I don’t want to scare anyone, but computers are taking over the world. It frightens me to say this, but pretty soon all music will be written by computers. Yes, even something so sonically beautiful as the natural human interpretations of love, sorrow, joy, and mating preferences are now entering the realm of machines.
The fact is that if you listen to rap music (which I generally don’t), you’ll notice that the songs seem as if they are written for robots, complete with monotone voices, synthsizers, and beeps and boops all over the background. Yes, I know electronica was big in the 80s (I mean who hasn’t listened to this wonderful fountain of lyrical brilliance?). But the machines are just starting to take over. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at the Top 10 hip hop songs on iTunes as of 9/5/08.
1. T.I. – Whatever You Like (youtube, fast forward to about 1 minute in) – Lots of background beeps and boops, but there is some melody as opposed to just singning one note the entire time. Not so great, T.I., a robot wouldn’t buy this song on iTunes. 45% robot
2. Flo Rida – In the Ayer (youtube) – Okay now this song was written by R2D2. Beep beep boop boop. 90% robot
3. T-Pain – Can’t Believe It (youtube) – T-Pain’s using the synth, so major points there. But it’s like this song was written for humans for the most part. 30% robot
9. Three 6 Mafia – Lolli Lolli (youtube) – YES. Our toaster oven just turned on in excitement and is winking at the espresso machine. Listen to the first 40 seconds and tell me this song was not written to appease our future robot overlords. BEEP BEEP BEEP BOOP. 10010100101010111 (Binary for “we have a winner”) 95% robot
It took me this long to mention Three 6 Mafia on this site. My apologies.