman Keith Ames, wearied by the sight of bands with miming singers backed by guitarists going through the motions to a recorded track.
"If we are going to sell British music around the world, we cannot go out without a genuine product. You cannot sell artificiality to the Europeans and the Americans. They will see through it immediately."
The union suggested that a lip-synching logo could be flashed up on television or on posters and tickets for shows.
"This campaign is to reward performers who have the talent to perform live and give it a human edge," Ames said. "In a funny sort of way, people like the odd bum note. It gives them a sense of the moment."
He stressed that the union was in no way opposed to the use of technology, especially in smaller theatres where the producers could not afford to pay for a full orchestra.
"This is about consumers knowing what they are buying into," he said.
The issue hit the headlines when British pop veteran Elton John took a swipe at Madonna, saying she cheated her fans by miming on stage.
Collecting a song-writing award in 2004, he suddenly launched into a tirade against Madonna when he discovered she had been nominated for Best Live Act.
"Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot," John said. Madonna swiftly denied lip-synching and pointedly said she did not spend her time trashing other artists.
The union campaign was launched on BBC Television's "The Culture Show" with a poll showing that 71 percent of those questioned backed its stance.
The campaign has also won backing from singer Beverley Knight who told the program: "What I can't bear more than anything are those who are more than capable of delivering a show live with musicians and the whole thing and who don't."
Malcolm McClaren, former manager of the Sex Pistols, agreed, complaining "There isn't enough authenticity in the pop industry. It is karaoke culture."
But Faye Tozer, a singer with the now disbanded pop group Steps, defended lip-synching that helped them cope with a punishing schedule. "We did it to get our product out," she said.
Saw CSNY also in 2000 and I was blown away. Neil Young stole the show hands down but all four of them sounded great. Sobriety appears to do wonders.
I hear what you're saying about the Stones. I love the Stones but so much of their live work just doesn't sound good --like they're simply going through the motions. There's no soul.
"Saw CREAM in NYC .."
Drool... I bought the Prince Albert Hall DVDs. Ginger Baker looks better today than he did 37 years ago. They are still among the greatest musicians of their era. If anything, Jack Bruce is better than he was in 1969.
No contest, Elton John wins hands down.
Milli Vanilli fall into a special category. Not only did they not sing live, they didn't even sing on their records.
Clap may have sold all those old axes, didn't he auction a bunch off recently?
LOL. I overdrive my Marshall acoustic amp with a Tacoma M1e mandolin and get some crunch with just one of those Fishman preamps in between.
I see you have GAS also.
In general, what we're talking about here is the teenybopper boy bands and pop tarts. These are more dance shows than concerts, and the bubblegummers who actually buy this stuff don't care if its lip-synced. They want to see the dance steps from the video.
I haven't seen a stadium/arena concert in almost 20 years. I won't pay a nickel to see a live act in a venue larger than a 500-seat auditorium.
Equally heinous are triggered drums.
Judy Garland lip-synched through every movie. As does every singer in the musicals. TV singing bits are taped or lip-synched. Its been going on since talkies were introduced. Vertually every TV live performance is Lip-Synced. If it sounds good, its not live.
Jethro Tull, as I recall, had a fine live act in the 70's.
Gibson Les Paul Custom player of many,many years.......recently (late last year for my 50th birthday/Christmas present) got a Carvin DC400 anniversary model; prettiest quilted maple you've ever seen. Amazing electronics, playability. Gorgeous instrument. EVERYONE's jaws just drop when they see it....
sigh.....................................the 'warmth' I'm used to from the Paul just......isn't.........there
Guitar Acquisition Syndrome? LOL! Yes I do. Sadly I've had to quit buying gear for a while as I just got married. Gibson Les Paul vs. new wife. Hmmm... Tough call.
The only person who is allowed to use triggered drums is Def Leppard's Rick Allen and that's because he only has one arm.
The only person who is allowed to use triggered drums is Def Leppard's Rick Allen and that's because he only has one arm.
Aqualung and Stairway to Heaven soured me on both bands. I got so sick of those songs that I couldn't listen anymore. Of course, I'm one of those lucky (?) people who got to see some very good bands at Woodstock.
I also saw Johnny Winter and Janice Joplin together in Rindge, New Hampshire and Jefferson Airplane at Keene State College.
The single best concert I ever saw was Roy Buchanan at Symphony Hall in Boston. Roy could taunt the audience with his guitar playing. Grand Funk Railroad's red album tour and Ten Years After at the Boston Garden tied for a close second.
I haven't been to a live concert since Georgia Satellites in the middle 1980s. Since Frank Zappa died, there's nobody I want to see. Had I know about Cream, I would have been there. I learned about the concert about a week before it happened.
Producer Mutt Lange has moved on.
I believe you are correct: Mutt Lange moved onward!
http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=shania+twain&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
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