Runnin' With The Songsmith

By request, this has been played through this. Unmodified or post processed in anyway, it sounds a little like a bad dub. But I thought I would post it as an example for other folks to see what is possible.

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by mrzarquon (98 comments total)

EVIL. This can't be real. This can't be real. This can't be real. This can't be real. EVIL, EVIL, EVIL.
posted by cgc373 at 11:49 PM on January 8

You are a genius, a pioneer, and an example to all humanity.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:52 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

True fact: Rhythm deafness, or anapoetis, is a disease recognized in most developed nations, except New Jersey.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:56 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

I thought we were friends.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:02 AM on January 9 [3 favorites]

This is awesome. AWESOME. I thought the ytmnd site was the best application of his voice, but this is.. awesome.
posted by hanoixan at 12:14 AM on January 9

Ow.
posted by nebulawindphone at 12:57 AM on January 9

Also, hello new ringtone!
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:42 AM on January 9 [2 favorites]

Are these tears of joy or pain?
posted by sparkletone at 2:40 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

I made it all the way through the commercial, but....THIS, this thing, this unholy thing had to be stopped at the 2/3 mark.

And hell yes new ringtone.
posted by tula at 2:44 AM on January 9

Thanks Mrzarquon, My wife just burst out of the bedroom half asleep and concerned for what the hell was going on. Was I laughing, was I crying?

well... truthfully, a little of both...
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:52 AM on January 9

Absolute, utter brilliance. This was a GREAT way to start my day. Thank you!
posted by dbiedny at 3:54 AM on January 9

Sidebar, please.
posted by Optamystic at 4:33 AM on January 9

Don't let the guys at Gitmo hear about this.
posted by ardgedee at 4:34 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

It's like they were MADE for each other!
ROFLMAO
posted by spock at 4:38 AM on January 9

I just flung my laptop across the room in a fit of pure joy!
posted by Divine_Wino at 4:58 AM on January 9

I thought it would be okay to listen to this because I haven't had any coffee yet and am therefore still asleep.

This is a warning: Lack of consciousness will not protect you from the....mind-bending beauty that is this composition.
posted by rtha at 5:50 AM on January 9

We have a winner for best post of 2009!
posted by about_time at 6:11 AM on January 9

It's like the opposite of karaoke. Real singer, but your own shitty synth music added! Thank you for making this possible, Microsoft. I'm sure mrzarquon will remember to thank you when he accepts his Grammy.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:21 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

This is the best thing that will ever be posted to metafilter.
posted by procrastination at 6:54 AM on January 9 [3 favorites]

Bestbestbestbtestesbbtestbetsbestbetsbteszomgrofl#1PLUS25ILOVEYOU
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:36 AM on January 9

Now do it with a Mr-T-In-A-Pocket.

And I mean really do it.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:38 AM on January 9

oh god this is horrifying

songsmith is the downfall of humanity
posted by tehloki at 7:59 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

Holy shit, I'm at work, crying because I'm laughing so hard. When the novelty whistle noise thing went off, I almost died.
posted by FatherDagon at 9:36 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

THANK. YOU. MEGA. FILTER.
posted by piratebowling at 9:38 AM on January 9

That is impossibly hilarious. I'm with FatherDragon, inconsolably amused and trying not to let my laughter disrupt my co-workers. Reverse Karaoke! Van Halen turned into Wesley Willis! This is AMAZING.
posted by Milkman Dan at 9:41 AM on January 9 [2 favorites]

Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln on a pogo stick I CAN'T STOP LISTENING
posted by scrump at 10:13 AM on January 9

This is simultaneously the best and the worst thing I have ever heard.

Thank you, mrzarquon.
posted by Penks at 10:42 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

NEED MOAR
posted by owtytrof at 11:06 AM on January 9

Is there no way to tell Songsmith to change the BPM? As little as I like the idea of Songsmith, I think to be fair you have to at least set the BPM to the same speed as the original song.
posted by bugmuncher at 11:26 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

I used the default bpm and didn't change a thing. It is possible, but I wanted the raw newbie confluence, not some thought out "matching BPM" cheat or something.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:36 AM on January 9 [1 favorite]

Freaking amazing.
posted by box at 11:46 AM on January 9

I find it impossible to listen to this without cracking up immediately.
posted by Galvatron at 11:48 AM on January 9

It's only January 9, and mrzarquon has won the internet for the year. Brilliant.
posted by andrewraff at 12:03 PM on January 9 [1 favorite]

Amazing, this rocks.
posted by micha at 12:42 PM on January 9

I don't get it.
posted by mediamelt at 12:42 PM on January 9

And in case anyone was wondering how I made this:

MacBook Pro playing the DLR Vocal track in Safari under OS X (was originally testing the digital voice synth of markovfilter output, sample here)

VMWare Fusion running Windows XP and Soundsmith on the same MacBook Pro, the internal mic picking up what was coming out of my speakers (so no software loopback).

