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#238773 - 24/10/2004 20:14 Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night?
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
If not, fast forward to Ashlee Simpon's first musical performance... Notice what song she is singing. Then fast forward to her 2nd performance and enjoy the show!
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Brad B.

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#238774 - 24/10/2004 20:27 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
mschrag
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/09/2000
Posts: 2303
Loc: Richmond, VA
When I was watching the first one, the only thing I kept thinking was "Man, she's totally lip syncing that ... That's so lame." Then of course the second one starts. I love the vocals of her singing when she's not even speaking. Nice touch.

Makes me wonder if she can even sing at all or if it's all studio tricks to make her on-key, etc.

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#238775 - 24/10/2004 20:30 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
The Central Guy
enthusiast

Registered: 18/03/2002
Posts: 225
Loc: San Diego, California USA
I'm in San Diego and we got an edited segment on the second song with the false start lip sync lyrics taken out. It was hard to understand what was going on (with the dance moves and all). I had read about it on another board and what they showed the west coast didn't make sense until I saw a clip of the east coast segment...

Makes me wonder if Lorne Michaels and Co. knew about the lip sync in advance or whether they were surprised as well.

Someone else on another board said that they have used the dress rehearsal version for the west coast when something like this goes wrong, so that makes me wonder why they didn't. Getting even, maybe?

Oh well, there's even something funny with the lyrics of the first song for the first few seconds. It sounds like maybe they played lip sync lyrics (so it sounds doubled for a bit) and then she took off on her own? Not sure about that one...

But a very interesting situation. We've come a long way from the days like when Sinead tore up a photo of the pope (that was real live!).....

Randy
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#238776 - 24/10/2004 20:53 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: The Central Guy]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
Quote:


Makes me wonder if Lorne Michaels and Co. knew about the lip sync in advance or whether they were surprised as well.


I don't see how they couldn't know. What was there someone hiding playing a tape ?
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Matt

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#238777 - 24/10/2004 22:53 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
RobotCaleb
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Registered: 15/01/2002
Posts: 1866
Loc: Austin

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#238778 - 25/10/2004 00:01 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: RobotCaleb]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Uh, weird. Was that the first or second performance? What was the other?
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Bitt Faulk

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#238779 - 25/10/2004 00:27 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: wfaulk]
The Central Guy
enthusiast

Registered: 18/03/2002
Posts: 225
Loc: San Diego, California USA
That was the live east coast second performance. The lyrics that come out are from the first song that was done earlier...

That's why it's so weird that she blames her band at the final curtain call for playing the wrong song because I think the lyrics came on first (from the first performance) and then the band started to play along...

As someone else said on another board, I bet that was a quiet bus ride to the next gig...
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#238780 - 25/10/2004 00:31 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
...oops
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Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238781 - 25/10/2004 00:31 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: mschrag]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Err.. If you guys don't mind me asking, what was it that was causing you to be paying attention to her musical performances in the first place?
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#238782 - 25/10/2004 00:37 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
The only thing I know about ashlEE Simpson is that commercial I happened to see for her "behind the scenes of her debut SUPER HIT ALBUM!" thing a while back. Half of the 30 second commercial was her in the studio struggling to sing a line from her song, ending with her whining about how she hates the song.

Memo to all teenies and people who think modern pop is actually music (of course, that's probably nobody reading this): Real musicians actually know the song before they go into the studio.

When will America wake up and get sick of these just-add-water disposable pop stars that the music industry churns? At least credit the people who do the real work on these albums, the producers and recording engineers. Oh, and the airbrush artists who make these soulless sacks of flesh look "attractive".

Yet, this is coming from a guy who loves every minute of listening to a Saturday morning radio show featuring music from Motown Records; one of the original pop-star manufacturing plants in American popular music. Because hey, it's catchy, and at least those artists actually sung.
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FireFox31
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#238783 - 25/10/2004 00:38 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tonyc]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
In my defense, I read about it on the internet then went to my Tivo and rewatched the episode. I had fast forwarded through them last night.
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Brad B.

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#238784 - 25/10/2004 00:39 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Okay, you're excused.
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#238785 - 25/10/2004 01:12 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: FireFox31]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
When will America wake up and get sick of these just-add-water disposable pop stars that the music industry churns?

Never, but I have high hopes it will at least die back down and not be the focus anymore. It's always been there, it's just been more prevelant the last eight or nine years or so. It's sad when these talentless "artists" get professional songwriters and top-level studio talent. Even some of those full pop bands have professional musicians substituting in the studio. One of my favorite examples is this band Lillix. Check out the credits for their album. Yup, I count NINE drummers. One of them, Matt Chaimberlain, is one of the best rock drummers I've seen, and he has to play on crap like this.
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Matt

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#238786 - 25/10/2004 01:20 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Dignan]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Quote:
One of them, Matt Chaimberlain, is one of the best rock drummers I've seen, and he has to play on crap like this.

Matt Chamberlain also did drums for Lisa Marie Presley, Christina Aguilera, and even played on Rosie O'Donnell's "Another Rosie Christmas." So I'd say the man is willing to bang the skins for anyone who'll pay him a decent buck.

