Fear no more Aussies: Gov't to protect you from lip-synching

[benji]

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 10,00.html

Britney Spears just arrived in Australia on Thursday, but already she's the subject of government scrutiny – over whether concertgoers realize she'll be lip-synching portions of her concerts.

Virginia Judge, the Minister for Fair Trading for New South Wales (the Australian state that includes Sydney), said she is considering options to make sure fans aren't misled when buying tickets to Britney's Circus tour concerts. Some seats are going for more than $1,300.

"It is Britney's 'prerogative' to lip-sync, and it is my job to make sure consumers know what they are paying for up front," Judge said in a statement released by the government.

One idea is to require disclaimers on promotional materials and tickets indicating that portions of a show will be pre-recorded.

It's no secret that many artists, including Spears, lip-sync at times during their elaborate stage shows. And this Australian initiative may not have much effect on interest in Spears tickets, given that many of the shows Down Under are already sold out.

"Personally I would rather see a live set from a local artist," Judge said, "but I am sure Britney's fans will be treated to a spectacular show."

Thank god for Virginia there to watch out for you guys.

Is it just me, or is that last line totally a veiled insult of Britney fans.

At least it hasn't been banned:

In 2005, President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov banned lip-synching in all forms, including public TV performances and even at private events such as weddings, citing “a negative effect on the development of singing and musical art,”.

On November 10 2008, China's Ministry of Culture published a draft of its new Regulations for Commercial Public Performances which outlaws performers who pretend to sing or play an instrument to pre-recorded music. Those who are caught miming twice will have their performing licenses revoked

[J@3]

Thank God! Lip synching is such a huge problem in the hardcore scene. I don't pay $15 for a ticket to watch some sweaty tattood man pretend to scream, no thank you.

[Andrew]

I think we Australians can all sleep soundly at night, knowing that our elected leaders are on the ball, on top of the important issues of the day.

[The X]

But wait, there's more:

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/st ... 84,00.html

BRITNEY Spears was holed up in a Perth hotel yesterday as the row over her lip-synching concerts threatened to derail her Australian tour, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

Fans walked out after only three songs at Perth's Burswood Dome on Friday, upset by her lacklustre performance.

Many claimed her show was not worth the $200 they had paid.

The lip-synch controversy has dogged Spears since she arrived in Australia and made headlines around the world, including on US TV's CNN.

Adding to Spears' woes, media companies, including News Limited, refused to photograph the concert after being asked to sign restrictive agreements by her management. None were imposed on video journalists.

Spears mimed most of her songs on stage, singing only on ballads.

Among fans who walked out early was Amanda Hawlet, 22, who drove from home two hours away and spent almost $500 on a weekend to see Britney.

She left only half an hour into the action, angry at the miming.

"I want my money back or I want her to sing properly," she said. "The ticket cost me $200 and she lip-synched the whole thing.

"It's cost me half a week's wage and you've got bills to pay, but you look forward to this concert, it's a night out - and what do you get? Nothing. It was a waste of $200 - I could have got four pairs of shoes for that."

The lack of big screens - masking Spears' miming and taking the focus away from her rigid performance - left many in the cheap seats fuming.

Fans complained that the US pop star spent large portions of the in-the-round show with her back to them.

"You couldn't tell if it was Britney or not," Mel McGuigan, 25, said.

A Burswood spokesman said a record concert crowd had made it a huge success.

No complaints had been received from fans, a statement said.

[Andrew]

Many claimed her show was not worth the $200 they had paid.

With all due respect to Britney Spears and her fans, I'd call it a waste of $200 whether she lip-synched or not.

[shadowgrin]

I sympathize with the Australian people for such a crucial nation changing event.

[Al Ka Pwn]

This reminds me of the southpark episode on Brittney. Is it harvesting season soon?

[el badman]

Thank God! Lip synching is such a huge problem in the hardcore scene. I don't pay $15 for a ticket to watch some sweaty tattood man pretend to scream, no thank you.

"The ticket cost me $200 and she lip-synched the whole thing."

In this case, I'd also feel pretty bummed paying $200 to watch some mentally unstable trashy hooker pretend to sing...

[benji]

I'd argue they went in knowing that's what they'd be seeing.

[Andrew]

Quite possible, though they probably thought it with affection.

[Laxation]

There was probably only a couple of people who walked out anyway.

Stfu minority, no one gives a shit about you. Go ahead and be silent already like the rest of them