Lip Syncing Should Be Socially Unacceptable Every Single Time
You can love Garth Brooks, and still be against him lip syncing at the CMA Awards. You can hate Miranda Lambert, and still agree with her that lip syncing is “bullshit.” You can also appreciate that Garth Brooks immediately fessed up to lip syncing at the 2017 CMA Awards, making him eligible for forgiveness that he probably deserves. But what we can’t do is somehow make lip syncing socially acceptable, for whatever reason, in whatever context.
I don’t care if it’s the CMA Awards, Saturday Night Live, or The Super Bowl. The principle that lip syncing is something less than acceptable to a live audience should be universally recognized, and shouldn’t work on a sliding scale depending on your level of appeal for a certain artist, the circumstances surrounding the performance, or the type of music in question. Of course lip syncing is more common in pop than country for example, and more likely to occur when it’s a one song performance for a television audience. But that doesn’t excuse the practice anywhere.
Garth Brooks isn’t a lip syncer. That’s why he screwed it up at the 2017 CMA Awards and was forced to fess up. But it was beyond alarming to see so many Garth Brooks fans, and older more traditional fans of country music coming to Garth’s defense, saying it was understandable since his voice was on such short rest after playing so many shows recently. When it was Rascal Flatts caught lip syncing in 2014, how did these same fans feel?
On Saturday night I happened to be manning the helm at the Saving Country Music headquarters, and decided to breeze by Saturday Night Live just in time to see Taylor Swift take the stage and perform one of her new songs, “…Ready For It?” The internet erupted with insinuations that Taylor was lip syncing, which she very likely was.
Taylor was exuding so much effort in synchronized, choreographed dance moves, it would have been difficult for anyone to concentrate and sing live, especially for someone with a history of pitch issues. There were no humans on the Saturday Night Live stage playing instruments for Swift’s first performance, not even a DJ in a gratuitous, oversized Mickey Mouse or marshmallow mask pretending to push buttons behind a table. It was all done to a backing track, even if the mic was live, which it likely wasn’t.
But some folks will insist she was singing live, because they are Taylor Swift fans. And others will say it doesn’t matter, because it’s Taylor Swift. But it should always matter. Big stars will always be tempted to sing to a backing track and be goaded by producers to do so, and fans, media, and other artists should always be willing to call out an artist if and when they decide to present something to the public that is less than reality. It will never eliminate lip syncing, but it will at least keep it in check, have performers second guess their decisions to lip sync, and help inform the public when a performance was either live or contrived so it can be measured accordingly in the annals of great live performances.
This all matters because music has the unique power to inspire the human spirit like little else. The reason such a spotlight is thrust upon performances at awards shows, or late night television, or special events is because when they hit, it can be an incredible moment of national inspiration and unity, and universal acclaim, like when Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert took the stage at the CMA Awards and put their unadulterated talents on display. Lip syncing can stand it the way of such inspiring moments, and even worse, it can create an underlying trust issue in all live performance where you’re second-guessing the authenticity of something as it unfolds as opposed to living in the moment.
The irony is, the public can often forgive a few flubs in pitch of a live performance way more than they will forgive the fabrication of a lip sync rendition. The ears of the public aren’t as fine tune to pitch as an artist’s. It’s often vanity that makes an artist want to lip sync, not necessity. Controversies about pitchy or coarse performances are rare. Lip sync controversies draw much bigger headlines, as they should. And in an era when so much singing talent is being ferreted out of the public via broadcast TV singing competitions, and so much glut exists in the music talent pool starving for attention, if an artist can’t perform to their best, perhaps they should step aside and give that opportunity to someone else.
But just like many of the issues that plague music these days, this lip sync issue is a microcosm of a much bigger national dilemma. In 2017, we have a tendency to passionately adhere to our beliefs, and defend our heroes even in the face of insurmountable evidence and common sense, unwilling to back down in fear of showing weakness or a lack of resolve, or giving an inch to our adversaries, until our whole reality is warped to our desired perspective as opposed to the truth of things.
