Having dug up a couple of classics by M aka Robin Scott at the weekend, I was a little surprised that there was in fact a new single released a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of an album, The FAQs Of Life, on 11th July.
Topically titled AI? Robin writes that "(t)he point of the song is to open up the conversation and controversy surrounding around Artificial Intelligence.
In the creative world it could be a real asset. I know people are concerned about copyrights and so on but I think it’s basically because it’s in very early stages - I hope that all those questions can be answered to give artists security of mind.
I’m not advocating that it’s good or bad I just think it’s something that we ought to face up to because like it or not it’s here to stay."
Robin goes on to write that "(t)he video brilliantly uses the renaissance artwork we chose for the sleeve. I wanted the juxtaposition between that and the use of AI to be clear and thought provoking. Isn’t it incredible that we now view works of art with different eyes? I still marvel at the fact they were created by the human hand..!"
It's an interesting take, in as much as, of the 1,200 or so views (at the time of posting), I don't think there will be anyone experiencing the song or video and having a revelatory moment. I think it's fair to say that the conversation and controversy surrounding (or around) A.I. was well and truly open some years ago, so this song feels somewhat dated already.
And, having listened to the song a few times, I'd say that the meaning of the song as described in the promo blurb - A.I. is neither good nor bad, but it's here to stay so deal with it - is almost entirely lost in the lyrical narrative.
As for the video, yes, on one level it's impressive and I get Robin's point about the juxtaposition of human- and A.I.-created art. On the other hand, it (and the proliferation of A.I. music videos) feels somewhat bland and predictable.
After a couple of views, I switched to audio only. And then started to question whether the music and lyrics were also A.I. assisted. Still, it could be much worse, as Martin from New Amusements has discovered and written about brilliantly.
So, it was nice to find that Robin is still creating M music nearly half a century after Pop Muzik - and his voice sounds great - but on the strength of AI? I'll pass on The FAQs Of Life.
Welcome to this world
From whence have you come?
We’re working on it
But we’re still not done
Homo Sapiens are losing control
Destroying one another, mind, body and soul
We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI
Let me introduce you to
AI
God doesn’t have a clue
AI
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!
I was knocking on my neighbours door
My new friend defies Newton’s law
Drag yourself away from the breaking news
This guy’s got the remedy for blues
We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI
Let me introduce you to
AI
God doesn’t have a clue
AI
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!
We couldn’t see them, but they could see us
In the fourth dimension we’re a speck of dust
Tempted by the apple, I have sinned
I’ll be blown away by the solar wind
We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI
Let me introduce you to
AI
God doesn’t have a clue
AI
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!
Given all the stars in our galaxy
Why would you pick on humanity?
Basically we’re flawed, we have to admit
Earth could be heaven, but now we’re in the shit
We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI
Let me introduce you to
AI
God doesn’t have a clue
AI
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!
AI
Let me introduce you to
AI
God doesn’t have a clue
AI
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!
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