E! Online Rises to Jess’s Defense
E!Online’s Answer Bitch, a column, which is known for its straightforward, and sometimes sarcastic, remarks on celebrity goof-ups, has done a 180 degrees turn, and actually defended Jessica Simpson’s forgetfulness of her own song lyrics.
Writer Leslie Gornstein states that, “For you, loyal Answer B!tch reader, the world is about to turn upside down: I am about to rise to the defense of a rich celebrity,” showing that this does not happen quite often.
She writes:
“Jessica Simpson operates very differently on stage than most of her fellow singers. How? Well…
…unlike most singers, who keep on belting and hoofing even if they flub a line, Jessica insists on stopping everything and starting all over again.
“She’s a perfectionist,” her publicist told me today. “She frequently starts over even if she messes just one word up. She wrote these songs, and she wants the audience to hear it perfectly.”
In other words, if she had just done what every other live performer had done, and kept on going after singing the wrong word, would we be having this conversation? Would anyone have caught her mistakes and written to me about them?
Also, bear this other fact in mind: Many, many singers prerecord backing tracks or high notes of their songs just in case their voices give out during a show. If you’re hearing Simpson stop a song and start all over, she probably isn’t relying so heavily on those tricks.
If that argument doesn’t move you, well, fine. How about this: Simpson is in some very distinguished company. Kanye West, Britney Spears, Barbra Streisand, Miley Cyrus, Tori Amos and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran have all forgotten lyrics while live on stage. John Lennon forgot the lyrics to “Don’t Let Me Down” during a famous rooftop performance. And the great Lucinda Williams says she brings lyrics sheets with her.”
Leave a Reply