Surely the American Music Awards have singers ACTUALLY singing?

[@wingsofpegasus]

For reference I assumed people were aware this performance went out live on CBS, and therefore wasn't edited in post. I should have made that clear with hindsight! So just for those wondering about the possibility of the performance audio being edited before release, there was no time for the editing to take place. Thanks!

[@shannonsuxx]

Mariah Carey has been pushing her vocal instrument to the limits for over 30 years. The constant overuse of her whistle register and upper belting has likely taken a toll on her vocal cords. As women age, their voices naturally deepen and can lose some of their clarity, which explains why her tone sounds more tired and dry now. This could be due to not always using the healthiest vocal techniques over her career. I also doubt that her performance was entirely live; while she may sing some parts, the more challenging sections are probably lip-synced to maintain the quality of the show.

[@lilleteam9456]

I wondered that, too, seeing that the video came from Mariah Carey's KZbin channel, if someone had time to mess with the initial recording and release an altered version for her viewers. Thanks for clarifying. I am watching for a moment if on the video her lips weren't "synced" with the pre-recorded vocal, but she's done this song so many times, I'll bet she was spot on. Thanks for your work!

[@alxp-zd1zj]

age does make a difference in female voices

[@dhafuq-c7f]

zna may pumathai na sayo

[@dhafuq-c7f]

kahilangan ka na mamathai

[@pegasus101-t7m]

Thank you for not shying away from artists with threatening fan bases ❤️

[@stephengallagher2209]

I keel jou. Just joking. Can't stick her. 😂

[@MiscellanyTop]

Honest, fearless journalism is what keeps democracy alive. This is a part of that. Thanks Fil.

[@adambane1719]

@@MiscellanyTop "democracy" lol What world are you living in??

[@EmilieSagae]

Mariah's fans are honest about her lip-syncing, even if we would prefer not to spread the word. We're not psychotic or delusional like Taylor's fans.

[@chrisparnham]

@@adambane1719 Not America obviously.

[@scsiking]

You're amazing Phil. Could you do a video where you sing something like don't stop believing for a passage or a chorus. Then pitch correct it. And possibly auto-tune it. And then show us all three steps? I think it would be amazing. Love your videos thanks

[@cringeRick_Lamar]

Steven King?! Central high? Iwas friends with Trisha Fox,,,,you held signs near Starbucks at 71,st and memorial ? Vintage Stock?

[@dillarddillard-p4e]

He has already done that, deliberately singing Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Waters terribly out of key to demo how it works.

[@scsiking]

​@@dillarddillard-p4eso I looked up videos as you suggested and cannot find one where Phil is singing a few takes naturally. Analyzing that. Lee then pitch correcting. And then comparing the pitch correction to the natural. And the same for autotune. The two videos I saw were from two years and even a year ago and Phil seems to have perfected his analysis lately. So I'd love to see a new rendition. And I believe he already covers don't stop believing or another journey tune. So still hoping my request might be fulfilled.

[@tonycook1624]

@@scsiking Its Fil

[@dillarddillard-p4e]

@@scsiking now you mention it, i think it was contained in an analysis of some singer, I’ve watched so many of Fils, i cant remember who the video was about, but he used his own voice to demo how it worked……..hmmmm, maybe ask the question to his subscribers as a group and you might find it. Wish I could be more help!

[@Daniel-wv7lj]

I think it was the AMA's that made Prince lip-sync on stage, and he hilariously chewed gum and danced to make it obvious 😂😂💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@becomingafter]

I was trying to find his video, found Prince at the 1994 World Music Awards. He is not even holding a microphone, I'm confused, did they even try to make it look like live singing?

[@Jonny-o3l]

Also Iron Maiden on a TV show in 1987. Wasted Years. Destroyed the culture. They start trading guitars in mid song and ruining everything!

[@koenigmoo]

Debbie Harry did it in at least a few tv performances in the 70s with Blondie. There's at least one "One Way Or Another" on KZbin, where she's letting the microphone fall from one hand to the other in the middle of a vocal line, or pulling the mic up to her mouth way late after a dance break, making it clear that the mic is not live.

[@tonycook1624]

Rick Wakeman playing his keyboard with a paint roller on TOTP

[@Sonia-xyz]

😅😂👍

[@marcuspedrosa9742]

We should create the Milli Vanilli award

[@glamgal7106]

Not a bad idea. Too bad Rob Pilatus wouldn’t be around to watch it happen.

[@desnick2316]

The difference is that they didn't even sing the studio version or backing track. So it is not the same.

[@koenigmoo]

Mariah would be seriously upset at receiving one.