Garth Brooks should be forgiven for his lip syncing on the CMA Awards. But he shouldn’t be excused. It’s a sign of character to fess up to your mistakes like Garth did. It’s also a sign of character to admit Garth Brooks lip syncing at the CMA Awards was a mistake.
In an era of fabrication and altered reality, we need music to be real, now more than ever.
Razor X
November 14, 2017 @ 10:36 am
Amen!
Hank
November 14, 2017 @ 10:40 am
Exactly!
marky mark
November 14, 2017 @ 11:02 am
I am with you. I don’t think lip-synching is ever OK. In the recent Garth brooks situation though, it just seems even more egregious, when he was there at the awards show to receive an award for entertainer of the year, which now seems to be largely based on touring. If you’re getting an award for being great in the live setting, you should at least be able to sing live.
Steve McCraw
November 14, 2017 @ 11:09 am
Could not agree more! I am very disappointed in Garth’s decision. If you feel you can’t perform, then back out of the show. Faking it is never an option.
countryfan24
November 14, 2017 @ 11:36 am
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Credit to Garth for immediately owning up to it, but that doesn’t make lip syncing okay, in any capacity. Personally, I would rather see a pitchy performance knowing it was real/live singing than a “perfect” one where you’re questioning if the performer is actually singing.
Cilla
November 14, 2017 @ 11:56 am
Hate Miranda Lambert or Garth Brooks? Who that post on this message board ACTUALLY knows both of them personally???? Stick to the Music and Performance.
I feel Anderson East and Miranda Lambert spoke out against lip syncing because THEY WERE AT THE CMA AWARDS and probably had heard their OWN peers speaking on it while the show was going on. Quite sure Anderson East and Miranda Lambert were speaking what other in attendance were saying.
Gabe
November 14, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
Miranda and her boyfriend were wrong for putting him on blast on social media. Even if others in attendance were saying it, they didn’t put it or respond on social media.
sophie
November 14, 2017 @ 12:50 pm
Fans or anti fans tend to turn their idols into superheros and fantasize that they know them, either that, or they think their targets are villains…They in fact, are just people, but maybe with more drive, and occasionally, a thimbleful of talent, than say, your next door neighbor…The whole cult of personality is ridiculous, and almost always wrong. In the end, we all have feet of clay in one form or another.
That said, Garth should have bowed out, most people would have understood, but applause is addictive, is it not?
Trigger
November 14, 2017 @ 1:47 pm
Always important to remember that “fan” is short for “fanatic.”
David
November 14, 2017 @ 5:07 pm
This is why I don’t call myself a “fan” of anybody…
Erik North
November 15, 2017 @ 7:56 am
And as I said in a post almost two years ago, one reason why fans (or “Stans”, to use Emimen slang) are often so staunchly defensive of their favorites and against someone else’s is because they really aren’t as secure about their “faves” as they like to pretend they are.
As to lip-synching–obviously, it should not be allowed. If Garth knew that his voice wasn’t going to hold up, for whatever reason, it would have been much easier for him just to accept the award, give his speech, and be done with it, instead of lip-synching and then having to fess up once someone let the cat out of the bag. It’s no big sin to say your voice isn’t in the greatest shape; people can understand that. But what they won’t tolerate under any circumstances (and rightly so) is a guy who lip-syncs, even if that guy is Garth Brooks.
Derek Sullivan
November 14, 2017 @ 12:13 pm
I also agree that you perform. Eric Church was torched on social media for his poor pitchy performance at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game. I contest it was because it went with a medley of songs and it’s tough to jump from song to song and stay on pitch. Either way, it stunk, but at least he sang that day. Since the deaths of Prince and Tom Petty, I have found myself on YouTube watching Super Bowl halftime shows and I appreciate that both of them sang live and still put on a good show, unlike Bruno Mars.
Yes, singing live can hurt the sound of the song, but that’s one of the best things about live music. It’s raw, imperfect and the best type of music.
The Senator
November 14, 2017 @ 12:42 pm
You hit the nail on the head. I want live music to be live, risky and real. Not some canned, prerecorded BS. That’s indeed the beauty of a live performance.
Cilla
November 14, 2017 @ 1:00 pm
Cult of personality runs deep.
