WT's use of 'backing tracks'

Ok in Metal Hammer when they reviewed Within Temptation at Download Festival 08 they wrote this:

'Within Temptation [7] wins the glamour award at this year's Download, as their Celtic anthems fill the air. How ever the bands excessive and prolonged use of backing tracks seems a bit cheeky.'

This review has really annoyed me for a while so I will rant and see what others have to say.

I do not feel that they over use 'backing tracks' which would be the orchestra and choir on the tape and some backing vocals. On atm I have Stand My Ground for TSF Tour which yes does use some backing vocals of Sharons however I do not feel this is 'cheeky' or cheats us out of an amazing preformance. Of course they need the 'backing track' of the orchestra I mean how many bands must use an orchestra on tape. They cant bring the orchestra along can they unless it's the Rotterdam Ahoy Black Sympony gig. I have heard them without the backing tracks at Download 2007 when the tape didnt work so they didnt use the orchestra and they were still amazing.

Does anybody actually feel cheated by the backing track? I'd like to find out other peoples views as this review has really annoyed me for quite a while.

xxx

I'd rather have them do it without, but that's just because I know exactly how it sounds. But for people who don't know their music that well, it's vital they hear the orchestra and other backings.

One thing they could do, is let Ruud take over some of the backing vocals. But I think he doesn't want that, or else they would have...

It doesn't bother me either way. Like you, I saw them at Download 07 and they were still amazing. Either with or without, WT always put on a stellar performance. Plenty of groups use backing tracks. Sharon can't sing three parts at once lol

I don't have a problem with any of the orchestral backing tracks. It's an essential part to their music and of course, they can't have an orchestra on tour with them.
However, on a few songs they tend to have a little too much backing vocals. For example, this performance. There is another voice throughout almost the whole song!

Also, in Deceiver Of Fools Intro which Sharon never sings live... Or WHYD, Sharon could sing by herself.

That review is lame and obviously they aren't familiar with this type of music.

Oh, I'm fairly certain Sharon COULD sing three parts at the same time!!!

I think that on certain tracks they do need the backing track with the orchestra parts and choirs, particularly on the ones from TSF, but on some of them they don't really need them. At the concert I went to in Manchester, the backing track broke down at the start of Ice Queen, and the crowd ended up doing the backing instead, and it sounded wonderful!

Well on Ice Queen they can get away without it because the crowd can do it. But as long as the backing track doesn't overpower Sharon then I don't see why the reviewer is complaining.

I'm not bothered about whether or not they use the backing tracks because they sound amazing whether they use them or not

They do sound amazing without and with. I think maybe the orchestra and backing does add to the hmm 'epicness'. I dont know if thats the right word but all they are doing is trying to make it sound like it does on the CD.

I really hate that review and it annoys me alot as I personally think and so did many others I talked to who wouldnt be as biased as me that they were a highlight of the festival. I mean we all know Sharon is an amazing singer and the guys are amazing musicians so I think backing can only add to this anyway.

I like the backing tracks. I love WT's epic orchestral pwnage, and it would seem weird to hear the songs without it. It's not like it's all backing tracks, the instruments and vocals are all live, and this is just adding another dimension to it all.
As Stephen says, the Metropole Orchestra aren't inflateable...so we'll have to use the backing tracks LOL

The backing tracks never really bothered myself.They really need them,because you can`t bring a whole orchestra and choir on stagwe except speccial gigs like Black Symphony.But if Sharon sings live and the bandmembers play their instruments I don`t see a problem using backing tracks

Well as far as backing tracks go, it's only the choral parts and backing vocals that are on the track. Everything else is done by Martijn.

And Martijn did an amazing job of making up for the tape breaking down at Download. He played some choir parts and it did sound amazing.

I dont see the problem at all with the choir and orchestra being on tape. So many bands use it. I dont see the problem with Keith being on tape either as the crowd get to sing over him anyway.

Yeah, that irks me when people are like, "If the guy can't be bothered to show up, they shouldn't play the song" But it's not like that. Keith can't fly to every show WT does, and a lot of fans would be a bit upset if they didn't play WHYD. Keith being on tape is fine. The song doesn't have the same effect when just Sharon sings. I mean, it still sounds amazing, but just not the same.

And that goes for all of their songs. One of the main things I love about WT is that they're just so EPIC with the choral and orchestral music; without it, they might as well be going acoustic. :-\

I don't mind the backing tracks they use. We all know they are amazing musicians live, but the choir and orchestra parts just add more EPICness on the stage; even it's a necessity imo to feel the 'WT spirit', as of course they cannot bring orchestra and choir with them at gigs, unlike BS.

I dont think they necessarily need them but it does make it more big and epic. I didn't think it took away from the preformance at all when they didn't have the backing, and watching it back I still think it sounded amazing. But they love the choir and the orchestra so why shouldn't they use them.

NeonFishnets wrote:

Yeah, that irks me when people are like, "If the guy can't be bothered to show up, they shouldn't play the song" But it's not like that. Keith can't fly to every show WT does, and a lot of fans would be a bit upset if they didn't play WHYD. Keith being on tape is fine. The song doesn't have the same effect when just Sharon sings. I mean, it still sounds amazing, but just not the same.

That's stupid. Like saying me saying after seeing Megadeth, "Gawshh!! They played A Toute La Monde without Criiiiiiiistiiiiiiiiinaaa! EEEEEEEwwwwwwwwW".

As for all the back tracks. I'd rather them jsut go without, it's not like they really need them to sound good. All the members are experienced, professional musicians.

KellieBent wrote:

Ok in Metal Hammer when they reviewed Within Temptation at Download Festival 08 they wrote this:

'Within Temptation [7] wins the glamour award at this year's Download, as their Celtic anthems fill the air. How ever the bands excessive and prolonged use of backing tracks seems a bit cheeky.'

This review has really annoyed me for a while so I will rant and see what others have to say.

I do not feel that they over use 'backing tracks' which would be the orchestra and choir on the tape and some backing vocals. On atm I have Stand My Ground for TSF Tour which yes does use some backing vocals of Sharons however I do not feel this is 'cheeky' or cheats us out of an amazing preformance. Of course they need the 'backing track' of the orchestra I mean how many bands must use an orchestra on tape. They cant bring the orchestra along can they unless it's the Rotterdam Ahoy Black Sympony gig. I have heard them without the backing tracks at Download 2007 when the tape didnt work so they didnt use the orchestra and they were still amazing.

Does anybody actually feel cheated by the backing track? I'd like to find out other peoples views as this review has really annoyed me for quite a while.

xxx

Well then, FUCK Metal Hammer and their stupid review on Within Temptation! They don't know shit!
WTF!? Is Sharon supposed to sing three parts at the same time!? I mean she probably could because she's that awesome, but that would take out a lot of her, and that's not the point! Now, about the bg music and orchestra thing, unless Metal hammer wants to pay for the Orchestra's traveling expenses, then go right ahead, if not, then they should STFU and stop with the bitching! Within Temptation does everything's that's necessary and anything that's physically possible for them to do! BAM!