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Blogs / Lounge Act / April 2009 / Britney's Back. And So is her Lip-Synching

Britney's Back. And So is her Lip-Synching

It never ceases to amaze me that otherwise intelligent and financially savvy people would spend good money to go see certain "artists" perform concerts that actually—and pretty openly—features said "artists" lip-synching along to backing tracks.

At least when Madonna first did it about 10 years ago, she publicly acknowledged that parts of her tour would be lip-synched so she could dance around the stage, doing the "Vogue" thing she does so well.

I've never heard Britney Spears' people admit that the former teen pop tart and now twice-divorced tabloid monstrosity using backing tracks to hide her vocal limitations on stage. But I HAVE had the displeasure of seeing Spears in concert a few times when I was working as a pop-music critic, and there's no denying what is obvious to anyone paying attention: Spears barely utters anything "live" at her "live concerts."

Not that her fans care. They're in the house due to the Britney phenomenon more than her music. She's a celeb like Cher now, a gay icon more than a role model for teen girls. And her concerts were always more aerobics workout than music experience. No doubt all the bells and whistles she trots out on her current "Circus" tour will be enough to satisfy Britney's fans when she plays tonight at EnergySolutions Arena.

Up the hill at Kingsbury Hall, it's a true legend who will be playing and singing every note for real. B.B. King is a regular visitor, but he always delivers in his concerts.

More fine options: political troubador Bruce Cockburn, performing at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, and Brit-poppers Travis, headlining at The Depot.