by Marilyn M.
Member since:
February 14, 2007

Girl Not Cute Enough For TV

August 13, 2008 12:26 AM EDT
views: 168 | comments: 33

Girl Not Cute Enough For TV

by Marilyn Mackenzie

I wasn't watching the evening news, but listening from the other room.  I stopped what I was doing, though, when I heard that the girl who sang for the opening ceremony didn't sing.  She lip synched.

The real little girl who sang her heart out was determined by the Chinese to not be pretty enough.  She sang behind the scenes, while a younger and cuter girl pretended to sing for the audience. 

What a bunch of jerks.

Hey, not only that, but the fireworks seen on TV were not really the ones that were set off on Friday night.  The ones shown on TV were done on a night that wasn't so smoggy, so the Chinese decided to present those to the world.

Can you believe?

Here's something on YouTube about the opening ceremony fake singing.

Olympic Girl Not Cute Enough

And here's an article that includes information about the fake singer and the fake fireworks.

Not so ancient Chinese secret: Olympic opening featured lip sync, digitized fireworks

The Chinese wanted to make sure everything was perfect.  Sadly, when they interviewed some average people, they didn't appear to think there was anything wrong with the little girl not being able to sing.  They supposedly agreed with the idea that she wasn't cute enough.  Or...perhaps they were afraid to say what they really thought.

Hmmm.  Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, isn't it?  Sometimes I think we forget that.

link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 33

Marilyn M. Aug 13, 2008, 12:27am EDT
This really makes me angry. It was for the good of the country?
Heather C. Aug 13, 2008, 12:28am EDT
That is so sad...that the real singer wasn't cute enough.
Heather C. Aug 13, 2008, 12:28am EDT
That will mar her the rest of her life.
Holli G. Aug 13, 2008, 12:32am EDT
This is just distrubing..really really disturbing..it really makes me mad too
Patty H. Aug 13, 2008, 12:45am EDT
This makes me sick and very angry.
Kerrell g. Aug 13, 2008, 12:47am EDT
I would have used the real singer, ladies. After all, we are dealing with a nation that limits people to 2 kids, despite God's command to multiply.
Nurse Nancy S. Aug 13, 2008, 1:07am EDT
And people wonder why I am not the least bit interested in watching the Olympics.
Lesli B. Aug 13, 2008, 1:21am EDT
Sad!
Marilyn M. Aug 13, 2008, 1:33am EDT
I'm with you, Nancy. I haven't watched any myself.
Carol Roach Aug 13, 2008, 2:40am EDT
all I know that people of different countries have different values, and in many countries around the world they do not see anything wrong with lip synch
Larry M. Aug 13, 2008, 7:55am EDT
That's show business (politics). I am sure you have seen the movie "Singing in the Rain."
You are probably also aware that the female lead in "My Fair Lady" (the movie) was not the one singing her part.

The Chinese aren't doing anything that we don't also do right here in the U.S. Beauty is preferred. Being a rather ugly as a child and youth, I was very lucky to be a man. My performance could make up for my looks. It is much harder for women since they have less power.

At least the Chinese were not able to keep their "tricks" a secret.
Bonnie F. Aug 13, 2008, 8:03am EDT
Unfortunately, no matter what they did it would be a lose/lose situation. I think it's terrible that they felt this little girl was not pretty enough, but on the other hand, if they had let her sing, there would be media picking her apart and calling her homely. There's just too much emphasis on looks. I thought it was mainly in the U.S., but I guess it's all over the world. What a shame!
Denise B. Aug 13, 2008, 8:07am EDT
that is so wrong on so many levels!
Marilyn M. Aug 13, 2008, 9:23am EDT
I would hope that our media would not have called her homely. I don't think I have ever heard our media say that kind of thing about a child. (Hey, something our media is doing right.) But, I suppose if the Chinese think that way, their media could have mentioned it. If it wasn't censored. Oh, and I forgot our stupid late night comedians. They might have said something. Still...it's not often that even THEY would pick on a child.

I saw a picture of the girl. Bless her heart, I thought she was cute. And, as one who has done some solo singing - as a teen - I would have appreciated her for singing so bravely in front of the crowd. I would have noticed her inner beauty coming through her song and her twinkling eyes.

