American Idol Not All Live

Oh, the controversy! The New York Times is reporting that this season American Idol is using pre-recorded tracts. The show claims that the contestants do not "lip-sync" because they are really singing live, they just happen to be singing over a track of their own voices. This is a Clinton...

By Stephen Chilton

March 30, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Oh, the controversy! The New York Times is reporting that this season American Idol is using pre-recorded tracts. The show claims that the contestants do not "lip-sync" because they are really singing live, they just happen to be singing over a track of their own voices.

This is a Clinton "depends what 'is' means" type moment if there ever was one. They are taking a strong definition of what "lip-sync" means and a very very lose meaning of what "live" means.

The article quotes Justin Guarini numerous times for breaking the story (Guarini finished second to Kelly Clarkson and now hosts a show called "Idol Wrap"). Guarini said that "It's almost torture to watch the contestants sing and dance like they don't have a care in the world when in fact they're sweating bullets." I would just add that if they really are top canidates and among the best talent that this would not be the case and that I have always found watching this show torture.

Note: You might remember my post last month about far more talented entertainers preforming this way. Does Anyone Know How to Play Live Anymore?

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.