Britney Spears sleepwalks, lip-syncs on 'Good Morning America'

Happy 27th birthday, Britney!

Britney Spears performed two numbers on "Good Morning America" today, an event that's been hyped for weeks and weeks to coincide with her birthday and her new "Circus" album release.

So, with all that nonstop rehearsing we saw her doing on her MTV documentary, why did her GMA routine still remind some viewers of her disastrous Video Music Awards performance?

Not that she didn’t look good. Make that great. But just like she did in London earlier this week, Britney seemed to lip-sync and stumble her way through her songs.

British fans watching her performance on "X Factor" were reportedly outraged about her not really singing. Her U.S. fans may be a little more forgiving of (and used to) her faux singing, but it's still a little disconcerting to watch.

I saw her perform in Vegas a few years back. Sat in the front row. Close enough to see that she didn’t sing a note. Lip-sync City. But was the performance fun, sexy and lively? Sure was.

Sadly, her previously energetic dance style is still MIA. In her GMA performance "Womanizer," there was that familiar strutting sleepwalker stomp, eerily reminiscent of her attempted 2007 comeback on MTV.

But one wonders, why can’t she sing and dance at the same time? It's like those slow stomping moves would have caused her to be out of breath.

Maybe Britney is just not a morning  person?

As far as finding out about Britney’s birthday plans or talking about her MTV documentary, Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts barely got two questions out about her upcoming concert tour.

"You're starting at home, right?" Sawyer asked helpfully, following a question about the beginning of her new tour.

A seemingly confused Britney said, "Yes, in America."

Roberts added, "In New Orleans!”

Um, yeah, as the hosts pointed out enthusiastically, that is Britney's  hometown. Woo hoo!

Oh dear. Poor Brit Brit.

Anyway, what did you think of Britney's GMA performance? Thumbs up or kinda down?

To watch the official ABC.com video, click here

More Britney Spears:

Listen to six of Britney's new "Circus" tracks

"What was I thinking?" Britney asks

Britney looks amazing in OK!

Britney Spears gets her buff bod back!

Comments

[Bryan]

The Circus Performance was amazing, more choreography than womanizer.

Its like 180 degress diff between the two performances.

Andre Fuentes (Brit's Choreographer definitely needs to add more technic into it).

All in all, i am happy with "Circus" peformance but not so much "Womanizer".

[bryan]

Btw, the lip-cyncs thing is nothing new. she is well known for that back in 1998 but i wish she dances more than that.

[Andy]

I really don't think there is much different about the Britney we see here and the Britney we've always seen. This womanizer video is a bit sad but I really don't blame her, I blame whoever thought it was a good idea for her to do what she did in this routine, which is the exact same thing she has done in all four performances on the dot.

As for Circus, I thought it was rousing and fun, and for a twenty-seven year old mother of two, I'd like to see half the lyp synching janets and Madonas you'd probably be quick to praise to any better.

[Erick]

I liked it... a lot. :\

[Lacy]

Well she can still dance as we saw in her rehersal videos... so why didn't they step it up w/ the choreography????? Maybe she wanted it low key for her first performance.... she might have a fear of messing up. I'm not sure. But dancing is one of the main things that distinguished brit from the rest... her stage presence is vital to her career... they need to step it up for her next televised performance. i want to see her succeed.

[teisho]

... when it comes to this faux freak, always thumbs down !!

[victoriam]

Does this girl have any real talent? A fabulous dancer? A wonderful singer? sorry....she needs to get a day job, i wouldn't pay a nickel to see her or hear her.

[George]

The problem with this girl is that she thinks its ok to take peoples money, and lip sync through a show. Its stealing. She cant dance and more and the Voice she Barley had in the beginning is gone. We need to move on and leave this HAS BEEN behind. She is crazy to think she can half dance and NEVER sing again and still take our hard earned money for her crap. Its gone on too long and we need to demand more from these lazy artists. The biggest issue I see is there are GREAT artists who sing live EVERY time and they dont get any credit for it. Then we have this train wreck piece of crap who we keep giving chance after chance. Let this HAS BEEN GO. Lets move on and RAISE our standards

[Spike]

Talentless hack.

She isn't a has-been, George. She is a NEVER WAS.

But for most people, all their taste is in their mouth.

As long as she keeps up the semi-pornographic moves (you know, the one's she's been pimping since she was a teenager) and intense vapidness, everyone will just love her.

[Linsey]

Britney's hometown isn't New Orleans. It's Kentwood, LA. Hence her "confusion". I was there. She couldn't hear. She wasn't confused.

[Laura]

I think that people are too harsh on her and other singers like her. If you're so much better, then you go dance, sing, and have your life in the public eye. I think that people scrutinize these "celebrities" too much, it's a wonder why they end up flying off the handle!

