To be honest, I don't really care much about group performances on American Idol.  I get the point, but I didn't tune in to watch ten-something people sing around awkward choreography—besides, the show isn't about multiple winners, right?  There can only be one (official) winner for each season.   And, well, I came for the results, to see who gets eliminated, or in this year's case, if anybody will.

So I was a little surprised when I came across this admission, from the folks at Idol themselves, that the group performances—at least for this year—are prerecorded.   I'm actually surprised that there's an outcry over this.  Perhaps, like some Idol viewers, I never really bothered to find out.

It apparently began with Justin Guarini, second placer during Idol's first season, and the statements he made for Idol Wrap, a television show airing on the TV Guide Network.  “Every single year we can't stand the group performances,” he said.  “I know they can't stand it either.   And I think what makes them even worse now is that they're lip-synched.   They're really prerecorded now.”

At first, a spokesman for the show's producers denied the allegations, but quickly retracted a day later.   “Due to extensive choreography and to balance their voices with open mikes against a screaming audience, the Idols do sing along to their own prerecorded vocal track during the group performances only,” he said.  He assures, however, that the contestants' individual performances—the ones that you vote for—do not use any prerecorded music or vocals.   The only recording that's done, however, are for the songs that appear as downloads on iTunes after the show.

I don't know if you noticed the group performances this year.   The only interesting thing I remember was last week's group performance, when most of the contestants dropped their microphones well below their mouths—and, weirdly enough, their last notes are still loud and clear.  But I don't understand why there's some fuss over this.  Sure, American Idol is a singing competition, and the contestants are expected to sing live, but there are so many factors.   Each week, contestants rehearse their songs, do pictorials, meet with their mentors (wherever they may be), and practice their choreography for the group numbers.  It's hard squeezing them all in.

And, besides, there's no lip-synching involved.   They do sing.  This reminds me of Jennifer Hudson's performance during the Super Bowl a month back, and the similar outcry when the existence of a prerecorded track was discovered.  Simply said: she does sing, but the microphone isn't expected to pick up everything.   A track is used so everybody can hear whatever's being performed.  Problem solved.

In a later interview, Guarini himself says he doesn't blame the producers for the decision.   “I know they are interested in making the best show possible and in caring for the contestants' voices,” he said.  “It's almost torture to watch the contestants sing and dance like they don't have a care in the world when in fact they're sweating bullets [over who will be eliminated.]”

And, admit it or not, that's why we watch the results night episodes.  Later, I'll tune in, and don't expect me to pay attention to the group performance.  I'll probably be getting something to snack on.  Let the eliminations take its place.  Bow.




-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The New York Times
(Image courtesy of Fox)