Lip-synching not the absolute barometer of dullness & treachery

Sometime last year, there was this spirited discussion about lip-synching and I thought it was good. It merited precious space in Opinion pages in various newspapers and blog sites — strong indicators that it hit a raw nerve in people interested in music, singers and integrity — even honesty.

Singer and 2009 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) champion Rhap Salazar hogged the spotlight when his controversial tweets went viral on social media: “I hate seeing artists lip-synching on TV” and “’Yung iba nagkaka-album pa.” His comments caused quite a stir among netizens who either supported or bashed him. Celebrities like Lea Salonga, Vice Ganda, Gary and Gab Valenciano, and Anne Curtis gave varying opinions on the issue of lip-synching.

On Aquino and Abunda Tonight, my erstwhile late-night talk show with Kris Aquino, I explained that I respected Rhap’s opinion but also emphasized that there are singers who lip-synch for legitimate reasons. “Even the best artists, even the most brilliant singers have to lip-synch depending on the circumstance. It’s a technical issue sometimes. Mikropono ba ito? Venue ba ito? Sometimes it’s even a health issue. Hindi makakakanta and the artist is left with no choice but to honor a singing commitment. So, it’s not evil. It’s not bad. It’s not treachery. Hindi pandaraya ang pag lip-synch. Kailangan ito sa ilang pagkakataon,” I declared.

I found the word “hate” very strong or was I overly sensitive? “Pero doon sa hate na totoo, I want to remind Rhap that if you have the freedom to hate artists who lip-synch, you also have the freedom not to watch them, switch off, huwag mong panoorin, walang pumipilit sa ’yo.”

Rhap has excellent vocal chops. As a talent manager, I advised him that “instead of hating, instead of disliking non-singers who are making it as singers, panoorin mo sila. Discover what makes them tick. I mean, review your brand essence, your equity, ano ba ang ginagawa nilang tama na hindi mo ginagawa?” I view lip-synch from the eyes of a talent manager who has handled careers of singers for over 20 years.

According to Wikipedia, lip-synch is a “technical term for matching lip movements with pre-recorded sung or spoken vocals that listeners hear through speakers, either through PA system speakers in a ‘live’ performance or television or cinema speakers in the case of a lip-synched TV show or film performance.”

Even international stars like Beyoncé, Ashlee Simpson, 50 Cent, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, Britney Spears and Luciano Pavarotti were not spared from lip-synching controversy. Michele Catalano wrote in her article From Michael Jackson to Beyoncé, a Brief History of Lip Syncing published in www.forbes.com, “At Super Bowl XLIII, Jennifer Hudson lip-synched the National Anthem because the producer said there were too many ‘variables’ to do the song live” and “Not only did Luciano Pavarotti lip-synch Nessun Dorma during the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics, but the orchestra and conductor faked it as well.”

I look at lip-synching as an available tool for singers who are confronted with technical problems and health issues. What are they? If you have an abominable acoustics in a hall or hotel ballroom where you’re required to do one song. If you are required to do aerial gymnastics like what Pink did in the Grammys and you want to preserve the quality of your voice. If you have no voice at all because of fatigue from work or too much moaning — for God’s sake, lip-synch rather than be stoned to death. If you’re doing a number in a studio where you can hear nothing but the cheers of fans — then do it. If you are included in a musical production number with 25 other stars who don’t actually see each other for rehearsals, then you are asked by producers to lip-synch. From Adele to Janella, everyone lip-synchs on music videos.

But can lip-synching be abused? Yes! Some may opt to lip-synch a 16-song concert. That’s when it becomes treachery.

You cannot lip-synch if you’re performing in a small room with five people watching you. There has to be some physical distance from the audience or an intelligent camera work to support lip-synch. Like dubbing, you have to practice lip-synching.

Singing live is not always better. It’s not an absolute rule. As to the issue of non-singers singing, let the audience decide for themselves and let critics rant and spew lava till thy kingdom come. Switch off if you’re revolted. Go to the garden and water your plants. Or drink tarragon tea and squeeze lavender leaves and dream about Nirvana.

Remember: Singing live is not the absolute measure of brilliance and honesty. Lip-synching is not the absolute barometer of dullness and treachery.