Super Bowl – Jennifer Hudson and Bruce Springsteen
Posted on 04. Feb, 2009 by Per Bristow in Uncategorized
So we had the Super Bowl and it turned out to be one of the most dramatic Super Bowls ever. Or so they say – what do I know… It certainly was full of drama. And as usual, we were also served with some amazing music performances…
Jennifer Hudson gave us a magnificent, soul-stirring rendition of Star Spangled Banner. I was truly taken by her rendition and impressed by how her voice has matured even further. I was even more impressed that she took on such a daunting task as singing at the Super Bowl as her “come back” after the horrendous events she has had to face lately.
Now imagine you are the singer. You step off “stage” – hearing the crowd go nuts from your performance. How would you feel? What would have made this the perfect performance for you? That you were able to lip sync so well that no one noticed?
Have we really become so unforgiving that singers no longer dare to sing?
The producer Rickey Minor said this of her lip sync performance: “That’s the way to do it. There’s too many variables to go live. I would never recommend any artist go live because the slightest glitch would devastate the performance”
Huh, say again?
Now, naturally, he is standing up for Hudson and taking the “blame”, and I appreciate that. She is not to blame here. And he is after all a producer and no peak performance coach.
But “I would never recommend any artist to go live”…
Is he serious?
Are we talking about technical difficulties or are we talking about not trusting a performer’s ability to perform at their peak when it matters?
”…because the slightest glitch would devastate the performance”. Eh….?
How about we have a chat with the athletes and see if they would like to adopt this mindset.
Wouldn‘t lips moving out of sync be a slightly more devastating glitch?
The great athletes want nothing else than to perform at the most difficult and most challenging event. Football players dream of playing the Super Bowl. Peak performers aren’t afraid of failing.
So is the message here that if it is a big event you are better off faking it? After all, what if there would be a “glitch”? Can you sense the fear?
Isn’t every performance a big event? Frankly, it better be. That’s what makes a performance exciting. And it is still exciting even if the mic goes out, or the accompanist starts in the wrong key, or we crack on the high note. In fact, as long as we have a sense of humor about it – i.e. no fear – it might make the performance greater than it ever could have been.
I wish Jennifer would have had the opportunity to walk away knowing she had delivered a sensational Super Bowl performance that would have been remembered for years to come.
If technical or voice problems made live performance impossible, why not tell us instead of faking it? Are we really that unforgiving? I would have had nothing against it if it was announced: “Unfortunately I can’t sing live today, but I would like to present a recording of Star Spangled Banner that I made especially for you to honor this day.”
We probably would have loved her even more, especially knowing of her tragedy, and we would have embraced her wonderful recording as the great recording it is.
Oh, well…
And then in half time we had Bruce Springsteen. I admit I have never been a huge fan of his music. However, I am definitely a hue fan of his performance skills. There are few performers who can get a crowd going like he can. He is an absolute master on stage. In fact, if you want to be able to capture an audience, I urge to rent one of his performances on DVD and watch and study. I think you’ll realize why he indeed is “The Boss” – and the ultimate live performer.
Aaron
10. Feb, 2009
Hudson on the Grammy’s last night proves my point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1rTA_qffaw
Her performance was not flawless vocally BUT WHO CARES!! It was free and straight from the heart and I was moved emotionally. That is what live performances are all about.
Hannah
09. Feb, 2009
I agree lipsynching is not singing, even if it’s to your own voice. If she couldn’t do it for whatever reason, then Faith Hill or whatever should have gone on as the understudy. JH could do it next year. I’m sorry, that’s just the way it is. The truth is people are extremely unforgiving with less than perfect performances — but sometimes they don’t even notice. In both cases it’s because it’s an audience which really has no respect or real appreciation for music or musicians, especially singers. They want canned perfection, and sometimes someone gyrating is all they want in the can. In either case someone who gives them either of these is a sellout, not a musician.
MaxxNY
08. Feb, 2009
So will they lip sync at the Grammys ?
Victoria
06. Feb, 2009
Lip synching sucks, in my humble opinion. I thought that stuff went out with American Bandstand and the Milli Vanilli boys. If you go on You Tube and start watching the videos, guess which ones are most compelling and dynamic? That’s right, the real live performances, not the lame lip-synched ones. I realize it’s not always the artist’s decision, but what a crummy thing to do to an audience.
Regine
05. Feb, 2009
I did not see the superbowl or half time performances, however I am surprised to learn that so many of these are pre-recorded. It makes me wonder how many performances I have watched in the past thinking they were live when they were not. I feel it gives people a false sense of what a live performance should be.
When watching a “live” performance as an audience member I hope to hear, see, and feel exactly that, even if it’s not perfect. On the occassion that I expect it to be more exact though, I listen to a studio CD.
Some songs or albums I own as studio and live versions, because of the differences and benefits of each.
Pete
05. Feb, 2009
Per you’re absolutely right. I cannot understand Minor’s comment either. I did not watch Super Bowl, so I do not comment performers here.