One of the best you've seen? He's certainly a very good drummer (I love his work on the last few Tori Amos albums) but I've never heard of him talked about amongst the very elite. You sure you're not thinking Jimmy Chamberlain of Smashing Pumpkins fame?
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#238787 - 25/10/2004 02:07 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tonyc]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Hey man, don't question my music statements

Look, he's a studio drummer. If you were playing drums for a living, and didn't have a big-time band that you were a part of, you'd have to make a buck somehow. Besides, if you're a studio drummer, I'd imagine you have to be good.

Matt Chaimberlain is the drummer for one of my favorite bands, Critters Buggin. They're odd, and not likely to be hugely popular anytime soon...or ever. But if you'd see them live, you'd see he's an incredible drummer. (you have to sign up, but there's a torrent here). Still, this band probably won't be his bread winner.

I said one of the best drummers I'd seen. This does include Jimmy Chaimberlain, Dave Grohl, and Matt Cameron (hmmm, combine the first and last ones...), but I said one of.

And among his credits are also David Bowie, Elton John, Liz Phair, The Wallflowers, etc. And hey, he's on the latest William Shatner disc along with Henry Rollins!
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Matt

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#238788 - 25/10/2004 02:19 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Dignan]
tonyc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Quote:
Look, he's a studio drummer. If you were playing drums for a living, and didn't have a big-time band that you were a part of, you'd have to make a buck somehow. Besides, if you're a studio drummer, I'd imagine you have to be good.

Er... Didn't I just say that??? He's playing for anyone who'll pay him a decent buck. That's what studio drummers do.

Quote:
But if you'd see them live, you'd see he's an incredible drummer.

Didn't I already say he was very good, and that I loved his work on the last few Tori albums?

Not sure why your tone is so defensive... As far as I can tell, we're in violent agreement here, and you seem to have repeated several of the things I said in my post using slightly different language. I was just making sure you had the right guy, and you do, so that's groovy.

And thanks for the AllMusic link, it's not like I had to go there to find out he played for Rosie O'Donnel or anything...
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#238789 - 25/10/2004 02:32 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tonyc]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Hehe, I think the confusion was that text has no inflection. I thought you were being sarcastic in your post, and I thought you were criticising him for trying to make a buck. My mistake

I think it was also the Jimmy Chaimberlain comment
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Matt

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#238790 - 25/10/2004 10:46 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6322824/

FWIW, I do know that a lot of artists do use vocal tracks to "boost" their sound rather than simply lip sync. Don't know if that was what she was doing. In one of my earlier groups we had a manager who was insistent that we do that sort of thing, and we eventually fired him because I wanted no part in it. I do remember seeing the vocal group "Point of Grace" once where they performed to tracks (they had no band anyway), but there was a glich and the vocals for the next song started playing at the end of one song. Clearly they were "boosting" their vocals. The really funny thing is, they then did an completely acapella song which clearly had no "boosting" trac, and it sounded perfect.

I do think it's very telling the Ashlee felt the need to blame her band for this.
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238791 - 25/10/2004 13:32 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
Heather
addict

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 510
Loc: NY
I do think it's very telling the Ashlee felt the need to blame her band for this.

Really? I just take that as another sign that personal responsibility is a dead concept in this country.
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Heather

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." -Susan B Anthony

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#238792 - 25/10/2004 14:12 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Heather]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Quote:
Really? I just take that as another sign that personal responsibility is a dead concept in this country.
Yeah, that's actually what I was meaning to say. It seems no one is ever at fault for anything. It's really amazing anything ever goes wrong with everyone being so perfect and all.
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238793 - 25/10/2004 14:39 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
Cybjorg
addict

Registered: 23/12/2002
Posts: 652
Loc: Winston Salem, NC
Quote:
Yeah, that's actually what I was meaning to say. It seems no one is ever at fault for anything. It's really amazing anything ever goes wrong with everyone being so perfect and all.


Not really, with all those other idiots out there screwing it up. Only I'm perfect.

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#238794 - 25/10/2004 16:07 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
My two cents on the Ashlee Simpson thing...

- It's not the first time I've seen a big-name artist get caught in a lip synch. I remember a specific one of Kenny Rogers doing "Lady" at the Statue of Liberty that was rather funny.

- It does not surprise me that there was lip synching on SNL. Many other times I've seen artists on SNL who I was certain were lip synching even when they didn't make a mistake.

- Being a musician and performer, I understand the technical reasons why someone would do a lip synch on a show like SNL. But most of those reasons can be overcome with practice and professionalism, thus not requiring the lip synch.

- Doing a lip synch is a trade off. When you do it, it's a risk that you'll make a mistake and get caught. And as miss Simpson just learned the hard way, when it goes bad, it goes REALLY bad.

- Don't dis your band. No matter what you do in the music business, don't dis your band, you stuck up little rich kid. Argh. Another lesson she has (hopefully by now) learned the hard way.

- My favorite band, Rush, plays backing tracks for some of their pieces, and I've seen them get desynchronized with the backing tracks. For example, Aimee Mann's voice for the song "Time Stand Still" is done as a backing track. It's fatally embarrassing when it goes bad, but at least they keep playing through it and the rest of the song continues without incident.