Jeffro
November 14, 2017 @ 1:04 pm
You said it, Triggerman. The fact that it was the almighty Garth Brooks this time makes it twice as bad. This is just my opinion of him, but he comes across as more of an actor on stage than a singer. Very phony and pandering. Decent enough singer and good enough guy, but I can’t watch him live.
Amanda
November 14, 2017 @ 1:10 pm
Is it just me, or does Garth really seem to just not be giving two shits lately? For the most part, his recent music is boring and lifeless (with the exception of Mom and All-American Kid, which were both decent), much like that of Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Chris Young (although Where I Go When I Drink is damn near excellent and Blacked Out isn’t half bad either). It’s better than Thomas Rhett, Dustin Lynch, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, and Walker Hayes, but that isn’t really saying much. At least their music has a pulse and makes people feel something (mostly anger and sadness for what country music has become.) In the 90s, he had some really good music. I love The Thunder Rolls. Garth’s recent music is nothing embarrassing, but it’s a far cry from the quality of his earlier stuff. It just seems to me that Garth really doesn’t care anymore, he’s Garth Brooks so he doesn’t have to try and he can just do whatever he wants. Maybe this is just me.
albert
November 14, 2017 @ 6:51 pm
Gotta respectfully disagree Amanda . I was never a GB fan ….put off by his ego and that giant “G” hanging over the stage .Never thought much of his voice …kinda forced country I thought …just got an overall inauthentic vibe from him all the time …too sweet , too farm boy ….but at the same time too in love with himself .
But I’m a music fan first . I think Garth’s last couple of records are far more listenable as a whole than just about any new mainstream act right now . Yes ….he’s got stinkers but not many IMO . I like that he’s looking for and recording material with some substance and not trying to be all bro still like so many still are . I like that he isn’t rapping…..I like that it sounds like a real band not a real machine . I’m even OK that his stuff , as always , isn’t the most polished production around because that means it isn’t never overproduced until the life has been squeezed from it . I am NOT saying he is recoirding great music by any means . I’m saying that its better than most of the generic crap everyone else seems to be peddling .
Amanda
November 15, 2017 @ 8:31 am
I’ll also add Kenny Chesney to my aforementioned list of artists peddling generic, mediocre, yet inoffensive music.
dave
November 14, 2017 @ 1:26 pm
It was respectable that garth owned it but he fucked up bad it was painfully obvious that he was lip scyncing so he did what he always does take the high road and tried to make lemon aid out of lemons….. He is a business money making machine that’s all he gives a shit about otherwise he wouldent do 12 shows in 10 days, think of all the shitty concerts he puts on with a roached voice if he gave a shit about his fans he would scale it back and do what a man his age could handle instead of the big money grab in my opinion he is talentless money hungery prick!!!
Fat Freddy's Cat
November 14, 2017 @ 1:28 pm
Taylor was exuding so much effort in synchronized, choreographed dance moves, it would have been difficult for anyone to concentrate and sing live
I wonder if that’s part of the problem: that the song itself just gets lost in all the bullshit that some performers feel the need to clutter the stage with, and these big extravaganzas just have to be “perfect”, especially in the social media age.
the pistolero
November 16, 2017 @ 10:10 am
I wonder if that’s part of the problem: that the song itself just gets lost in all the bullshit that some performers feel the need to clutter the stage with
That is absolutely part of the problem. Has been for quite a while, I’d guess at least since Jimi Hendrix was setting his guitar on fire.
But then there’s the deeper problem of the artists and their songs not being able to sustain interest with a more stripped down, basic performance. Jimi Hendrix could do that. George Strait can do that. Luke Bryan, I would wager, not so much.
Fat Freddy's Cat
November 16, 2017 @ 10:56 am
That’s very true.
I had been a fan of Miranda Lambert in earlier days, but had lost interest since I wasn’t crazy about her later albums. So last December while on the road to visit family, I was in a hotel bolting down their unappetizing “free continental breakfast” when the TV in the room started showing Lambert’s performance of “Tin Man” at some awards show. I was very impressed, impressed enough to buy the song later. Not only do I like the song itself, but the video of her standing there alone accompanying herself with an acoustic guitar was moving.
