General Music Chat

OK, in light of the Red Hot Chili Peppers coming clean about faking it at the Superbowl..... it got me thinking about what I would do if I were presented that opportunity....

....an invite to play an event that large reaching that kind of audience....but my band would have to agree to "fake it".

Now, I do understand the concerns about technical problems, crappy acoustics, and all the stuff that could go wrong when actually playing for a deal like that. And why the people responsible for putting the show on would prefer taking the easier, quicker, cheaper, and safer route.

No doubt it was likely presented to RHCP that "it's fake it... or no go. Take it or leave it".

Before they took the stage, I was already convinced that Bruno Mars' band was not playing their instruments. (way too much choreography and jumping around to do that AND play)

And of course, back in the day this was pretty common practice for many variety shows, talk shows, even "Soul Train". The logistics of setting up for "live music" was often what kept many acts from actually playing their instruments and/or singing during broadcasts.

I remember yrs ago watching the Tonight Show w my folks and my dad asked if Crosby, Stills, and Nash were actually playing. I explained those guys would never fake it (at least back then).

Back to the Superbowl question....myself, I think I'd have to take a pass....even knowing the amazing exposure a gig like that provides.

Good thing I'll never have to worry about it.

No one plays it for real for SuperBowl gigs. Portable stage in the middle of the field in a stadium - CANNOT do live sound. The feedback and slapback echo make it impossible.
I was actually surprised to find out no performers get paid for the SB gigs. It's all about exposure - 100 million+ viewers. 40-50% boost in sales the week after the event are typical.

No one plays it for real for SuperBowl gigs. Portable stage in the middle of the field in a stadium - CANNOT do live sound. The feedback and slapback echo make it impossible.

maybe now, but i'm pretty sure SOME bands have actually played at SB's.

as for feedback and echo....bands have been performing in stadiums for some time and continue to do so. (granted w more setup time)

I was actually surprised to find out no performers get paid for the SB gigs. It's all about exposure - 100 million+ viewers. 40-50% boost in sales the week after the event are typical.

doesn't surprise me. as much exposure as that gets....i'm surprised they're not charging the performers for the privilege. give it time. give it time.

I have played while shooting video. however for the purpose of a better Quality audio we of course 'dubbed in' a mixed and mastered version.

Hard to say what I might do in the face of a huge payday that I could use to further my mission, and pay my musicians.
( not to mention pay some bills )

But I would still consider the event odious and dishonest.

A lot of major Events with performances have been "Dubbed" or "faked" for as far back as I can remember,(50 here).I remember back in the mid 80s we had a local summer festival with the revived band SLADE playing. They where accused of lip-syncing, and what an up-roar it caused.
With the introduction of over-dubbing and multi-track, performers created a monster. it was nearly impossible to re-create live what was done in the studio, and the age or pre-recorded music was introduced to live performances.
While "talented" artist used this technology as "tools" to aid them in their live performances, other have relied on it to "Become" the "performance". Gives weight to the adage, "Give 'em an inch, They'll take a mile".

anybody remember Milli Vanilli ? I think their career was pretty much ended doing the lip sync stuff

Never fake anything...

If someone asked you to do something inherently wrong, would you do it?

"Shake it, but don't break it"....

And if you get caught, you are screwed.

Faq the Stuperbowl, I was betting on who would win PUPPYBOWL.

Might depend on the music. If I were being paid a salary to play bass or guitar for some commercial / cover band I'd view it as just part of that cornball scene.

If it was an original band, particularly one where I had my own material on the line - nope. That would spoil it and I would feel ridiculous, jumping around, pretending to play. In front of millions of real people I want to respect me and my music. No thanks...

Talbot

Oh c'mon, y'all

It's not faking if you actually play like that in the first place. Everyone knows the Chili Peppers were not faking their ability. They just rolled with it and you'd all do it too, if playing music is what you did for a living.


Whereas Milli Vanilli couldn't even speak english, much less sing. They were hired male model dancers who had nothing to do with the record they were lip-synching to.

I don't think it would have been that hard to find an engineer who could pull that off live though. I'm sure it was a TV exec who was afraid of taking the chance..

I would do it in a heartbeat as long as I was faking to my own playing.

I honestly dont see what the issue is, Anthony was singing live, but having done a lot of live gigs, anything can happen. Say you come out there its 35 degrees and your guitar goes out of tune or you break a string, the Super Bowl is massive entertainment and exposure, I cant believe anyone would pass on that given the opportunity.

I did like that the Peppers did it with a sense of humor and didnt put cables in thier guitars, I would do the same thing.

I thought the half time show was great, it sounded great and made all of these guys look good in my mind. I would hate like hell to do a gig like that and after 10 seconds my G String went out of tune!!!

