A2 MEDIA STUDIES - Robert Atkinson

What is Lip Syncing?

 

Lip syncing is when either an actor or singer move their lips silently in synchronization with a pre-recorded soundtrack. It could either be used in live performances or visual productions such as music videos, adverts or film. 

 

When it comes to live performances, the use of lip-synching is used as a shortcut instead of the singer actually performing. This helps the artist do other such things on stage like dancing to entertain the audience more and show off more of their perceived talent. Although, it can be considered controversial when an artist chooses to do this. In music videos, the lip syncing is mostly part of the post production phase, where they will add the lyrics of the song to match the artist lip sync in the video. When this is done successfully, it is very effective and realistic. 

 

But Why Is It Used?

 

Lip Syncing is primarily used to make things easier for the artist and to make them sound better than they actually are (live performances). Whereas this is different for music videos, as the artist needs to look and sound at the best of their ability to make the video sell and be aesthetically pleasing towards their target audience. Reasoning for it's use being controversial in live performances is because it shows that particular performers audience that they're actually not that talented as their recorded tracks show them to be and that they actually cannot be bothered to give it their all for their fans that have paid to come see them etc. 

So sometimes in live performances, certain artists don't always get what they want when they plan to lip sync, especially when they need it most. Take it away, Mariah.