Go to any modern musician’s concert today and there’s a good chance they’re using a backing track of some sort. Backing tracks aren’t new. Some of our favourite classic bands, such as Queen, have been using backing tracks for decades. However, there is a large demographic that believes using tracks is cheating and is ruining live performances.
honestly i really don't care about if vocals are bad or not, i'd rather listen to bad live vocals than just a lipsynched backing track https://t.co/C59yWJg4Cf
— louie (taylor's version) (@Formula_Orange) January 10, 2023
One event that always gets into their minds is the Milli Vanilli incident, where they were caught lip-synching. They think that all backing tracks are used to replace human talent whether it’s just lip-synching or instrumentalists miming with instruments in their hands. To me, that’s not a backing track. That’s a cover-up. This is where I’m not okay with tracks. If I see a singer on stage, I better hear them sing. If there’s a drummer on stage, I better hear them play drums.
Another case use is using it to substitute for someone who isn’t there. This includes stuff like orchestras, choirs, or even bass players. Orchestra and choirs are more than forgivable for some people because they don’t expect artists to bring those people around with them due to costs or other circumstances. Tracks can also be used for synth parts that are complex and can’t be done live on keyboards (if there even is a keyboardist at all). Some people still don’t excuse this case, thinking that artists should make the studio versions of their songs completely playable live without resorting to a track.
I don’t care if someone is using backing tracks for live performances. As long as they’re using them to enhance, rather than replace, then it’s more than fine with me. People think all backing tracks are cheating, saying that live shows are meant to showcase the artist at their rawest form. But with the level of production that goes into songs these days, they don’t realize how hollow these songs would feel without the layers that were in the original song. They’re not going away and it’s time people realize that they’re not ruining live shows.