Mediocrity
I was talking up Suno in another post and then I saw a couple of posts that were not as high on using AI. I won't regurgitate the post and I'm not making any statement about AI here, but I do find it amazing that I can hear a set of lyrics in different ways even though I wrote them with a specific melody, chord progression, and tempo in mind.
As a test (and I apologize if this is isn't proper), here's the same lyrics in three different genres. I uploaded the audio to Suno from a studio session back in 2018 with three young guys. They weren't a band and they aren't famous, but they were amazing and I had a blast.
The three versions below are all AI generated, only one is basically the original. If you like any of them, which one is the best version? It's perfectly acceptable to say that none are good - just be brutally honest.
(C) 2018 - Lyrics - Danny Bloodworth
Music via AI in 3 different genres
https://suno.com/s/VrCPspxZsqDRnIr - Pop Rock
https://suno.com/s/CKIiFURKlfbXV69J - Pop with a little grunge
https://suno.com/s/XwVamhUPQUafl0eo - Heavy Metal
[Verse 1]
I live my life on purpose
Yeah, I've made my plans
While everyone around me
Is afraid to take that chance
[Chorus]
I don't want ... just to be an average man
I don't need ... you to tell me who I am
I don't have ... to live my life within your means
I won't ... I won't settle for mediocrity
[Verse 2]
I don't have time
For those who bring me down
So get out of my way
'Cause I won't go around
Chorus]
I don't want ... just to be an average man
I don't need ... you to tell me who I am
I don't have ... to live my life within your means
I won't ... I won't settle for mediocrity
[Bridge]
Teachers can't teach me
My parents can't reach me
Looks like it's time to let me go
[Verse 3]
I keep my eyes wide open
As I travel down this road
And I'm gonna follow every dream
Just to see where it goes
Chorus]
I don't want ... just to be an average man
I don't need ... you to tell me who I am
I don't have ... to live my life within your means
I won't ... I won't settle for mediocrity
[Outro]
And I'm gonna follow my dreams
I won't settle for mediocrity
Comments
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Well this was an eye-opener!
I saw the genres and determined I would favour them as listed 1, pop rock 2, pop grunge and lastly heavy metal base solely on my musical taste, heavy metal definitely last.
In the spirit of the test, I listened to all three, played in the above order. I liked the first, surprisingly loved the second and here's the rub, adored the third. The power and the dynamism blew me away. I am amazed, I would have put money on the metal not getting a look in!
I put it down to recently listening to Bill Hengen's progressive stuff, seems to have opened my fuddy duddy ears to alternative music.
Surprising and enjoyable exercise,
The original, with the caveat I'm not a musician, is pop grunge
Thanks for that,
Sid
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@dbloodworth - I like all of them equally, as they all sounded good to me.
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#1 very tight. Like the dynamics and build throughout. Like the alternating vocals in the chorus. This is my preference.
#2. I thought the melody was stronger in #1. Still good, but not as good.
#3 My second favorite. Driving energy works well with the lyric.
To paraphrase Tolkien, it is not possible to please all listeners, nor indeed to get them to agree on which points are strengths and which weaknesses.
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Thanks for listening to all three of you. I'm saving my comments and the "results' to see if anyone else chimes in. Truth is, I'm boring the crap out of family and close friends too, making them listen to the same song three different ways and then choose a favorite. Since I know which one I actually wrote back then, it's been a lot of fun for me.
Thanks for playing along.
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Get to hear three good songs, make someone happy, not a bad start to the day!
Good on ya, for posting.
Sid
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I haven't even listened yet, but I'm fascinated by the idea of uploading audio to cover your own vocal and/or music. Haven't yet had the time to figure out how to go about that, but it's something I need to find the time to do. There is soooooo much that there is to learn about how to use this technology to it's fullest that I'm overwhelmed. I don't intend to stay overwhelmed, but every time I learn a bunch of new things, they add more new things that you can do. It's a fun kind of overwhelming. Now, I'll go and listen.
