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Author Topic: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?  (Read 6926 times)

Mark Lemaire

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Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« on: October 29, 2013, 09:58:34 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtzRRwfOXus  Please check out and enjoy this 46 year old video.
--
I always loved this song, and play a solo guitar rendition of it where I combine it with "Air on a G string"- (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxSBv1IG9ss if you are curious)  But I dunno if I ever looked hard at the lyrics before- good friggin' grief!

But here is my reason for posting- the band is clearly miming (not even plugged in).  But the lip synch looks PERFECT.  If it's a condenser mic, the band might be practically silent, and he really is singing live into that mic.....

What mic is this? Do you think my guess is correct that it's a live vocal and a backing track?
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klaus

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2013, 01:46:26 AM »

What a masterpiece. 

Listening to this song, even when performed forty years later:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6jyEFe5WM

you realize that Brooker's voice has not diminished in pitch, range and expressiveness one bit.
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Klaus Heyne
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gpiccolini

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2013, 10:31:27 AM »

...not to mention the beatiful photography. :)

I think it's all playback, even the voice. At the time there was alot of playback in TV and the lip sync was rehearsed.
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klaus

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2013, 12:40:47 PM »

I actually don't think the voice was simulated, but what we see is Booker's confident, soulful, live voice over the classic recording track. (The studio vocals are quite different, anyway, not like the one on the video.)

What speaks for live vocals: not the slightest deviation between lips and sound, ever. Not even Beyonce could pull this off at the inaugural. Plus, correct vocal dynamics, commensurate with head movements (voice gets fainter as he turns sideways or leans back).

As to possible live instrumental interference into the live vocals:
They put him far away from everyone else, and you do not see him touching the piano's keys once.

This was actually quite a common practice of the day. I witnessed plenty of live tapings at Frankfurt's "Beat Beat Beat" pop shows, where there were predominantly two modes used: all live (Hendrix, Animals, Spencer Davis Group) or live vocals against recorded (and piped on to the stage) backing tracks (Troggs, Kinks, Walker Brothers).
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Klaus Heyne
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radardoug

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2013, 03:14:26 PM »

Looks like a Beyer M160/260.
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J. Mike Perkins

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Vocal for Whiter Shade of Pale is 100% live
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2013, 07:52:08 PM »

The vocal appears to be 100% live.  It's certainly not the studio vocal.  This is probably French or Italian TV.  If I do a little research I can identify the name of the TV show.  Live vocals sung to studio backing tracks was a common technique for many 1960's TV shows. 

The vocal mic sure looks like an old silver Beyer 160.  What an amazing song!  A Salty Dog is another great one from this band.
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Piedpiper

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2013, 12:44:45 AM »

regarding not seeing him touch the piano keys, you can just make out the dampers move to hi playing... but the 160 is cardioid so maybe the little bit of piano you can hear is from the vocal mic bleed as there doesn't seem to be any other piano micing.
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row row row your boat...

Pied Piper Productions

klaus

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2013, 01:47:43 AM »

Now, if only someone could decipher the lyrics for me...

But they probably belong in the same bucket as "Strawberyy Fields Forever".
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Klaus Heyne
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Uwe

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2013, 08:15:25 AM »

We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
But the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
And the waiter brought a tray

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, "There is no reason
And the truth is plain to see."
But I wandered through my playing cards
And they would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open wide
They might have just as well been closed

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, "I'm here on a shore leave,"
Though we were miles at sea.
I pointed out this detail
And forced her to agree,
Saying, "You must be the mermaid
Who took King Neptune for a ride."
And she smiled at me so sweetly
That my anger straightway died.

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale

If music be the food of love
Then laughter is it's queen
And likewise if behind is in front
Then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
Seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
And attacked the ocean bed

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale.
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Jim Williams

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2013, 11:50:00 AM »

Can you print the lyrics to  "Louie, Louie"? I still don't know what the hell that guy says.
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klaus

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2013, 12:45:02 PM »

We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor….
Thanks, Uwe, but I mean "decipher" the poetry!
 
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Klaus Heyne
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GYMusic

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2013, 03:35:57 PM »

Such a wonderful piece of music that influenced me greatly.  Don't miss this performance. Gary nails it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6jyEFe5WM

klaus

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2013, 05:51:47 PM »

I already referred to that version, a few posts back:

http://repforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,36385.msg532583.html#msg532583

Indeed, a moving performance.
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Klaus Heyne
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mbrebes

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Re: Whiter Shade of Pale- lip synch?
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2013, 11:58:50 AM »

Can you print the lyrics to  "Louie, Louie"? I still don't know what the hell that guy says.
Here you go, Jim:

The Kingsmen - Louie Louie Lyrics

Listen while you read!
Louie Louie, oh no
Sayin' we gotta go, yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
Said Louie Louie, oh baby
Said we gotta go

A fine little girl, she waits for me
Catch a ship across the sea
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home
CHORUS

Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, all constantly
On that ship I dream she's there
I smell the rose in her hair
CHORUS

See, see Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long, me see me love
Take her in my arms again
I'll tell her I'll never leave again
CHORUS
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