Then exported the wma, copied it back to OS X, converted to mp3, and uploaded.

I set the Happy Slider to Full.
posted by mrzarquon at 1:16 PM on January 9 [12 favorites]

By request

Can I request Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz. Please?
posted by liquidindian at 2:35 PM on January 9

Is it wrong that I've listen to this four times now? I'm still cracking up.
posted by yeti at 2:36 PM on January 9

I need less of this, but I can't quit. Help me.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:42 PM on January 9

Posting in an epic song
posted by arcanecrowbar at 5:00 PM on January 9

Actually the way this displaces the "one" beat of the lyrics is fascinating, gives the song a kind of unexpected reggae feel.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 5:04 PM on January 9

Can I request Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz. Please?

The live recording I have of Janis doesn't keep steady tempo, so that's no good. I just tried one myself and it was too fucking awful to put out.
posted by cortex at 5:07 PM on January 9

I set the Happy Slider to Full.
Thank you for that!!
posted by Stewriffic at 6:54 PM on January 9

EXACTLY
posted by bkeaggy at 7:42 PM on January 9

Songsmith is Napoleon Dynamite and David Lee Roth is his posturing, football-throwing uncle.
posted by A dead Quaker at 8:30 PM on January 9 [6 favorites]

How did you get the vocal-only track of DLR? There's a few songs I'd just love to do this with ...

mrzarquon, I can't believe it's not butter.
posted by dossy at 5:29 AM on January 10

> How did you get the vocal-only track of DLR?

It's been making the rounds for about a year now.
posted by ardgedee at 6:10 AM on January 10

MetaFilter Music: setting the Happy Slider to Full since 2006
posted by grouse at 9:41 AM on January 10 [3 favorites]

That's fucking ridiculous/awesome.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 10:46 AM on January 10

I tried running this through morecowbell.dj but it choked. I'm guessing it couldn't figure out the rhythm.

However, it did just fine with the David Lee Roth vocal (except for a seriously slowed-down Walken) so could someone please put this through Songsmith and post the result?
posted by zippy at 11:36 PM on January 10

Improved Walken-plus-Roth audio.
posted by zippy at 11:41 PM on January 10

Oh God, this is hilarious.
posted by johnofjack at 12:14 PM on January 11

Excellent. Next: "Tom's Diner," please!
posted by davidfg at 12:29 PM on January 11

Made my evening. Awesome!
posted by meinvt at 6:25 PM on January 11

Honestly, I can't make a judgment until I hear Sammy Hagar run through Songsmith.
posted by kimdog at 6:55 PM on January 11 [5 favorites]

This is quite possibly the best thing to ever come out of a Microsoft product.
posted by medium format at 6:55 AM on January 12

I am still laughing!
posted by mattbucher at 10:03 AM on January 12

Sounds kind of Dylan-esque.
posted by pjdoland at 10:23 AM on January 12

Sweet christ this is amazing. Songsmith is going to make millions with hits like this.
posted by dantekgeek at 1:46 PM on January 12

This scared me so much, and yet I still listened to the entire thing. Thank you.
posted by Slightlynorth at 1:52 PM on January 12

I had to stop after about 33 seconds--I'm not allowed to have hysterics at work.
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:01 PM on January 12

*weeps*
posted by device55 at 5:01 PM on January 12

This is quite possibly the greatest piece of music ever recorded.
posted by burnmp3s at 6:43 PM on January 12

WOOOO OH, GOD OGOD I'M RUNNIN'!

*places Garage Band in Recycle Bin*
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:55 PM on January 12

Pure Genius! My wife and I can't stop laughing! Thank you!
posted by lonemantis at 7:47 PM on January 12

Songsmith is a Wesley Willis generator! Brilliant! Whoo!
posted by jwest at 8:10 PM on January 12 [2 favorites]

Christ, I think I can feel the rigor mortis setting in already.

*swims towards the light*
posted by loquacious at 8:18 PM on January 12

So I was playing this and my girlfriend wandered out from brushing her teeth to ask what new musical abomination I was listening to. And then there was the whistle, and toothpaste came out of her nose.

