The Steelers and the Cardinals played one of the best superbowls in history, giving it their all in a game that came down to the last seconds. It is hard to beat the thrill of professional athletes performing on the world’s biggest stage, their reputation depending on their ability to perform under immense pressure and scrutiny. One slip, one mis-read, one stumble and they could make headlines as the player who cost their team the superbowl. Just think how embarrassing it would be to have your slip-up repeated for days on Sportscenter, or recorded forever on the highlight DVD’s, on sell everywhere. The players came through, giving us a performance we will remember for quite some time. The Steelers get to celebrate a great victory, and the Cardinals can hold their head high, knowing they gave it their all. Unfortunately, the pre-game performers did a little less, actually, they faked it.
ABC News reported both Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson lip-synced their performances which were aired prior the superbowl. Hill sang, or pretended to sing, America the Beautiful and Hudson faked singing the National Anthem. Both had been advised to do so by the shows producer Ricky Minor. According to Minor there are just too many variables in a live broadcast and it should not be left to chance. He went on to say the memorable rendition of the Anthem by Whitney Houston was also lip-synced and stated it was a well known and accepted practice in the industry. Minor defended his position by explaining it was actually Hudson’s voice we heard, and she did actually sing the song, she just didn’t sing it live. Why not let her record it in the studio where she can get it just right, where any problems can be edited or doctored? It has been suggested that to make things honest they should simply put a disclaimer on the screen saying portions of this telecast were previously recorded. Yeah, that would make everything okay.
What if the game comes down to a last minute field goal? The pressure would be tremendous, and there are so many elements that can’t be controlled. Perhaps we should allow the kickers to make several kicks before the game, record them, and then play them back when the time comes. No big deal, it really is the kicker kicking the ball, and he really did put it through the uprights, so what’s the problem? Maybe we expect them to do it when the pressure was on, maybe we expect the big time performers to risk it, to put it on the line and risk failure? Maybe we expect an honest effort so our appreciation of their performance can be real and honest. Okay, singing isn’t the same thing, but when the performers go out there and put on a big show, straining to hit the right notes, the raw emotion etched in their faces, tears in their eyes, it is somewhat disturbing to know they are faking it. I have been a huge Faith Hill fan for years, and I think Jennifer Hudson has a marvelous and special voice. I do not dispute their talent, I am simply disgusted by their lack of courage. You are performers, go out there and sing, don’t give us this big visual show of you singing into a dead microphone.
In the same report from ABC News it was hinted that Brittney Spears lip-syncs at all of her concerts because her fans expect her to sound exactly the same way she does on her CD’s. Are Faith and Jennifer trying to model themselves after Brittney? Let’s hope not. At least they didn’t shave their own heads before coming out and pretending to give a marvelous live performance. Faith, Jennifer, you are both better than that, and if you screw up or make a mistake, guess what? It will prove you are human, which isn’t such a horrible thing. Your true fans will still love and respect you. When you fake it, we may still love you, but it is hard to find that respect. The final question is one only the performers can answer. Do they truly want the respect of their fans, or is the only important thing that the fans kept buying the CD’s and attending the concerts? I guess I just expected, wanted, more from stars I admire.
