Live... or not? Is this what YOU call 'live'?

[@heartpath1]

Fil - I have been commenting on your excellent videos for a while now. Imagine my surprise when I saw this. Thats me playing guitar in this performance stage right, dark shirt, shoreline gold Suhr classic. Recorded outside Philadelphia for Biden’s inauguration I believe. I can neither confirm nor deny any post production shenanigans as I was simply a hired gun. 😅

[@prestonleebenjamin]

You bring up a great point to consider, sometimes when it comes to “live” performances as far as the players know maybe they remember doing it completely live, but the producer and mixers have a big hand in significantly altering it more than the players remember. With this specific video, I suspect it could be a mix of the players playing it “live” and then combining and mixing in several different takes, and using the original recording vocal as a crutch to overdub when the lead vocalist wasn’t able to perform sufficiently enough to the mixing and producer’s tastes… Of course there’s a lot of filling in the blanks to leave to assumption, but I’d think its an in the middle of they told the performers to get as many of the best takes they could and then left it to the producer and mixing engineers to come up with a version different enough from the original that they could label as “live” version. I think “live performance” these days is more synonymous with “different or alternate” rather than actually being live - sure it probably has elements of live performance in it but it seems heavily doctored and mixed to meet “industry standards” Regardless, thank you for sharing your insights into it as one of the performers, and @video thanks for sharing your insights as always!

[@mimi-3212]

Time well spent, Fil. You are uniquly qualified to interpret what is actually going on. Your take on this is interesting, edifying, and much appreciated.

[@mrgregorygerald]

I would honestly LOVE an open and honest interview from whoever produced this "live" version, because it's pretty magical how they seamlessly go back and forth between the original vocals and new ones. obviously we aren't gonna get that, but im fascinated. Great video! It's like when you hear the isolated "ahhhhh ahhh ahhhhs" in the "a day in the life"by the beatles and it literally sounds like morphing between John and Paul's voice (to my ears atleast, very touchy subject in the community haha)

[@drewpall2598]

One of your best breakdowns in detail on what going on here thanks for all the hard work putting this analysis together you're the best Fil. 👍👍

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@chrisose]

The give away for me, from over 40 years of experience as a live engineer, is the mic technique. There is no way in hell you could capture consistent dynamics from the spastic mic technique shown in the video.

[@jimshorts6751]

​​@@GladeSwopeA compressor will squash what is there, not what is absent. The diaphragm in the mic will be vibrating less than if he were on top of it. Even if you dime the volume on the mixing board channel, it will still be thinner with the background noise (musicians and mic pre-amp) going up further masking a thinner vocal. You can't amplify missing frequencies.

[@debrahartshorn3084]

Thanks for your hard work on this one Fil!

[@tod3msn]

Fil…Greg does not do a lot of live performances so I’m not shocked he is not primarily singing live. He see’s himself as a songwriter. You nailed the studio magic making perfectly.

[@Mattened]

Love this song and the song he did for santana & michelle branch - game of love. Nostalgia overload. Thanks for the breakdowns, Fil.

[@freespiritwithnature4384]

I love the way you broke this one down. Excellent analysis as usual. Our senses are much improved thanks to you, Fil.

[@deborahlynn4439]

Thank you Fil - you're a great music detective - always learn from your analyses!🎻

[@debbier938]

Hi Fil, Great detailed Analysis on this performance! So many little points one could easily miss. I would not view this performance as live. But it is a cool song. Awesome job breaking it all down. Debbie☮️

[@deborahmccartney5694]

Fil, you really know your stuff! Thank you for the brilliant analysis! So interesting!!! ✌️💜

[@stevereed8786]

This was by far one of the best Albums ever. The entire album was a masterpiece. One Album hit wonder.

[@leafbelly]

Wow! What an amazing analysis, Fil. I knew you'd do a great job on this one. It was such an odd video/performance. You found so many things that I overlooked, and the way you matched up the waveforms was very clever. Great job! Thanks so much for doing this.

[@janeteitsworth8824]

Always top notch in analysis. However also a fantastic singer.