- I personally have been on stage in front of an audience when something goes bad. Never did a lip synch of course, but I've been in front of large groups of people and completely forgotten lyrics or chords. Each time such a thing happens, it's a painful, scarring memory that makes me cringe to remember it. So as much as I make fun of miss Simpson, it's also painful to watch that video tape of the SNL incident because I feel a lot of sympathy for her. I've been there, and it really REALLY hurts.
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Tony Fabris

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#238795 - 25/10/2004 16:51 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
Why would she blame the band anyway... i'd imagine there's a sound guy who queued up the wrong lyrics who's to blame.
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#238796 - 25/10/2004 17:11 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
It's not the first time I've seen a big-name artist get caught in a lip synch.

So are you implying that Ashlee is a "big-name artist" ?
...I thought she was just one of those flavor-of-the-month here-today-gone-tomorrow flash-in-the-pan pre-fabricated pop constructions that wouldn't have even made a big enough impact to qualify as worthy of a Jeopardy question ten years from now.
But then... maybe I'm not up on the current "scene."

Quote:
Many other times I've seen artists on SNL who I was certain were lip synching even when they didn't make a mistake.

Oh yeah! I remember Britney gyrating around furiously and thinking "there's no way she could be doing that and singing so smoothly at the same time."
Of course, it mattered little, since I'm sure most people decided to watch it in slow motion with the sound turned off. Come on, don't deny it, people. You know who you are.

Quote:
Don't dis your band. No matter what you do in the music business, don't dis your band, you stuck up little rich kid

Absolutely! Not instinctively knowing this is an immediate giveaway that she's a pre-fabricated construct. No rapport with the band. I doubt she even knows the names of the people in "her" band.


Quote:
Aimee Mann's voice for the song "Time Stand Still" is done as a backing track. It's fatally embarrassing when it goes bad

Yeah, and it's moderately painful even when it goes good (remember when they used to use a giant floating head projection of Aimee on the back video screen?)
But -- what else could they do? I guess their choices were (1) never perform the song live, or (2) do what they did.

Quote:
I personally have been on stage in front of an audience when something goes bad.

Yes, that's definitely no fun at all.

I just remember an old story about someone at a piano recital who was playing a piece with a section repeated in the middle. The artist forgot the 2nd ending (loop exit) and kept playing that section in a loop half a dozen times until either he/she just stopped or a piano teacher came and put him/her out of his/her misery (depending on which version of the story you hear).

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#238797 - 25/10/2004 18:15 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
remember when they used to use a giant floating head projection of Aimee on the back video screen?

Yeah, that's the MTV music video of the song. According to the Rush FAQ, Aimee's voice was supposed to come directly from the audio track of that projected film. And if the film gets desynched, Alex is supposed to step over during the choruses and trigger her voice samples from the keyboard he had tucked over Stage Right.

I can believe this, as I was at one of the concerts where the video got desynched, and I saw Al step over and handle it. I was up high in the nosebleed seats to stage right and could see the teleprompter monitors they had on the stage next to the monitor amps, and they do a little fimstrip-countdown of that backing film on those monitors, and the band is supposed to start based on that countdown, and they'd missed it.

I've also seen the song "Manhattan Project" go bad, where the middle-bridge string section (which is all one long digital sample triggered by Geddy pressing a key on his keyboard) got desynched really badly. The band kept playing right through it, and the sound guy scaled back the volume of the string section, though left it playing for continuity and fill. Sounded bad, but at least the song didn't stop. And if you look at the "Hold Your Fire" videotape, at that moment in the song where the sample is supposed to start, you see Ged look very intently at his keyboard as to not miss the cue, and also look quickly over his shoulder at Neil so they get eye contact and synch up on the downbeat to start that sample.

I've also been told a great story about the drum machine part on Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" from a friend who also happens to be Don's drum tech. I'll save that for another time.

But anyway, that's all a digression because that's not talking about lip synching. My point is that they're smart enough to only do the backing tracks as "extra bits" and to let themselves trigger the start points, because they know how bad things look when a backing tape goes wrong or when an underpaid roadie doesn't get the cue right.

Oh, yeah, one of those particularly embarrassing moments I mentioned earlier? One of them was when I ***WAS*** the underpaid roadie who was supposed to trigger the backing track from offstage. Me and the drummer didn't synch right, although I *did* make eye contact with him, I guess we just weren't on the same wavelength that night.

Having seen and been involved with those situations enough times, as an artist I will always resist putting myself into a situation where I need that kind of thing. I'd much rather embarrass myself by singing poorly or forgetting chords and lyrics than to completely ruin the performance with a technological train wreck.
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Tony Fabris

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#238798 - 25/10/2004 18:20 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
So are you implying that Ashlee is a "big-name artist" ?
...I thought she was just one of those flavor-of-the-month here-today-gone-tomorrow flash-in-the-pan pre-fabricated pop constructions that wouldn't have even made a big enough impact to qualify as worthy of a Jeopardy question ten years from now.


Unfortunately, these days, your description is the definition of "big-name artist".
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Tony Fabris

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#238799 - 25/10/2004 19:55 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Quote:
I personally have been on stage in front of an audience when something goes bad.
I think most people who've spent time on stage have. In fact, one of the important things if you're going to be performing a lot is to be able to handle things gracefully when things go bad. Some are better at this than others- I've known excellent performers who can, upon forgetting a lyric, sing absolute nonsense and sell it. Personally, I'm not that good at recovery- I often acknowledge the blunder (which you should never do), but at least I know that "the show must go on", no matter how stupid a thing you've done.
Quote:
Each time such a thing happens, it's a painful, scarring memory that makes me cringe to remember it.
Yeah, this is a miserable feeling. One thing I've learned hrough experience is that no matter how bad it gets, the audience always remember whatever you did last the most, so there's usually a chance to make up for whatever you've done. Of course, if you mess up your big exit I guess you're toast!

