Opening ceremony's wind, fireworks, singing not quite live

BEIJING -- For those of us who thought there was something weird about Beijing’s flawless-but-sterile opening ceremony, well, we were right.

I knew something was strange when the Chinese and Olympic flags blew dramatically in a breeze that did not exist anywhere else in the suffocating National Stadium.

Turns out, they were powered by special devices in the flagpoles.

I also thought it was odd that, while everybody back home was praising the fireworks displays, those of us in the stadium saw nothing more than your average Friday night post-Angels-game display.

Well, turns out, many of the fireworks seen on television were digitally created because, according to officials, the smog was too bad for anyone to see the real ones anyway.

If that wasn’t bad enough, now comes the news that even the only truly human part of the ceremony was fabricated.

That tiny, red-dressed, 9-year-old girl named Lin Miaoke who so touchingly sang "Ode to the Motherland"?

It was an ode to a fakery.

The voice actually belonged to 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, but poor Peiyi was not deemed cute enough for a world audience, so Lin lip-synched to Peiyi’s recorded voice.

The saddest thing being, Chinese officials actually publicly bragged about making the switch.

"After several tests, we decided to put Lin Miaoke on the live picture while using Yang Peiyi’s voice," said musical director Chen Qigang in an interview with Beijing Radio. "The reason for this is that we must put our country’s interests first. The girl appearing on the picture must be flawless in terms of her facial expressions and the great feeling she can give to the people."

So a child with an incredible voice gets shoved aside because she is not "flawless" enough.

So the biggest human hit of the opening ceremony is not a human at all, but a recording.

Remember all this in a couple of weeks when IOC officials will surely commend China for staging what might be the most efficient Olympics in history.

Remember this great machine comes at an ever greater human price.

-- Bill Plaschke

Photo: A photo released by the New China news agency shows Lin Miaoke, the 9-year-old Chinese girl who lip-synched "Ode to the Motherland" during the Beijing Games opening ceremony on Aug. 8. Credit: Xinhua / Zhou Liang / Associated Press

Comments

[Ryan]

Who is even surprised by this? It was obvious to me the performance was fake, it was obvious that the footprint fireworks were fake. The question is, what other not-so-obvious parts of the ceremony were faked?

[Tom Mariner]

I have many mainlaind Chinese friends with me now.

The trouble is that they probably could have been dead honest and have the same effect -- It would almost seem as if someone in charge does not really trust the innovation and talent in their citizens that they are trying to convey. Nothing sinister, just a lack of faith on the part of the leaders.

But folks, they are politicians after all.

[A. Estymes]

Actually, wind machines have been used on numerous occasions in the past to assure that flags flutter under windless conditions.

This article reeks of cheap shots, which is unfortunately all too common among Western commentators apparently resentful that China dares hold a Summer Olympics. How petty.

[John]

Are you sure the fireworks were fake? I thought they were taped by NBC!

[J.]

Oh my God...who cares? I still liked the Opening Ceremony. This sob story doesn't detract from my experience.

You people need to find something more exciting to write about.

[rah]

Uh, who cares if the performance was lip-synched? The Olympics are just a form of entertainment, why is everyone demanding some bizarre, random standard of "truth" from them? What is the dividing line between acceptable special effects and those considered a breach of ethics? You can use a wire harness but not digital fireworks? That's so random.

[Bruce]

I am speechless to this "smart guy's" murmur.

[Stamping out False Information]

This article is extremely prejudicial. First of all, only a small part of the fireworks were simulated, and those were the giant feet. The reason is not because the smog made it hard to see the fireworks, but because flying a helicopter so close to the fireworks to shoot the actual scene would have put the crew in danger.

Second, I would have rather watched the show in person rather then on stupid NBC, which censored/deleted many parts of the opening ceremonies.

Third, I don't know where you get off saying that most people thought the show was mediocre. ALL of the people that I have talked to have said it was the best opening ceremony in the history of the modern Olympics.

Last, NO ONE ever said that the little girl was actually the one singing the song. It is a show for God's sake, it's obvious some of the things are not fully veritable. What you are doing is essential blaming a Magician for not really doing magic, but rather cheap tricks.

[JPS]

My Chinese wife had told me a few days ago that from what she had read in Chinese media, the "footprint" fireworks which went from the center of the city to the Bird's Nest was largely a computer simulation (except for some set off close to the stadium). The original vision was to have fireworks shot off in this fashion throughout the city but they couldn't secure the appropriate locations needed for various reasons. So they chose to run the simulation anyway for TV viewers.

She also said that there were something like 70 firework launching locations used for the opening ceremony.

