You almost have to feel sorry for Microsoft. (Wow. There's a sentence I never thought anyone would write. Key word is 'almost' though...) Here they are, developing a fun piece of software that will allow anyone with a PC to sing a melody into their computer and have it turned into a complete song, with a full band accompanying. It's called Songsmith. But all anyone wants to do with it is remake classic rock songs into inane bits of early-90s videogame music. Writers and youtube users alike have spent much of the past week proving just how insipid Microsoft's software is. (Musicradar.com has assembled several of my faves here.)
I've been enjoying all this, in much the same way I enjoyed watching Plan 9 From Outer Space. When something is this bad, it's just so hard to look away. And if you haven't seen Microsoft's promotional video for the program, well, I'd warn you that brain cells will die, but let's face it, you've just decided you have to see it now anyway. OK, but don't say I didn't warn you...
But some people are taking this thing way too seriously, claiming that programs like Songsmith will cheapen the art of songwriting and make the next generation's musicians lazy and boring. Like when synthesizers were invented and people said it would make real instruments obsolete - a claim so over-the-top it seems laughable now. Remember those ads in the backs of magazines where you could send in your song lyrics or poetry and, for a fee, they'd write a song for you? Lots of people actually did that, because they were hobbyists and wannabes, and maybe it was fun to get a record back in the mail that you could say you had co-written. It had no impact on songs and songwriting as we know it. Songsmith is a lot like that. It won't keep anyone genuinely interested in songwriting from pursuing that, and at least you have to come up with a melody.
Unless of course you're really avant-garde and choose to set the stock reports to music...
Serious/boring question: What do you think about Microsoft's attempt to bring music-making to the general public?
Silly/exciting question: What would YOU use Songsmith for???
John Schaefer has hosted Soundcheck since the show’s inception in 2002. He has also hosted and produced WNYC’s radio series New Sounds since 1982 (“The No. 1 radio show for the Global Village” – Billboard) and the New Sounds Live concert series since 1986.
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