Yeah, if an artist can’t do that he/she will have nothing but the choreographed bullshit.
Chris
November 14, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
Taylor was singing live. She sings what she knows she can sing. Not even Kelly Clarkson can sing a Carrie Underwood song without having to change it up for her own abilities.
Chris
November 14, 2017 @ 1:44 pm
Most pop stars are link that. Lady Gaga and Pink though are good at singing live.
Corncaster
November 14, 2017 @ 1:56 pm
Garth is a singer. Without Dewayne Blackwell, he’d be just another guy singer from the 90s who had a few hits. This makes it doubly important that Garth actually SING, because aside from his Elton John “flair” for theatre, that’s about all Garth can bring to the table.
So when he lip syncs, he’s even less substantial.
He should retire with his bazillions and do charity work. But no, always the limelight with this guy. It’s now kind of sad.
A.K.A. City
November 14, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
“Should be socially unacceptable” may be a bit strong way to put it, but if I paid money to see a performer and realized or found out they were lip syncing their performance, I would be upset and feel ripped off. The whole “backing track” has really gotten out of hand for a lot of mainstream performances across all genres. It almost like seeing karaoke or just listening to the track with a few live ad libs thrown out over them.
If someone is ill or having difficulty performing, a lot of the time the arrangement can be altered or a different song selected to hide issues or at least minimize them. Some of my favorite performances are those that overcome a lot of pre-existing issues.
Corncaster
November 14, 2017 @ 2:03 pm
Lots of big touring artists travel with video monitors to help them remember the lyrics. LOL
How do we all feel about that?
Gabe
November 15, 2017 @ 6:34 am
They are humans after all?
Mike
November 14, 2017 @ 2:37 pm
Guess for me it’s a business decision. If your voice isn’t there, do you a) sound awful and catch hell or b) open yourself up to being a lip sync artist (which I agree is a bad, bad thing). I’d have preferred Garth just sound awful live and get some hate for it.
However, I caught his 12th show in 10 days on Sunday night in Spokane and although obviously worn out, he sounded pretty damn good even about 3 hours in. He was obviously not lip syncing and they were recording for a live album. This made me wonder a bit about the CMA issue… did he do it because he was saving his voice? Did he do it because he’s releasing a live album and didn’t want a horrible performance to hurt sales?
This brought me back to the idea that it’s always a business decision. He’s made some good ones and some bad ones. I think this was a bad one. I’d err on the side of sounding bad (and am hoping next time he does too).
jw
November 14, 2017 @ 2:51 pm
Agree with this 100 percent. It’s never okay.
Years ago, I saw Dan Fogelberg live. He was recovering from a bad cold, and there were a couple of songs he simply could not sing. He was upfront about it with the audience, and to fill the show, he played a solo guitar version of the Beatles’ “Blackbird.” Awesome — and memorable. It stuck with me til this day.
Of course, Garth couldn’t do something like that during an awards show. But either sing or give up your spot.
Brett
November 14, 2017 @ 3:04 pm
Love the Jj Cale story in that video. Never heard that about that. Very coincedental cause i just recently been digging into his discography some….what a talent. I could listen to that stuff all day! Lip syncing is just wrong, your basically lying to your entire audience.
james
November 14, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
isnt this the perfect book end to garth brooks crappy career? he had a hand in ruining country and ringing in pop music. what do pop stars do? lipsync! now he’s with britney and n’sync where he belongs
glendel
November 14, 2017 @ 3:56 pm
the only person who it would socially acceptable if he lip synced in live performance: Randy Travis.
Hugh
November 14, 2017 @ 4:07 pm
just another excuse to go out and get drunk, these award shows and performances.
INDK
November 14, 2017 @ 5:04 pm
Remember when Alan Jackson had his drummer play with no drumsticks during one of these things? Classic.
Joni
November 14, 2017 @ 6:48 pm
Well, it’s been almost 25 years since Alan Jackson’s hit, written by Bob McDill, ‘Gone Country’.
