Tonight Show Performance Review

Guille · Post by **Guille** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:27 pm

Weird Al not lipsync. Jim and Steve, They if they were lipsync with the Weird Al parts. I believe that it was a good live performance.

Post by **weirdojace** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:03 pm

Well I'm glad that all worked out.

However, I do think that Al should let Jim and Steve do their own parts without a backing track. That way there would never be any confusion over whether Al was lip-synching or not.

SmileyGirl87 · Post by **SmileyGirl87** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:49 pm

I think in concert there won't be an obvious backing track for Jim+Steve (not that they needed it in the least, they are definitely underrated as backup singers) as there was during this performance. Something I've noticed, after watching many performances by a wide range of artists is that many talk shows, late night or otherwise, play the original studio recording behind the artist and their band, whether they really WANT it there or not. I remember one artist I used to be fond of saying that a show they had performed on basically asked for lip synching, and when the artist said no, the backing track was still played, just softer.

Could this be the case? Maybe it has something to do with a television broadcast as opposed to a live concert performance?

~*Cat*~ B)

Post by **weirdojace** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:31 pm

Could be.

But I've seen talk shows where musical guests are able to perform as a full band with no lipsynching, like Al's performance of Couch Potato and I think I saw a Leno show where They Might Be Giants performed Experimental Film.

minnick27 · Post by **minnick27** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:53 pm

Isnt part of the reason that shows prefer lip sync because of Elvis Costello's performance of Radio, Radion on SNL years back? I know that SNL instituted the lip sync policy for a while after that, but I thought other shows picked up on it too.

Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:09 am

Jim and Steve do just fine as LEAD singers, so backup is no sweat atall for them.

I repeat, Jay Leno made a point of saying there was no lip-synching on the Tonight Show... so whatever was in the backing track was presumably put there by Al & the band.

A little reworking of the arrangement, they'll be fine.

CatraDhtem · Post by **CatraDhtem** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:50 am

It's also possible, and I'm sure someone has already suggested this, that Al used the vocal track as a bit of insurance, in case he did suddenly get out of breath while actually singing.

Post by **algonacchick** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:12 am

OE, I'm glad you once again brought up that there was no lip-synching going on. Even though there was a backing track playing during the performance, I know I could still hear Jim and Steve occasionally. That track may have been louder than them at times, but it looked to me like they were really singing. I'm sure Al will figure something out for the tour. I still loved the performance very much, and I think it'll work well in concert.

Post by **Cinnamon** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:30 am

After seeing the live performance, the taped version (which cut a lot out peripherally) was a little odd. A few days have passed and a little while ago I watched the taped performance again and think Al and The Band did a wonderful job!

But I do agree that the sound came across differently on tv versus what was heard live, as mentioned by others.

What I was wondering was if it wasn't really the lack of experience performing the song (I thought they did that really well), but actually the lack of time to change/remix how the song was recorded to do live and to include the band, in addition to putting together the choreography and everything else that had to be done to do a live performance? It seemed a short time when we heard he would perform and the performance. I don't know, just a thought.

Post by **Jenny** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:51 am

Travis the Geek @ Nov 5 2006, 12:25 AM wrote: Twice, actually. Once for Running With Scissors and then again for Poodle Hat. I had a chance to see him for Bad Hair Day, as well, but I missed it. (My friend had a couple of tickets but he brought someone else. /shakes fist/)
Hey, everybody. Great to meet everyone.

Nice to meet you, Travis! Welcome to WOWAY~

I do agree that there was no lip syncing going on, but that there was a background track playing. I heard Steve and Jim's live singing very clearly along with the recording of Al singing background. And I also noticed Al pulling the mic away anytime he was not actually singing. To those who didn't realize there was a background track playing, I can certainly see where they would have thought there was lip syncing going on.

I have found that several of my favorite singers don't always sound at their "best" when I hear them on television, even if I have been there at the taping and thought they sounded great. I don't know if it is the mixing or the acoustics if some voices just work better live.

I like your idea, Travis...let us just blame it on the deep, dark void of talent and joy that is The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

and leave it at that!

/can anyone tell I'm not a big Leno fan?