I got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda

March 1, 2011 2:34 AM

Carlin Step is George Carlin, mashed, mixed, remixed, re-edited, autotuned and better than you'd expect, mostly from his classic "Modern Man" opening routine (which has been set to music before). via MissC.
posted by oneswellfoop (12 comments total)

I now think of AutoTune as LESS of an abomination. Bravo!
posted by micketymoc at 4:09 AM on March 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

Much, much better than I thought it'd be. It speaks to the musicality of the original (hell, the musicality of new expressions generally, which tend to have great syllabic patterns).
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 4:32 AM on March 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

I don't know why it never dawned on me before that George Carlin is our Vice President.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 4:44 AM on March 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

He's barely autotuned in this, really.
posted by empath at 5:49 AM on March 1, 2011

Shit, I hope Eminem's even half this good when he's an old man.
posted by not_on_display at 6:24 AM on March 1, 2011

This is the same guy who did the Slap Chop remix, but not the guy who did the Bale Out remix.
posted by Evilspork at 6:42 AM on March 1, 2011

Awesome, I loved it!
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 7:20 AM on March 1, 2011

Interesting. It's much better than I could have imagined. If Carlin had done a song like this himself, though, it would have been a Shatner style abomination, but as it is it's a very loving tribute. Also, as l33tpolicywonk points out, it ends up highlighting how close to music and poetry he operated.

It's strange getting old enough that there are dead celebrities that you genuinely miss.
posted by cmoj at 7:49 AM on March 1, 2011

With someone as brilliant a writer and performer, less is more, I would strip it down to primarily a nice snappy organic smart sounding drumbeat and let his words shine through without the corruption of auto-tune (which is such a tacky tacky and dishonest effect that's gimmcky and short-sighted), there's a lot of ranters who's natural intonation and speaking style is a plus to their raps, not something that needs to be ruined, by being "corrected."

And some minimal instrumentation, maybe a piano loop. Some minimal synth, again very organic, and I bet it could get Carlin in the top40, which would be a hoot.

This stuff: Meh.

Great idea, lamely executed.
posted by Skygazer at 11:26 AM on March 1, 2011

Unholy in a wholesome way. OK, who's next? Groucho, W.C., Chaplain? bring 'em on!
posted by Twang at 1:04 PM on March 1, 2011

I thought I'd hate this. I don't.

I miss George.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:38 PM on March 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

GIGO also stand for Gold In, Gold Out.
posted by chairface at 3:31 PM on March 2, 2011