Ashlee Simpson and the Christian Way by, Alan Suback 11/24/04

Ashlee Simpson got caught not singing live on Saturday Night Live on October 24, 2004. In the following week, she went on "The Tonight Show" and her father/manager, Joe Simpson, spoke at a music convention. Both settled on the defense that, in substance, "Hey, this is not a personal scandal, Ashlee did not commit a crime, she just did what many other musical acts do, substitute pre-recorded vocals for presumably live singing." This defense, and the apathetic reply, shows the low expectations in the pop music marketplace. The ONLY thing a true music fan cares about is the music, not the personal lives and scandals of our favorite artists. We are only equipped to judge the music, and to diminish the importance of being able to put over your music live, as opposed to studio recordings, is sort of like the Yankees saying they had the better regular season than the Boston Red Sox.

Now, in other segments of the music marketplace, like classical, jazz, and all less popular forms than hot girls singing pop rock or hip hop, the fans may be more critical. It will be interesting to see how Ashlee Simpson, whose music career was off to a big start, goes after this fiasco. Because if the public accepts this excuse without some grand show that Ms. Simpson the younger does have the musical chops to be a world-class musician, they shouldn't call it the music business anymore. Maybe the "hottest people who WANT careers in music" business.

Ashlee and Joe you are right. You did not commit a crime. But you committed an immoral act: you tried to deceive fans who put their faith in Ms. Simpson. Is that the Christian way?