They never told us in the Terminator and Matrix movies that, before the machines destroyed humanity, they performed classic songs in the voices of different artists. That seems to be the trajectory we’re on, anyway.
This week I will feature five songs reimagined by AI to feature new singers. I’d love to hear my readers’ thoughts on the artistic and ethical implications of this practice.
First up is Billy Joel’s beautiful piano ballad ‘Vienna’ as performed by Sir Paul McCartney. This is a timely selection given McCartney’s recent announcement that we will hear a “new” Beatles song later this year that utilizes AI to strip John Lennon’s vocals from a taped demo. In that case, however, we will be hearing Lennon’s actual vocals, not a computer simulation of them.
This recording, on the other hand, is of a fake Paul. I detect a lot of warbly weirdness in the performance — it’s not the cleanest example of the technology I’ve heard — but I think most music fans would be able to identify it as Paul McCartney if asked.
One limitation of all these AI covers (at least the ones I’ve heard) is that they use the original backing track. I’d like to hear what McCartney would do with ‘Vienna’ musically as well as vocally.
Slow down, you crazy child
You’re so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you’re so smart
Tell me why are you still so afraid, hmm?
Where’s the fire, what’s the hurry about?
You’d better cool it off before you burn it out
You’ve got so much to do
And only so many hours in a day, ayy
[Chorus 1]
But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You’re gonna
Kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?
[Verse 2]
Slow down, you’re doin’ fine
You can’t be everything you wanna be
Before your time
Although it’s so romantic
On the borderline tonight, tonight
Too bad but it’s the life you lead
You’re so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you’re wrong
You know you can’t always see when you’re right
You’re right
[Chorus 2]
You’ve got your passion
You’ve got your pride
But don’t you know
That only fools are satisfied?
Dream on
But don’t imagine they’ll all come true, ooh
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?
[Instrumental break]
[Chorus 3]
Slow down, you crazy child
And take the phone off the hook
And disappear for a while
It’s all right, you can afford
To lose a day or two, ooh
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?
[Chorus 1]
And you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you could just get old
You’re gonna
Kick off before you even get halfway through, ooh
Why don’t you realize
Vienna waits for you?
[Outro]
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you?
Meet Me In Montauk 
Wow, this is rather creepy, but also fascinating! I wonder how Paul and Billy feel about it?
There is so much written about AI and its potential impact to almost everything! It is rather scary isn’t it?
This sounds (to me) more like Billy Joel then Paul McCartney
Artistic and ethical implications of this requires a thesis, if not volumes. I expect it will take up volumes in court cases. Artistically, I’m all in favor of any kind of creativity that leads to good music… and what’s good is going to be in the ear of the listener. I’m all in favor of moving into the future and using technology to help create music. 150 years ago, we didn’t even have recorded music! Thank God for the technology that gave it to us. So long as the songwriter gets their royalties, I can’t see them complaining. If AI written, then the creator who pulled that off. But to have a voice used without permission is something else entirely. As a singer/artist the uniqueness of the voice is personal and to have it stolen and used by others is theft and damages the value of the art itself.