Backing track

steel drum

player performs with the accompaniment of pre-recorded backing tracks that are being played back by the laptop on the left of the photo.

A backing track is an

to their live shows.

Uses

Bands or solo musicians may use backing tracks to add extra instrumental or vocal tracks to a live performance, to enhance the sound (as in the employment of doubled

, rather than using the original recording of a song, because the rights to use the original performance of the backing parts of a song by a well-known band would be very costly to purchase.

In

or using guide tracks.

Also, certain situations may dictate that a backing track must be used; some television programs require that

.

Backing tracks can also be bought online through a backing track supplier and used for home practice or use in live shows.

Equipment

Prior to the advent of computers, backing tracks were generally employed through the use of

on the streets of Austin, Texas.

.

Issues

The use of backing tracks has drawn criticism from some music critics. Many fans dislike the use of tracks live, feeling that they detract from the integrity and honesty of a live performance. The amount of criticism tends to vary with the number of backing tracks used.^[

miming

. John later rescinded his claims of lip synching, although he continued to criticize her use of backing tracks.)

However, some musicians defend the use of tracks. For instance, Pet Shop Boys state that "There's no sneaky secrecy about it" and that their electronically based music would sound "sloppy" if played live, a view that has been echoed by other electronic groups.^[6] Roger Waters has admitted to using a pre-recorded vocal track to augment his live vocals on certain songs; his band member Norbert Stachel has agreed that it would be better for Waters to use the track than to lose his voice.^[7]

Famous examples

• Playback of pre-recorded
  backing vocals to augment the live performance sound and reduce the number of touring backup vocalists that have to be used – Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Danity Kane, The Pussycat Dolls, Kiss
  and others.
• Playback of additional or selected lead vocals –
  Madonna (she has ceased the practice), Roger Waters, Beyoncé, Rammstein, Taylor Swift, Weezer, Selena Gomez
• lead vocal tracks – The Cheeky Girls, Milli Vanilli, Britney Spears
• Playback of additional vocals along with some additional instrumentation – Black Veil Brides, Mötley Crüe,^[8] Skillet
• Playback of additional musical parts such as keyboards –
  White and Nerdy
  )
• Playback of large portions of the backing music – Buckethead,^[10] Ehron VonAllen, Pet Shop Boys,^[6] Kidsongs, Thomas Dolby,^[11] The Wiggles,^[12] Bad Veins, Twenty One Pilots,^[13] Coldplay, New Politics, Fall Out Boy
• Total playback of backing music – Girlicious, Morning Musume, The Pussycat Dolls, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Village People^[14]

See also

• Offstage musicians and singers in popular music (an approach used for similar reasons as backing tracks; to augment a band's sound)

References