Now the CMA’s EOTY lip-syncs on their “live” awards event (at least he didn’t lie when he was caught, although he did make excuses), and another big country singer has moved to the west coast and got himself a spot on a t.v. show and a cover page on People magazine as “the sexiest man alive”. Guess it’s time for a follow-up from Bob and Alan. – ‘Gone Hollywood’.
David
November 14, 2017 @ 5:14 pm
I don’t think Taylor Swift was lip syncing. She was probably singing live along to the recorded song. That’s a thing in pop music. Artists’ voices are layered so many times in a song for effect that in order to get that same sound live, they just have to sing along to the recorded song. Unfortunately, the recorded vocals always sound louder than the live vocals, so it sounds like they are lip syncing. I don’t like it. I’d rather hear an artist’s voice all by itself than with a ton of backing vocals to try and produce the same effect of the studio song. It just sounds cluttered.
Willie Potter
November 14, 2017 @ 5:38 pm
Shit man…I’m a child of the 70s.
I grew up on American Bandstand, Solid Gold, The Grammy’s, Soul Train, and Night Flight.
TV shows…just like the CMAs.
Not concerts.
Lip synching was so common back in the day that you were more hard pressed to find an act that did indeed perform live…on these TV shows.
The CMAs…they’re no different. Neither is the business.
For fuck’s sake…the man lip synched one song ( and freely acknowledged it) on a bullshit television show. It wasn’t a concert.
For real, how serious are you going to take a country music award show that nominates Kelsea Ballerinii, Luke Bryan, and Florida Georgia Line?
Hugh
November 14, 2017 @ 6:19 pm
YOU DONT GET IT! This isn’t a forum
for you to get on and tell the rest of us the trauma in your upbringing! NONE OF US are here to avoid painful situations! If you don’t see why lip syncing is wrong you’re in for a drastic lesson in respecting the music.These people aren’t messing around!!
albert
November 14, 2017 @ 7:00 pm
”For real, how serious are you going to take a country music award show that nominates Kelsea Ballerinii, Luke Bryan, and Florida Georgia Line? ”
I gotta say Willie ….you’ve put the whole scam into perspective with one line . And I absolutely agree with you . Its just entertainment …it isn’t art and we all know that . I really couldn’t care if half of those ‘ singers bent over and put a mic on their a-holes …….oh wait ….I think tha’s what Jason Aldean does anyway….at least it sure sounds like it .
Bill
November 15, 2017 @ 7:07 am
Same here Willie Potter….you left out The Lloyd Thaxton show. 🙂
Holly
November 14, 2017 @ 5:51 pm
Trigger- Do you know who else lip synced? Been seeing online that some think it was a few acts. Just wondering since Garth was the only one to come out & say it.
I agree Country is best LIVE!!
Trigger
November 14, 2017 @ 6:40 pm
There was nobody else that I saw that I thought was lip syncing. That doesn’t mean other people weren’t though. Not to boast, but I got a pretty good eye for that stuff, and a pretty good ear for Auto-tune.
nascarfan999
November 14, 2017 @ 9:02 pm
Given how awful the sound was on most of the acts that performed live, I have to think some of the others that sounded decent were not being performed live.
albert
November 14, 2017 @ 6:35 pm
I’m really on the fence on this issue ( and man does my package hurt ….bada-bump)
I would not want to go to see Pavarotti ( I know I know ….he’s no longer with us ) lip syncing …I wouldn’t want to see Celine Dion or Tony Bennett lip syncing . I don’t want to see Singers with a capitol ‘S” lip syncing . BUT most of the country and pop singers recording right now are not very gifted in that department ( he said diplomatically ) and are autotuned and /or tracked and tracked and tracked til they get it right . Taylor Swift may have the worst pop voice around …can’t pitch and it lacks character and range ….but people who are her fans aren’t coming to shows to hear her sing …to be moved by her vocals . They are coming to SEE her in person and lip syncing or live auto-tuning may be the best gift she can give a fan for the price of her ticket . Its about the event …not about the music .
