WHEN is a fraud a fraud, a lie a lie? What if you went to the racetrack to see a certain thoroughbred run? What if, after the race, you found out that instead of a yearling of the highest pedigree, what you were cheering was an old ‘pile-o-bones’ dressed up to look like a thoroughbred? Would you say that it was not so bad? The ‘bag-o-bones’ did his best. So, why nobody told you it wasn’t the real thing? So, it is a fantasy, but what if you were thoroughly deceived? Welcome to the world of lip-syncing. Not everybody will agree that there is anything wrong with an artiste making appropriate sounds to simulate the real thing. Why? Because you’re not feeling well or because you can’t be bothered? When Mariah Carey, allegedly one of the big stars of the US entertainment world, came to town to perform for an audience who emptied their bank accounts to be present at what was to be a great experience, we soon discovered what lip-syncing meant.

Note well that this turned out not to be the same as being “in sync with”, or being in harmony. Ms Carey came prepared to jump and prance, singing a few random notes, relying on technology to give the impression that she was actually performing. Social media carries the footage. We can see the diva hopping and stepping her way all around the stage in her little baby doll dress (one of four outfits), tossing hair and cooing like a dove every once in a while.

Honest or dishonest? People paid good money for the performance and got nothing even vaguely resembling the expectation. What were they into, was it fact or fiction? Two things puzzle me in the aftermath of Carey’s bizarre behaviour. One, the muted response of the Jamaican crowd, which was so blatantly disrespected, despite the cost of the event. Two, that an artiste, touted as world-class, could be so contemptuous of an audience that she could treat them the way she did.

Big question: How has the Jazz & Blues organisation dealt with this one? Did Carey have to refund the fees, in part or in whole? Bigger question: Why was the Jamaican audience so tame in their response? Biggest question of all: What would be the response if a Jamaican artiste had done the same? If it was one of our own, would we have let them off the hook just so?

Arguments are raging in defence of lip-syncing. Some experts see nothing wrong. To hear them talk, it is just another development in performance art. If a diva has a sore throat and cannot sing, in the opinion of some “experts” it is all right to substitute appropriate sounds. Others see it differently. The audience is worth better than that. The arguments which ensued saw all kinds of alternatives and excuses. For instance, how can one sing and dance at the same time? Answer: Check top talent which can do more than that. Not many argued for integrity.

While we’re at questions, one really to be addressed is the way forward for the new generation of Jamaican artistes. Full time now that we begin to shape the sound of the future so that we don’t have to delude ourselves into thinking that unless we can import foreign talent, we nah seh nuttin. Mariah Carey — money, hype and all — is no stronger a performing artiste than many of our women singers. Match them and see. We might not sing the same tune, and Ms Carey might sell more recordings than we do, but that doesn’t make her more valuable. By the way, it should be interesting to compare the disparity in fees.

Yes, we must have variety. We can’t close our minds to the outside world. We have to be more open-minded. But when you think of the mediocre talent often foisted on us in too many of these big stage shows, and the price we pay, you have to wonder when will we accept our own and reward them accordingly. Too many “used to was” artistes end up in the limelight here, and we pay whole heapa money to go pay homage to them, while our talent can only get a squeeze in as ‘backup’.

When will we provide opportunity for our young talent to be assisted to grow and take their share of the spoils, which far too often go to others? Why is it so hard to respect ourselves? The “day name day”, as the ancients used to say, that we bring our standards up to the level worthy of international acclaim, I guess only then will we get the reward. There should be no need for the Mariah Careys and others of that ilk to be imported to show that they’re our superiors. Something has to change.

No, Father, no!

Sometimes “wi head tek wi”, as the ancestors would say. Fr Ho Lung stunned many by his recent unkind, painful departure from kindness to others, as the Scripture, which he knows, urges him to do. His vicious attack on Lisa Hanna is unworthy of one trained to tread the path of civility. So, he puts into print his disapproval of women wearing swimwear to go swimming, but does that merit an attack of brimstone and fire? People are saying “Wi cyaan believe it”. Well, we all make mistakes — some worse than others. Really worse is the kind that could be described as “yuh head tek yuh”. No, Father, no.

gloudonb@yahoo.com