[@tinkerwithstuff]

@@desnick2316 How much studio auto-tune stuff is "sang themselves" is debatable, though :)

[@zoebella314]

​​​@@tinkerwithstuff MV had a group of ppl different singers who sang for them, they never sang a word of the music that made them famous. One of them may have even been one of the Pointer Sisters, actually, so not all of the singers were even men

[@texasredneckhippy]

I think I should buy a record player and just stick to my old "60s/70s " vinyl... Thanks, Fil ...

[@Cashcrop54]

I don't listen to anything but the CDs I got before this crime wave. None are later than 2005 at least.

[@Tvuvtctoj46fck]

And you think your vinyl recordings are 'pure'? Every record is the result of countless recordings getting cut and paste to what you want to consider an original.

[@gracefuller9981]

And then you still have check the date the actual LP🤦🏻‍♀️ Came out

[@PSA78]

If it's remastered it could be auto tuned even if it's old. 😐

[@sharonnelson3713]

I wish I saved my vinyls.

[@Cashcrop54]

Thank you Fil for bringing "objective" honesty to music and for shining a light into the dark corners. Now, I see anything on KZbin that says "remastered" my heart sinks. I can't always hear it but if the Producer has been heavy handed with it I can. Can't wait for the next one!

[@universalassociates6857]

Fil, you are going to be very much in demand as an expert witness when the lawsuits start to be filed by people who are demanding their money back because they learn that the ‘live’ performances they paid to see were ‘performances’, but were not ‘live performances.’

[@universalassociates6857]

Agreed. When ‘remastered’ is in the title description of a song, I become suspicious.

[@lookingbehind6335]

Showing nothing people don’t know. Artists can’t run around the stage for hours without being out of breath. They also can’t hold perfect pitch during that either. If you think differently, you are out of touch with reality.

[@anteg9084]

@@lookingbehind6335 Have you ever seen a quality production theatre musical? Let's take 'Cats' for example. (Very demanding dancing). Do the actor-singer-dancers get paid as much as pop stars? I highly doubt it. Do they get the recognition? I imagine so, in the right circles. And then there's also people like you who not only don't know names, but also think it's actually impossible. Pop stars are marketing brands. (They might be better looking or have more charisma, but I doubt it.)

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

@@universalassociates6857 Mime, in the eyes of the law, is regarded as "live performance", with a "Hello/Good Night Cleveland!" thrown in for good measure. It is staggering the amount of pre-recorded material that can be used in a "live performance".

[@bydivadream]

Mariah's system of using pre-recorded vocals is the most advanced and complex in the industry - she uses many comps from TONS of vocal comps from both studio, previous live, pre-recorded, dubbed takes The reason they don't match up is fully intentional on her part because of the blends of takes, line by line!

[@appleish5043]

So well known n yet no other artists are copying this?! Right… 😒🙄🤦‍♀️

[@lookingbehind6335]

You just listed the industry standard. She isn’t doing anything special or different.

[@drforjc]

And prerecorded vocals are a good thing?

[@rkk578]

Wait until Mariah's fans join forces with the swifties and the K-Pop fans and put a bounty on your head. Today a K-Pop fan tried to convince me that during a live performance the robotic voice, the perfect pitch and the 3 different vocals when one individual was singing was all due to EQ.

[@craftyoldbelgian]

Yeah, some people are totally clueless.

[@maddiejung974]

Nah Mariah fans know she lip syncs now but accept it because shes earnt her right to be a diva from all her hard work in the 90's.

[@jgcaesar4]

@@maddiejung974 I agree. Mariah's one of the all-time great singers.

[@EmilieSagae]

All of Mariah's fan channels are pretty open about her lip syncing

[@stilettoswinger7404]

If you know someone is not actually singing and still want to see them,what's the point? Spending hard earned cash to watch people fake it?wwe is more legit.

[@franklee1550]

Ella Fitzgerald Nancy Wilson Sarah Vaughn No auto tune, no lip syncing, just pure talent.

[@ManchurianCounterweight]

do you mean Ann Wilson?

[@MegaMarimi]

You forgot Karen Carpenter

[@jolennon8629]

You know these singers stopped making music before the invention of autotune, right? Do you know who else didn't use autotune before its invention? The same Mariah Carey from the video

[@tinkerwithstuff]

No, not just pure talent. Talent, perseverance, diligence - lots of work and patience. It may seem an outlandish concept today, but skill actually requires work.

[@adambane1719]

2 Unlimited.... the list goes. Amazing talent, not recognaised enough.

[@sortehuse]

I thing we also should think about is that artist get heavily criticised if they have one bad live performanse, but the receive very little criticism for using Auto-Tune or lip-syncing. If we want "real" live music we should also be willing to forgive slip-ups or an artist having a bad night.

[@alisong2328]

These lip-syncing artists have fans who expect their "live" performances to sound just like the recordings.

