Editing Lip sync (section)

===Complex performance===

Artists often lip sync during strenuous dance numbers in both live and recorded performances, due to lung capacity being needed for physical activity (both at once would require incredibly trained lungs). [[Michael Jackson]] is an example of this; he performed complex dance routines while lip syncing and live singing. His performance on the television special ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]'' (1983) changed the scope of live stage show. Ian Inglis, author of ''Performance and Popular Music: History, Place and Time'' (2006) notes the fact that "Jackson lip-synced 'Billie Jean' is, in itself, not extraordinary, but the fact that it did not change the impact of the performance is extraordinary; whether the performance was live or lip synced made no difference to the audience," thus creating an era in which artists recreate the spectacle of music video imagery on stage.<ref name="MT25"/>

Chris Nelson of ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported: "Artists like [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Janet Jackson]] set new standards for showmanship, with concerts that included not only elaborate costumes and precision-timed pyrotechnics but also highly athletic dancing. These effects came at the expense of live singing."<ref name="NYT Feb 2004"/> [[Edna Gundersen]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' comments that the complexity of modern stage show has forced "singing and musicianship into minor roles", citing as example artists such as [[New Kids on the Block]], [[Milli Vanilli]], [[George Michael]], [[Cher]], [[Paula Abdul]] and Janet Jackson.<ref name="Edna"/> Gundersen elaborates: "The most obvious example is Madonna's [[Blond Ambition World Tour]], a visually preoccupied and heavily choreographed spectacle. Madonna lip-syncs the duet 'Now I'm Following You', while a Dick Tracy character mouths Warren Beatty's recorded vocals. On other songs, background singers plump up her voice, strained by the exertion of non-stop dancing."<ref name="Edna"/>