[@Claus-dx2qy]

Wow Fil, this analysis of yours is absolutely incredible!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@lieslwindjulie3230]

Hi! Oioioi! I was 18 going on 19 when this song came out. Time flies! 😯 Lots of details. Great analysis, Fil. Thank YOU 🖤🤘🏽

[@EdConnelly8247]

Thank you Fil. They should have just did it live and not worry what it sounded like. Their fans would have understood.

[@Sonia-xyz]

Analysis are always Top Notch. 👍 🤘💜 Yes, even I know (hmmm well heard) this song.

[@tammydoolittle6054]

Thank you Fil! This was another great performance and analysis! 😉👍

[@sarahlouise7163]

it's a banger. always loved this song!

[@markkinnish1196]

Great update as always Fil

[@lindadescafano3749]

Thanks Fil for another interesting analysis. I remember this song and I enjoyed listening to your explanations and appreciate all that you do. 😊🎸🎵

[@LOL-Can]

I have noticed differences in singers appearance in some you tube covers from time to time. I believe the singer was singing ,sometimes to a backing track and sometimes to tracks of actual instrumentals. I lack the technical musical knowledge to know if it was a "false " performance as in this case. Great analysis as always. Thanks.

[@hannahpumpkins4359]

Nope- the vocalist was definitely miming. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's interesting to know.

[@pinball1970]

Well spotted Fil on drums! I'm a drummer so I get that.

[@sabocikotic7632]

Good analysis as always.

[@FineArtsMusic]

Hey Fil, could you analyse No Doubt? I think Gwen Stefani’s voice is very unique (her vibrato, nasal tone), especially back in the 90s and early 2000s. Maybe look at Just A Girl or the famous Don’t Speak. I think it could make for an interesting video. Btw, great video as always! I love this song!

[@charlesbailey5579]

I remember on The Voice they tried to pass off Make Me Like You as a live mimed performance, but, I believe only the last few seconds are live.

[@rolanddunk5054]

Hi Fil, I just love the way your analytical brain works,I find that I listen to music in a totally different way now,thank you for enlightening me. I wonder if you are the same watching movies,analysing the faults in the plot..One of my failings,cheers Roly🇬🇧.

[@johnhewett9483]

thanks fil, yes very interesting video. live to me is when the sounds you hear are actually being played or sung at the same time as it perports to be live so in my view this is not a live performance

[@cindi1313]

I love this kind of investigation and all the little details that you pick up on Fil! I think given the fact that this was a one off performance for New Radicals after having been broken up for 22 years, it's not surprising that they did this for the inauguration. I don't really blame them for it since it was such a huge event. I wouldn't really call it "live", but to me it's forgivable.

[@a1cswiz1611]

It’s disingenuous and fake asf. Don’t call something “live” when it’s not “live” Pos lying band playing for a pos lying administration. What a joke of a comment

[@Rabbitslayer-b4s]

A sourly fascinating analysis thanks Fil

[@localbod]

Thank you for another great video. Your analysis was very interesting and your evidence undeniable. I think that it's possible Gregg had a live mic to do adlib parts such as the start, which is definitely not the original recording, and therefore give the Illusion of a live performance, while for the rest of the track they used the studio vocals. I am only referring to the audio that would have been heard on television and not what the audience was experiencing. That just my opinion. Keep up the good work Fil. 👍😎

[@jporter504]

Excellent analysis.

[@SasquatchLovesMe]

This is a great deconstruction. Nice work.

[@Lockemeister]

This is a really astute analysis. like I mentioned before, my IQ goes up 10 points every time I watch one of Fil's videos! Problem is it doesn't stay up!

[@sprint6000]

I love this entire album & still listen to it. ❤

[@localbod]

I still listen to it occasionally too. It is a fine piece of music and it never fails to transport me to another time and space.

[@bouldersoundguy]

Re: late crash hits. At first I thought he's really not late on those crashes, then I realized I was listening on my Bluetooth speaker which has latency. When I switched to my home theater speakers it was really obvious that he was way late. There's a reason I don't use the BT speaker for final audio sync on the videos I edit.

[@fredhinckley8630]

Fil - I checked out the original video link you provided and looked through the comment section. The guy's fans were all praising the fact that he still sounded great after so many years. He knew that he wasn't singing live, but presented the whole performance as such. Some people just don't have any integrity and it doesn't seem to bother them. Such a shame.