[@lookingbehind6335]

@@alisong2328 That’s the majority of the problem.

[@redguern]

The mere thought of a singer miming at an awards ceremony is unbelievable.

[@jj9749]

To me it would be more unbelievable if they were actually singing live

[@small_joys2022]

Their lifestyle and the way they abuse alcohol and other stuff would make it impossible for them to preserve their original voices. I know in classical Indian songs the singers practise their voices for hours and hours everyday to preserve their quality aside from other strict disciplines. Lots of them lose their voices with age (a few though keep getting better with age). Hard to visualise these artists doing that.

[@jimkennedy9242]

I'm not a musical person at all, but I appreciate music and find these analyses so interesting.

[@tonielliott8659]

I think you are absolutely brilliant FIL. You are so knowledgeable in this field, why people are doubting you is by me. I enjoy your videos very much. I've learned a lot. Keep up the good work.

[@leighblacklocke7190]

Sterling analysis as usual!!Thanks so much..thorough, interesting, and eye opening!

[@dave3657]

I remember that one way I knew a band or singer was lip syncing was at the end of a recorded song usually tapers off. In a live performance the song usually ends abruptly. Then there’s the random “uh” or “yeah” the singer puts in that isn’t in the original song.

[@heatherrohde6541]

Another awesome, if somewhat disappointing, analysis. Thank you, Fil ❤

[@chuckstenberg]

I would say that I'm not listening to these singers like Carey and Taylor anymore that have been exposed. But I never followed them in the first place. Keep up the good work Phil. The fans deserve to know if they are being scammed.

[@ty101ty]

Scammed? You're literally an idiot. Mariah sings live you clown but you're not entitled to her straining her voice for your entertainment. Everybody uses a backing track to protect the voice but that doesn't mean it's not live.

[@speaknowethansversion]

@@ty101ty youre right but this wasnt live tho

[@brandonvaughn3139]

We are not being scammed because we don’t CARE!! Give me a perfect performance babe! They had to sing it in the studio originally so it IS their voice. And the moments they want to slip in a pre recorded vocal to present a perfect moment for the casual fan.. who cares?

[@cpmf2112]

I would be far more surprised if they were singing. 🙄

[@ulphil08]

Same here

[@matcoffidis1135]

For sure! 🤣

[@TenFalconsMusic]

*Replace modern pop artists with cheap CGI and no one would notice.*

[@whatsername123]

That shouldn't even be a thought, but here we are.

[@soulovelee_2433]

They used to, that's the shame :(

[@the_dingo_show]

Looks like The Warning did play Live at the MTV EMA's this week. Love your work Fil

[@somersetfan1]

I think most people did except the K-Pop band, but I may be wrong. The Warning have kinda become the house band for MTV which is great. Makes up for them not being played on uk radio.

[@PSA78]

They are old school real talent. 🤘

[@OneCatShortOfCrazy]

Did you see taylor swift won best live... 🤣😆

[@the_dingo_show]

@OneCatShortOfCrazy best auto tune....

[@glamgal7106]

Fil, I have to commend you for acknowledging Mariah Carey’s abilities throughout this analysis. You made a great point: that Mariah herself is against the use of auto tune because she simply doesn’t need it! It’s unfortunate that the music industry has the standard of using pitch correction for the sake of “putting it right on that line”-it sounds more like an obsession than an attempt to make the voice sound better. You’ve mentioned that the use of pitch correction and/or auto tune is the music industry standard. Apparently, so has miming on a music awards show, despite the capabilities of the artist. Pardon my French, but does the music industry REALLY hear diddly-squat before the engineers do their damage? Or is just a “For shame! They’re not directly over the lines” madness? The sad thing is that people don’t REALLY appreciate that music has no limitations. By making someone as talented as Mariah mime at an awards show is demeaning. What? after all the years of her contributions to music, the music industry doesn’t trust her abilities? Because I’m a musician, I find what the industry does as absolutely disgusting. I shudder to think what they’ll do next. I admire your dedication, professionalism, and utmost patience in observing what the music industry has done to Mariah and many other great singers. Many thanks for all you do and “to thy own self be true.”

[@RingJando]

Superior diagrammatic analysis ( as usual) & really appreciated, Fil - Cheers!

[@markoshun]

In years past, on tv or movies a singer would sit down with nothing but a guitar and start singing, only to have a full band, an orchestra and a choir come in with backup. I remember even then thinking this undermines live music. People's expectations were primed to hear it all. Now they are being primed to hear it 'perfect'.

[@mikesmithz]

I can't think of a reason why she would use pitch correction. Of all the voices that wouldn't be suitable, it would be her. Her style is all over the place, so it doesn’t rely on hitting single notes like most singers. I didn't think her voice could be autotuned live.