I totally get an artist who has committed to an appearance at a big deal awards show and who is dealing with vocal issues saying ” Do I go ahead and sing shitty and possibly injure my voice( if they even have one on that night ) AND my career and disappoint fans or do I use a track , save my voice , NOT ripoff fans with a crappy version and keep the promoter/venue/award show /label happy at the same time ?” Its a real dilemma under certain circumstances . But I’d just as soon a REAL voice like Tony Bennet cancelled his show if he couldn’t deliver and simply re-schedule
Dane
November 14, 2017 @ 6:50 pm
Chris Gaines would never lip synch
scott
November 15, 2017 @ 7:21 am
Winner!
Jim L.
November 14, 2017 @ 7:16 pm
One exception allowed… Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Gotta imagine getting good audio and monitor quality on a series of moving floats is not easy.
nascarfan999
November 14, 2017 @ 9:03 pm
Then leave the music in the parade to the marching bands.
Jim L.
November 14, 2017 @ 9:54 pm
Yeah, but not much profit to be made by just promoting marching bands.
Joni
November 14, 2017 @ 7:23 pm
I agree with you. Thank you from an avid “fan” of real music. Well said and much needed toward ‘saving country music’. Technology has changed tremendously through the years, but that should never supersede the real talent of those who are blessed with the God given gift to sing – and, hopefully, sing from the heart.
Johnnyboy Gomez
November 14, 2017 @ 7:47 pm
Thanks for the J.J.Cale video. That made my day!
Sam Cody
November 14, 2017 @ 7:58 pm
He should be fired, deported, and have his job outsourced to a robot.
Gabe
November 15, 2017 @ 6:39 am
Deported to???
Sam Cody
November 15, 2017 @ 8:58 pm
How ’bout Delaware? 😀
Jim
November 14, 2017 @ 8:12 pm
This is exactly the kinda shit that makes me love the Old 97’s even more! Rhett’s crazy ass’ll change words, scream words, softly speak words, skip words, he doesn’t give a fuck. He’s having fun with it and that’s why people go to shows! If they wanted a recorded track, they’d play the one they own for no money.
Before you say it: I know the Old 97’s aren’t a “country” band. But a lotta folks here like them and the rest of the folks here all suck.
@TheOutlawArtist
November 14, 2017 @ 9:30 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more on this. I lay down money at concerts to see my favorite artists perform live. For them to lip sync is quite frankly unacceptable in most, if not all cases (I’m sure there are rare occurrence when its understandable, but they don’t come to mind). If the audience wanted to hear a pre-recorded track, they could just listen to the album, and if they want to see the artist lip sync to a track, music videos are plentiful these days despite the decline of music video based programming.
As for Taylor, I do think she lip synced certain portions of the first performance, but their were sections that to me, seemed authentically performed during the song. Her mic certainly seemed like it was live through out the song. The second song was certainly live, for better or worse. Also, Love the JJ Cale video at the end here. I’d never seen that before. Really effective and neat way to close off the article.
Ps: This is off topic Trigger, but have you heard the new Brandi Carlile track? Because WOW. It’s one of her best. Which really means something because, as you know, her records are mostly fantastic. And with Dave Cobb as one of the co-producers on the album, it’s sure to further her already pretty prevalent country influences on the record. I’m very excited for the album, and really dig the The “Joke”. Would love to see an in depth review from you of the latter.
Trigger
November 15, 2017 @ 12:01 am
I’ve heard the new Brandi Carlile. My brain is telling me it needs the context of the full album to judge it fairly. But I may have something on it. We’ll see.
Kevin Wortman
November 15, 2017 @ 4:36 am
What country music needs is a Chinese performer. Then bad lip syncing would be cool and edgy…it always works in the Kung Fu movies.
Beast Amongst Human Sheep
November 15, 2017 @ 5:46 am
Lip syncing is a fake action for a fake artist. Plain and simple.you either sing, or you pretend to. I could care less for any reason as to why one would do it. I used to respect Garth. Now I realize he is just another poster boy pushing a brand that is not authentic. Anyone supporting that bullshit might as well be pissing on this thing we call country music.
sophie
November 15, 2017 @ 7:01 am
People should Be who they say they are..Nobody wants a dentist who doesn’t know an incisor from a molar, or the ‘doctor’ who never went to medical school.