[@martyndawson7484]

Some singers 'lose their chops' when they get older. Neil Diamond now narrates his songs live.

[@MeMe-bs3tc]

I agree Fred, it really does bother me paying good money for what I expect to be an authentic live music experience and it isn't.

[@alanhean6504]

Once again, thank you for the incredible disection❤

[@sandmonjones8004]

Fil you are amazing with these little intricacies. I can't imagine my generation bands doing this.(Stones, Beatles, Hot Tuna to name a few.).

[@zenawarrior7442]

Interesting song, fun analysis. Thanks Fil😊🌃🎙🎶🎼

[@perseapolaris9015]

thank you..Fil. For keeping 0:10 our eyes and ears more vigilants..👁️👂👂. Details subtile to know..👍kiss ,sweet. tonight..💌

[@steveyoung9491]

Hey Fil, another excellent analysis, it makes me wonder from other comments, in these sort of performances, do the band know this 'manipulation ' is happening? Or any others for that matter, keep up the good work, its making us look at it all more closely!

[@marknovak6498]

Glad for your insight. Watch the drummer and uncanny valley time. Filming one performance and I bet we are hearing a studio version of the performance in some form.

[@estherhendrix9697]

Fil, you’re a true detective. Scotland Yard could use you!😉 This analysis is fascinating! Thank you!

[@candydale8380]

This song speaks volumes with the lyrics in addition to really sounding kick ass!!! Always have loved❤❤❤❤❤❤ this tune💥💣!!! Thank you so much Fil!!!!🎵🎤🎸🎹

[@budyza180]

Hey Fil. Another detailed and informative video, thank you. I listened to the whole thing before watching your analysis and simply didn't see the things you spotted. But that's why you're the expert on KZbin. 😉 Seems like they've maybe used the original vocal to replace bits where Greg possibly struggled vocally during the live performance? Also interesting to note that they left out that bit at the end you spoke about , "Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson, Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson etc..."🤔

[@Brian_19.9-4]

I love New Radicals I actually like their song Someday We'll Know and they probably would've performed that "live" too. Yeah right. I first saw Fleetwood Mac The Dance a live album Fil should analyze that because it's NOT LIVE. There's numerous instances with that where the video is from one performance and the audio is from another.

[@ladygothic7699]

I love them & this song. So awesome that they were chosen. So great!!! He did say in an interview that he just threw out famous musicians. He had no issues with them personally.

[@andreas-ni8iv]

He even produced a song for Hanson ("Lost Without Each Other ").😂

[@stp4779]

This entire album is brilliant.

[@andregarceau5567]

There's an other KZbin chanel called Justine, that has put a performance of New Radicals' song when it was aired on TV on a showv in 1999. Here's an excerpt from Justine's chanel:《Coach Kreeton introduces New Radicals as they perform "You Get What You Give," during All That's fifth season in 1999.》 This performance is definitely NOT tweaked. A lot of flat notes, bad sound balance... but an amazing showmanship from young Greg.

[@billhallsongs]

Gregg also wrote the Michelle Branch'Carlos Santana song "The game of love"

[@Terri_MacKay]

When you said that you were going to overlay the vocals from the "live" (finger quotes) performance over the vocals from the original record, I knew it was going to be bad. And it was. A great song...too bad about the "live" performance.😕

[@amusical12]

Thanks for your effort Fil. It’s appreciated by many of us. 😘💕

[@DavidLilja]

What live is, is something I've encountered a lot as a Goa-Trance producer back in the days. I think it took me 15 years to understand how "live" was used. So, "live" in the Trance scene is when you show up and play your own songs from a CD/USB/whatever. "DJ set" is when you show up and play other people's music. But being classically trained on the Piano and the Clarinet live has a different meaning to me. So, me and my bestie always brought synths with us and actually played them live on top of a backing track. Was that live? We didn't play the drum track live, nor the bassline or any of the other 50 odd tracks - just the melodies that our four hands combined could muster. So when it says live in that video it's because they're there miming to a backing track. I think the stakes are too high to risk a technical issue, or forgetting a line or missing one of those epic jumps between falsetto and deep vocals. And the drummer missing the crash beat _could_ be a video editing mistake - I've seen that before when the video editor isn't a musician and doesn't understand how it looks wrong. Thanks for a great video about a seriously epic song. That was huge here in Sweden too. Rock on! 🤘