[@speaknowethansversion]

shes never actually used live autotune because her performances from the past 4 years at least have almost all been prerecorded, so the tuning is done in the studio.

[@mikesmithz]

@speaknowethansversion that makes way more sense. As I was saying, I have autotune and yeah, it just wouldn't really work with her voice and her style. Thanks for clearing that up.

[@robbchastain3036]

Thanks, Fil, and now we know some big-name performers are just doing magic tricks on stage, not actually making the magic happen.

[@MostlyBrenda]

Sing live? That's just so old fashioned! 😁

[@lookingbehind6335]

Like a guitarist playing with an amp and pedal only. The whole band is being manipulated nowadays. Nothing is real anymore.

[@jhmoxl]

I wish could see more of the video. There has been some really good work on Mariah by her fans and basically there argument is when Mariah is miming its blatantly obvious because he entire demeanor while is different. Traditionally they argued she didn't do it much in America and when she did they were doing it the Ken Tamplin way (just playing the old studio track). If she's actually recording a pitch corrected vocal that is a shift for her and maybe a bad sign going forward that she's going to be more fake going forward then she has been looking back. I could ALMOST not blame her as she has been more called out for miming then is fair given how much she actually has sang live through the years to the point when I said I would see her sing at Central Park I was universally told I would not (because she didn't sing live) But she did sing live and sang pretty good (not perfectly but appreciated the reality).

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

She is of an age where her voice will lose the top end year upon year. Expect more shenanighans to keep her a viable product.

[@SK43853]

thanks Fil !!!!

[@bydivadream]

PLEASE look at VMariah 's multi-part series that literally goes through Mariah's entire evolution of lip-syncing to pre-recorded vocals completely takes over her career in a 30 year period - it's done with SO much love and is also so fascinating.

[@jaclynholland-strauss7054]

Link?

[@bradcozens]

what is it called ?

[@apetro2530]

Let’s have some fun and impress folks with really real talent. Do Pink! She never phones it in, ever. She sings loud and clear, not just bouncing up and down on a stage, but bouncing in the air, flying through the air, hanging from nothing but silks wrapped around her ankles, or clipped into her crazy spinning flipping device. Live vocals every time.

[@samanjj]

If that is true that is amazing - Please Fil analyse Pink!

[@apetro2530]

@ It is true!💕 She interacts with her fans so much, always stopping to chat, take pics, whatever, while she’s singing. Also, her band is on the stage, not behind a curtain. You watch them start and stop with her. She also brings Justin, her unbelievably talented guitarist, right down to the edge of the stage with her, he plays, she sings, that’s it. God it’s great.

[@samanjj]

@ i want to watch her live now - thanks for the recommendation

[@LilWoozy-f7o]

Be careful what you wish for

[@christopher9152]

Don't be so sure.

[@mddawson1]

Katie Noonan has a naturally extremely accurate voice. Check her live TV studio performances Holiday (live at V) and Breathe In Now (Rove live)

[@LOL-Can]

I wish the producers would leave alone the singers voice. I doubt the singers know that their voice has been manipulated in these cases.Thank you for another great analysis.The industry standard sucks.

[@rodrigofonseca6241]

What can we expect from any pop singer of the year 2024? Of course it's fake! Thank you for your work, Fil.

[@mikemaxwell3005]

She is probably singing live at the show but processed for broadcast.

[@markoshun]

Interesting. Fil said the only explanation is miming, but you've offered another. So, not miming, but dubbed?

[@Legslarsen.]

It’s astonishing that so much fakery is the norm, even at award shows. Props Fil for making this common knowledge. The use of AutoTune Live is more suspect as, FYI, sequenced backing tracks can be co-fed midi notes, so that AutoTune can anticipate which note to choose for the vocalist [and correct accordingly during a Live performance! But it’s risky if the vocalst’ timing is off. Remember, while Mariah is not using AT but is mime-ing, vocals can be Post-Processed anyway. Even a Live vocal during a live performance can be Autotuned at 440Hz later by the Producer. Without your analysis Fil, we will be perennially BS’d into believing ANY PERFORMANCE to be an actual Live Performance.

[@LilWoozy-f7o]

Thought it was already common knowledge tho

[@tussk.]

Another Miming Award

[@adambane1719]

Still better than your cr*ppy tattoo's tho !

[@kayserchishti7303]

Fil,congrats, objective and fearlesss, balls of steel.i would up your legal insurance on your house policy.

[@myrrhavm]

She could be the greatest singer in the world, I’d never listen to her music and couldn’t name one song of hers.

[@filangimn1746]

There are also several Hollywood singers and Kpop idols who are very known around the world but I can't name one their songs. I think it depends on a person's preference and exposure to different genre of music.