There are folks who can’t or won’t sing, but lip snyc instead, they should be called Actors not singers.
It’s all about authenticity, even more so, when it’s country music.
Charlie
November 15, 2017 @ 6:22 am
I think all Pop Country should be lip synched.
Milli should dig up Vanilli and go Country using him as a hand puppet, Weekend at Bernie’s style. He’s sure to get a CMA nomination.
Or just use Autotune. He’d sound better than Luke Bryan!
Before FM
November 15, 2017 @ 6:37 am
Lip syncing, as fake as that dark beard on a past prime time drama king.
Tony Russell
November 15, 2017 @ 7:07 am
Maybe the problem is with the Country Music Association since Garth informed them his voice was “fried” after he did over 10 shows in four days and so they went with voice tracking? I had the opportunity to see one of those shows and had some time to sit down with he and Trisha. There is not another performer that gives as much to their fans as Garth. The CMAs had the final say in how it went down…it’s on them.
Trigger
November 15, 2017 @ 8:37 am
That is a possibility, and not above the CMA. But don’t we think Garth’s earned the ability to call his own shots at this point?
Hugh
November 15, 2017 @ 8:36 am
I’ve been lip syncing my way through my entire life. I just mouth the words that who ever is in front of me wants to hear. It’s either that or I’d end up spending my entire life alone with a bottle of Hardy Perfection Fire Cognac, (love series, of course.)
Dave
November 15, 2017 @ 10:46 am
Here in the UK, we have a pop star called Cheryl Cole who has made a career out of lip-synching. Indeed, on those rare times when she seems to be live, she is shown to be an atrocious singer. Point is, lip-synching is a necessary evil. You have these young people who are turned into stars, simply because they look conventionally attractive. Talent and ability is a very, very distant concern. They can fix the voice in the studio, and give them dead microphones onstage. All that matters is whether people fancy them or not.
Corncaster
November 15, 2017 @ 11:20 am
Sad.
albert
November 15, 2017 @ 10:34 pm
”Here in the UK, we have a pop star called Cheryl Cole who has made a career out of lip-synching. Indeed, on those rare times when she seems to be live, she is shown to be an atrocious singer. Point is, lip-synching is a necessary evil. You have these young people who are turned into stars, simply because they look conventionally attractive. Talent and ability is a very, very distant concern. They can fix the voice in the studio, and give them dead microphones onstage. All that matters is whether people fancy them or not.”
heard of Taylor Swift Dave ….?
Dave
November 17, 2017 @ 5:31 pm
It may be slightly different with Taylor Swift. She writes her own songs and can play guitar, and that’s two things which the majority of stars cannot do.
Also, she isn’t “conventionally attractive”, but has her own look, which means that girls are not intimidated by her, but believe that she is “normal” like them.
I like some of what Swift has written. ‘Begin Again’ is probably her best song, but everything else she has done since going pop (!) is awful.
Lynn
November 15, 2017 @ 4:17 pm
My thoughts on this issue:
– Garth’s decision to lip sync instead of just doing some modifications to his performance is plainly WRONG. There are other options he could’ve chosen – adjust the keys to his song, perhaps choose an album track less strenuous to his vocals, duet with someone to share the load of the vocals, etc.
– I don’t agree in giving him a pass just because he’s Garth. Having won the entertainer award multiple times, being a strong force in the touring – all the more that we should expect more of him that he’ll always give a 100% for each performance, whether for a tour stop or a tv show or awards night.
That said,
– I still find it in bad taste what Anderson East and Miranda did. Garth was already being called out for the lip syncing, there was just no need to harp on about it. Nobody asked East, he tweeted out of nowhere. I find it in bad taste. Between the 2 of them, Anderson’s tweet was the calmer one, Miranda’s tweet is just, blah. It’s like she’s picking a fight. I get that she’s just defending Anderson, but it sounds petty.