[@StephenPickells-bi2ii]

I watched the original press, long as I could when he bends over and apparently scenes when the night is falling that seems to be augmented as far as the musicians. Will you assume that a lot of the music is sequenced or programmed or whatever. The drumming seems to be live, but the main thing that struck me is how much it reminded me of America, the band and specifically horse with no name, although the chords reminded me of Waiting on a friend and the singer sounded like Roger Hodgson, trying to sound like John Fogarty

[@andreas-ni8iv]

The whole album was Gregg Alexander's calling card and launched his career as a songwriter and producer. The package of the album was as anti-conformist as you can get. The booklet was inserted into the cover sheet upside-down. The lyrics had lines that did not make it on the album. For the instrumental track "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too" the booklet added lyrics that basically boiled down to a manifesto not to conform. One of the surprise hits in 2024, that reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in early 2024, was a song he wrote and produced for Sophie Ellis-Bextor in 2001, thanks to its being featured in the movie Saltburn, a timeless, catchy pop tune.

[@joeflip2993]

Nice analysis. I'll bet it sounded good live.

[@bruceaseltine8490]

Hello Phil, Bruce here your favorite subscriber. I have a question that I have pondered for literally decades. When cds first came out the sound quality was not as good as vinyl records. Some could hear the difference and others thought that cds were outstanding. From my understanding a cd is a sampling of the music. A cd uses a very small amount of space. Can’t the sampling size be increased to match the sound quality of vinyl records, or am I just hearing needle noise ?

[@localbod]

The standard for CD audio having a sample rate of 44.1Khz and a 16-bit bit depth was considered good enough for the average listener with the average pair of ears, etc... Obviously you can get higher quality sample rates and bit depths such as 48kHz, 96kHz or 192kHz at 24-bit. However, without similarly high quality playback equipment (amplifier / speakers) and good hearing the listener might not notice any discernable difference. Some formats such as MP3 are 'lossy', in that when the audio is compressed it loses information (quality) in exchange for a smaller file size.

[@bruceaseltine8490]

Thank you for replying@@localbod

[@BartholomewSmutz]

It would be great if you checked out Jay Ferguson Thunder Island Live 1980 since it is definitely a live performance (I think) and Jay sounds just as good live as on the record. It is a performance on Don Kirchner's Rock Concert.

[@nonsuch]

It's definitely not the album version. It's alternate studio tracks for live use that are being mimed to. 💯

[@paulaneary7877]

Amazing. Thank you Fil. This is not what I would call live in any universe. It seems so easy nowadays to promote half truths and deceptions, especially with all the technology so readily available today. I was born before there was a computer in almost every home and we had only 2 phones. Both rotary, one in the laundry room and one in my parents bedroom. I miss those days. Thanks for the video Fil. I enjoy your channel quite a bit.

[@MostlyBuicks]

I love that you spot musical BS wherever you find it.

[@serenadevon]

Can you do a review of Steve Winwood or his music with Traffic?🙂🙏 🤔💯💕TY🔥

[@wingsofpegasus]

They're several out here on Steve!

[@katherinea.rodgers8366]

It certainly doesn't sound live. Thanks, Fil. You have taught me to really listen.

[@trujustice8628]

The whole thing is phoney and put together. Never live. 😂 You are being too polite. Love ya

[@ThePaulmaxey]

You see this a lot during so called live performances when they throw in a few vocal ad libs between the lines to make you think it's live, the rest of the time the mic is probably muted.

[@Mccannoset]

Fil, have you ever analysed Indigo Girls? I would so appreciate your take on them. Thanks for the amazing videos.