The thing with Ashlee is, she really should have been prepared for what happened. Yes it was bad, but if she and the band were really tight (as you'd expect peforming on live television) they'd have been able to pull something off. There are plenty of stories about "fatal" things happing to bands such as the sound system completely cutting out where it was handled gracefully and professionly.

Probably one of my most embarassing moments was when I was called in as a guest to lead worship at a church. Normally they had a big band with drums, electric guitar, etc. but this week it was just me. It all went great and led the congregation through several songs before the sermon. To close out, the pastor was supposed to pray and then transition gracefully into a last, very energetic worship song. So I walk up to the stage while he's praying. It's all very silent as I pickup up my guitar, and I drop my pick into it on the way up. This was how I learned to always have a backup pick with me whenever I play. So I'm standing there trying to figure out what to do; I can't very well start shaking out my guitar while all of these people are in the middle of prayer, so I just sit there terrified (this was a good size crowed, none of whom I knew). I decide as I'm standing there that I can't possibly make the song work without a pick. I could use my nails, but that just wouldn't have produced the high energy the song was supposed to have. So the pastor says "amen" and turns around to me expectantly and I flush red. I give an apologetic shrug, turn my guitar over and start shaking it like a mad fiend. Totally killed the moment for sure, and everyone got a good laugh. Of course, a good laugh isn't always a bad thing, but for me it seemed like an eternity as I shook that pick out. Of course, a year later I ended up getting hired to lead worship for the church every week, so clearly it was more difficult for me than the congregation.
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238800 - 25/10/2004 20:51 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Yeah, losing a pick or breaking a string during a performance are real tough. Had that happen enough times. Both situations are tough even when you've got backups on hand.
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Tony Fabris

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#238801 - 25/10/2004 21:40 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: loren]
morrisdl
enthusiast

Registered: 21/08/2000
Posts: 346
Loc: Rochester, NY USA
Quote:
Why would she blame the band anyway... i'd imagine there's a sound guy who queued up the wrong lyrics who's to blame.


Appearently the sound guys has become more of the band than her.
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#238802 - 25/10/2004 21:52 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Quote:
- Being a musician and performer, I understand the technical reasons why someone would do a lip sync on a show like SNL. But most of those reasons can be overcome with practice and professionalism, thus not requiring the lip sync.


I guess in April at the Teen Choice Awards, Ashlee did a true live performance and it was very terrible. I guess the critics tore her a new one for it (which is surprising actually). So it looks like she decided to "play it safe" on SNL.
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Brad B.

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#238803 - 25/10/2004 21:55 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
In other words... As of the SNL gaffe, her 15 minutes are up?
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Tony Fabris

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#238804 - 25/10/2004 23:14 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Dignan]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
Quote:
Matt Chaimberlain, is one of the best rock drummers I've seen, and he has to play on crap like this.

That's the beauty of it though. Like I decided as I was going into college, "The artists come and go, but the people who make the music (studio musicians and engineers) are the ones who stay." I wanted to go to school for recording engineering, or at least get into it after college. But experiences with sound techs during college made me realize it wasn't for me; too much drudgery and not enough artistry.

But yeah, the lie and inflation of "artists" has been going on forever. I lived near the guy who wrote songs for Elvis. And did you ever read about how you'd have to get the name Count Basie or Duke Ellington as a "co-author" of your composition in order for it to sell? Heck, I've even read that guys like Mozart and Haydn were "silent partner co-authors" on some lesser composers' creations in order to get them published or played in church. Sorry, I don't have the references off hand.
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FireFox31
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#238805 - 25/10/2004 23:19 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
Yeah, losing a pick or breaking a string during a performance are real tough. Had that happen enough times. Both situations are tough even when you've got backups on hand.


Well, if you don't have a roadie or guitar tech to hand you a freshly stringed ax, your next best bet is to become as virtuosic as Paganini was back in the days of old.

Legend has it that he would intentionally fray a string or two on his violin prior to concerts -- in hope that one would blow out in the middle of a piece and he could show off by finishing it on the remaining 3. Or did he?

In more modern times, according to Snopes, rumors are not true that Itzhak Perlman has done this in public performance. (though he could, if necessary), Although, apparently, Midori once blew out half the strings on her violin during a concerto and managed to finish the piece anyway.

Now that indicates you know your instrument!

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#238806 - 25/10/2004 23:28 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: FireFox31]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
But yeah, the lie and inflation of "artists" has been going on forever.


Here's a semi-interesting rant on a similar subject.

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#238807 - 25/10/2004 23:29 Ashlee Simpson to Sing Live Again Tonight! [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Link.

Quote:
NEW YORK (AP) - Singer Ashlee Simpson gets another chance to sing live - perhaps - on national television Monday after walking off "Saturday Night Live" in a does-she-or-doesn't-she lip-synch moment.

Simpson is scheduled to perform in Las Vegas for NBC's "Radio Music Awards," scheduled to be televised at 9 p.m. ET.
_________________________
Brad B.

