Britney Scandal Down Under Reignites Debate Over Concert Faking
As a nation, we have clearly settled the question of whether it's okay for Britney Spears to fake a concert. Of course it is. But leave it to Australia to stick their mitts right back in that can of worms.
This past weekend, our beloved national trainwreck set off a storm of controversy down under when it suddenly dawned on fans at a concert that Britney was lip-syncing her songs; "miming" they call it. One critic on hand penned a review which featured disappointed fans storming out and suddenly, the old wounds of our great national Britney conversation were torn open.
The brouhaha has gone so far as to have Australian lawmakers calling for a new law which would require performers to state on their tickets that concert goers risk exposure to non-singing. China apparently passed such a "Name and Shame" law after controversy related to the Olympic opening ceremonies.
Over the past few days, however, her US supporters have raced to the embattled star's defense. Singer John Mayer twittered astutely, "If you're shocked that Britney was lip-syncing at her concert and want your money back, life may continue to be hard for you."
And on Britney's own website, fans are leaving words of support by the thousands, registering their sentiment that Britney lip-syncing a concert is just fine by them.
So now we think it's time to turn the tables back on our little friends from the Southern Hemisphere whom have made our standard bearer feel so icky over something that we all told her was just fine. A few questions for Mr. and Mrs. Australia before the lynch mob does something that we assure them, they will live to regret:
• Do you really think there is anything real about the Britney experience in the first place that can be captured in a live concert?
• Are you prepared for the consequences if she tries to sing and dance at the same time and something terrible happens? Do you really want that on your head Australia?
• How do you know that it wasn't just a robot in the first place?
• Do you really think we'd risk letting the actual Britney travel to foreign countries with bizarre snack foods and measurement systems?
• If a robot sings live, and you feel that experience was "authentic" than who is the robot and who is the human being?
Its easy for a little nation to throw stones at the giants of world culture, but beware, those fingers wrapped around that rock end up pointing right back at you.