Did 'SNL' Gaffe Expose (Ashlee) Simpson Vocal Aid?

[Champ]

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK - Singer Ashlee Simpson (news)'s "extra help" may have been exposed when a "Saturday Night Live" audience heard her voice — singing the wrong song — while she held a microphone at her waist.



Her record company blamed a computer glitch and she blamed her band for Sunday morning's incident, which cut off her planned performance of the song "Autobiography" on the network comedy show.


Simpson had performed her hit single "Pieces of Me" without incident earlier in the show. When she came back a second time, her band started playing and the first lines of her singing "Pieces of Me" could be heard again.


She looked momentarily confused as the band plowed ahead with the song and the vocal was quickly silenced.


Simpson made some exaggerated hopping dance moves, then walked off the stage 35 seconds into the performance. NBC quickly cut to a commercial.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=816&ncid=816&e=1&u=/ap/20041024/ap_on_en_tv/people_ashlee_simpson

[MADem]

1. She probably borrowed her equipment from

...the White House. We saw how well it worked for weecowboy!

[Wickerman]

2. Key bit - "and she blamed her band"

Gutless wonder - she went out after the incident and blamed her band for the wrong song. Vile.

Yes, she and Bush belong together.

[President Jesus]

6. agreed. blaming the band was the nail in the coffin of her 'career'

typical repuke philosophy...blame others for your lack of intelligence and talent.

[jdj]

26. Is she supporting Bush too?

I know Jessica is, but Ashlee seemed to be more of a rebel (she's a more talented singer, too, but there is way too much affectation in her singing, just like her sister's. I don't know why they can't just freaking sing, and not do the fake orgasm thing every other word. The only person who pulled off this was Marilyn singing "Happy Birthday" to JFK. Funny how Chri$tian$ use sex to sell stuff more than anyone else.

[LSdemocrat]

31. No, she's a Kerry supporter

http://www.dailyceleb.com/production/?view=event&eid=2517

[jdj]

36. Well, GOTTDAMMN GO GIRL.

I admire the HELL out of that, because her father is a preacher and she is going against her entire family with that one.

I forgive her for the diarrheaic marketing then.

[Mr Bojangles]

41. Regardless of political affiliation

That was harsh to shit on her band like that. The sad part is that if they say anything in defense of themselves, they're 150% replaceable. Nobody cares about the musicians, they just want to see the pretty face.

Is it their fault she needs "help" because her vocals are so overproduced in the studio that she can't recreate them live?

Is it their fault the techie was too busy watching her ass (or looking up pr0n, whatever) to see which track he selected before he pushed play?

Nay, I say. >=(

/rant...had a "garage" band of sorts that had a similar problem with LSD (That's "Lead Singer Disease", FYI. Textbook case: Axl Rose). Wasn't pretty.

It's all fine and dandy, though...they're probably well-paid for their "background" contributions, if she tanks or not.

[The Zanti Regent]

3. No, she borrowed it from Milli Vanilli

Shame she couldn't dance as well as those guys...

[vi5]

4. Computer glitch? That's supposed to make it o.k.?

If she's supposed to be playing with a live band and singing her own "rock" songs (quotation marks mine) then why would a computer even enter the equation.

This wouldn't even be half as funny to me if it were her sister or a Britney or Christina type. But because her entire manufactured shtick is as some sort of authentic rock chick, and anyone with eyes, ears, and a brain can see it's a total pose, that makes the whole thing that much funnier.

[jdj]

27. whoa

Christian Aguilera can sing circles around 99% of artists today, and she is very outspoken liberal.

So don't class her in with the pop bimbos, even as a "type".

[President Jesus]

5. I blame SNL for subjecting us to fraudulant 'entertainers'

I'm a lifelong fan of SNL (despite the numerous years of subpar talent), but this lip-sync debacle just may be the last straw for me.

WTF are they doing booking outright frauds for their musical acts. SNL grew out of the counter culture of the 60s and 70s. The very reason for its existence was to spit in the face of conventional TV drivel. Now SNL has proven itself to be part of the very establishment it sought to bring down.