[@myrrhavm]

@ I agree. It’s like the Kardashians family. Never listened to their music, watch their show, couldn’t point them out in a crowd but sadly know their name. It’s as common as Smith it seems. Used to be a day when or if you were famous, if people knew your name, and this crossed all genres of music and entertainment, they could name a few of your songs and the movies or shows you’ve been in. I have several nephews, sisters, daughters, grandkids and none that I know of listen to Maria Carrie. All I know about her is there’s a Christmas song that apparently everyone hates.

[@lightrays3595]

Hey Fil, Great Vid. Could we have a break from all these dodgy vocals and look at some great music. I've seen you've done Steve Vai, Tender Surrender before. Could you please do Steve Vai, For The Love of God G3 1996. 9:40 version off of Steve's KZbin channel. Pretty please! It's absolutely amazing

[@TeIegram_me_Wingsofpegasus183]

🚀🚀🚀🎉🎉

[@jpbrussels]

Hello Fil, it would be cool if you could give us a demonstration of these voice-altering devices.

[@markkinnish1196]

Great update as always Fil

[@marilynsheffield612]

Thank you Fil for all your research and analysis. 👏Congrats on 438,000 subs @wingsofpegasus

[@margelacosse1331]

Years ago I heard about an opera singer who was booed and heckled becuase his voice cracked. I think its because of the embarrassment of things like this happening to genuinely good singers that they shy away from live performances. The thing is , no matter how perfect ,we are all human and makes mistakes. I use to see the Tokens ( lion sleeps tonight) at a casino by me. One time the lead singer tried to sing but nothing came out. He said he had a cold and let another person in the band do the singing for the night. It happens. There's a difference between the genuinely good singer who has a bad night and the so called singers who just want fame but need the help of electronics get them there. If thats what you like and know that the voice is electronically aided thats fine. But don't make people pay big bucks to hear music that aint real. I like how Fil shows respect and open mindedness for the singers he analyses. Its not always the singer's fault that this is happening. Thank you Fil for bringing this to our attention with an open mind. 👍🙂👍

[@kimwarren744]

Thank you Fil for your videos! I'm a singer and never use any auto tune! I sing live every week! I have good nights and real good nights! Thank you for bringing this to people's attention!

[@JohnnyByeYm]

It is actually possible that Mariah was singing this live at the AMA and they just pitch corrected the live performance before uploading. We'd need an amateur recording to compare to exclude that. Or is this a livestream you or someone else recorded live that was analyzed here? If it is an upload from her producers or those of the AMA then I do not wonder at all they corrected it before upload.

[@TheKoalafant]

I was thinking about the same question.

[@melkestra]

I was thinking the same thing. Without crowd shot footage, how would we know?

[@cindi1313]

The AMAs were broadcast live though.

[@LilWoozy-f7o]

I just commented the exact same thing! It's common for award show re uploads to have post production if the live TV broadcast wasn't up to scratch vocally. He can't really jump to conclusions without addressing that but he won't address it I bet. Probably didn't even think that far 🤦

[@StayPositive050]

“Probably didn’t even think that far”? You obviously are not familiar with our Fil. Fan videos are often analyzed when available, but there is plenty one can say from what aired “live.”

[@davidjordan2336]

I seem to remember that Mariah made a little mistake in a televised live performance a few years ago. (If I remember correctly, it was a bad transition from head voice to chest voice). And I'd read that this had really shaken her, and that she'd become reluctant to go out on tour because of it. She's obviously got a fantastic voice, but that may also be why she's hyper-sensitive about it. I don't know how old she is, but she's been around for a good while, so she's not a kid any more, and this does get harder the further along you go. She's known for being a great singer, so her mistakes will be noticed and amplified. (I remember a few decades ago when Pavarotti missed a note in a televised performance, and the Italian media went absolutely bananas about it for a week, like it was the greatest scandal in the world. He had to go into hiding). So I can see how she'd be reluctant to go out without a net on a high-profile event like the AMAs. Which is too bad. I'd much prefer to hear her sing for real, even with little mistakes here and there.

[@visaman]

She is 55. Time to pack it in.

[@flazeda8743]

​@@visamanPlenty of 60+ singers can still tour singing live and well. She's still great when she "really" sings so she just need to stop chasing perfection imo.

[@visaman]

@flazeda8743 Yeah, perhaps, if she can fully embrace getting older. I am 60 myself, so I know it's a big adjustment.

[@deccarian8458]

Mariah Carey lipsynced the entire concert in the past, so no surprise at all. In fact, her voice got deteriorated for years she can hardly sing her old songs live anymore. Her peak ended in mid to late 1990's.