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#238808 - 25/10/2004 23:39 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
I've blown tons of strings in concerts, and usually the issue is more tuning than not being able to hit the notes. Of course, I do more strumming than soloing, so I only have to compensate in a few places. But the tuning, that'll kill ya.

As far as picks go, I actually mounted a pick holder on the back of my Takamine's head stock. That works great, and since still use it as a backup (actually as an alternate tuning instrument so I don’t have to retune in the middle of the concert- oh for a guitar tech), I still get most of the benefit in concert. Not only does my HD-28 not have enough room for a pick holder, I don't think I could bring myself to do that to such a beautiful instrument.
_________________________
-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238809 - 26/10/2004 00:33 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
TheRhino
member

Registered: 06/03/2001
Posts: 135
Loc: Aurora, CO
- My favorite band, Rush, plays backing tracks for some of their pieces, and I've seen them get desynchronized with the backing tracks. For example, Aimee Mann's voice for the song "Time Stand Still" is done as a backing track. It's fatally embarrassing when it goes bad, but at least they keep playing through it and the rest of the song continues without incident.

Yeah, but keep in mind Geddy "Spaghetti" Lee has to play bass, keyboards, AND sing. It must've been Neal's fault.
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Rhino
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#238810 - 26/10/2004 02:15 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
Although, apparently, Midori once blew out half the strings on her violin during a concerto and managed to finish the piece anyway.


Well... yes, and no.

She broke a string (E string? is that right?) and then did what is traditionally done in that situation: she appropriated the Concert Master's violin and continued. Later in the piece, she broke a string on that violin as well, and appropriated yet another violin in order to finish.

The remarkable thing is that she was only 14 years old at the time, it was her American debut (New York Philharmonic if memory serves) and she handled it with calmness and aplomb far beyond what would be expected of someone that age.

She is now recognized as being perhaps the greatest violinist currently active, and one of the greatest of all time.

tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

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#238811 - 26/10/2004 03:54 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Stupidly I failed to record this, and so far Poopli has let me down.

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#238812 - 26/10/2004 04:00 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Daria]
The Central Guy
enthusiast

Registered: 18/03/2002
Posts: 225
Loc: San Diego, California USA
I've got in on Replay via Satellite in Hi-Rez recording mode. I can send it to you, but it is the West Coast version without the vocals....Just PM me your number if you want it...Randy
_________________________
Happy owner of 2 Centrals, 2 Empegs Mk2a 160GB, 1 Empeg Mk2a 60 GB, a Rio Riot, 4 Rio Receivers, and two 1GB iPod Shuffles...

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#238813 - 26/10/2004 04:08 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: The Central Guy]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
I suspect the reason Poopli has let me down is the same one that will cause me to need to thank you and keep looking: I have a ReplayTV 4504, and most people have 5xxx series. (I got it just for Poopli, actually)

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#238814 - 26/10/2004 05:08 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
I've blown tons of strings in concerts, and usually the issue is more tuning than not being able to hit the notes. Of course, I do more strumming than soloing, so I only have to compensate in a few places. But the tuning, that'll kill ya.


Oooh, good point. I didn't really think about that.
With a violin, a good violinist could compensate for the tuning mismatch by ear.
With a guitar (especially one with a floating bridge), you're in for a world of hurt unless you're one of the extremely rare breed of people playing fretless -- in which case your outstanding musicianship isn't in question anyway.

I saw a guitar competition TV show where one of the contestants was playing a fretless guitar. Impressive! I doubt most humans could play in-tune chords on one of these things, but he made it look easy.

Fortunately, I have yet to break a string while performing.
But I know the day will come, and I'm not looking forward to it.
On the other hand, I'm not good enough on guitar to be front-and-center, so probably no one would notice. Or so I tell myself.

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#238815 - 26/10/2004 05:14 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
I saw a guitar competition TV show where one of the contestants was playing a fretless guitar.


Wow. I didn't even know such a thing existed. I'm going to do some googling.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238816 - 26/10/2004 05:15 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tanstaafl.]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
appropriated yet another violin in order to finish.
[...]
it was her American debut (New York Philharmonic if memory serves)


Thanks for the clarification. From the source I read, I couldn't tell if it was one string twice, or two strings on one violin. So I just naturally assumed the most impressive case. Not that it wasn't extremely impressive in any case.
Especially at only 14 years old!

Also, according to that source (Snopes) it happened at Massachusetts' Tanglewood Festival.

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#238817 - 26/10/2004 06:07 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
frog51
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
I have had a string go a few times - and as most of my guitars use Floyd Rose or Kahler floating trems it forces you to learn how to bend accurately - for melody lines it isn't too much of an issue, but as each string needs to be bent a different amount, chords become really good fun.

I remember once having burst a string on my main guitar so I was playing the spare while my tech was changing strings - middle of a cover of a Van Halen piece and at the end of the solo I killed the D so for about 2 bars I was figuring out how far out the other strings were, then had to play a whole verse with odd bends on before I could get time to tweak the bridge tuners.

Still, it worked right so hopefully I didn't look too much of a git for not having another spare.
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Rory
MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
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#238818 - 26/10/2004 12:26 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Ahhh well, apparently this was the first time she'd even used backing vocals. Apparently due to acid reflux. Who knows if that's true or not?