– Miranda seems to have a tendency for picking fights with other artists/writers. She’s clashed with Chris Brown (not siding with him btw. Ugh I hate that guy), Eric Church, that Canadian writer who once asked her about her stance on guns, that critic who unfavorably reviewed her concert and The House That Built Me performance, etc, and now Garth. But she refuses to comment when it comes to important issues like gun control and politics. She once posted an angry tweet against a reporter who asked her about guns. I mean, sure, she has a right to choose to not to delve into those topics during interviews. Just don’t present yourself as a gun-toting badass then proceed to clam up when asked about it. So yeah, she’s badass when picking fights with other people, not a badass on important issues.
Another that said lol, I can separate Miranda the artist from Miranda the wimp and petty person who pick fights lol. Miranda to me is still one of the most talented songwriters out there, and she’s leading the change of country music for the better. I hope se continues to put out good music that we can all enjoy for years to come.
Robert
November 15, 2017 @ 10:27 pm
why are you still crying about Taylor Swift? It’s so tired. She left the genre. She’s not our enemy anymore.
Anyway, lip syncimg is not the big bad evil you think it is. I promise you, most of your favs have done it, especially once they reached their golden years.
Archenklos
November 27, 2017 @ 10:32 am
While we’re on the subject of Garth “lying” to his fans, does it bother anyone else that all of his recent album covers and press photos look like they were either taken 20 years ago or were heavily photo shopped? The guy is clearly an average looking middle aged man at this point, but he’s always portrayed as some chiseled 40 year old at the oldest.
Honky Tonk
December 6, 2017 @ 2:59 pm
You would be surprised at all of these country superstars lip syncing,, and there bands not even playing the instruments, they are faking as well. People pay big bucks to go to a concert and a lot of times they are hearing a recording on every song. And with todays tech its hard to distiguish whats fake or real.
A good example of music tech out of control. I know someone who recorded several mandoline tracs in a Nashville studio. Suppossedly one of his strings was a little flat. So insted of rerecording they digitally brought up the tone of the one string on the recording. Think of the days of tapes this was impossable, what you heard on a record or tape was exactly the way it was recorded live in the studio,, YOU HAD TO GET IT RIGHT!
Musicians now days don’t have to be good, in fact studios really dont need live musicians at all if they don’t want them. You would be surprised at all the super hit songs that its only the voice thats real where all the instruments are computer generated. And you can believe one doesnt really have to be a good singer in todays digitized world. Even the worst vocalist can be made to sound like a superstar simply with digital enhanchments. You want to hear real good musicians and vocals go listen to live honky tonk bar bands. Nothing ever faked there.
As for Garth, he should be ashamed of himself along with all the others. But like they say, “Lifestyles of the Rich and SHAMELESS” These fakes are only intrested in getting richer, they could care less about lying and cheating their fans. As a traditional Country recording artist myself I am only a fan of 20th century Country music. Keep it Country keep it real, what you hear is what was recorded no enhanchments. Playing and singing live mistakes are made, so what, compinsate and move on with the song. Thats live music, the crowd is not going to punish you for mistakes made live, if they catch it they ussally get a laff as well as the band. “Been there done that”.. If you hear a superstar at a concert and it sounds perfect you can bet the entire show is most likely a recording. Doesnt matter how good pro musicians and vocals are,, we all make mistakes. People are sick of fakes in this new age of so called Country music. When will it all end? Never, it’s a lost cause.
NotLipSync
July 28, 2018 @ 9:50 pm
I know I am late, but Taylor Swift was 100% not lip syncing. She was singing over a backing track, and her vocals weren’t perfect. To quote this article ( https://www.google.com/amp/s/noisey.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/3kv4jn/shut-up-taylor-swift-wasnt-lip-syncing-on-snl ), “the loudness lines up with the distance that Swift holds the mic from her face, her vocals aren’t shaky but they’re not flawless either”.
To quote another ( https://www.google.com/amp/s/fansided.com/2017/11/12/taylor-swift-lip-sync-snl/amp/ ), “Go to 2:55 of her first performance. You hear that there is for sure a backing track but then Taylor belts into something clearly off-script. She does this a couple of times in that performance and then follows it up with an acoustic performance that can’t be backtracked since the version she performed doesn’t exist.”
She was not lip syncing, just singing over a backing track. You don’t have to be a fan to hear this.