AI in the Arts (part one)

Art created by Gemini for this article...just for the irony!

(ed note: The following was originally published at Skinny Devil Universe)

AI in music....and AI in the arts in general.

Before we leap in, one thing worth remembering - and it's highly likely to anger everyone reading this right now - is that most of the public discourse on this topic (at least by musicians and industry folk) has been of a legal or philosophical nature, while usually taking a brief moment to mention how "fake" AI sounds as composer or performer (or poet or essayist or visual artist).

If that's your view, you need to swallow a bitter pill: The market disagrees with you, and (by any metrics you yourself would apply to a fellow human) you are wrong.

Sienna Rose, The Velvet Sundown, Nick Hustles, Xania Monet, FN Meka, Yona, Breaking Rust, Eddie Dalton, and more....including the 100% AI driven (no human intervention) creation Anna Indiana - all streaming millions to hungry listeners. Listeners who largely don't care about any of the issues we're about to get into - they care only about if they like the music.

Admittedly, this pisses me off a little, too.

At any rate, ponder that for a moment and then we'll leap in.

While I've thought extensively about this topic (and have for longer than I care to say, as I've been an avid fan of the works of Raymond Kurzweil for a long time, starting with his 1990 book "The Age of Intelligent Machines", and, as an irrelevant aside, still own my Kurzweil K-2000 keyboard), it's usually fragmented based on specifics. I've never really coalesced these thoughts into a single, specific policy position.

So let's explore "both sides" of this issue and see where we land.

Worthy of note: It should be obvious that the history given below (on both sides of the issue) is greatly abbreviated and oversimplified for brevity and ease of discussion. But the major pillars remain.

Let's get into it!

"Look Back" 1986: Billy Idol's "Whiplash Smile"

The year was 1986.....

.....and what an incredible year for music! The year that saw the very first induction ceremony into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, "We Are the World" took home the big Grammy honors, Amnesty International hosted the "Conspiracy of Hope" benefit concert (featuring Bryan Adams, Sting, U2, & more), Queen performed their final concert....chart topping songs like "Take My Breath Away" and "Addicted to Love", "Rock Me Amadeus" and "That's What Friends Are For", "Papa Don't Preach" and "Walk Like an Egyptian" as well as one hit wonders like the incredible "Night Moves" by Marilyn Martin....the year we lost legends like Metallica bassist Cliff Burton and Thin Lizzy bassist Phil Lynott, bluesman Sonny Terry and bandleader Benny Goodman, and future legends were born like Trombone Shorty and Lady Gaga and Drake and Jon Batiste. We saw the birth of bands like Hootie & the Blowfish and Cowboy Junkies and Green Day and N.W.A. and the Pixies, and the death of bands Boomtown Rats and Dead Kennedys and The Police and The Clash....the year Madonna's "True Blue", "Slippery When Wet" by Bon Jovi, Paul Simon's "Graceland", Janet Jackson's "Control" and the soundtrack to the hit movie "Top Gun" dominated the charts.....and so much more!

A host of amazing albums were released in 1986 and I hope to have time to write about many, including "Album" from Public Image Ltd, "Ultimate Sin" by Ozzy Osbourne, Prince's amazing "Parade", "the debut DLR album "Eat 'Em and Smile", "So" by Peter Gabriel, Queen's "A Kind of Magic", the live album "Bring on the Night" by Sting, Queensryche's "Rage for Order", "While the City Sleeps" from George Benson.....

Today, however, we'll look at the amazing follow-up to Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" album, the incredible "Whiplash Smile".

"Look Back" 1986: David Lee Roth "Eat 'Em and Smile"

The year was 1986.....

