Many have expressed their opposition that Yang Peiyi was only the voice behind a lip-synching stand-in because, according to a member of the Chinese politburo, she was not pretty enough to be seen at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
It was a paradoxical moment for Yang Peiyi to be given the honor of singing and then dishonored as not pretty enough to be seen. Lin Miaoke, the “prettier” stand-in shares the spotlight as rising stars in China. Had their not been so much publicity over the perceived deception, would the rest of the world remember Yang Peiyi after the opening ceremony? Perhaps this event turned out better for Yang Peiyi than it would have if she had been allowed to fully participate.
There are numerous events in our lives that don’t happen as we planned. Perhaps you missed out on summer camp because you got sick, or you weren’t accepted to the college of your choice but it turned out better in the end because you were in the right place at the right time.
Can you recall a time in your life when things didn’t go according to your plan? What was the result? Did it work out better than you anticipated? Was the end result soon after the change of plans, or did a considerable amount of time pass before you could look back and see a bigger picture? You may find it encouraging to write in a journal or to photo journal (scrapbook)the event, circumstances, and personal journey as you lived out a different path than you planned. Many consider this exercise as faithbooking – scrapbooking a faith journey. Future generations will gain insight from your experience.
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
Many people are voicing outrage over China using a young girl to lip-synch at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, while the real singer, Yang Peiyi a seven-year-old was heard but not seen. Is there a difference between pretending you are really the singer and when an actor pretends to be the character?
Years ago a friend of mine wanted to present her husband with a unique anniversary gift. With the help of her sister turned-amateur videographer, their midnight shooting location was the Texas State Capitol. Kaylee wearing a black leather jacket, fishnet hose and knee-high black boots lip-synched “If I Could Turn Back Time.” I suspect the paint peeled right off those state cannons as she rock and rolled Cher-style. Who needs an aircraft carrier when the Capitol grounds have plenty of military props? Kaylee didn’t have thousands of screaming sailors in her video but she did have a captivated audience of curious Asian tourists. Hopefully for her sake, by the time her kids discover the video the format will be so out-of-date it’s unviewable. On the other hand, her professional singing may impress them.
I have a confession to make. I lip-synched “Johnny Angel” when I was seven years old. Yeah, and I also sang “To Know Him is To Love Him” – that was my favorite. The real voice of Shelley Fabres and of the Chordettes and my record player were out of view. I am sure the audience sitting in the grass of the Conner’s front yard thought is was really me. I was a rising star dressed in one of my sister’s former prom dresses. It never occurred to me that it might be deceptive.
While writing this blog, I searched the Internet and found a juke box of 1950's and 1960's hits. I may have lip-synched as I wrote.