[@colettemoolman4410]

Everytime I see on the thumbnail "live or not...", it reminds me of Ripley's Believe it or not. If you have seen the 1987 comedy movie "Amazon women on the moon" you will know it as "Bullshit or Not" lol. If Fil could get away with it, it would have been perfect for these videos.

[@scottmclennan6114]

Classic movie!!

[@etteleaa]

Fil, could you do a video on Sandy (Brazilian singer) voice? She is known by her INCREDIBLE pitch accuracy. I think people is going to be impressed by her voice! ❤❤❤

[@nafmetal]

Hi, Fil. Love your analysis of various artist. Could you analyze some life performances of the bands, Nemophila and Babymetal?

[@tobiasholzmann1397]

I also think that a lot of Singers perform really live (or at least think they do) but then the Producers/Engineers do it afterwards or without their Knowledge. But of course there are Artists who know about Lipsynching/or processing

[@TeIegram_me_Wingsofpegasus183]

🚀🚀🚀🎉🎉

[@jeppo1185]

pretty soon, a concert will consist of the artist's head in a jar, on stage / or screen (Futurama style) and this being totally the norm😏

[@keithrichardson6836]

Even the greats like Mariah need to rely on technology where will it all end who knows time will tell but lets enjoy great live vocalist while we can great one phil 👍

[@glamgal7106]

I believe it’s more like Mariah has no choice but as the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” she has to go along with what the music industry tells her to do.

[@alisong2328]

3:03 I made a similar comment after your last Taylor Swift review - that her "staged events" shouldn't be called "concerts" (or even "vocal performances").

[@bobturner2312]

the performances shown during the AMA's are not broadcast live! while the show of course is, the performances are recorded the night before. Mariah posted behind the scenes footage filming her performance the day before. She most likely was actually singing and not miming, but it was HEAVILY edited in post before being broadcast

[@southwestshelly]

thank goodness I didn't have to hear layne staley, chris cornell etc pitch corrected and auto tuned growing up

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

Give it another few years and the labels will get around to fixing their vocals too.

[@marktait2371]

yeh was jamming to audioslave in the car sunday retro show

[@whatsername123]

So, actually, any of us could perform.

[@lookingbehind6335]

Yes, there are videos showing how well auto tune works

[@whatsername123]

@lookingbehind6335 Well, describe 'works'. Lol

[@davechapman5815]

..... Have been for years. Karaoke. This is just an advanced form.

[@adambane1719]

Where's this "us" coming from?? Speak for yourself pot belly boy !

[@adambane1719]

@@whatsername123 Where's this "us" coming from??

[@divatalk9011]

Mariah Carey is one of the all time great vocalists. She’s a benchmark by which excellence is judged. However, she’s been lipping pretty much 100% over the last 12 months, even on her Christmas tour

[@Incomudro1963]

She's been lip syncing for much longer than that.

[@mikesmithz]

To be honest, she is getting on a bit, and she's put her time in. I give her a pass - same went for Whitney. We know they can pull it out of the bag if they need to.

[@JoJo-xz6fw]

Remember when sang live in Times Square and the backing track failed to kick in. Oh dear, I was shocked, she sounded terrible.

[@Sergio-rh2cq]

Está mujer hace años que no canta. Hasta le ha fallado el playback en presentaciónes frente a todo el mundo. Pobre mujer, ya no puede hacer los grititos histéricos

[@bennybuffylove]

Hell, there's vocalists from the 60's and 70's that are better than her.

[@atreb56]

Thanks for this. I thought beforehand that it was corrected since auto tune and pitch correction are the industry standard unfortunately. 😡

[@Cashcrop54]

I never liked it being called the music "industry". It is now actually like a factory.

[@bryana1942]

How about an analysis of Beth Hart from her Live from Amsterdam show with Joe Bonomasso, particularly I’d Rather Go Blind, the first song of the second encore. I would love to hear your take on Beth.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

All modern music is pitch corrected. They changed her natural expression.

[@larryzigler6812]

KOOL !!!!!!!!!! TARJA will actually be singing in 2 more days with WITHIN TEMPTATION - Cardiff, UK ☮☮💘💘💥💥

[@trekkiejunk]

I really couldn't care less if this pop/hip-hop music is auto-tuned or mimed or whatever. I really only care whether my older artists, particularly their older performances and albums get pitch-corrected. The kids today can do whatever they want with their music. (I say this as someone younger than Mariah Carey, by the way. LOL).

[@TeIegram_me_Wingsofpegasus183]

🚀🚀🚀🎉🎉

[@johnbriggs3916]

It's probably always been pre-recorded, it's just that now they are pitch-correcting it! Which, ironically, allows Fil to prove that it's pre-recorded...

[@lengould9262]

Autotuning Maria Carey? Seriously? Def sounds like it though, the "Cher 1990's " sound.

