A “technical issue” during Ellie Goulding‘s performance at yesterday’s AFL Grand Final has led some viewers to suggest the British singer actually lip-synced her performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
As footage below shows, Goulding takes to the stage to perform ahead of the Grand Final (which, SPOILERS, was won by Hawthorn) and her song Love Me Like You Do is heard playing through the broadcast, complete with her pre-recorded vocals. As the track quietly plays, Goulding doesn’t sing, and can be seen walking around the stage with her microphone at her side.
What the footage below doesn’t show is that after Love Me Like You Do suddenly cuts out, the song starts up again at a louder volume and Goulding begins singing.
Goulding has since responded to allegations of lip-syncing on Twitter, saying, “Love it when people think I lip sync, what a rad compliment.”
Goulding, who says she has been unwell over the last week, posted further messages to reassure fans she was actually singing during her pre-game performance.
“Considering I had no voice yesterday and a sleepless night because of the meds I would say it’s been a good day,” Goulding tweeted.
“I give 100% in my performances even when people don’t give much back. My fans know that. That’s because I love what I do so much.
“Truth be told I’ve been unwell the past week and I could do with a long spell chill but I was determined to give everything for Oz today.”
As Huffington Post Australia reports, a since-deleted tweet of Goulding’s read, “Incidentally the sound guy who pressed playback twice and triggered both band tracks simultaneously is nowhere to be seen.”
Michael Gudinski, the producer of the 2015 AFL Grand Final Entertainment and head honcho of Frontier Touring, says Goulding did not lip-sync her pre-game performance, but admits not all the instrumentation was live.
“Ellie performed live vocals to a backing track. This is a very common practice for performances in situations such as the Grand Final,” Mr Gudinski says.
“Unfortunately a technical issue at the start of Ellie’s performance caused a brief hiccup, but Ellie went on to prove just how much of a superstar she is, belting out two of her massive hits. Claims that Ellie lip synced her performance are absolutely untrue.”
Catch the “technical issue” which kicked off Ellie Goulding’s AFL Grand Final performance below, alongside some Aussie acts the AFL should have booked for the Grand Final, but didn’t.
Watch: Did Ellie Goulding Lip-Sync At The 2015 AFL Grand Final?
https://youtu.be/7pMKdveZrMw
Gallery: 15 Aussie Acts The AFL Should Have Booked For The Grand Final, But Didn’t
Love it when people think I lip sync, what a rad compliment 🙂 Now where does one find a good veggie restaurant in Melbs?
— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015
Considering I had no voice yesterday and a sleepless night because of the meds I would say it's been a good day 🙂 thanks for the love x
— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015
I give 100% in my performances even when people don't give much back. My fans know that. That's because I love what I do so much. 🙂
— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015
Truth be told I've been unwell the past week and I could do with a long spell chill but I was determined to give everything for Oz today
— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015
@cory_gale Erm I didn't mime I think we've established that mate
— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) October 3, 2015
15 Aussie Acts The AFL Should Have Booked For The Grand Final, But Didn't
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Tonight Alive
Tonight Alive: They're one of Australia's finest pop punk exports and as anyone present during their Soundwave sets can attest, they put on one hell of a show. -
Tism
TISM: This IS Serious Mum. Who better to pump up a legion of footy-mad punters than seven masked lunatics singing and dancing to 'Whatareya? (You’re A Yob or You’re A Wanker)'. It’s basically the ultimate rival team sledge anthem. -
Acdc
AC/DC: This one’s a gimme. How could you go past the most legendary Aussie rock act of all time? Every one of their songs is basically its own sporting anthem. They’ve even got a new single actually called 'Play Ball'. Case dismissed. -
Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett: This earth-conquering Melbourne muso’s trademark ocker accent would, if nothing else, put the “Aussie” in “Aussie Rules”. -
King Parrot
King Parrot: OK, so this would never, in a million years, happen. The Melbourne grind-thrash devils would terrify footy families to within an inch of their sausage roll-eating lives. BUT JUST THINK OF HOW AWESOME IT WOULD BE. -
Shannon Noll
Shannon Noll: Nollsy is a total no-brainer. OK forget the NRL debacle, your mum still loves him just as much as Bryan Adams. Plus, he’s still a better singer than Meat Loaf and he probably owns more motorcycles. -
Heaven The Axe
Heaven The Axe: This Melbourne metal powerhouse – who you may or may not know as the architects of the hilarious 'Bogan Hunters' theme song- is packing one of the only Aussie female singers who can truly inflict some damage with her vocals. Heaven The Axe would inject some much-needed girl power into proceedings, but with the kind of rock n' roll ferocity that would make Ellie Goulding – and probably your favourite AFL team – crap their pants. -
5SOS
5SOS: Would help thousands of dads realise their teenage daughters actually have a keen interest in Aussie Rules. -
Adalita
Adalita: Not only does the Magic Dirt frontwoman boast one of the best voices in Aussie rock, she's also got solid AFL ties, having played the Reclink Community Cup twice now. That's two more times than Chris Isaak, btw. -
Grinspoon
Grinspoon: They're (thankfully) already reuniting for the Cold Chisel tour, what's one more show for the sake of the rest of the country? Who's up for a mass 'More Than You Are' sing-a-long? -
Taxiride
Taxiride: THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE WE MISS TAXIRIDE AND FRANKLY WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE TAXIRIDE PLAY AGAIN PLEASE. -
Pond
Pond: Apart from being total elite musos, Pond have already shown their passion for the game with a cover of the their local team Fremantle’s theme song. Plus what better way to fire up before the Granny than a trip down the psychedelic rabbit hole? -
Spiderbait
Spiderbait: They're noted footy fiends - like they even have a song called 'Footy' - as well as being, you know, Australian rock royalty. Plus, last year Kram played as part of an Aussie supergroup in Brazil for the World Cup festivities. Maybe let's follow South America's lead on this Australia. -
Stonefield
Stonefield: The #AFLGF is a family-friendly day and therefore needs more family bands. There's no-one better to fill that quota than The Findlay sisters aka Stonefield aka purveyors of sweet vintage rock ‘n’ roll guitar licks. -
The Smith Street Band
Smith Street Band: We owe one of the best moments of Splendour in The Grass to these god damn legends, who belted out their majestically titled anti-Abbott tune 'Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face' in front of this powerful banner. Now's the perfect time for the country to hear that message once more.