Oh c'mon, y'all

It's not faking if you actually play like that in the first place. Everyone knows the Chili Peppers were not faking their ability. They just rolled with it and you'd all do it too, if playing music is what you did for a living.


Whereas Milli Vanilli couldn't even speak english, much less sing. They were hired male model dancers who had nothing to do with the record they were lip-synching to.

I don't think it would have been that hard to find an engineer who could pull that off live though. I'm sure it was a TV exec who was afraid of taking the chance..

I totally disagree with this statement on the basis it is a universal assumption.

If I had the concert / recording / retail strength of a band like TRHCP, I would not fake the Super Bowl purely out of my own ideological convictions.

TRHCP is a very popular band, I even like some of their music.
But you see, we simply are not all wired the same way.
I have no appreciation for them as 'artist' as they utilize vulgarities and overt sexuality ( prostitution ) for financial gain.
'Flea' looks like a cranker from 19 n 77. He should take his given name back, put on a shirt, stop sporting his sister coo-lots . . .
As for Bruno Mars, a very talent young man ( I guess ) whom sings like a seven year old girl. ( watch for one glove, facial reconstruction surgery, and drug overdose soon )
Prude ? Yes . . . thank you.
Hater ? Simply because I dare to value my opinion over the crowd ?
Sure I'll accept that concept, as soon as I can eat a whole box of Cap'n Crunch without shredding the roof of my mouth.
Bottom line . . .
Would I rub two cold nickles together to get out of the rain into one of their shows ?
Highly unlikely.

I don't think the performers are given a choice these days.
Yes, lots of bands play stadiums, but not like the superbowl setup - temporary movable stage, in the middle of the field.

Perhaps all you guys are too young to remember (HAH - I know you are not!) shows like American Bandstand, Hullabaloo and Where the Action Is. 95% of all those performances were lipsynched before the term was coined.

As for Bruno Mars, a very talent young man ( I guess ) whom sings like a seven year old girl.

.....and I thought I was the only one thinking that! Nothing against him, or those who like him, but I sure can't understand the current popular styles that are like that. But it's all taste and preference. To each his own.

As for the "faking", it just seems like there could be a different way to present it so the audience doesn't have to feel deceived, but I don't know what that is unless they just flat out say in the intro "They are "playing" to their prerecorded music". Hokie, but then at least it's out there.

I totally disagree with this statement on the basis it is a universal assumption.

If I had the concert / recording / retail strength of a band like TRHCP, I would not fake the Super Bowl purely out of my own ideological convictions.

TRHCP is a very popular band, I even like some of their music.
But you see, we simply are not all wired the same way.
I have no appreciation for them as 'artist' as they utilize vulgarities and overt sexuality ( prostitution ) for financial gain.
'Flea' looks like a cranker from 19 n 77. He should take his given name back, put on a shirt, stop sporting his sister coo-lots . . .
As for Bruno Mars, a very talent young man ( I guess ) whom sings like a seven year old girl. ( watch for one glove, facial reconstruction surgery, and drug overdose soon )
Prude ? Yes . . . thank you.
Hater ? Simply because I dare to value my opinion over the crowd ?
Sure I'll accept that concept, as soon as I can eat a whole box of Cap'n Crunch without shredding the roof of my mouth.
Bottom line . . .
Would I rub two cold nickles together to get out of the rain into one of their shows ?
Highly unlikely.

ouch! As someone who used to be in a band very much like these guys, I can say that we won't have any impact on their lives or their fans with a critical attitude....especially if it comes from religious pretenses. Behind church doors, I'd tell you all about how entertainers today are the false prophets mentioned in ancient days of the scriptures, casting a vision for us and our kids that leads literally down the Highway to Hell.

But it doesn't have to be that way!

IF (and it's a big IF) there were more bands made of sincere Christians who were able to withstand the temptations of stardom and who were PRIMARILY fantastically talented musicians, we might be able to exert more influence on society as a whole. Problem is, every Christian band feels the need to be preachy and that simply isn't appropriate in secular realm, so the best thing would be to make great art informed by our faith and then it has to compete with what the world offers at the highest levels of culture. Like P.O.D., like U2, like Sixpence, like Elvis, like Bach, like David.

But in the meantime, we are walking into their living room when we compete in the real world of live music. We should be respectful of the person, even when we believe they carry a possibly dangerous message.

I like RHCP. They freakin' rock with passionate abandon! And Jesus wants us to be either hot or cold, and I promise you they are reachable because they are so passionate about their particular "calling" so far.

The singer overcame a heroin addiction, I think? He might know more about the Lord than you imagine, and they could change if they meet the right Person, ya know?

Please be nice to the pagans. I love them! They just need to find out what "abundant life" means, then they'll come around.





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