.....and what an incredible year for music! The year that saw the very first induction ceremony into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, "We Are the World" took home the big Grammy honors, Amnesty International hosted the "Conspiracy of Hope" benefit concert (featuring Bryan Adams, Sting, U2, & more), Queen performed their final concert....chart topping songs like "Take My Breath Away" and "Addicted to Love", "Rock Me Amadeus" and "That's What Friends Are For", "Papa Don't Preach" and "Walk Like an Egyptian" as well as one hit wonders like the incredible "Night Moves" by Marilyn Martin....the year we lost legends like Metallica bassist Cliff Burton and Thin Lizzy bassist Phil Lynott, bluesman Sonny Terry and bandleader Benny Goodman, and future legends were born like Trombone Shorty and Lady Gaga and Drake and Jon Batiste. We saw the birth of bands like Hootie & the Blowfish and Cowboy Junkies and Green Day and N.W.A. and the Pixies, and the death of bands Boomstown Rats and Dead Kennedys and The Police and The Clash....the year Madonna's "True Blue", "Slippery When Wet" by Bon Jovi, Paul Simon's "Graceland", Janet Jackson's "Control" and the soundtrack to the hit movie "Top Gun" dominated the charts.....and so much more!

A host of amazing albums were released in 1986 and I hope to have time to write about many, including "Album" from Public Image Ltd, "Ultimate Sin" by Ozzy Osbourne, Prince's amazing "Parade", Billy Idol's "Whiplash Smile", "So" by Peter Gabriel, Queen's "A Kind of Magic", the live album "Bring on the Night" by Sting, Queensryche's "Rage for Order", "While the City Sleeps" from George Benson.....

Today, however, we'll look back at the classic debut album from David Lee Roth, "Eat 'Em and Smile"!

Look Back (1975): "Toys in the Attic" by Aerosmith

1975 was an incredible year for music (and we'll look back at some more of these soon)...the year that saw chart topping songs like "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "I'm Sorry/Calypso", "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Shining Star", "Feelings" and "Fire"....the year we lost legends like T-Bone Walker and Dave Alexander (of The Stooges), and future legends were born like Big Boi and Wes Borland and Lauryn Hill....the birth of bands like Iron Maiden and Sex Pistols and the mighty Motorhead, and the death of bands the Amboy Dukes (launching the career of Ted Nugent) and Alice Cooper Band (launching the solo career of Alice Cooper) ...the year of "Journey to Love" by Stanley Clarke, Heart's debut album. "Dreamboat Annie", "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen, "A Night at the Opera" by Queen, "Physical Graffiti" by Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" dominated the charts....the year of debut albums from Journey and Manhattan Transfer and others.....and so much more!

Today, however, we'll look back at the classic Aerosmith album, "Toys in the Attic"!

Don’t Practice… Play!

Don’t Practice… Play!

By Paulie Felice

When I was a kid, I hated practicing piano. Hated it. It was a chore, plain and simple. Practicing meant sitting in front of an instrument I didn’t love, fumbling through sheet music that didn’t mean much to me, and trying to live up to the expectations of my teacher and my parents. And those expectations became my expectations. When I couldn’t meet them - when I didn’t practice enough, or didn’t master a piece quickly, or couldn’t memorize another stack of flash cards - I felt like a failure. So instead of being a creative outlet, piano became an experience in failure.

Look Back (1985): "Power Windows" by Rush

1985 was an incredible year for music (and we'll look back at some more of these soon)...the year that saw chart topping songs like "We Are the World" and "Shout", "Take On Me" and "Better Be Good to Me", "Material Girl" and "Money for Nothing"....the year we lost legends like Roger Sessions and Big Joe Turner, and future legends were born like Lana Del Rey and Bruno Mars and J. Cole....the birth of bands like Guns-n-Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the death of bands Pink Floyd and Van Halen (both of whom continued with new singers)...the year of "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits, Whitney Houston's debut album, and "No Jacket Required" by Phil Collins dominated the charts....the year of debut albums from supergroup The Highwaymen, LL Cool J, Fine Young Cannibals, jazz guitar legend Stanley Jordan, pop band a-ha, Megadeth, George Strait, Simply Red, Leni Stern, Schooly D, Suzanne Vega, and others.....and so much more!

