BEIJING, China (CNN) — A little girl and her song captivated millions of viewers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. But what they saw was not what they heard.
Games organizers confirm that Lin Miaoke, who performed “Ode to the Motherland” as China’s flag was paraded Friday into Beijing’s National Stadium, was not singing at all.
Lin was lip-syncing to the sound of another girl, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was heard but not seen, apparently because she was deemed not cute enough.
“The reason was for the national interest,” said Chen Qigang, the ceremony’s musical director, in a state radio interview. “The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression. … Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects.”
The decision was made at the highest levels, Chen said.
Not to worry Chinese citizens. You’re just following a time-honored Western tradition. We’ve been having our face-people lip syncing for generations now.
Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Milli Vanilli, the entire Partridge Family, and more recently the actress playing Edith Piaf in ‘La Vie en Rose”.
Welcome to our world, and don’t worry about apologizing!
What a cute kid – I hope she isn’t traumatized by this.
They are considering using her for the closing ceremonies. The Chinese have to receive world pressure before they do the right thing.
Noooooooo! Not Natalie Wood, Natalie Wood, Natalie Wood. Nooooooooooo!
Paul, you’re right – sadly the Chinese are trying to be just like “us”, which is a horrid, scary thing. They should just be themselves.
I am totally fascinated with all things Asian, always have been, always will be, and that goes for you, too, BON, you half-asian person!