Backing Singers and Celebrity Status

Backing singers are some of the most overlooked members of any group. Without the rich addition of vocal harmonies, many successful songs would sound empty. The extra texture can turn a song from something plain into something incredible to listen to. Yet backing singers don't often receive the credit they deserve compared to the lead singers they are supporting.

In 2005, Clare Torry, the woman who improvised the vocals for Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig In The Sky," successfully sued the band and their record label, EMI, for lost earnings. She was initially paid the typical studio fee of £30. The album that the song appears on - "Dark Side Of The Moon" - went on to become one of the biggest selling records of all time. Torry's name is barely recognisable compared to any member of Pink Floyd. Understandably, this is because the band have been incredibly successful with other projects and Torry only appeared in one song with them. However, the woman who sang the iconic, distinctive vocal performance in one of Pink Floyd's most famous songs undeniably deserves a lot more recognition. It could be argued that because the members of Pink Floyd had the initial idea to write the song and there were no lyrics involved, Torry didn't deserve any writing credit. On the other hand, the vocal performance is the main theme of the song and would stand out even with minimal instrumentation layered behind it. Also, Pink Floyd didn't write any of the melodies that Torry sang; it was entirely improvised. Although Torry eventually received the payment and rights she deserved, I am still surprised that the band didn't initially write "featuring Clare Torry" alongside the song title and merely considered her a session vocalist.

                                      Pink Floyd - The Great Gig In The Sky

A contrasting example to "The Great Gig In The Sky," but with an equally admirable backing vocal performance is "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones. I can understand here why the name of the backing singer, Merry Clayton, doesn't appear alongside the title of the track because in this instance the lyrics and the vocal melody were both written by Mick Jagger. On the other hand, some listeners may argue that in songs such as this one where the backing vocals are emphasised, the backing vocalist's name should be included in the song title. Merry Clayton sings a chorus by herself in this song and might even be considered a lead vocalist.    

                             Merry Clayton's vocal performance - Gimme Shelter                                        

The documentary "20 Feet From Stardom," directed by Morgan Neville, tells the stories of backing singers, including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton and Lisa Fischer. Love recalls her struggles whilst aiming for a solo career as a singer, including incidents with Phil Spector, her producer during the 60s. Spector exploited her vocal talent to use under the name of "The Crystals", who were already popular and bringing in money. As an aspiring singer, Darlene Love was robbed of the opportunity to become successful at an early age because Spector decided that he would prefer to be paid excessive amounts of money rather than give her a chance. As long as the pursuit of profit remains a priority amongst industry, the output and promotion of original, influential music will always be restricted. Higher standards of creative music could be introduced to members of the public who are currently comfortable hearing nothing but formulaic songs about break ups and sex.  

Despite all of the injustice regarding backing singers, the position does have its benefits. Without the stress and responsibility of stardom, backing singers might have more freedom than if they were continually in the public eye. I imagine there have been numerous scenarios in which professional backing singers have turned down celebrity status to carry on living comfortably away from the press. Although some may imagine a celebrity's life to be perfect, there is no denying that it can affect a person significantly; both mentally and privately. Constant media coverage of Britney Spears' breakdown during the 2000s only accelerated the situation by giving her unending criticism at a vulnerable time. It is thought that a lifetime of fame brought this upon her and she even admits that fame has changed her mental state in an interview for Vegas Player magazine.

Britney Spears Talks About "Mind-Altering" Aspects of Fame

Another celebrity who struggled with fame is Michael Jackson. Detailed but untrustworthy media coverage of his life undeniably inflicted pressure on him. Although it may not have been the only reason for his breakdown, celebrity status certainly made matters worse. Some people can handle it and others struggle, which is probably why some backing singers enjoy what they do so much. They can do what they love to do without having a documentation of everything they do. Being in the spotlight also cements the notion of superiority in the minds of egotistical musicians such as Kanye West, Justin Bieber and most contemporary mainstream hip hop artists.

There are inescapable responsibilities linked with being a celebrity musician. With such a strong influence on culture, any celebrity with decent moral standards has to be extremely careful how they act in front of the cameras, knowing that they are likely to be role models for young audiences. However, in an age where moral standards mean nothing next to profit, discretion isn't common. An obvious example is the ubiquity of sexual imagery in pop music videos and performances. With more and more female singers, such as Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj, giving in to the pressure of these expectations, pop fans find themselves buying tickets for soft porn shows that are justified musically by backing tracks accompanied by poorly mimed vocals. Because backing singers tend to remain in the background, they are less likely to be expected to perform this way.

Exciting visuals have recently become more emphasised in music since music videos gradually became more and more popular. When the primary focus of record labels is to appeal to teenagers and young adults, appearance is vital. This means that an appropriate image must be maintained by performing artists. It is therefore inevitable that people who are considered more attractive, both through fashion and looks, have a much higher chance of making it in the music industry. Not only is appearance vital, but physical performance is as well. I wouldn't see any problem with the theatrical element of music if it didn't dominate the music entirely. Judging by the popularity of Lady Gaga, it is possible that pop is headed this way. This list of criteria may prevent many backing singers who are genuinely passionate about music from achieving their full potential. Talented musicians should be given an opportunity to put out their music regardless of appearance and without fear of the media. However, when appearance and money are obsessions in today's culture, this is unlikely.

References
http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/archive/clare-torry-wins-settlement-pink-floyd.html

20 Feet From Stardom - Morgan Neville - 2013

http://uk.eonline.com/news/480558/britney-spears-talks-about-mind-altering-aspects-of-fame-in-vegas-player-magazine