[Aundrea]

After everything this girl has been through I think she is doing phenomenal!! No one will every be happy with her actions, that is obvious. People critisized her for Rolling Stone, for dating Justin, for marrying "K-Fed", etc, etc, etc. Now she's back on top and you're still critisizing, Just give it up! She is FABULOUS!!!!!!

[Sascha]

She has done way better in her past performances but I think everyone is forgeting that this is her first time back on stage and shes just getting the feel for the audience again. She seemed so nervous. It seems like shes SOO nervous everywhere she goes. I would be too especially after the year she has had. I thought she did well. She has ALWAYS lip-synced so let it go and get over it. It was WAAAAY better than her VMA performance. I wouldn't even compare it to that at all. The moves that she did do were lookin pretty good but she needs more energy. I think she needs Wade Robson doing her choreography again. He has some pretty sick moves. That could be one of the problems. Other than that, she looks great and I think she just needs a little more practice. Practice makes perfect. Her album is awesome..go out and buy it. and vote for her on Fuse!

http://www.fuse.tv/music/best-of-2008/#votePanel

[Giancarlovega]

Two thumbs up for Britney...After everything that she has been through I think that it is time for the media to StOP focusing on what you people out there think is negative...And instead look for the positive in everything...So what if she lip synced, it was still fun to watch...Brava Britney...There are no happier people on this planet than those who decide that they want something, define what they want, get hold of the feeling of it even before it's manifestation, and then joyously watch the unfolding, as piece by piece, by piece it begins to unfold. That's the feeling of your hands in the clay...Like Audrey Hepburn once said: For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone...xoxo

[Dozier]

Give her a break already and let her do what she wants. She has feelings ya know.

[Cameron]

To "George", all the other people who say they wouldn't pay to see her, it's stealing blah blah.
There are still people who will, Britney is some people's thing. Britney is my thing I love her. While I agree that these performances weren't up to par with her past performances... She's gone through a lot give her a break, there are such things as nerves, even with superstars. Which she is. As much as you say she has no talent, she still sells millions of albums and sells out shows.
She has "it".
And the lip-synching? Get over it! How long has she been in the business and how long have people complained about it? It's what she does. She performs, she doesn't always sing live but I will pay to see her mouth the words to her songs and shake her ass and look sexy.

[laboi4031]

I don't understand all of you people that no matter what the girl does you will find a way to tear her down. Britney was fantastic it was a great return performance. Yes, you could tell she was still holding back, but I'm sure she was nervous as hell, and that she will only get better with each performance. The whole "she can't sing" is getting old. I mean do you really think that people don't know she doesn't sing live after 10 years.....DUH! We still love Britney, and nothing you say will change that. So sit back and enjoy the Circus....I know I will. Her tour tickets have been on sale for less than 24 hours and she has already sold over 100,000....GO BRITNEY!!

[bobby]

i dont know why everbody has to criticize her i think she did an amazing job especially on circus. you can hear her singing in parts of the song and some parts she stops probablly the parts that the producers edited more on the track. i know alot of people who were reallly please with both of the performances. idk why you guys just leave her alone. like people have good and bad performances and some okay performances i dont see other doing this for rihanna miley cyrus , taylor swift. like seriously..

[John]

She was amazing!

[shay]

I am so happy that Britney is back. I disagree that the performance is lacking though. Her performances have always been great. I think after all that she has gone through, she is doing wonderful. And question- who doesn't lip sync in their performances? I think this article is a little too harsh of her. Lets look at it like this, at least she's back on the road she needs to be on. So yay for Britney- she did great.

[emma]

The OLD Britney was destroyed by everyone who wanted something from her.
By her fans who wanted more albums, more performances…just more Britney…By her managers who wanted her to make them more and more money…By Sam Lutfi who used her for money and even drugged her for that.And what did that result in?
As a result we got Britney 2008. A woman who has been through hell…who has been through things I hope you never have to go through.
And yet she is still trying to please us, give us what we want…but at the same time she knows that she needs to come first….she comes first and then us.
The media and many people are continuing to bash her and tear her down.
Here we have a woman who’s doing her best to rebuild her career, who’s pushing herself to the limit to please us again…But guess what?
It still isn’t good enough for some of you.
In fact, we’ve come to a point where nothing is ever good enough anymore.
She’s making music videos, doing photoshoots, releasing a new album…you name it…and it still isn’t good enough…so what is good enough?

[Lori]

Horrible performance -- Wouldn't even pay the minimum $38 per ticket to see her -- She's a hoax!!

[Ellie]

EXCUSE ME!? THAT WAS THE BEST PERFORMANCE I HAVE EVERRRRR SEEN IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anne-marie]

I don't understand why the tv channel allowed for this poor performance to take place live on tv. she can't sing, can't dance, why was she on tv???

[Sean]

Who on earth wrote this article??? They should be fired. Britney was GREAT. AWESOME!!! You are just jealous.