Britney Spears' Australian tour ran into controversy before it even began, with an official suggesting concert goers should be told if the pop icon would be miming her songs.

Spears, who has rebuilt her career after myriad personal troubles in the wake of her 2006 divorce from ex-husband Kevin Federline, is due to kick off her Circus tour Down Under later Friday.

But reports that she will lip-sync during many of the concerts prompted the New South Wales Minister for Fair Trading to suggest tickets should carry disclaimers about whether parts of the concerts were pre-recorded.

Australians would not tolerate a "Mickey Mouse performance", Virginia Judge told Sydney's Daily Telegraph in reference to the US star's past as one of Disney's Mouseketeer personalities.

"Let's be clear -- live means live," she said.

"If you are spending up to 200 dollars (182 US), I think you deserve better than a film clip."

Judge said the state New South Wales government would be happy to look at options such as placing a disclaimer on a ticket that would warn consumers a performance was pre-recorded.

The minister said she had nothing against Spears but felt that concert goers should be told if musicians would be singing live.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/...lia_spears

I heard that she lip-syncs 90% of her show

After ten years of lip-syncing NOW it's a controversy?

I you are paying to see Britney Spears then you will get what you paid for. Otherwise go see Beyonce, Mary, hell even Madonna!
So many talented artists struggling, people should be embarrassed

LOL, anyone who buys a Britney ticket knows what they're getting

When you purchase tickets for a Britney Spears (or Janet Jackson) gig, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that you won't be hearing live vocals.

Copycat said:

Untrue, and unfair comparison.

When I watched Brit's Onyx Hotel Tour on Showtime, it was quite clear she wasn't singing. There were times when her mouth was closed, and you could hear her vocals. Her vocals were NEVER out of breath. Then, she did a couple of ballads. She sang live. The girl sounded like she was in the middle of a marathon and full speed. COULDN'T. SING. A. NOTE.

A few years before I watched The Velvet Rope. I was obsessed w/ that DVD/VHS (both of which have a different mix, so I kept both in my collection). I even recorded the audio to listen to without the DVD. there were only a couple of times that she needed "help". She didn't build her whole show around her backing track.

We ALL know Brit is as phony as the day is long. I'm actually surprised that these "controversy" articles keep popping up every time she tours. If 12 year olds think she's singing live and that she's just perfect enough to sing every single note live as it is on the album, then let them believe it. But afterward, take them home, and show them a video of a Chaka Khan concert, or whoever can hold their own live, explaining to them the difference.

It's like when Sinbad made a comment to Chaka Khan about someone recently covering her song, "Sweet Baby". He didn't name Mary J. Blige, but we knew who he was talking about. He said his child(ren) loved her version, but he said, "Here, let me show you how it's really done".

Layzie said:

I know, right? How is this news now? It is widely known that she has been doing that all along. The same goes for Janet, as well. I don't know the last time she sang live either. "Artists" of BS and JJ's caliber can't even sing and dance at the same time. They can barely sing without extensive vocal effects, to begin with.

Copycat said:

Janet lips the dance sequences of her shows sometimes but other times she actually sings live. I know she sang "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and "Rock With U" live and other songs too. Britney lips everything right down to her ballads. So don't.

kenlacam said:

Excuse me!!! Janet sings live. She sang "Luv" live on Ellen last year
and also her whole Rhythm Nation 1814 tour , janet. tour and TVR tour was live. There are some songs that aren't like Rhythm Nation on the RN1814 tour and "If" on the janet. tour. But she performs live for the most part. Besides I don't think anyone can possibly do what Janet does and sing live all the time but she has proven she sing live and dance at the same time.
[Edited 11/6/09 10:05am]

LightOfArt said:

And should know better than to spend their hard earned money on crap like this. I guess if you're buying the ticket for an 8 year old that might be different, but anyone over the age of 12 should know better than to waste money like that.

midiscover said:

Yah, right! She lip synchs just about ALL of her songs. I have watched her "perform" many times, and she rarely sings. when she does, she sounds so out of breath from trying to dance and sing at the same time. It is pitifully obvious when she does. So, you are excused.

kenlacam said:

Omg! Liar! Janet's whole RN184 tour was live and she was dancing her ass off! Her ballads are live too! Have you see her live??
Here's a couple of performances


so YOU'RE excused!!

Nope, not convinced. She is as bad as Brit. So YOU are excused. LOL. Janet cannot (or will not, whichever is the case) sing live And dance at the same time. You cannot convince me otherwise, so you can stop trying.

See this is what happens when you compare artists, stick to Britney.

kenlacam said:

She's clearly singing live and dancing at the same time in those clips. Where as Britney never does and hardly even dances so that's no excuse. Hater.

midiscover said:

those are not live. THIS is live, and she sounds excellent

[Edited 11/6/09 10:45am]

LightOfArt said:

I love that performance
The videos I posted are live. What makes you think they aren't?

midiscover said:

Thats true. The girl hardly dances anymore. At least not are good as she used to. People are basically paying money to see her mime and wave around the stage.

but Janet's twice her age and I would pay money because I know it's gonna be a show. You don't have to like Janet but her work ethic is undeniable! There is no comparison to sloth Britney.

Britney's neither singing nor dancing and she ain't even 30! So what's the point? She's so tired from...taking care of her kids? no. being a wife? no. exercising? no.

When Janet lipsynchs she's earned the damn right to do it. The lady dances and entertains her ass off.

midiscover said:

it's one of janet's crowning moments

I'm not sure about Escapade from RN tour, but TVR Lonely can not be live. The Lonely performance that I posted, was I think for tv, a one off performance. She's sitting down, you can hear her breath, and see the struggle in her face. TVR I get lonely, is from a 2+ hour concert, she's dancing yet you cant hear her breath even tho it's a head mic, AND she has a smile on AND she sounds more flawless compared to the other vid....

all IMO so dont hate me

LightOfArt said:

The whole RN1814 tour was live. Have you seen her Tokyo RN1814 tour show? She was singing live and dancing non-stop. And TVR "I Get Lonely" is live. That whole show was live except for "If" "Rhythm Nation" and some other performances that require hard hitting choreography. I know the whimsical part and ballads were live. During the ballads when she was sangin like nobody's business she wasn't breathing hard. I guess it's because she's not a fatass
I have her vocals from the RWU tour and she wasn't breathing hard either.

[Edited 11/6/09 11:14am]
[Edited 11/6/09 11:16am]

Krytonite said:

Honestly, this is the biggest concern for Australia?

VinnyM27 said:[quote]

Krytonite said:

you know what? they eat Vegemite! 'nuff sed.

midiscover said:

Yep, I am a proud hater. I hate the lip-synching Janet Jackson. So what?

Obviously Janet has some serious die-hard fams who can't recognize lip synching when they see it cause they are so used to seeing her do it.All. The.Time.

kenlacam said:

She sings live.

VinnyM27 said:

Okay, we ALL know Britney, Janet, and Beyonce use pre-recorded tracks

Listen to this clip of Janets Black Cat performance from the Velvet Rope DVD. The sounds have been turned down, leaving the "vocals" turned up. Listen at 2:08, thats the ONLY time she sings live. also compare all of janets "all nite" performances and notice that she does the EXACT SAME ADLIBS at the end (excluding performances from rockwitchu tour ckuz she re-recorded the vocals)


and we already know about Bey. Listen to these 2 "live" performances of Single Ladies. EXACT SAME VOCAL STRUCTURE. you have to be a fool if you don't notice this. compare ALL her live performances of the song.

midiscover said:

whatever. She shouldn't even be holding a microphone with her pretending self. Synching all the way.