Standing in Dollarama wondering when they will start selling cars, condominiums and coffee makers since they’ve moved in on everything else. Do You Think I’m Sexy comes on the overhead speakers. There is a saxophone solo. The chorus and reverb effect stands out like an announcement for simulated spaces. Weird, compressed, and false. But success breeds instant imitation. Must have anchored the legitimacy of effects like this even if it does sound inorganic.
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Like unapologetic use of auto tune. Bet most recording people had the same reaction. This wasn’t initially added to call attention to itself, probably singer thought it was cool then insisted it remain an audible effect. Song becomes a hit – poof – now a popular effect. Maybe politics same. Trump just imitating Jacob Zuma and Rodrigo Duterte since they were using the belligerent asshole psychopath plug-in with great success before him. Bet Aretha Franklin thought he could never be president.
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Wall Street Journal: What do you think of the use of auto tune by some younger singers?
Aretha: What is auto tune? I don’t even know what auto tune is.
Wall Street Journal: It’s a kind of way of electronically adjusting your voice-
Aretha: Oh please.
Wall Street Journal: So it doesn’t sound pitchy, it doesn’t sound wrong, it’s hitting the note right on.
Aretha: That’s ridiculous. That would be ridiculous right? After 50 years? Please.