EO, I laughed all the way through this one. What a piece! Good reporting, good pics, and hilarious sidebars.

And is there an artist anywhere that, at a superbowl, an awards show or somewhere hasn't at some point had a back-up track supporting them? No. Whitney Houston has, Madonna has, Shania Twain has, Faith Hill has, Garth Brooks has, not to mention the lesser artists who grace the stages of the music world. I remember an occasion when B. Spears didn't, and I wished all the way through she had.

The only one I bet hasn't is Celine Dion, but thats just a guess, and even she could have had a case of acid reflux which necessitated it!

The only sidebar you missed *huge grin....is "besides, she's a hottie"....

Grinning and enjoying...

Claire

Yeah- that makes it alright to pay $100.00 for a concert where the artist is not actually singing. All the people you mention are "lesser artists" already and have forgettable cds bought by losers like you.
Ashlee Simpson is just more of the same crap foisted on a bunch of dorks who think she looks cute.

Why, thank you Bratty, your derision makes me more certain of my position....I didn't MENTION concerts...I mentioned award shows and superbowls. If you are stupid enough to pay 100.00 to see anyone when you can buy their cd for 12.00 bucks...then we don't need a brain match here do we?

Claire

Was anyone else listening? she "blew everyone away" when she finally sang live at the radio awards?!? i think she just plain blew. the only word i have to describe this performance is ATROCIOUS.

Frankly, I wished that she had lip-synced. Ashlee blew chunks at the RMAs -- she was out of tune and out of her league. But hey, the kids love(loved?) her -- talent is rarely a deciding factor when it comes to who will be the next big thing.

Natalie said: talent is rarely a deciding factor when it comes to who will be the next big thing.

Ain't it the truth...LOL...

Claire

In this case I am just reporting what was said, I didn't see/hear the RMA performance myself. I am unconvinced she is a major talent, although she is only 19. I DO give her credit for working in a different musical vein from her sister, and for writing all the songs on her album.

and thanks Claire, your kind words are always much appreciated!

for the record, I called it talentgate some days ago and am just waiting for the media to catch on. in deference to Claire, she isn't unpleasant to look at. Last night my wife asked me if I even felt a little bad for her and my answer was without pause NO. She is a fake and a phony and a fraud. She got caught.

Sure, there may be millions more like her in the industry, and I will applaud when they get caught too. I live for music, it's why I still go to work everyday... so I can pay the bills to live another day to listen to more music.

People like her are an affront to my sensibilities as a music dork. Now let's bring it on home to Eric's point:

What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend? Homeless!

wasn't it toward drummers that Randy Newman sang "they got no reason, no reason to live"?

Ashley Simpson IS no singer, she sucks, and I hate her more than I hate Hilary....
Actually, no, I still hate Hilary more, but still, They both suck and Ashlee Simpson makes me hurl and I think she's on crack
My respects to Jessica, It's not your falt you're dumb.

who let these morons go up on stage ever?!?!?! ashlee simpson cant sing and shed be worse if she tried to think about singing the song shes suppost to play. both simpsons are just rotten lil blond gurls who dont know crap. that reminds me why did the two bolnds keep staring at the orange juice box? cuz it said concentrate. the day one of them gets a real job is the day pigs fly

while were talking about dumb people lets bring up claire.. are u blond? I bet u are

Firstly, fuck off and leave Claire alone. She is the only class we have in this operation, even if she is a righty. Secondly, and most importantly, we are making fun of drummers.

How do you know when a drummer is at your door. As he knocks, he keeps speeding up and slowing down without warning.

what Lono said

Making fun of drummers eh? Think again.

Neil Peart
Mike Portnoy
Simon Phillips
Buddy Rich
Max Roach

Well Jen is less than a genius and her sis can't really sing. Hmm . Kills me to think young girls think Ashlee is punk because she found color in a bottle.

So what that she said she would never lip sync!

So what that we blamed it on the band!

So what that we claimed it was acid reflux!

So what that she can't sing!

So what that she can't dance or act!

So what???? It's all about duping one more fan out of their hard-earned money. Here is where we scored big!

We are the champions in the end.

