Has There Ever Been a Non-Lip-Synced Performance at Macy's?

[fbueller]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 6:43pm

Has anyone ever seen a performer not lip-sync during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 6:46pm

No.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 6:58pm

It would just be too hard to reach a crowd like that.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 7:00pm

It's kind of impossible. Those acoustics have to be worse than the inside of Helen Keller's head.

Plus, it's bad enough they have to stand out in the cold in their skimpy costumes. They can't really exert full singing effort, either. It's bad enough they had to put an inexplicable fluffy Christmasy scarf and pair of gloves on Ariel during the Little Mermaid number.

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:34pm

I have no proof or cite for this, but I'm pretty sure James Taylor wasn't lip syncing.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:35pm

Someone claimed that on these boards.
I don't think it's true.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:50pm

Not since it's been televised?

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:58pm

"It's kind of impossible. Those acoustics have to be worse than the inside of Helen Keller's head."

Are you a writer for Family Guy?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/28/08 at 11:58pm

Was it just me or did the White Christmas, especially at the end of their medley, sing full out over their taped vocals?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 12:07am

I also think James Taylor was singing live which really suprised me.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 12:10am

I thought he was too, Curtain.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 12:25am

I think when the boy from oz performed (it was that godawful kid) he sang live, he had a lavalier mic the size of montana on.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 10:15am

My family and I are convinced James Taylor was singing live. And if there was an award for amazing lip-syncing, it should go to LMM.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 10:16am

Yeah, he pulled it off well.

Miley Cyrus, not so much.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 10:18am

James Taylor WAS singing live.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 2:49pm

I wouldn't think the acoustics have much to do with the decision of whether to sing live. It's not as if singing live and singing unamplified are synonymous. If anyone's sung unamplified at the parade, it was a long time ago.

I think some people have sung live over the years. Most don't, obviously.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 4:17pm

There's a reason that actors are mic'd in musicals.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 4:53pm

"There's a reason that actors are mic'd in musicals."

Did someone say there wasn't? Or express puzzlement about it?

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 5:55pm

nobodyhome,

I'm sorry my reply wasn't as clear as I thought it to be.

Mic'ing actors in Herald Square for a quick, two minute, or less, performance, isn't the easiest task. As a result, having the performance at the volume and quality to come across well to the live and tv audience, without mic'ing, isn't a realistic possibility in that setting.

[Psychopathic Sanity]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 5:58pm

no, it's impossible to do. even in partially enclosed spaces like a baseball stadium, it's impossible. how do i know? i've performed at many professional baseball games before, and you have to record it before hand because there is no way you can sing it live. the actual track and live vocals would be completely off, and it is near impossible to make it go in sync.

now, imagine trying to do that during an event like the macy's day parade. it's impossible to do, hence why all the performances are lip-synced. i hope that answers your question, and sorry for the long rambling post. XD

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 6:56pm

Yeah, Miley Cyrus once again proved she sucks at everything!

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/30/08 at 6:22am

Thanks for clarifying, ErinRebecca.

"no, it's impossible to do. even in partially enclosed spaces like a baseball stadium, it's impossible. how do i know? i've performed at many professional baseball games before, and you have to record it before hand because there is no way you can sing it live. the actual track and live vocals would be completely off, and it is near impossible to make it go in sync."

Psychopathic Sanity, are you saying that when bands perform at baseball stadiums, it's always all pre-recorded and this has always been true? The Beatles at Shea were pre-recorded? All singers who've sung the national anthem at baseball stadiums have been pre-recorded?

[musicalman2]

Posted: 11/30/08 at 6:35am

You mean they lip sync????

What's next . . . Santa Claus not being real?????