Vote: Police Backing Vocals Live

[sockii]

Just to toss an outsider's observation into the mix, but the Washington Post wasn't thrilled with the use of samples Sunday night, either. From today's article:

>Lose the backing tape -- One could distinctly hear more than one Sting
>singing "Roxanne" as the live one crooned the famous words "Put on
>the red light" during the chorus. Nobody was fooled.

Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/entertai ... -5049r.htm

Other press sources are taking pot shots at the use of the sample tracks as well (or repeating the same basic article)...so I think there's a definite credibility factor under attack, here. Just FWIW...

http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Tel ... 2-sun.html

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Entertainmen ... 9-sun.html

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Showbiz/2007/02/ ... 4-sun.html

[blueseattle]

[quote="Hannaha"][quote="STEWART"]Two problems with Andy and me:
1. We suck.
2. The places where I need to sing are the big choruses - which is where I need to blaze on the drums.[/quote]

So, how about samples of Stew and Andy instead of samples of Sting maybe? It might give a more 'authentic' live sound than multi-layered Stingo samples.[/quote]

Agreed. The samples with Sting have everyone scratching their heads and I think it'd be cooler to have your samples. It's not Milli Vanilli style lip synching, but it'll just have a layer.

Then again, I'm all about the raw sound of three guys on stage. This is coming from someone in a new three piece band really excited about the prospects of what three guys in a band can do.

Again I'm in the same boat of bewilderment that my favorite musician is actually on the board talking with us about the stage set up!!!

[Three over Four]

I'm listening to the Live! CD right now...more specifically, the Orpheum WBCN/Boston Broadcast from '79, and you guys seriously are rockin' my booty off!! I'm not hearing a ton of BG vox, and you know what? It doesn't matter at all to me....IMO, this disc is soooo much better than the Synchronicity concert. I could care less, frankly, about what the papers are saying about samples. Many have stated it here all ready...they are not LEAD VOCAL samples, and they are there to ENHANCE the performance....not to "fool" anyone as the WaPo put it.

And Spec, this is not heated in a hate way.....we're worked up cause we CARE!! That's all, it's what fans do...it might go overboard at times, but it's all good so long as the fan spirit is what's driving it. After all's said and done, the Police are gonna make their decision and I'll dig seeing them live regardless of what that is. I'll just dig it a scooch more if our 3 blonde heroes are the only ones sharing the stage!

[Neuron Divide]

I'm all for the guys using the samples. It's really hard to concentrate on playing drums and singing at the same time, especially if it's been ages since you've attempted doing it.

You'll probably find that after they've been touring for a while, and have got their chops back again, that they'll be singing a lot more...

[Spec A!]

[quote="Three over Four"]

And Spec, this is not heated in a hate way.....we're worked up cause we CARE!! [/quote]


Oh I know! I probably shoulda stated it a little differently I guess! I just find it funny that we're starting to nitpick the details (IMHO) of something so huge that it seems a little silly to be doing so. But I guess we wouldn't be the rabid fans if we didn't now would we?

Whatever they decide I'm all for it! I actually voted for a mix of samples and live vox, as I know how lost you can get in a groove and forget to concentrate on the singing parts. As a drummer you end up sacrificing some crazy beats for something more straight forward just so you can sing. I'd rather have the crazy beats thank you!

[blueboy]

Regarding the SUN articles:

Let me see....Bill Harris, Bill Harris and umm Bill Harris.

Well that's it then...it's Unanimous!

Sounds like a poor excuse to fill up some white space in the paper using the Police name as a draw.

I repeat my earlier statement:

[quote]...anyone that thinks Sting or the Police lack credibility for using backing vocal samples needs to pull their head out of their arse! [/quote]

If they were using samples to REPLACE something they did years ago, but can no longer do...then there might be somewhat of a point. But they didn't sing great back then either! They are just using today's commonplace technology to make the experience even better (IMO).

Somehow I don't think anyone will be requesting a refund after the show.

Music critics are IRRELEVANT at this stage in The Police's career, and they are only interested in selling newspapers. Also, any critic that thinks bands actually use TAPE, is just demonstrating their level of knowledge about the music industry (and their age)...hopefully they were using it as a figure of speech.

(Just in case my comments are coming across the wrong way...I'm not directing any of this at you Sockii...I'm just very passionate about The Police!)

[itsalrightforstew]

I've already made a few posts that I'd like to hear live backing vocals, but I've got to admit "Roxanne" sounded really good at the Grammys.

And maybe I should just shut up and worry about other things, like making sure I get tickets.

[sockii]

>(Just in case my comments are coming across the wrong way...I'm not
> directing any of this at you Sockii...I'm just very passionate about The
>Police!)

No worries, mate! Just passing along what I got today in my daily yahoo news alert.

Critics certainly aren't going to deter the fans out there from buying up all those tickets, but it was just an observation on the press reaction and what they're deciding to harp upon (because of course there will always be SOMETHING...)

[lovincup]

Stewart....

I would be happy to stand next to you and sing back up while you play your drums.

I can hide so no one will see me. It can be our little secret.

I can be reached at lovin_cup@hotmail.com

[Mrs. Gradenko]

>So, how about samples of Stew and Andy instead of samples of Sting maybe? It might give a more 'authentic' live sound than multi-layered Stingo samples.

I'd be cool with that.

[georgygirl]

[quote]Two problems with Andy and me:
1. We suck.
2. The places where I need to sing are the big choruses - which is where I need to blaze on the drums.[/quote]

I will feel happy whatever The Police's wise men choose

[Laz]

My opinion on the live backing vocal/sampled backing vocal thing changes almost by the hour, sometimes I'm thinking that there's something a bit cheesy about it, but like I posted elsewhere, Rush has been flying in sampled backing vocals on stage for years now...

However, the more I listen to the new Whisky and Grammy versions of Roxanne, those backing vocal samples do lend quite a bit of punch when mixed well...

Like many here, I'm just overjoyed that The Police are back, and I could care less... whatever the decision is about the sampled backing vocals is perfectly fine with me...

Laz

[mattma]

No backup singers and no samples.

Ask the audience to sing backup, we know the words. Its so much better that way anyways.

[Laz]

[quote]No backup singers and no samples.

Ask the audience to sing backup, we know the words. Its so much better that way anyways.[/quote]

RIGHT ON!!!

(Just read this same post you just put up on thepolicetour.com...)

Maybe that could be another option to vote for???
Laz

[Three over Four]

Spec A! - Crazy beats? YES PLEASE!! And don't be afraid of those octobans Stewart.....you own the sound those beauties produce in my book.

Sockii - Ya gotta love those press folks, eh? A feller much wiser than me once said:

Relax, have a cigar, make yourself at home. Hell is full of high court
Judges, failed saints. Weve got cardinals, archbishops, barristers,
certified accountants, MUSIC CRITICS, they're all here. You're not alone.
You're never alone, not here you're not. OK, breaks over!

DANG. Do I now owe Sting some sort of royalty for posting this?