They are every bit as guilty as Ashlee Simpson in this fraud, if not more. She's just a kid.

Fucking hypocrites.

[FreedomFry]

11. Amen, Amen, Amen!

If you can't perform "live" on "Saturday Night Live," you have no business being on the show.

[no name no slogan]

13. From Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio" to this...

How far the mighty have fallen.

Remember that show from the early days where Elvis Costello was the musical guest? Apparently he was a last-minute replacement for the Sex Pistols, who were held up by the INS and couldn't get into the country in time for the show.

Instead of doing his planned second song, he cut it off and jumped into "Radio Radio", his scathing critique of commercial radio broadcasting.

And then there's the Sinead O'Connor incident, where she shredded the Pope's photo to a stunned audience. Another classic SNL musical moment-- and completely unplanned as well.

However, all we've been treated to is pseudo-rebellion and lame-ass mainstream pop stars (all conveniently sponsored by Budweiser, who are to beer what Britney Spears is to music) who do nothing but prove they can look like half-assed pimps but not write/perform a good song to save their lives.

The music hasn't been good in years-- which wouldn't be so bad if the comedy was funny.

[Endangered Specie]

30. Kinda reminds me of 1984

the book.

[louis-t]

7. Saw it, and couldn't stop laughing.

Primadonna.

[Deja Q]

8. 'Autobiography'? Sounds like another manufactured robot...

Sigh.

[LTR]

9. If it makes you all feel better...

Just think back to a SNL musical guest that had real talent - Elvis Costello. Remember when he was warned not to sing his anti-media hit "Radio Radio"? Well, he went on stage, started another song, and stopped the band a few notes in. They broke into (yep!) "Radio Radio". The SNL folks (the sober ones, anyway) were so pissed, he was banned for many years afterward, but it was such a great moment, they use the performance in future 'best of SNL' shows. Yep, Elvis C. was a bad muthafucka. Sure, he's an arrogant prick, but he's so damn talented and real, he can be whatever the hell he wants.

But remember when musicians had integrity and a 'don't give a shit' attitude? Sounds like those days are over. Instead, it's record companies trying to build up corporate prefab 'rebel' grrrls like Ashlee and Avril. As a result, it's all a lipsynced and phony act. And the recording industry wonders why sales are in the toilet.

There will be a special place in hell for Ashlee and her dumbass sister with the fake tits and horrible singing voice. Give me the brilliance of the great Elvis Costello anyday.

[Minstrel Boy]

10. I remember that

Great moment. Elvis kept looking off camera, because Lorne Michaels was giving him the finger.

[no name no slogan]

14. Elvis was a last-minute replacement for the Sex Pistols

As a matter of fact, a member of the Attractions had on a t-shirt that said "THANKS MALCOLM" on it-- referring to the Sex Pistols' manager, Malcolm McLaren, who caused so many problems with US immigration that the Pistols missed half of their US tour-- including the SNL date.

[elperromagico]

17. Costello recreated the moment in the 25th anniversary special.

The Beastie Boys came out and started performing a song. Then E. C. came out, interrupted them, and started playing "Radio Radio."

[BoX o BooX]

19. And Elvis gets the last laugh...

He still rocks, Lorne Michaels is a hack, AND Elvis sleeps with DIANA KRALL. So F YOU, Lorne!

[Endangered Specie]

32. I despise the recording industry...

I encourage people to download free music from the internet... it helps destroy the system (and if you really like it, send the artist a buck... thats more than they get selling an album).

Also, check out your local bands, there is a inverse relation between popularity and talent it seems.

[Blue_Tires]

12. don't be surprised

if this was some kind of planned accident or something...(I put it in a similar class with paris hilton's video 'accidentally' being released, or janet jackson) Simpson has gained a thousand times more notariety and publicity than she would have if she just sang the song and walked off the stage...now, the whole country's talking about her

[Endangered Specie]

33. There is that...

I wouldnt put faking a fake fakeout beyond them...
ANy publicity is good publicity

you make a good point.