When you say that many of the fireworks were faked, are you talking specifically about the 'footprints' or some of the others ? From my vantage point (watching on TV a world away) I wouldn't expect those inside the stadium to be able to see many of the fireworks which were shown.

Jon

PS As for the girl singing, I had no doubts she was lip-syncing. I wouldn't expect any child to be put in a position to sing live before such an audience, whether it happened in Beijing, or Athens, or Sydney or Atlanta. I realize you're intent on making this into a human rights issue but I think you're stretching a bit.

[Olden Atwoody]

Evil nation. Banning the true singer because she was too ugly.

[Sour Grapes or Does It Really Matter?]

Hollywood-Chollywood @ Work
---------------------------------------------
A normal behind-the scenes props,spoofs,glitch is what everybody does
-even in LA.

Remember Wardrobe-Malfunction @ The Super Bowl?
There are a hundred other such incidents.

The Opening cereomny IS ENTERTAINMENT.
Funny A Hollywood guy does not understand that.

[Simon]

I am actually surprised that people took so long to realized the flag pole had a fan installed within. If watched carefully, you could even see a hole near the flag on the pole.

Girl lip-synched, what is the big deal? This is an event with high visual attention, you do want somehting appealing on the screen. Haven't you see J-Lo, Brittany and so and so lip synched all the time????

Fireworks, brilliant idea!! It tells you that they did the homework, understanding that not all fireworks would appear on TV so enhanced it. It is not like they enhanced the spectators inside the stadium.

[Tony Su]

Don't be so silly and serious, treat it just like a Hollywood blockbuster production.

Why you would ask pure authenticity out of the ceremony is beyond me. Why you would find it as yet another reason to criticize China, maybe jealousy is one reason.

The TV audience just want the joy and perfection, that is human nature, and the producers feed upon that.

[Craig]

You comment on the opening ceremonies as if they were a sham. Lipsyncing. Digital fireworks. Fake wind. It was a show for gosh sakes. Did you get upset when you went to Disney and suddenly realized that there was actually some guy in the Mickey costume? It was pure entertainment. And I think it was one freakin awesome show. Find something else to complain about. I bet if you look hard enough you might find that the smog is actually fake.

[James]

So the wind of the flag was driven by a fan? So what? Who didn't notice that? I thought it was a pretty good idea. How utterly boring would it have been to simply have a limp rag hanging on a pole? Come on...find something better to write about!

[britainy]

Ok, that sucks! But who did not know the flags were being blown by special devices, and as far as the fireworks, that's seemed odd too! The little girl not pretty enough for TV, do you expect much more from any country, the USA would do that too, just not tell anyone! Plus, you could tell she was not singing at the event, that it was prerecorded, so the pretty face did not do that good a job! So those things aside, it was a spectacular event and is one of the best I've seen. I would be proud to represent my country at the ceremony, and the few fabrications should be recognized and apologized for, then we can aww the rest of the event!

[Anonymous]

At least they are honest and open about it. But lets get back to reality where entertainers are generally attractive and rarely ugly. Shania Twain is butt ugly right? Remeber when Blue's Traveler did not show the lead singer in their first video of their hit song? Only after they became hugly popular did he show face. Take a hard look at all the artists and you will realise talent alone doesnt cut it. They need to have charisma. Talent+Ugly=Hard to succeed but not impossible. Just improbable.

[S Pedrosa]

Hey Plaschke,

You are more bitter than a Sweet Tart...Still think the Lakers are better than the C's? Stop being such a homer!

[mike]

How is that different than anything America does, like every time we ever do something?

[Brian]

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain"

[cg]

"Sterile" Opening Ceremony??? you must be talking about your mind!!!

The fireworks was set off all over the City, do you expect to see them all in the stadium? TV audience expects to see a great "SHOW", who says they can only see what people in the stadium see? And who says you can't have a 9-year old walk in the stadium to the tune of a song sung by another person?

Ever greater human proce???? Where is that coming from????

Jealousy, fear, sour grape.... Bill P. must be hurting so bad!!! because it shows...

[Brian]

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain"

[Jim]

Bill, you're full of it.

[Amadeus]

. When one compares the sheer scale and opulence of the Opening ceremony, no other country even comes close to it. Yes there may have had some adjustments and that is ok. There is no point in singling out certain items. Its because the writer cannot believe what China depicted and knows that the US will never come close to having such a grand ceremony. Remember Atlanta?

[Josh Menez]

what's up with these western media bashing on something so spectular that is produced by non-westerners? It really is a cheap shot; can't beat them so hate them by pointing out all flaws, as minor as it may be. I can care less if the footprint fireworks were fake (we live in the digital age now) or that the girl lip-synched...it was the most spectular opening the world had seen. Stop your hating on China because they just put on a better show than perhaps anyone will be able to.