In Finland (where I live) lipsync also has been used in public live events and in TV a long time, but I could never personally accept it as performer. I feel sorry for the performers, and I don’t they love it either.
My personal view is and has always been that performers and, as it is in this particular case, the producer undervalues and despise audience when they do it.
First of all live music could never be played if faultless or perfect performance would be required. And how do we define perfect anyway? and from whose angle?
Pure, clean sound? Maybe in classic music, but not definitely in most of the pop/rock genres.
Most of the rock singers and musicians that I know say that it is the sense of swing or groove that is the whole point in live performance – to get the audience alive to get them feel “touched”. Not necessary the fact that singer does not hit every single note, even if for us singers it mostly matters ofcourse.
Secondly I must say that studio versions of songs are to be regarded as such (like jigsaw puzzle made).
Like everyone knows especially hardrock bands change/lower the key for live shows to make it possible for the singer to make it.
I have never blamed them for doing it. Well, I know from own experience how impossible it would be to sing notes (in the extreme end of your range) for e.g. two hours.
Isn’t it the feeling and the unique experience we as the audience look for, and I at least usually sense them comprehensively, not only with ears or only as audio signals.
Peace!
Tammy
05. Feb, 2009
My comment is not directed towards Jennifer, she may not have even been given a choice in the matter, but speaking strickly about lip syncing, it hits me as acting, not singing. Her rendition was great and she is great. Even If my 13 year old daughter had the option of lip syncing each time she performs, she would refuse. Granted, I might be less nervous watching and might actually be able to breathe while she was on stage, but the rewards afterwards would not be the same for me or for her.
Martin P.
05. Feb, 2009
i love jennifer and what she has accomplished and what she has overcome. but lip syncing is for the birds. is it live or is it memorex? ask ella. she would never have lip synced. bruce certainly didn’t lip synce. were his vocals perfect? not even, but which do you remember more? BRRRUUUUCCEE!
karen
04. Feb, 2009
They’re all lipsyncing nowadays. Jordan Sparks did it last year for the SuperBowl, and so on and so on.
MaxxNY
04. Feb, 2009
I didn’t really watch the game. I am surprised she did lip sync. Would she have lip synced regardless of the tragedy? And I imagined she was booked before the tragedy . . . Would I ever lip sync ? Depends how much loot was being thrown my way, we are human and we like to live comfortably . Honestly I think Id rather flop on stage than lip sync. Ive seen my friends with an acoustic guitar have their good nights and bad nights singing, even when they were “out” they sang with soul. I also was told the performance at the inauguration was prerecorded. As were the fireworks at the Olympics; CGI.
But having said that I think all sports are rigged anyways, just like “pro wrestling”. So nothing surprises me anymore.
ike
04. Feb, 2009
I have absolutely zero tolerance for anyone trying to make a big deal out of JH performance being prerecorded – SO WHAT! It’s ridiculous to compare it to the athletes competing against one another because there are major fundamental differences. I certainly believe Jennifer could have sung it live, and for what ever reason she chose not to, I trust was the best decision for her because she made it. I have very little respect for people who are so critical of this and never have been and never will be in that position yet they are saying what they would do in that situation. The truth is you do not know what you’d do in that situation. The performance was great I don’t care that it was recorded – it’s not the first nor the last time a SB performance will be taped, and it was not a concert.
Calvin Chan
04. Feb, 2009
Life performances are exciting because there is always a chance something may go wrong. A couple weeks ago, I had a singing performance. It was an informal event, with less than 100 people in the audient. I sang “You Raise Me Up”. Since it was supposed to be an informal event, there was no rehearsal. We just gave the music to the pianist and went up stage. Right at the begining, she started the song with a different tampo than the one I got used to. I tried to do the best I could. At one point, I lost my concentration and I could not finish my song. It was so embarrassing at that moment. Even though it was not what I wanted, I have to admit that it was exciting. I learned more in this performance than in my previous “uneventful” performances. I would do it again given another opportunity. The risk and the uncertainty are what make a performance exciting.
karen
04. Feb, 2009
I understand why SHE would lipsync in case she got choked up with all she’s gone thru this year. BUT under normal circumstances I think they should do what they do best and just perform. Sing.
SHE would’ve gotten a standing ovation even if she (or especially if she) cracked a bit.
What was with them having Faith Hill there? Was she a back up incase Jennifer couldn’t go on for some reason. I thought it was sad that there was no mention/interview of Jennifer Hudson on MSN’s website. It was like she didn’t even perform?! I felt jipped. I love JenHud and wanted to see and hear anything she had to say.
Aaron
04. Feb, 2009
Several years ago I used to work the audio on game days at Texas Stadium. Many artists would lip sync. However, it was clear who the real artists are when they would walk out to the star on the 50 yard line and just go for it. I say that at a live production, that is what the audience wants and deserves. Otherwise they would be at home watching it on TV. I have heard brilliant people sing live, and I don’t care if their voice cracks a little as long as they are in the moment. I think most audiences agree with me.