Speaking of Glee, I have been meaning to write about this topic since my blog's inception: autotuning. I have heard many a music enthusiast deride autotuning as a disgrace to music and a slap in the face to truly talented musicians. The argument is that by digitally altering singers' voices to hit every note perfectly, vocalists appear more talented than they actually are. Make no mistake; this argument has truth to it. Autotuning is used to catapult semi-talented yet highly marketable individuals to fame. My question is, why is this a problem? Let's face it, marketability will win out over talent every time (think Milli Vanilli, every season of American Idol, etc.). But with autotuning, my ears don't have to suffer for it. Reader, I'm going to be frank, at the risk of sounding conceited. I am musically gifted. I know when something's in tune and when it's not. And when it's not, I may become uncomfortable. Thanks to autotuning, when I watch my beloved Glee, my ears are not assaulted by ill-sounding chords or poor intonation. Every song is absolutely flawless. It's incredible. We use technology to enhance every aspect of our lives. Why not this one as well?
Plus, autotuning resulted in this gem:
So here's to autotuning: my impeccable pitch thanks you.
4 comments:
I also watch Glee, mostly for Sue Sylvester. It isn't the depravity that bothers me -- it is certainly no worse than anything else on television which is mostly garbage. Its the endless preachiness and the oddness of having people be preachy IN FAVOR OF IMMORALITY. Well, we can't expect kids not to drink, so let's have them sing songs about how much they love to drink! I also do not like watching Rachel's mouth when she sings or the way Quinn never seems to have any facial expressions. But I always watch it anyway.
I love Glee too. I actually think it's a good show for kids to watch, preferably with a parent so that discussion can happen on what is considered appropriate in one's family, and what is not.
I'm sorry you have an perfect pitch ear. I too can tell if something is out of tune, and most of the time the thing that's out of tune is me. So don't sit next to me in church when hymn singing, and always say no if someone asks us to sing a duet.
Oh yes, and the actress who plays Rachel Berry HONKS. that's almost as annoying as being flat.
Mhana- My other favorite, besides Sue, is Brittany. I recently read that her one-liners are usually improvised. And you're right about Rachel's mouth and Quinn's lack of facial expressions. I watched Glee last night and was appalled.
Rachel- I don't have perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch, which is the ability to name any note just by hearing it. I may have some lesser form of relative pitch, which is common among musicians. And don't worry about offending my ears in church. LDS churches contain magical properties that invalidate all vocal talent and training. Only the most devoted vocalists manage to retain their skills while singing hymns in church. It's a rather disturbing phenomenon that many Mormon singers are attempting to combat.
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