Yeah, current Auto-Crooners are very faddish, and we likely won’t be hearing nearly as much of this in a few years, but I don’t get why people hate it so much. Hasn’t the radio been churning out obnoxious fads like this for…ever? Why does this one bother people so? I think people take it personally because it is seen as an affront to powerful organic vocals coming straight from the gut.

I get a little bit of that, but in the case of the new obvious Auto-Crooners, it is very obvious that the effect comes more from a computer than natural or developed vocal talent. I don’t think anybody feels tricked, so I think comparing amazing singers to Auto-Tune pop architects is apples and oranges. Nobody thinks Kanye West can actually sing, but that doesn’t make “808s & Heartbreak” any less authentically touching. You can get mad at the toys, but I don’t find it worth the effort. I’m just too lazy to be much of a purist for anything.

Another interesting point that the Time article touches on is that Auto-Tune has become a ubiquitous industry device. People get annoyed by the artists who are being completely transparent and playful in their use of it, but its been around for a decade in common use, long before its current popularity as a gimmick. Even artists whose image relies on vocal strength and authenticity, like veteran country belters as revered as Reba, are known to use Auto-Tune live and in the studio as a safety net. It seems silly to me to get dismissive when openly ridiculous pop stars are bold enough to make the manipulation obvious and whimsical. I will concede that it is often annoying, though.

Yeah, current Auto-Crooners are very faddish, and we likely won’t be hearing nearly as much of this in a few years, but I don’t get why people hate it so much. Hasn’t the radio been churning out obnoxious fads like this for…ever? Why does this one bother people so? I think people take it personally because it is seen as an affront to powerful organic vocals coming straight from the gut.

I get a little bit of that, but in the case of the new obvious Auto-Crooners, it is very obvious that the effect comes more from a computer than natural or developed vocal talent. I don’t think anybody feels tricked, so I think comparing amazing singers to Auto-Tune pop architects is apples and oranges. Nobody thinks Kanye West can actually sing, but that doesn’t make “808s & Heartbreak” any less authentically touching. You can get mad at the toys, but I don’t find it worth the effort. I’m just too lazy to be much of a purist for anything.

Another interesting point that the Time article touches on is that Auto-Tune has become a ubiquitous industry device. People get annoyed by the artists who are being completely transparent and playful in their use of it, but its been around for a decade in common use, long before its current popularity as a gimmick. Even artists whose image relies on vocal strength and authenticity, like veteran country belters as revered as Reba, are known to use Auto-Tune live and in the studio as a safety net. It seems silly to me to get dismissive when openly ridiculous pop stars are bold enough to make the manipulation obvious and whimsical. I will concede that it is often annoying, though.