[@123Rockchild]

I think it’s ironic that this song’s theme speaks to perseverance and going for your dreams….but then I read that the group disbanded before releasing their second single because they were TIRED of touring and doing promotional interviews! HA! 😳

[@olibertosoto5470]

Now we're getting into a much wider picture of society in general. Many years ago a trend began to accept obviously scripted and edited things as "real." This goes far beyond the music industry and into really nefarious territory.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

👍🏻

[@vanceshepherd1618]

Love for you to do a take on live Def Leppard. I've seen them many times, listened to live productions, and heard Joe Elliott struggle on occasion. I know concert albums and videos are "cleaned up" by inserting bits from other performances, or studio overdubs. However, I get tired of people saying their vocals aren't live, when they obviously sound MUCH different than Mutt Lange-produced albums. I know there is some major processing going on to multi-layer the backing vocals, as well some assistance to Joe's aging voice. But I feel that it is still, in fact, live. They've done acoustic performances where they harmonize quite well together, so they are capable singers/players.

[@Peeved100]

I take a lot of flack for this. But I feel like some of these guys with aging voices, and there are quite a few, should maybe consider calling it a day. If it was me, I'd rather do that than resort to assistance. Just my opinion.

[@charlesbailey5579]

I seem to remember the singer saying he disbanded the group because he felt he could never live up to this song. So, maybe he felt like he could never live up to the studio version.

[@12thDecember]

I watched the singer for about 30 seconds and something just seemed "off." Then I started reading the comments, listening to your analysis, and turns out it wasn't live. You'd think it would be if a band is performing for such an important occasion. On another note, with the recent death of Melanie, I was wondering if you would analyze her song "Lay Down," with the Edwin Hawkins Singers. I watched the Netherlands performance and was blown away how her voice projected over everyone else's.

[@jenihansen7201]

Fil, you're the best.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@MedalionDS9]

It is not the original backing track from the album, but it may be pre-recorded but it does differ from the album version. The vocals are live though I think

[@Every_Day_islike_Sunday]

Yeah it's not the album version. But it's been pre-recorded and they're lipsynching to that. Not too bad, IMO.

[@AnjektusStudio]

Well! Live for me is when you singing live. This is a really poor edit video from a pre-recorded vocals So he is lipsynking = NO LIVe performance. And the edit of the diffrent decided version in this video are poor as hell.

[@hollybee2204]

Hi fil, love your work! I'd like to request a video on ville valo of HIM, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Take it easy 🤘

[@MCW1955]

Ugh…it’s like 99% of new music is fake. Thanks Fil for continuing to open our eyes. And there you it is

[@DeeM1923]

This is the most perfect pop song!

[@elisabethaxelsson4736]

For me is live when you see it whit you on the Spot when it Happens

[@chthoniapodcast]

So--there's pitch correction, there's miming to a track, but with this one they're actually playing, but the track is from the original album? Or from some other pre-recorded version that's being played along to, and somehow we're not hearing their actual playing? Seems in the end like it's a "live" performance that is actually being mimed to the record. Probably still less offensive than pitch correction.

[@AnjektusStudio]

are you really saying that is video how are put together from different takes for the fir thing are less offensive then pitch correction. Well if you do. Then schould you have a check of your brain. Becouse this is really, really bad.

[@alanmoberly64]

It qualifies less as music and more as entertainment. I suppose a person could be of two minds on that. If you are enjoying it on KZbin you are not going to notice anything. On the other it goes to show you just how far music is getting from reality and it makes me glad I grew up listening to music in the seventies and eighties. I suspect the eighties was the beginning of where music is now.

[@pinball1970]

Basically it's not live

[@InfiniteQuest86]

Yeah I don't think they should have put live in the title. It's good how it is. Just let it be it's own thing without trying to pretend it's something it isn't. Having said that, I laughed so much at the cuts. Why did you vary your performance so much in between takes? So funny.

[@dmcarp2807]

More than enough facts presented in analysis showing video performance was combo of several recordings. Noting the click track detail during stage performance, nothing preventing use of any added manipulations. Misleading label.

[@sarahlouise7163]

so, they used the original recording, and then sang and played over the top. the band would absolutely know the original recording like the back of their hands, just like any member of the public does. everybody has heard it countless times. they just performed live over the top of the original recording. yeah? that would be why the vocals match up.

[@roywall8169]

Never heard the song, or of the band….and I am from the US.