An interesting thing in the article: it was the drummer who was to cue the song. Why you should make that his responsibility I have not idea, but there you go. She STILL shouldn't have blamed the band, or even him, publicly.
_________________________
-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238819 - 26/10/2004 14:31 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
Quote:
An interesting thing in the article: it was the drummer who was to cue the song. Why you should make that his responsibility I have not idea, but there you go.

Maybe the bass player didn't translate the instructions for the drummer correctly?
_________________________
Mark Cushman

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#238820 - 26/10/2004 15:12 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: cushman]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
Maybe the bass player didn't translate the instructions for the drummer correctly?

Heh. Actually, it's very common for the drummer to trigger backing samples and loops and such, since it's his job to play in synch with them.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238821 - 26/10/2004 15:39 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
siberia37
old hand

Registered: 09/01/2002
Posts: 702
Loc: Tacoma,WA
Quote:
Ahhh well, apparently this was the first time she'd even used backing vocals. Apparently due to acid reflux. Who knows if that's true or not?



Yes and the Iraq war was caused by bad intelligence. I think America is now officially the culture of excuses- no more uncertainity about this at all. Anyone have an excuse for this?

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#238822 - 26/10/2004 15:41 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: siberia37]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
Anyone have an excuse for this?

We used to be Brits once upon a time?
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238823 - 26/10/2004 16:33 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: siberia37]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
_now officially the culture of excuses_

Funny, I think your definition of 'now' needs be calibrated back a few decades. Blaming someone else for your problems has been old hat since the early 1980's.

-Zeke
_________________________
WWFSMD?

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#238824 - 26/10/2004 16:37 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Ezekiel]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Hm. And having to be "PC" has been around since about that time, too. Coincidence?
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238825 - 26/10/2004 17:02 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
TheRhino
member

Registered: 06/03/2001
Posts: 135
Loc: Aurora, CO
An interesting thing in the article: it was the drummer who was to cue the song. Why you should make that his responsibility I have not idea, but there you go.


I found something along those lines when I was watching my Dream Theater "Live At Budokan" DVD. On the 2nd DVD, they show them rehearsing, and Portnoy (drummer) tells Petrucci (guitarist), "Well, you're leading me on this song." I found that odd as I always thought the drummer and bassist were the ones which kept the pace.
_________________________
Rhino
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#238826 - 26/10/2004 17:04 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: TheRhino]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
That depends on the artist and track. Most of the time that is correct. But then you can have it the other way around. It gives a different feeling, but works quite well. And then, in extreme example, you have King Crimson's "Discipline"...
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#238827 - 26/10/2004 17:15 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: TheRhino]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Depends on the piece of music. Yes, the drummer is usually responsible for keeping the tempo and is the anchor for the band, but sometimes a different instrument starts off the song or sets the pace of a given section. I seem to recall seeing the drummer for U2 talking about following the tempo of the echo effect on Edge's guitar, for example.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238828 - 26/10/2004 17:52 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Ezekiel]
RobotCaleb
pooh-bah

Registered: 15/01/2002
Posts: 1866
Loc: Austin
Quote:
Funny, I think your definition of 'now' needs be calibrated back a few decades. Blaming someone else for your problems has been old hat since the early 1980's.

i miss the days of it being her fault

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#238829 - 26/10/2004 17:53 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: TheRhino]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I haven't seen the DVD, so I don't know context, but if I were a drummer and I told my guitarist that he was leading me, by that I'd mean that he was not following my rhythm and going too fast, or at least being a little ahead of the beat.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#238830 - 26/10/2004 19:44 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: RobotCaleb]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
You mean the days when she's not around? [/kidding!]

Seriously, while there's certainly more room for understanding on issues such as mental health and depression etc... the level of victimhood is disgusting. I guess there's no shortage of people who can't make it past the mindset of being 12 and who will blame their situation on any number of outside factors and disempower themselves (ehem, CONGRESS during the war vote!). Really, where were the questions about intelligence then? It's one thing for Joe 6-pack to say 'Well, if he's got the intel, I guess it must be so..', and quite another for senior senators to shrug and say 'Gee, really?' without questioning sources. While I support Kerry, all the Democrats share a healthy piece of my blame pie for not piping up and just getting steamrolled by the NeoCons.

Ok. 'Nuff ranting for the day! Miss whatserface is a twit and I'm glad she got creamed for lip syncing.

I'm out.

-Zeke
_________________________
WWFSMD?

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#238831 - 29/10/2004 13:15 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Buy the new Karaoke iPod:

http://www.airbagindustries.com/bucket/ipod/

Bruno
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#238832 - 31/10/2004 13:08 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
I just keep reading articles about this, but there's a quote in this one that I thought the rest of you might appreciate:

Quote:
Simpson "has been made to be something that requires backing tracks to achieve," Hamilton says, adding that the controversy surrounding her "is a weird judgment on something that wasn't supposed to have soul in the first place. That's like complaining about dinner after someone hands you a Snickers bar."


The rest of the article talks about the over-use with auto-tuning and other tricks in the studio being brought to the live performance. Kind of interesting stuff, especially having just been through the recording process itself. What I learned was, BTW, was 1) auto-tuning is great, 2) everyone does it, 3) auto-tuning works great for backing vocals, 4) if you simply turn on auto-tuning for a lead vocal it sounds like crap, 5) tuning a lead vocal manually is almost an art form in and of itself, and 6) recording is very different from a live environment and much less forgiving- thus you have to use a few "tricks" to provide a product the audience will enjoy, only one of which is tuning vocals, none of which work if you don't actually start with something good as a base. All of that being said, while we did tune backing vocals quite a bit (for the sake of expediency- we didn't spend much time tracking them), it's key to get a good lead vocal line to start with and only tune a few places.