Today, however, we'll look back at the masterpiece from Rush: their 11th studio album, "Power Windows"!

Look Back (1985): "Dream of the Blue Turtles" by Sting

1985 was an incredible year for music (and we'll look back at some more of these soon)...the year that saw chart topping songs like "We Are the World" and "Shout", "Take On Me" and "Better Be Good to Me", "Material Girl" and "Money for Nothing"....the year we lost legends like Roger Sessions and Big Joe Turner, and future legends were born like Lana Del Rey and Bruno Mars and J. Cole....the birth of bands like Guns-n-Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the death of bands Pink Floyd and Van Halen (both of whom continued with new singers)...the year of "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits, Whitney Houston's debut album, and "No Jacket Required" by Phil Collins dominated the charts....the year of debut albums from supergroup The Highwaymen, LL Cool J, Fine Young Cannibals, jazz guitar legend Stanley Jordan, pop band a-ha, Megadeth, George Strait, Simply Red, Leni Stern, Schooly D,  Suzanne Vega, and others.....and so much more!

Today, however, we'll look back at the masterpiece from Sting: His debut solo album, "Dream of the Blue Turtles".

Look Back (1983): "Synchronicity" by The Police

1983 was an incredible year for music (and we'll look back at some more of these soon)....the year that saw chart topping songs like "Billie Jean" and "1999", "Karma Chameleon" and "Let's Dance", "Flashdance...What a Feeling" and "Every Breath You Take"....the year we lost legends like Karen Carpenter & Muddy Waters, and future legends were born like T-Pain & Amy Winehouse....the birth of band Bon Jovi & The Cult, and the death of bands Humble Pie & Roxie Music...the year of "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol and "Let's Dance" by David Bowie and "Thriller" dominated the charts....the year debut albums from Madonna, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Branford Marallis, Rock Goddess, Whodini, Tears for Fears, Weird Al Yankovich, Ministry, Afrika Bambaataa, Pantera, Suicidal Tendencies, Wham!, Metallica, The Waterboys, Queensryche, Cyndi Lauper, and others.....and so much more!

Today, however, we'll look back at the masterpiece from The Police, the album "Synchronicity".

Look Back (1983): "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol

1983 was an incredible year for music (and we'll look back at some more of these soon)....the year that saw chart topping songs like "Billie Jean" and "1999", "Karma Chameleon" and "Let's Dance", "Flashdance...What a Feeling" and "Every Breath You Take"....the year we lost legends like Karen Carpenter & Muddy Waters, and future legends were born like T-Pain & Amy Winehouse....the birth of band Bon Jovi & The Cult, and the death of bands Humble Pie & Roxie Music...the year of "Synchronicity" by the Police and "Let's Dance" by David Bowie and "Thriller" dominated the charts....the year debut albums from Madonna, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Branford Marallis, Rock Goddess, Whodini, Tears for Fears, Weird Al Yankovich, Ministry, Afrika Bambaataa, Pantera, Suicidal Tendencies, Wham!, Metallica, The Waterboys, Queensryche, Cyndi Lauper, and others.....and so much more!

Today, however, we'll look back at the masterpiece from Billy Idol, the album "Rebel Yell".

Sonic Sorcery: Exploring Alliteration

Tupac Shakur

"Peter piper picked a peck of picked peppers"

"Sally sells seashells by the sea shore."

"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

These are all very fun & silly examples of a literary device called "alliteration", the repetition of the opening sound of words. Designed to be both tongue twisters and humorous, they stick in the mind and are a fun game for kids and elementary school English teachers.

But it should be noted that alliteration is a very useful technique, with no requirement for either twisting tongues or humor. Used properly, its a great way to (as Kris Kristofferson once put it) have words "slide off the tongue and into the ear".