Joe

PS...keep your grimey mitts off of my daughters!!!!

Ashlee,

I believed you when you said you would never lip sync.

I believed you when you said it was the band's fault.

I believed you when you said it was acid reflux.

I still love you Ashlee...let me put just the head in....I promise I won't squirt!

Promise.

Mr Loney

No talent ass clowns...

BTW - loved your comment Mr Loney

Yep, this discussion needs more drummer jokes. Following up from Lono's:

Q: How do you get the drummer off your doorstep?

A: Pay for the pizza.

Q: How is a drummer different from a pizza?

A: The pizza can feed a family of four.

Thank you, everybody! You've been great! I'll be here all week!

But seriously, well done on the article, Eric. Loved your choice of Kurzweil's book, especially after the synchronicity of hearing him interviewed on "Talk of the Nation" today.

I think the thing that truly ticks me off the most is not that Ashlee Simpson got caught lip synching. (I don't know how people could watch her show and not realize that she was mediocre from the start.) What really bothers me is that the world jumped down her throat and then proceeded to give Brittney Spears another platinum album, a perfume, and a clothing line for making a CAREER out of lip synching. It infuriates me that as long as some hottie shakes her ass half-naked and is a giant slut, THEN we forgive that she can't sing. But since Ashlee is punk, and actually wears clothing, well then she had BETTER actually be able to sing. Where's the sense or justice in that?

Sink, you have a good point, except I dont' see Ashlee as "punk": she is faux-indie rock in the manner of Avril Lavigne, but at least Avril can sing and play live. And from the marketing I would not say Ashlee is above using her looks. I wouldn't weep too much for her, though, she had the 9th best-selling album of '05

After that funny incident of Ashlee on "SNL", it was amazing to me that Joe Simpson, the manager and derelict father of these two airheads stated that the song was a back-round song for the singer to sing-along with. This is common in the industry, played at low volume to increase the volume of the actual singer. I know you have all seen the "SNL" screw-up, now watch it again and listen to the "back-round" song. Is it low-volume, or full? Sure sounds full to me. In fact, they turned it down after the mistake was realized.
And now, of course, comes the reason why. Acid-reflux disease. As many of you know, she and her dickhead daddy stated that she had this problem with her voice and saw a doctor and got a cortisone shot.
Decent excuse, except cortisone has no effect on that ailment considering that cortisone is an anti-inflammatory. In fact, it can actually contribute to the disease.
So if Joe Simpson thinks the American public, who subject themselves to this crap in order to watch an episode of "SNL", is stupid enough to believe him, then I can say I've come across decomposing bodies that where less offensive. Now Ashlee tried to show us she doesn't need to lip-synch at the Orange Bowl when , in fact, maybe she should have. Anyone who told Ashlee to "just be herself "couldn't have given her worse advice. That was the end of college football for me, that and religion, because if there where a just and loving God in the Heavens, He wouldn't allow this sort of thing to happen.
It's not that I really care she got busted. What makes me mad is the passing the buck, pointing the fingers, and the blatant lying through their teeth about absolutely everything.
So I close with some advice for Ashlee. The next gig daddy gets you and you show up with the intention of singing live, always remember that you're as well accepted as a rattlesnake at a square dance.

I still love you Ashlee Simpson! Do your thing baby! You rock!

i still love ashlee.. i hate how everyone is so concerned with her, if you hate her then leave her alone, dont waste your time posting at a blog. no matter what she is gonna keep singing and i support her all the way. i think shes awesome and different and nothing like avril . avril cant sing, in fact hoobastank cant sing either. why dont u listen to the lead singer of hoobastank sing?? i think thats where the stank in their name comes from. i know ashlee can sing cuz i did waste $100 on a concert ticket and it was awesome. it didnt sound exactly like her cd but if i wanted to pay for what i was gonna hear on the cd i would have just listenedto the cd. It was different but in an awesome way, nothing that would ever make me think that she was lip singing why dont u leave her alone and focus on other artists like avril or hoobastank or that girl in black eyed peas cuz they definately deserve your attention if you want to talk about horrible singers.

well julez, that made more sense than most