Sunday, November 23, 2003

SNL - where's the LIVE in music performances?

NBC.com > Saturday Night Live > Message Board - week-to-week the musical guests vary - some are actually interesting. I would be the first to admit that I can't keep up with all the latest music groups on the scene, so SNL is one of the rare times I actually tune in to TV and indulge.

One question I would like to pose to the producers and writers of SNL: why not feature the SNL band sometime? And do it right! Sure they get the occasional backing opportunity from the wise and progressive performers, but most acts invariably hit the stage with with their own pre-recorded karaoke machine with a few imposter musicians and backup singers thrown in to make it look...err, LIVE - maybe that's harsh and even unfair, but let's face it - it's the truth. It's also a shame.

Can you imagine being one of the talented players in the band and watching some "popular" performer dance his/her way through their number while pretending to sing? That would really suck, but that's exactly what happened recently (October 2003).

Why are the SNL producers allowing this? Although her Act II number was clearly sung live (and no comment there) why was Brittany Spears allowed to perform an aerobic exercise (Act I) sans any singing whatsoever (as it was evident to me that no human could sustain the kind of polished and slickly produced vocals while doing the head twists and various jungle gyrations she was doing)? The choreography was fine, if you like that sort of thing, but whatever happened to the LIVE in SNL as far as musical acts are concerned? Or does that only apply to dancing?

Yes, this is a rare rant from me - enjoy it while you can!

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