Ban The Auto Tune!
Calling all musicians, rappers, DJs and music lovers; advances in digital recording have afforded us some amazing audio and flawless production. On the down side, it has created an homogenized, over-used scourge that is swallowing individuality and foisting robot vocals upon us in every facet of media. That scourge is the Antares Auto Tune.
The first time I heard this effect was Cher’s song, “Life after Love,” circa 1998. At the time I thought it was really cool and different. Cher can actually sing, and it enhanced an already good voice and gave an edgy dance hit something to remember it by. Fast forward to 2003, where T-Pain claims Auto Tune as his “brand” of studio genius and pats himself on the back for “inventing” the T-Pain effect. How do you invent something that was already invented?
Here we are presently and I have heard Auto Tune on commercials! It’s not as horrifying as Led Zeppelin's "Rock N Roll" being used to hawk Cadillac cars, but it’s pretty annoying.
My beef with this “Studio Magic” is people who couldn’t carry a tune in a basket are now pop stars because they look good naked! I personally have nothing against eye candy, but I like music to have a human quality, the joy, pain, or despair of the musician evident in their voice, imparting wisdom, forebodings, and triumph.
Whatever the emotion may be, that's what I listen for in music. When I hear Auto Tune, I can’t help but think about 2001 Space Odyssey and Hal the computer telling Dave (the pilot of the spaceship) he’s “sorry I can’t do that” as the infernal machine blasts him out the doors of the ship to a cold death.
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