[@squeaky79]

@roywall8169 First time I heard it was during the end credits in the movie "Click."

[@roywall8169]

@@squeaky79 I watched that movie years ago on Amazon, I think. Didn’t stick around for any credits. 🙂

[@TomHendricksMusea]

The vocal volume doesn't seem to fit how close or far away the mike is from the singer's mouth. I would think there should be more variation in a live performance. Ps I like this song too.

[@MrLikeAsatellite]

Clearly not live. You can even tell by the way he handles the mike, far, near, doesn't make any difference.

[@duane8829]

For a sec I thought you were gonna take a look at the New Originals 🤷‍♂️

[@racheloldridge4986]

I don't really understand why they'd go to all that bother - if a band can't just play their own song what is the point of being in a band at all?

[@annettemoyle6051]

Do like the Stars & Stripes Fender

[@PlasmaBurns]

Artificial Intelligence 'listened' to all of Nirvanas songs then 'wrote' the next Nirvana song. That sad part is it was actually a decent song. Personally I would love to see what AI can do with the Freaky Chakra Low Down Motivator Album or the complete works of Funky Porcini, PInk Floyd, Orbital and The Orb. The transition is going to happen because AI doesnt need fancy cars, big houses and a cut of the profits. Im thankful I came from the 70's and lived through the best few decades of music humanity had to offer.

[@Psalm1267]

@PlasmaBurns "listened' to all of Nirvanas songs then 'wrote' the next Nirvana song." - interesting premise. When will someone "find" another old manuscript of some classical composer and because it's to true to the style of that composer, no one will be able to prove it's AI?

[@PlasmaBurns]

@@Psalm1267 well, deception makes the world go round. I dont envy the next generation of humans. Evil already has too many enslavement tools in their belt as it is. I can see them using AI on quantum Computers as a sort of God that lacks all empathy, compassion, humanity...making all the decisions to push and carry out agendas. A digital Satan.

[@CatDaddySteve]

It's too clean 🧐

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

i couldn’t believe a thread i saw recently about taylor swifts use of backing tracks and all here fans were defending her.. 😳 and they pay $100s for a concert ticket..

[@julzy3]

😎

[@SimonJM]

Is it live? Nope! All down to how you wish to strecth the definition of 'live'. I remember my first eyebrow raising moment to see behind the curtain of what is actually 'live' on a TV programme (I hate to admit that I think it was Noel Edmonds!) where they were having the 'first live music broadcast' from an airplane in flight - I think it was Feargal Sharkey?. Video feed cuts to band on airplane, talking to one another and preparing. Cue the music playing!!! Except, the band are STILL walking about talking to one another and NOT playing or singing. And that was supposed to be 'live'.

[@jaystone4816]

Why bother calling something a "live" performance when it's some form of canned or manipulated? Time to bring back Milli Vanilli, I guess...so ahead of their time!

[@IrnBruNYC]

If you listen to the New Radicals album, from just before Autotune became omnipresent, it’s pretty obvious he is a very good singer. But he hasn’t really been a performer in 25 years or so.

[@sootikins]

Hated this song when new, still hate it when old. Very happy to see this pseudo-live tech-fabricated piece of fakery exposed. Thanks for the analysis! And NO this is not what I call live.

[@revgurley]

When this song came out, I could've sworn it was a cover of something older. But apparently not! I guess it sounds somewhat like another song? I've searched and couldn't find anything, so I guess it's just my brain going wonky.

[@cindi1313]

It's from 1998, it's definitely very 90s, given that they mention Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson.

[@soundpainter2590]

This song, & ONLY This song is as if Tod Rundgren wrote it. The rest of the record is... Not so good.

[@revgurley]

@@soundpainter2590 You might be right! I couldn't think of what this song sounded like, but you're suggestion is really close.

[@TracyN67]

⁠@@soundpainter2590Yes!! That’s it! I thought it sounded like an older song too.

[@jamespohl-md2eq]

@@soundpainter2590It does have a Rundgren type sound. It also has some Karl Wallinger/World Party vibe. And Beach Boys. Btw, Rundgren covered the New Radicals ‘Someday We’ll Know.’