I'll also say that some of the "tricks" used in the studio require better musicianship than poorer musicianship- like playing acoustic parts two times in a row EXACTLY the same to give it a natural "chorus". It sounds very cool, and a lot more natural than just adding an electronic chorus, but it isn't easy making sure you play something the same twice in a row.

In the end, however, I think using so many "tricks" on a CD that you create unrealistic expectations for your live performance is not healthy. Sure we don't have all of the bells and whistles when we play live (B3 organ, string section, 3 guitars on some songs, perfectly tuned vocals), but we can play the songs well with what we do have and sing the vocals well. I don't think people are going to be disappointed that we don't sound exactly like the CD- it's just different. It may not be perfect, but it has that extra live energy you just don't get on a CD. Having to use tricks like auto-tuning and vocal stacking when you play live is just missing the point of a live performance, IMHO.
_________________________
-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238833 - 31/10/2004 15:07 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
playing acoustic parts two times in a row EXACTLY the same to give it a natural "chorus". It sounds very cool, and a lot more natural than just adding an electronic chorus, but it isn't easy making sure you play something the same twice in a row.


Better: Play the same part twice, but play the second part capoed at 5 or 7 (or some other high capo dictated by the particular chords in the part) thus requring you to use different chord inversions. You get a very interesting and lush fatness to the track.

For "extreme" acoustic double-tracking, play the part once on a regular acoustic, and double it exactly on a nashville-tuned acoustic. You get the same set of notes you'd get as with a 12-string, but you get them much fuller and clearer. It comes out sounding like the best 12-string ever recorded.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238834 - 31/10/2004 18:32 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
I usually do capo stuff as well, and when miced the same you get a really big fat sound. Quite a few of our songs are played with songs capoed like that live, and even more are that way on the CD.

On one track we actually have two acoustics stacked with different capos, making for four acoustics at once. Adding the electric guitar in and there's actually 5 tracks of me playing all at once! The things is, the acoustics end up sounding like a single guitar, just very big and fat, so live it doesn't sound so different when there's only one acoutic and an electric.

As for nashville tuning, I haven't messed with it yet, but I've heard it used to great effect (of course, being that I'm a Rush fan and Alex has used it many times over the years).
_________________________
-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#238835 - 01/11/2004 05:38 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: JeffS]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Quote:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6322824/

FWIW, I do know that a lot of artists do use vocal tracks to "boost" their sound rather than simply lip sync. Don't know if that was what she was doing.


It seems like the first time she does the song, she's using a tape of herself for backing for about the first line or 2 of the song, and then it drops away; Listen to the difference between the first and the second playings.

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#238836 - 01/11/2004 11:32 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Daria]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
Anyone watch SNL on 10/30? They just skewered Ashley and her performance, and not just once either. I thought it was a)really funny and b)great damage control. It made it seem as if the SNL cast & crew had no idea that something like lipsyncing could possibly happen on SNL. I'm sure the gaff grated on the comedians as well - they really put it on the line live each week. I'm certain Loren Michaels was thrilled to let them do all the bits they wanted about it.

-Zeke
_________________________
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#238837 - 01/11/2004 17:35 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Ezekiel]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
Anyone watch SNL on 10/30? They just skewered Ashley and her performance, and not just once either.



Last night CBS's "60 Minutes" program had an interesting segment.

Since SNL is approaching 30 years old, "60 Minutes" had decided to do an investigative report into "how do they put together and pull off a live show every week?

Guess which week they just happened to choose?

Perfect.

So they had people filming backstage as Ashlee stormed off, pictures of angry cast members looking around going "what the hell is going on" and an interview with Lorne where he doesn't say nice things about Ms. Simpson.

Of course, to be fair, they also have footage of the dress rehearsal earlier in the day (also in front of a live audience) -- where Ashlee's group decides to cut it short because her voice is really hoarse, and they thought it would be better if she saved it for the live broadcast.

Fortunately, "60 Minutes" was still able to cover what they originally
went in to report on. Quite interesting.

Apparently the entire cast and the writers (including Lorne) pull an all-nighter every Tuesday night. Then they cut the skits down from 36 to 11 on Wednesday, work like crazy on sets and costumes for three days, and do the dress rehearsal in front of a live audience, after which, they do some final tuning depending on what does and doesn't work.
Then a few hours later they go live....

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#238838 - 01/11/2004 17:47 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Did they also investigate why the show continues to suck in recent years?
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#238839 - 01/11/2004 18:00 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
Then they cut the skits down from 36 to 11

Good lord, I'd hate to see the other 25. They must be depressingly unfunny.
_________________________
Matt

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#238840 - 01/11/2004 18:05 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
To be honest, the show sucks much less in the last year or so than it has for a long time. They've gotten rid of most of their terribly unfunny performers (Ana Gasteyer, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Colin Quinn, Molly Shannon, and Will Ferrell except the occasions where he was really funny) and the writing is a little more solid than it used to be. Gone seem the days where they'd have a 30 second joke and drag it out for seven minutes. Although they are still doing the Smigel cartoons, which are seldom funny.