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I've listened. Loved all but the heavy metal version, which isn't because it isn't good, but just that I'm not a heavy metal guy. I'm going to make a comment here that many people who don't understand A.I. might have missed. This WAS your song before you uploaded it to A.I. I didn't get to hear what it sounded like before Suno provided additional directions, but it is my opinion that it remains YOUR song. This might hurt some feelings, but if someone wants to claim that this is not 'your art' any longer, then I would have to say two things. Without hearing your original, and comparing it to these modified versions, no one can say how much is yours, and how much was your collaborators (i.e. Suno's). For me, if someone wants to claim that this isn't 'artistic' or 'artist driven' because there is A.I. involved, I would have one requirement for them before I seriously considered their claim. I would have to hear something from that person (who claims your art isn't art) that is artistically better. Then I would CONSIDER, his/her claim. I think that what you are doing is a wonderful combination of 'lone artist' and an artistic collaboration.
BTW. . . I have a suggestion to consider. Listen to a genre on Suno named "Illbient Afrikaner Folk." It can be combined with most soft genres and creates some really interesting effects.
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I think the pop version is best, mainly cause you won't hear lyrics like that in a grunge song or metal song, frankly it's too positive.
Understanding what style is what lyrically can help get a better result musically
And I agree with hard twist, Even if somebody does nothing but tell it, write me a song about a singing dog. That particular piece of generated music, would never existed unless you did it. Other versions of it could be created, but not that exact one
So in it's own way, it's still you creating something unique
Creating ai prompts is a career, you can actually study how to create engaging prompts
I get why people who've dedicated their whole lives to music would be insulted by it.
But technology has never cared about feelings
And as said you can now do your own complete songs using ai, all yours just using ai as a band.
That's where I'm headed with it0 -
@Hardtwistmusic - Thanks for listening, and for the feedback. I'll check out the genre you suggested - I like most everything. I was surprised that I actually like the metal version, but I guess I'm a little biased.
@Domd - I thought the grunge fit okay, but the metal - you're right those aren't really metal lyrics. Appreciate the listen and feedback. The only prompt I put in on each of the ones I posted was the genre, paired with the original audio.
Spoiler alert, the Pop Rock version is the original genre. Not like you haven't heard this song enough, but for anyone interested, here's the original from the studio. This is what I uploaded to Suno:
https://suno.com/s/0vid47vDTWCUxEC3
Thanks again to all who participated in my little experiment.
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To be clear, what I said is that the song you uploaded AND all derivative songs are your art. I did not intend to convey that someone who says "write me a song about a dog" and steps aside and allows Suno do so is in any way connected to the result or can call it "my art." What you are doing is YOUR art. All four versions. By the way, I'm not entirely sure that the Suno version is "better" than your original. In the context of being listenable and memorable, I was as impressed by what you uploaded as what you ended up with. I will say that if you ran eight or nine versions and picked the best one, you might be really impressed with one of them.
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@Hardtwistmusic - Thanks again for taking the time to listen and play along. I've always loved the original, but felt like my vocal was the weak part. Not to prolong the AI conversation, but the experience of creating the original far outweighs the experience of creating the AI versions. Both were fun, but there's nothing like having a bunch of folks together where there's something being created from scratch. I miss that, but I don't have those guys around anymore.
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Now regarding your voice on the original. The A.I. vocals used to be inartistic and hard for me to listen to. With the New version 4.5, they've gotten much, much better. So much so that I don't always discard them and put my own vocals back on them. I didn't find your original vocals to be in any way inferior to the Suno vocals. In fact, I thought they were you. . . that you had done what I do and discarded their version and did the vocals yourself. We all hate our own voices. If you want to understand your own voice, you have to ask someone who doesn't dislike you and doesn't like you too much. I thought your original vocal was as strong as the Suno. Just my opinion.
I've got about 300 songs that are (like this one of yours) full songs with music and vocals. Unlike yours, the original music isn't good. That's according to people I trust who know a lot more about music than I do. I can't hear what's wrong with them because I don't know enough about music theory etc. I'm slowly picking which ones would make a good A.I. song (not all of them do) and re-doing them. It's twice as rewarding because I've already done as much as I can. I love what you are doing. Don't let anyone discourage you. And accept your voice. It's good, and it's the only one you have.
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"And accept your voice... It's the only one you have."
Words of wisdom there! I'll think on that one for myself!
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Did you know that Tom Wait's singing voice is deliberately put on for effect.
He copied the natural deep voice of one of his relatives because he liked it so much.
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I did not know that!
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I agree, Owen - that's a well placed truth bomb by @Hardtwistmusic that I'll remember. Thank you!
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Howdy, Stranger!