[@t0o0o0o0o0oty]

That's the most baffling thing, some genuinely GOAT singers do this for one off performances. I can understand it more for a 6 month tour, but one song..?

[@lengould9262]

@t0o0o0o0o0oty I kind of doubt that the singer has any say in the decision, eg economic "persuaders" prevail.

[@ElderSnake90]

I feel like singers such as her who can still sing but aging and struggling with the stuff that was done in their 20s should probably just reinvent themselves with a different style and vocal range, at least give us authentic real performances instead of techno aided ones. Age gracefully like some of the greats of old.

[@maramé.r]

Which is exactly what Françoise Hardy and Kate Bush did

[@CandC68]

I watch Fil and appreciate the information. Reality is valuable. On the opposing side I can only guess from a concert fan perspective. Their value is simply defined as "I was there and entertained." Auto-tuned or mimed don't care. I'm old and glad we still have recordings of legit, talented performers.

[@ilovelctr]

11:51 - Wow, I always thought that the album The Emancipation of Mimi was heavily post-processed, not because I doubt Mariah's ability, but because pitch correction was trending back then. Seeing you point out that it was natural singing allows me to have more appreciation for her work on the album!

[@vivienneandersson6019]

Noosha Fox

[@TeIegram_me_Wingsofpegasus183]

🚀🚀🚀🎉🎉

[@michaelstergos1113]

Mariah's formula for this song has almost always been live until the climax. I'm surprised you left out the part where she actually lipsynced, because for us lambs it's very old news lol

[@j2dacee]

so she can't dance and she can't sing. is like being fan of rupaul

[@gazncoll]

Great info and analysis .. nice shave too Fil! 🙂

[@JamieCleaton1]

Right, I’m going to watch all of this before I go full out RANT 😂

[@earlglenn4263]

American Broadcast TV standard is to have a taped backup for all performances. This is so they can cut to it if there is a problem with the live audio. The broadcast channel uses its own sound engineers. The audio is not controlled by the artist or their Record label. Later when the Record Label releases the audio a new set of audio processing happens. It is rare for the artist to have any control of the process.

[@MsRoge25]

Phil, Ms. Carey has a great voice. Could you please review Morissette Amon from the Philippines?

[@JamieCleaton1]

I retract previous statement. Yes she is lipsyncing. She’s clever how she does it, she cuts and chops various recordings over the years to create “new takes” which sound new however they are decades old and I can prove it 😂

[@Allurafibers]

this woman hasn't sung any high notes live since the 90s. she's got the studio in her home to record many different "live" vocal tracks for award shows and concerts. kinda wish you would've chosen another "live" performance where she goes back and forth from live to lipping.

[@archieolmstead6688]

PLEASE DO celine Dions performance at the recent Ellie Saab 1001 fashion show. I think she was miming. Love to hear and see your thought on what was going on.❤❤

[@filangimn1746]

What about Celine's most viewed Christmas performance video when she sang Noel/Holy Night. Did she sing it completely live?

[@cindi1313]

I just watched Celine Dion at Elie Saab and I agree, although the first verse could be live.

[@TenFalconsMusic]

. *If you want to hear vocals that aren't auto -tuned...* *...you'll have to put some metal in your ears.*

[@obiwanduglobi6359]

Tell me your favorite band and send me a link to a (recent!) live performance. I'll analyse it for you. I never did that on metal, that's why I'm keen to try it out.

[@redguern]

Epica

[@PSA78]

I would add contemporary blues artists as well, that and metal is pretty much all I listen to these days. 😆

[@olliepriddey1161]

Is there any chance you can do an episode of Benson Boone because he is probably the best male vocalist currently (none biased opinion).

[@sephdm]

Hi Fil, is it not possible that even if the live performance wasn't corrected they could have done so later and for the upload alone? I have no horse in the race I'm just curious.

[@HarleyCampbell79]

I'd like to request Chappell Roan. I don't have any video suggestions . I think autotune would have a hard time with her crazy yodel vibrato. Cheers.

[@TeIegram_me_Wingsofpegasus183]

🚀🚀🚀🎉🎉

[@Mattisttam]

The AMA performance was honestly difficult for me to try and decipher. I could visually see Mariah singing and her using her voice but some of the notes were too perfect. Was it the backup singers that flooded the vocals? Do they overlay is just enough where higher and louder notes push through the recording? This does help put a lot of perspective to things.

[@StayPositive050]

Billie Eilish is on tour now. I would think Auto Tune would be so obvious to me now if I go but I’m not sure I even want to if that’s what she’s doing live. Her Olympics Closing performance certainly did seem mimed to me, it’s hardly worth your time to look…but any chance you could look at fan video of her live on current tour?