Last week's show was not very good, and I missed the Ashlee Simpson episode, but I've seen a number of quality SNLs in the last year or so.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#238841 - 01/11/2004 18:25 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
Dignan: Good lord, I'd hate to see the other 25. They must be depressingly unfunny.

Yeah, Dignan, but if you ever thought, "man, that skit looks like it was written in about ten minutes" you now know that it probably was!

Quote:
Tony: Did they also investigate why the show continues to suck in recent years?


Actually, Tony, here's a little-known secret. The show has always sucked. But at first you were too young to notice, and after that selective memory has made you forget some of the dreck of the past.

Actually, in my opinion, the show is better now than it was a few years ago. In fact, around the 23rd-24th season it was so damn lousy that I thought they were just holding on so they could do a 25th anniversary show and then kill it off.
It's not as good now as it was in the mid-late-80's or as it was in the late 70's.
But it's certainly much better now than it was in the early 80's. It stank so bad at that point I have no idea how they ever made it to the 10th season. (Case in point: if you ever catch a re-run from that era, notice how many cast members justly remained unknowns. Also note how every single skit from that era is based on the (flawed) premise "if I say something three times, that makes it funny; and saying it five times is a laugh riot.")

Today, Tina Fey is funny, and they've managed to pare off some of their more annoying cast members over the last few seasons.

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#238842 - 01/11/2004 18:28 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: wfaulk]
music
addict

Registered: 25/06/2002
Posts: 456
Quote:
To be honest, the show sucks much less in the last year or so than it has for a long time. They've gotten rid of most of their terribly unfunny performers


Hmmm, while I was composing my post, you were busy posting almost the same thing. Perhaps one of us has psychic powers and, like, stuff, you know?

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#238843 - 01/11/2004 18:34 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Yeah. Too bad last week's show was just not very good at all. For one, they used their guest host about three times total. Although we did get to see Ms. Winslet jump up and down during the openeing monologue. (Speaking of which, it'd have been much funnier if they'd made her exhortations that she was actually live untrue. Missed opportunity, that.) In fact, the only thing I can remember as being funny was Kenan Thompson as the musical director on the rap talk show. Even then, the rest of that sketch wasn't funny.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#238844 - 01/11/2004 19:15 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: wfaulk]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
To be honest, the show sucks much less in the last year or so than it has for a long time. They've gotten rid of most of their terribly unfunny performers (Ana Gasteyer, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Colin Quinn, Molly Shannon, and Will Ferrell except the occasions where he was really funny) and the writing is a little more solid than it used to be. Gone seem the days where they'd have a 30 second joke and drag it out for seven minutes.

That's all very true. I couldn't stand Molly Shannon and her "characters." I think that the cast members you mentioned could have been funnier, but I think they took their skit-long characters and turned them into repeat appearances. I felt as if they were going after a type of comedy that had the single purpose of actively annoying me. Cheri Oteri had the knack of doing exactly that.

I know it's all subjective, but I think Amy Poehler was the best addition to the show. She's hilarious (at least on UCB), but I don't know how she's been on SNL since I don't watch the show anymore. Too bad Comedy Central has even stopped showing the old shows these days.
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Matt

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#238845 - 01/11/2004 19:28 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: Dignan]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
This is her third year, I think. So far she's also doing an excellent job on WU since Jimmy Fallon left.
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#238846 - 01/11/2004 19:37 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: wfaulk]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Woah! She's doing Weekend Update? That's great!
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Matt

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#238847 - 01/11/2004 19:43 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: music]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
The show has always sucked. But at first you were too young to notice, and after that selective memory has made you forget some of the dreck of the past.

Not at all. I remember that once upon a time, the show varied widely between 25% and 75% good material on any given week. That's when it was good.
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Tony Fabris

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#238848 - 01/11/2004 19:47 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
Quote:
The show has always sucked. But at first you were too young to notice, and after that selective memory has made you forget some of the dreck of the past.

Not at all. I remember that once upon a time, the show varied widely between 25% and 75% good material on any given week. That's when it was good.

I didn't start watching until the mid 90's, and while Myers, Carvey, Hartman and those folk were great, I also loved going back and watching the episodes from the early years as well. I remember for the 25th aniversary, Comedy Central played every episode for an entire week.

I also did what a lot of people seemed to do, which was watch the show through Weekend Update, then go to bed. The skits afterward never seemed very good.
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Matt

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#238849 - 02/11/2004 01:25 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: tfabris]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
Aah yes, the episode right after Theodore 'Dr. Suess' Geisel died...Rev. Jesse Jackson reading Green Eggs and Ham "Ah wihl noht eat them ohn a boaht! I WILL noht eaht theahm with a goat!". Michael Jordan was the guest star and he just about died laughing doing Stuart Smalley, saying "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and people _like_ me!"

Aah those were the days. Of course my memory is aided by the sweet sweet aura of the frat house room and that crappy old orange recliner that was perhaps the most comforable chair ever and the wonderful haze of being 20. Aaah.

[now]Actually I think this week's show was rather amusing. Not the funniest thing ever, but it made me chuckle a few times. I guess I'm easy to please these days.

-Zeke
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WWFSMD?

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#238850 - 03/11/2004 00:49 Re: Anyone see Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
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