Thank you, Internet, thank you. This day will live forever.
posted by Harkins_ at 8:26 PM on January 12 [3 favorites]

I've been on a MeFi sabbatical. I wish I hadn't been. You guys. *sniff*
posted by pedantic at 9:16 PM on January 12

I'd like to hear what this does to Tom's Diner (pretty please).
posted by teg at 11:20 PM on January 12

Bizarro-Shaggs!
posted by zoinks at 3:12 AM on January 13

I think this is the usage that SongSmith will see while it still has novelty value: on-the-fly mashups of a cappella tracks for hilarious disharmony.
posted by flippant at 4:08 AM on January 13

Somewhere, on a DAT (remember DATs?) stuck away in a drawer, I've got John Lennon's solo vox track from Strawberry Fields Forever. It's quite pristine: vocals-only, with the exception of a big fat slide guitar whoosh that happens, IIRC, once every chorus during "...cause I'm going to..." Anyway, might be fun to run that through this godawful software.

Then again... I dunno if I'd want to.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:48 AM on January 13

My happy slider is on full.
posted by spilon at 7:00 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]

wow. this post made its way onto stereogum. that's just how bad songsmith really is.
posted by saulgoodman at 7:58 AM on January 13

Since you've already got it all set up, could you run another one with the tempo matching? I get that this is the raw deal, but I'd be interested to hear what it does if it can pick out the verses.
posted by team lowkey at 10:58 AM on January 13

...if it can pick out the verses.

Something no human has ever been able to do with this particular "song"!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:18 PM on January 13

Simply brilliant. So funny, it literally hurts.
posted by SneakyArab at 10:19 PM on January 13

One more Walken+Roth, this one with the slider set to 100% Walken / 0% cowbell.

Please, someone, for the love of all that is unmusical, run one of these through Songsmith.
posted by zippy at 11:57 PM on January 13

Some twisted genius took the solo audio and matched it up with the original video.
posted by zippy at 12:01 AM on January 14

Shit, this is so awesome. I can't stop listening to him.
posted by flippant at 7:46 AM on January 14

Zippy, I missed the part about the "solo audio," and was really hoping to see a video with VH miming cheesy MIDI auto-accomaniment...alas, 'twas not to be.

Still pretty brilliant, though, watching the band play silently, rocking out to no one.
posted by anthom at 7:20 PM on January 14

I wonder how the a capella JayZ Black Album would fare?
posted by RockCorpse at 9:18 AM on January 15

I'm going to be using the phrase "my happy slider is on full" from now on.

It says something about the song that currently it has 189 favorites, but is only on a measly 3 playlists.
posted by umbú at 10:49 AM on January 15

I just typed "David Lee Roth" into Google, and this thread is the 6th link.
posted by naju at 11:23 AM on January 15

OK, this is fantastic - now to totally ruin it for everyone by running the isolated vocals from Sgt Pepper through this - all the way to Happy!

Keep watching this space... (unless it sounds really gastly and I refuse to inflict it on the universe)
posted by bruzie at 4:46 PM on January 15

On first attempt, it was supremely ghastly, and not in "my happy slider is on full" kind of way, so I've switched off and deleted changes to my XP VPC so as to not fall into that trap again.
posted by bruzie at 11:07 PM on January 15

Happy Slider Set to Full T Shirt is now available at zazzle.com.

I stopped obsessing over the layout, and it is unlocked so you can customize it however you want.
posted by mrzarquon at 4:11 PM on January 16

MUST CREDIT NECKRO23
posted by neckro23 at 1:39 AM on January 18 [1 favorite]

Hot damn! I'm user 200 to favorite this piece of crap!
posted by 40 Watt at 3:20 PM on January 18

yes, thank you neckro23 for inspiring this trainwreck.
posted by mrzarquon at 3:49 PM on January 18

I keep coming back to this "music"; It is, without a doubt, everything I love about the Internet.
posted by flippant at 8:40 AM on January 19

Fantastical. And manages to make SongSmith seem even crappier than their promo video did.
posted by kingFresh at 2:27 PM on January 22

Made it in the New York Times, even though they cited gizmodo instead of mefi.
posted by umbú at 12:36 PM on January 27

You know what's missing? A drunk lounge singer, berating his horrible, horrible band.
posted by Pronoiac at 2:23 PM on January 28

Metafilter: I set the Happy Slider to Full.
posted by mecran01 at 10:44 PM on January 29 [2 favorites]

"I set the Happy slider to full" sounds like something out of a retrofuture scifi movie, novel, or game.
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:51 AM on January 30

that is craptastically awesome (I'm only halfway through the FPP comments on this).
posted by yiftach at 3:04 PM on January 30