[rockydem]

15. those 'exaggerated hopping dance moves' - those were hilarious

[elperromagico]

16. "Girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you...

know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's... "

Sound familiar? ;)

[Cush]

21. blame it on the rain

[Bake]

18. Anybody got a link to it? I missed SNL last night.

But I'd love to see this!!

Bake

[Mr Bojangles]

28. Here

http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/

It's in the top right corner under "Video".

Or at least it was as of this post. xD

[flygal]

35. You have to pay to watch - any other clips out there?

[Mr Bojangles]

37. You do?

It works fine for me.

Granted, it's RealPlayer (a.k.a.: I'm going to constantly fight with every other media player on your system for complete control of all your base), but it works =/

[flygal]

38. I live overseas - I think that's the problem.

[Mr Bojangles]

42. Try this one

I found it on ifilm

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2654002?ifilmp=99

[Chovexani]

43. Try this site

http://www.lipsync.us

[mtnester]

20. If SNL misses the boat and does NOT do a skit on this next week..

I will be officially done with them. And I have watched that show from the beginning (even during the worst of the no talent years)

[NYC Liberal]

22. Totally agree...

They have to laugh it off, and make out to be something not that serious. If they can poke fun at others, they should be able to poke fun at themselves.

[qnr]

29. Ashlee should do it, if she wants to save her "career" n/t

[miss_kitty]

23. Ashlee Simpson? A No-Talent Hack?

Who'dve thunk it???:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :crazy: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[jdj]

34. what's upsetting to me about this

is who are we missing?

we aren't getting hardly any alt. rock marketed,

MTV uber-marketed Ashlee for about 2 months, plus giving her a show,and based on what or (WTF)?

who payed for it? why?

I asked these questions then, and I keep saying it's eerie the repuke singers that are being foisted on people now.

[miss_kitty]

39. I am still all mystified and shit as to how she and her also no-talent

sister got the gigs period. I mean, have all the really talented people been discovered? So now They have to scrape the bottom of the barrel? Or does someone in the family give the most incredible head on the face of the earth?:shrug:

[guitar man]

24. Bwahahahah!!!!

I think it's hilarious. If she had any kind of talent at all, she wouldn't need ProTools feeding her vocal to the house mix. If the band started the wrong song and she had any kind of real stage experience or "roadworthiness" about her, she would have smiled, sang the song they were playing, figure out what went wrong later and chalk it up to lessons learned.

If she was in my band and pulled that little stunt she pulled on SNL, I would have fired her ass. Of course, if shee needs a pre-recorded vocal track to perform live, she would have never made it through the audition in the first place.

This is the result of major record labels "manufacturing" talent in the studio that doesn't exist and then figuring out how to package it up for "live" performance. I saw the Allman Brothers Band live in Oklahoma City a couple weeks ago. Now there was some REAL talent on that stage performing REAL music. Warren Haynes kicks ass! Why can't we get back to making real music in this country?

[President Jesus]

25. I call it "Stepford Rock"

I expect Clear Channel to foist this shit on us, but to SNL and Lorne Michaels I say "fuck you", you pos sell outs.

[ronzo]

40. Here's what happened.

They pre-recorded two tunes for the SNL show. That's probably standard procedure for half the acts, if not all.
From reports, the SNL producers f'd up and played the same song in the second segment.
The band was expecting a different pantomime. They weren't playing, she wasn't singing. Total bullshit.

At least the board operator had the sense to cut the vocals after the first verse. The giveaway? You can still hear the vocal bleedover during the hook.

And she lays it on the band....

[Hell Hath No Fury]

44. No, that was not standard...

..at least a few years ago.

The live acts always had live vocals, with perhaps a bit of recorded instrumental accompaniment if needed (violins etc.)

An old flame was musical director for years on the show.

She must've had BIG vocal problems (as in she can't really sing well outside the studio) if they resorted to a track.