[Zoot]

I've just been reading this article: http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/sna ... own-under/

Basically after a tour of Australia, Britney Spears fans have been 'shocked and appalled' after finding that she mimed her way through the gig (well duh...) and there's been talk about making it necessary to state on tickets/posters etc if the artist will be miming at the gig.
I think this a brilliant idea, If I went to a gig where the singer mimed there way through a set I'd be pretty sure that I'd walk out, surely 'Live' means 'Live'? I mean imagine the millions Britney will be paid to perform this tour, and fans don't even get to hear her sing? If the artist CAN"T sing without production help or has trouble with both singing and dancing at the same time, then should they really get the money they are earning? If a sportsman had trouble with their game and couldn't perform anymore, would THEY still be paid for the job? I mean, if a fan is happy to pay the $200 to go see Britney make goldfish faces at a prop-mike then fine, no problems, as long as people KNOW that's what she's going to do before they buy the tickets.

That's what I reckon anyway!

[pjordan2000]

I went to see her at the o2 when she was over here and loved every minute of the show. It was highly publicised that during the show Britney was miming, but I and at least the people around me enjoyed every minute of it.

I agree that this information should be specified before hand so that people are aware prior to purchasing. If Britney didn't put on such a great show, I think more would have been made about her miming over here.

[dimtimjim]

Imagine paying money to go see Britney.... Surely disapointment was guaranteed anyway, no?!

But yeah, miming should not be allowed, under no circumstances.

[Yudster]

I don't watch X-Factor, but the excuses that were flying around for the likes of Alex Burke and Cheryl Cole miming were laughable. The stupidest being "Well she doesn't have anything to prove". Bollocks she doesn't. Singers have something to prove every single time the step on stage, they have to prove they are good enough to be there. These days the truth is that most of them aren't.

[Lactating Man Nips]

I don't watch X-Factor, but the excuses that were flying around for the likes of Alex Burke and Cheryl Cole miming were laughable. The stupidest being "Well she doesn't have anything to prove". Bollocks she doesn't. Singers have something to prove every single time the step on stage, they have to prove they are good enough to be there. These days the truth is that most of them aren't.

Haha I remember Cheryl Cole's solo during Girls Aloud performance of 'The Promise' on X-Factor. Oh wow it was embarassing. She wouldn't be doing that again if she wanted to maintain credibility as a judge.

Is Britney really regarded by fans for her voice - because what they hear on CDs is a highly over produced one anyway. I'm sure they just want to turn up for the general spectacle where her vocals are second to the other hi-energy distractions.

[chrysostom]

does anyone know if michael jackson used to mime in his gigs?

wouldn't make a difference to me if he did, but just curious

[Lactating Man Nips]

does anyone know if michael jackson used to mime in his gigs?

wouldn't make a difference to me if he did, but just curious

Whenever he did 'Thriller' he would don a zombie mask and despite the exhaustive dance routine his voice remained immaculate.

I haven't seen that latest film about his tour rehearsals - was he miming in those? I'm assuming for most people that just seeing MJ in their lifetime would be good enough.

[chrysostom]

He fluttered between singing and just letting the backing track do the work, but that was because it was rehearsals and he'd have no reason to really go for it, so would do better to save his voice.

[Latina]

I've never watched an MJ show properly, but from the clips I've seen I think he would mainly sing live, although if a heavy dancing routine was required there would be the occasional mimed number.

As for the movie, there was only one song (Thriller)where I wasn't convinced the singing was live.

[Latina]

Haha I remember Cheryl Cole's solo during Girls Aloud performance of 'The Promise' on X-Factor. Oh wow it was embarassing. She wouldn't be doing that again if she wanted to maintain credibility as a judge.

The fact that people (including me) still remember those few seconds a year on is testament to how painful it was.

As for Britney, I remember seeing her on a clip of a live show and being impressed with her ability to sing live, despite hating the sound of her singing voice to start with. That was a few years back though and she may have gone downhill since then.

[Yudster]

Britney had a great voice as a kid, all her early TV was done live and she and Christine Aguilera used to go toe to toe with the belting vocals. Christine was always better, but Britney was excellent too. She doesn't sing live now so either she can't be bothered or she's * her voice somehow.

[Latina]

I haven't heard Britney's voice from that time, but it would make sense.

Michael Jackson's vocal ability was considerably better when he was a child and teenager too, I reckon. Not that he wasn't always a great singer, but I think he could do more with his voice when he was younger. I went on a YouTube binge shortly after his death and was astounded by some of the stuff I found from the mid-70s.

[Lactating Man Nips]

This is why some fans wouldn't be necessarily bothered with miming.


And yet:
- 20 consecutive top 10 singles
- Brit Award for 'The Promise' ^^
- Amassing a fortune of £25m

Not one scintilla of talent other than turning up on time.

[Yudster]

Don't get me wrong, I like Girls Aloud, they make great pop records and the bits I've heard of Cheryl's album sound really good too. But making great records has nothing to do with being able to sing, not these days.

[Munki Bhoy]

Willi Am did a great job of Cheryl's album.

[MK Chris]

I can't * stand the Black Eyed Peas. Except I've Got a Feeling, which annoys me because I don't want to like it and I really do.

[Munki Bhoy]

At least you're meeting them half way on that one.

[Nicola_Red]

I love Girls Aloud - they do indeed make great pop records and videos - but when I saw them live their voices sounded kinda flat. At least they gave it a go, tho. I have the dvd of Beyonce's show and she's clearly miming for at least half of it - if I'd paid the £50+ to see her in concert I'd feel pretty gipped. It's been in the news wherever Britney's played that she mimes tho - if the Australian fans are only just realising now, they can't have been paying much attention to the stuff that's already been said about the show when it toured the US and UK.

[Yudster]

Well personally I have no respect for "singers" who mime in their live shows. But I do understand that their fans often don't care and want to see a show, so I agree wholeheartedly with whoever it was who said that advertising and tickets for gigs should, as a matter of course, state whether the artist will be singing live or not. That way the people who don't mind get their show, and those of us who do mind can make our choice.