Carol, it wasn't that there was lip syncing. It was that the reason was that the Chinese thought the girl was not pretty enough to represent them. Sure wish someone would bring that girl here. She'd probably be famous in no time.
Amy B. Aug 13, 2008, 10:51am EDT
I think it's sad that they're willing to stoop to these levels in order to put up a front of "perfection" for the world to see and cover up all their other secrets. And then there's the entire controversy about whether or not they falsified the passports for the girl gymnasts.
John S. (arizona) Aug 13, 2008, 12:30pm EDT
I feel sad for that little girl, and she was plenty cute to begin with! The political "head honcho" there in China should be ashamed...
brojer n. Aug 13, 2008, 2:33pm EDT
Also the gymnastics team from China had 3 girls who were not yet 16 according to the NYT. When the IOC was asked about it they said "we are believing the passports and will not investigate". Their average weight was 77lbs and the U.S. teams was 107lbs.
Elizabeth V. Aug 13, 2008, 2:50pm EDT
I heard about these on Fox News last night. And the girl whose voice they used WAS cute. She just had crooked teeth. Jees!
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Aug 13, 2008, 2:57pm EDT
Yeah, I heard about this on another thread. I think it is sad that she couldn't sing because they didn't think she was pretty enough......You can only live pretty for so many years...than you get wrinkles.
Bent Lorentzen Aug 13, 2008, 5:52pm EDT
Makes you wonder about a lot of other things presented to the viewing public by (________)
Elise w. Aug 13, 2008, 6:08pm EDT
Realizing that hardships affect people in different ways makes me think that perhaps the little girl wasn't as marred as we (our culture) would be if in the same predicament. I'm wondering, though, if hearing the negative will lower her self-esteem or will it make her angry too and more bold to stand up for herself to the jerks of her culture in the future. I hope the latter is true. I hope she will grow into a beautiful swan, just to show those jerks. My heart goes out to her and I pray that she will continue to sing and not be afraid to blossom into that one beautiful flower in the middle of the briar-patch.

Great post Marilyn!
Shoshana H. Aug 13, 2008, 8:01pm EDT
While I disaprove of what was done to the girl on a personal level, I try not t impodr my cultural mores and expectations on other cultures. I consider *that* arrogant. In addition, I've been watching the olympics since 1960, more or less, and I've seen worse, much worse, in other games. Don't get me started on the IOC ...they can be absolute idiots, upon occasion. Despite all the foolishness, politics and scandal, I still think the Olympics are a wonderful thing, and will always watch and enjoy them, becaus those young people put their entire hearts and souls into what tey do, and that's a positive thing to see. Sure, some of them benefit in the long run with high paying endorsements and even careers in show business, like Scott Hamilton, for example, but most don't. For most, it will just be one of the best experiences of their lives, and, frankly, that's enough.
Steph-in-NE ..... Aug 13, 2008, 8:01pm EDT
sorry it happen yet I really cant concern myself with all else going on around the world....
Rebecca [Future Teacher] Aug 13, 2008, 8:46pm EDT
That's terrible, the poor girl.
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached at least ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!
Elise w. Aug 14, 2008, 8:13am EDT
I would be upset for "any" culture to do this to a person - young or old. What I said was not to belittle a particular culture, because there are idiots all over the world. We come in contact with them every day. They're everywhere and when they rear their ugly heads, such as in situations as this, well.....it just erks me. I wanna take that little girl in my arms and assure her of her precious beauty inside and out.
David P. Aug 14, 2008, 9:22am EDT
This reminds me of two things. One, Janus Ian's hit in 1975 "At Seventeen." Anyone who ever heard this song knows what I mean, so I won't repeat it. She won a Grammy Award in 1975 for it - a very moving song (about looks, etc.). Secondly, this China switch reminds me of Milli Vanilli, the duo who won awards and then were found out to be lip-syncing. One of them was so embarrassed he eventually committed suicide. This China switch, hopefully, won't be too damaging to the actual singer. I personally don't care how good looking a singer is - if she sounds good I'll watch and listen. The real singer should have gotten the glory of performing at the Olympics.
Kay & Snowy Cat Aug 14, 2008, 9:34am EDT
Larry, I can't believe that you are comparing adults lip syncing to this incident. She's a little girl Larry! Now she is told she isn't attractive in front of millions--wow, like that won't affect her for the rest of her life! Communist idiots!
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Aug 15, 2008, 8:55pm EDT
Isn't this sad? This will effect her for a very long time. I know - I have an inferiority complex myself, it never goes away.
Andrea (Ms. Conservative) L. Aug 18, 2008, 9:20pm EDT
That is so sad. That poor little child. But, you know, with the Chinese mindset, she probably doesn't know the difference.
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Sep 13, 2008, 7:18pm EDT
That was so sad... She is a wonderful singer. But China doesn't understand looks aren't everything

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.