Ashlee’s
moment of truth

IT was an odd moment, even for live television. On "Saturday Night Live," pop squeaker Ashlee Simpson began her second song of the evening -- but it turned out to be a recording of the song she had sung earlier.

She began to hop around in panic and then fled the stage. Her band carried on gamely for a few seconds before the producers dropped in a commercial.

Although at the show's close, Simpson blamed the band for playing the wrong song, the chatter the next day was about Simpson's attempt to lip-synch during what was supposed to be a live music performance.

Simpson's father claimed that she rarely lip-synchs, explaining that her vocal cords had been damaged by acid reflux disease. She hid in her dressing room after the incident and was coaxed out by an "SNL" producer.

Simpson appeared on NBC's "Radio Music Awards" last night in what was assumed to be a live performance. She even joked about the incident, screaming "It's the wrong song! -- Only kidding!" when her band started playing.

Many top singers use backing tapes during supposedly live performances so they can concentrate on choreography.

But the real question remains:

Can you actually tell one Ashlee Simpson song from another?