Comments on: Leave Springsteen Alone: One Scientific Reason Why No One Should Be Outraged Over The Super Bowl Backing Tapes

By: cheesebubble

cheesebubble — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:12:29 +0000

At least Springsteen and Little Steven didn’t have wardrobe malfunctions.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:02:12 +0000

@MikePo: Wait, you mean the puppy bowl is staged?

By: Silverfuture

Silverfuture — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:04:07 +0000

Uh, aren’t I ashamed that I used one too many “aren’t”s there…

By: Silverfuture

Silverfuture — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:03:01 +0000

@Weezy F Baby: Not to mention that the sound requirements aren't for an arena show aren't exactly the same as those of a televised event.

And as a former marching band geek, let me assure you that the "slapback" is no joke!

By: Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:25:18 +0000

Also, according to an AbsolutePunk interview, dude totally loves Steve Reich.

Which is just really cool to me.

By: Weezy F Baby

Weezy F Baby — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:57:45 +0000

and..cough cough..not to name drop but I’ve hung with Patrick on a few different occasions and he’s just as intelligent and nice as he comes across on the internet. Totally good dude.

By: Weezy F Baby

Weezy F Baby — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:56:27 +0000

@ObtuseIntolerant: Those shows have had hours of preparation and a very precise sound check. For the super bowl, they've got to set up a stage on the field in about 10 minutes, then have it off the field in another 10. Whole different beast, brah.

By: Lucas Jensen

Lucas Jensen — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:54:55 +0000

@revmatty: Same here. I like FOB okay, but the guy seems like a real down-to-earth fella.

By: janine

janine — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:40:42 +0000

Bring back marching bands!

By: revmatty

revmatty — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:20:06 +0000

@Al Shipley: Agreed. I don't like FOB at all, but he seems to have a level head. A rarity in any industry.

By: ObtuseIntolerant

ObtuseIntolerant — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:15:47 +0000

@Thierry: Oh I see...that still sounds really odd. Viva la tele, I guess. I despise televised "live" performances. They sure know how to amp up the awkwardnessness/fakery.

By: Al Shipley

Al Shipley — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:42:30 +0000

@Lax Danja House: Seriously...Stump might be the only person in pop music right now who I like and respect more after reading things they post on the internet.

By: revmatty

revmatty — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:24:44 +0000

@MikePo: An excellent point. I've watched PB over SB for several years running. And the cat halftime show is usually better than the one at SB :)

By: ObtuseIntolerant

ObtuseIntolerant — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:22:05 +0000

I am still confused…don’t concerts happen in stadiums all the time? One of the best-sounding shows I ever saw was in a stadium and it was very clearly being sung and performed live.

By: Thierry

Thierry — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:10:39 +0000

@sydbarrett05: From what I've read elsewhere, the setup is a little different for the Superbowl halftime show, in that the "audience" on the field do not actually get to hear the music, as it's blasted directly towards the stands - that probably means making some pretty serious adjustments compared to your normal stadium show.

Quick question though - if they were playing to a backing tape, how did they manage to go overtime and play for 13.5 minutes instead of 12? Wouldn't they organizers have made sure that they played for exactly 12 minutes?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:46:07 +0000

Problem is that the Springsteen and Co. have been playing stadiums since he went supernova with Born in the U.S.A...
So..he and the band are well versed at reverb issues that occur when playing in one...

But really this is TV and TV is fakery of the highest order...

By: Lax Danja House

Lax Danja House — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:39:26 +0000

I love this guy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:22:16 +0000

The REAL controversy is that the Puppy Bowl is so painfuly pre-recorded and edited. I want that LIVE! No human interaction. TO THE DEATH! Puppy Bowl cameras clogged with dog poop by the 3rd quarter… etc.

By: revmatty

revmatty — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:21:21 +0000

A lot of artists simply aren't great live. Fans go expecting to hear basically the same thing they hear on the album and the artist wants to give them that experience all wrapped up with a pretty light show and some impressive showmanship. As a general rule, somethings got to give even for artists who can do it live. It ranges from click tracks to prerecorded backing vocals to the singer lip synching to the entire performance being on tape.

While I appreciate artists who put on a kick ass show with an emphasis on musicianship (Prince, King Crimson, Zappa) I don't have a problem with the ones who balance out the musicianship with some sort of safety net to ensure a minimum level of musical quality while they focus on the overall spectacle (Janet Jackson springs to mind, where she sang some parts live and other parts were lip synched because there was too much choreography going on for her to do both).

You're paying to see a good show. Was it a good show? Did you enjoy it? That should be what matters.

And as others have noted, this was for a pretty high profile show. It wouldn't at all surprise me if it was dictated by the contract that they use some degree of assistance.

By: Rob Murphy

Rob Murphy — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:16:57 +0000

@sicksteanein: D'oh! Stupid internet lag...