[@Sensor-g7z]

*The Enshittification of Everything* ...... Cory Doctorow invented the perfect word for our time of collapsing complexity. Andrew Nikiforuk /15 Jul 2024/The Tyee . "“The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned.” - Antonio Gramsci . Last year the American Dialect Society chose as its word of the year “enshittification.” . Cory Doctorow, a clever fellow and Toronto-born internet dude, invented the term to characterize the declining service and products made by IT monopolies that generate armies of algorithms to bully people like storm troopers. . But I think the descriptor has far broader applications. Everywhere you turn, it seems, civilization is facing a massive and cumulative failure of excessive complexity. Enshittification explains the state of just about everything. . The Tyee

[@undersixty]

I want you to do another Mariah one of her 2024 Christmas tour music

[@jporter504]

Good analysis.

[@kennethbent5586]

I just have to look at the graff now you didn't have to say a word

[@FredericiasChannel]

She _could_ sing, she can't anymore.

[@andrese9805]

The words "Mariah" and "live", Do Not Belong Together. 😅

[@adambane1719]

Mariah is still alive though... soooooo

[@binkwillans5138]

"The words "Mariah" and "live", Do Not Belong Together.": Why not? I'm genuinely interested.

[@lookingbehind6335]

Hello, I’m from Nashville TN. and have worked in the “business” over 20 years now. I can guarantee you that almost zero artists perform live. Even live shows are not truly live, everything is manipulated. Previous recorded performances are inserted into the production program. That way they can claim live. Technically it is live, just was live at another time. For the last 20 years all artists use auto tune. Of course everyone already knows that.

[@jj9749]

Fil is discovering in real time

[@lookingbehind6335]

@@jj9749 They even fake the audience in most cases. Most is cgi now, but they used to hire people to cheer and yell. Especially the ones who holler out stuff like “we love you”. When I say everything is manipulated, I mean everything.

[@Benjamin-f9o]

The AMA performance just sounds mechanical.

[@Fan-vv8wb]

None of the ama performances were live it was a pre recoded show plus it’s Mariah Carey the greatest vocalist of all time

[@mattwuk]

Singing just over the G or just under A etc is what makes the human voice perfect and everyone different. Take that away and you take the humanity out of music and the whole point of singing becomes redundant.

[@Paul_Ernst]

Wonderfully informative as always! Maybe you have shown it in a previous video, but what does it look like when a vocal is being pitch corrected? What does the producer actually see? It looks like notes that have been moved to be over the line still have some variability (?), so how it this maintained if the overall note is corrected? How do they just 'move' one note, which may be connected to other notes that are not moved (does it break the sound, or do joining sounds get stretched? Also, I think i heard somewhere (possibly untrue) that Barbra Steisand sings multiple takes of a song and then stitches together the best takes of each note into a single track - would your analysis be able to tell the differences between pitch correction vs notes that have been cut and pasted into a track?

[@cindi1313]

Yes, Fil has gone through the whole process of pitch correction in a previous video on May 3rd, called "*Reality check* To What Degree are Vocals Edited in 2024?", and it is really amazing how much control the producers have with it. As for doing vocal comping, I don't know that the pitch correction software could detect when that has been done, because they are still 'real' notes. It shouldn't look like pitch correction though.

[@coreym7694]

Is it possible she sang live at the venue but then it was corrected in post before putting it out on KZbin?

[@JohnnyByeYm]

Exactly what I thought. That is not easy to distinguish unless you have someone live record the live event...

[@speaknowethansversion]

you should watch videos on her lipsyncing habits. this performance was 100% lipsynced to prerecorded vocals and vocals from her 2021 valentines mix of we belong together.

[@fredbloggs6080]

As the next US administration will be focused on eliminating corruption in government and government agencies, they should create a new agency, the Vocal Integrity Agency (VIA) to put a stop of this type of deception and corruption of vocals. Another way they get around this type of thing on the supposedly live broadcast programs is, somewhere at the beginning or end, or after commercial breaks they say in small print "Portions recorded". I always assumed that referred to things like pre-recorded biographical or background info videos or interviews, but it could cover a lot more.

[@chrisperyagh]

I'm just simplifying things for myself with the graphics: - Natural unadulterated vocals resemble a rocky mountain scene. - Pitch correction resembles a Grand Canyon scene with more plateaus instead of peaks. - Autotune resembles a Manhattan skyline.

[@doctorshoot]

Love you to have a look at Diana ankundinova phil

[@TeIegram_me_Wingsofpegasus183]

🚀🚀🚀🎉🎉

[@FunkySpunkster]

Can you please do an analysis of Katy Perry at the Australian AFL Grand final?

[@marckinnier6929]

Love Mariah, so disappointed that this pitch correction is industry standard! I hope you go more viral and this fakery stops across the industry. When one person does it, everyone starts!