Akon Calls T-Pain
April 28, 2008 4:01 PM   Subscribe

 
Maybe some explanation of why you thought that would be a good post would help? Because it isn't obvious.
posted by grouse at 4:12 PM on April 28, 2008


So who are these people, exactly?
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:17 PM on April 28, 2008


I was sort of meh-ing, but then the escargot line made it all better.
posted by djgh at 4:18 PM on April 28, 2008


Awful.
posted by Venadium at 4:20 PM on April 28, 2008


Doesn't sound real to me.
posted by furtive at 4:21 PM on April 28, 2008


Perhaps not BoTW, but I found it funny.
posted by chudmonkey at 4:22 PM on April 28, 2008


Some context.
posted by smackfu at 4:28 PM on April 28, 2008


For those who refuse to listen to the radio.
posted by smackfu at 4:28 PM on April 28, 2008




tl;dw
posted by dersins at 4:31 PM on April 28, 2008


At least they're not using Pachelbel's Canon.

Oh, wait. I can't be sure about that. I didn't watch it to the end.
posted by chillmost at 4:33 PM on April 28, 2008


I, for one, thought it was hilarious. Then again, it wouldn't be funny at all if you had no clue who these folks were.
posted by shawnwasson at 4:39 PM on April 28, 2008


Well, I knew who Snoop Dogg was, but until now I had no idea that he was doing that kind of music. It's still pretty hard for me to find this funny.
posted by grouse at 4:42 PM on April 28, 2008


Meh.
posted by kbanas at 4:46 PM on April 28, 2008


I'M NEAR THE ENTRANCE
posted by boo_radley at 4:51 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Good stuff, for sure.
posted by nitsuj at 4:54 PM on April 28, 2008


Butternut reduction! I found this funny just because I've heard these songs far too often last year on campuses and clubs.

Sure, this link also has merit as a commentary on how musicians are having their voices altered to almost sound synth, but beans should overthink themselves.
posted by phyrewerx at 4:55 PM on April 28, 2008


Even knowing who they were the joke doesn't make it out of the first scene
posted by bitdamaged at 5:02 PM on April 28, 2008


Auto-tune abuse
posted by interrobang at 5:09 PM on April 28, 2008


Post provide context
posted by DU at 5:10 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Sure, this link also has merit as a commentary on how musicians are having their voices altered to almost sound synth, but beans should overthink themselves.

Vocoder, the 40-point scrolling marquee Terminal font of the ear. Used, however, to great effect by Wendy Carlos in the score to Clockwork Orange, not to mention in giving voices to Daleks and Silons.
posted by kid ichorous at 5:12 PM on April 28, 2008


having their voices altered to almost sound synth

It's a talkbox (à la Zapp) or a vocoder. In either case, it is synth, modified by voice. It's supposed to sound like that.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:13 PM on April 28, 2008


I saw this linked at like 10 places a few weeks ago and I didn't even make it through the first five seconds before the meh-click. I watched it this time, and it was good for a couple yuks.

Yuk yuk.
posted by cashman at 5:16 PM on April 28, 2008


Sys Rq writes "It's a talkbox (à la Zapp) or a vocoder. In either case, it is synth, modified by voice. It's supposed to sound like that."

Actually, what T-Pain, et al, have been using is a vocal auto-tuner (one example there), which is almost always software-based, like a plugin for a DAW - much more recent tech than a vocoder or talk-box. They deliberately overdo the effect so that it adds a synthesized sound, rather than making it sound like someone is naturally right on pitch.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:26 PM on April 28, 2008


reminds me of my ex
she was du bomb i miss her
so if u listenin desiree
dis for u right hurr
posted by cortex at 5:30 PM on April 28, 2008


Don't you know the popularity of music is inversely proportional to how popular it is, foo?

(I loved it.)
posted by Citizen Premier at 5:34 PM on April 28, 2008


Also, you should refer to Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam by his full name. Because it's fun.
posted by Citizen Premier at 5:38 PM on April 28, 2008


On re-listen, yep: Autotune.

Damn you, Snoop Dogg, and your keytar and surgical tubing of LIES.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:39 PM on April 28, 2008


Your favorite spoof of untalented, over-hyped rappers sucks.
posted by anansi at 6:20 PM on April 28, 2008


Thanks for the info about auto-tuning. After watching the video I decided to ask about that "weird effect" in the thread, and lo and behold you guys had already taken care of it. I found interrobang's linked article, in particular, to be just what I was wishing for.
posted by lostburner at 6:43 PM on April 28, 2008


Love it. Of course, you should never assume that mefites know jack shit about pop culture.
posted by fungible at 7:03 PM on April 28, 2008 [2 favorites]


Yes, as several people here have already pointed out, it's all the same auto-tune software that makes everyone who uses it sound exactly the same, hence the joke. The talkbox (keyboard with tube) in the video is a prop.

Here's a modern-day dude who knows how to use a talkbox.
posted by rxrfrx at 7:10 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Is this something I'd have to be YoungAmerican to understand?
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:16 PM on April 28, 2008


Listen up straight, y'all biscuitheads,
I'd like a piece a dry toast an' two scrambled eggs
Order hash browns, make 'em extra crisps,
A glass a orange juice an' a bowl a cheeeeese grits

posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:46 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Wow, what a bunch of dusty, crusty, "god help us if we don't give an appearance of being hip and avant-whatever" haters.

Yes, I meant to write it that way. Go back and read it again, it parses.

We found the video hilarious, context notwithstanding, and have been passing "butternut reduction" and "I'm near the entrance" back and forth and giggling for about 30 minutes now.

So suck it.
posted by ZakDaddy at 7:54 PM on April 28, 2008 [5 favorites]


Loved it.
posted by aqhong at 8:02 PM on April 28, 2008


I tried hard to be annoyed, but instead I quite enjoyed it.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam

I've always wondered if he's related to Assane Thiam, one of the greatest talking drum players.
posted by mike3k at 8:55 PM on April 28, 2008


I thought it was funny. I didn't think I'd know who it was about, but it turns out I've heard those songs at parties.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:52 PM on April 28, 2008


Every time I think of T-Pain, I think of Chris Leavins reciting the lyrics. It gets better every time I see it.
posted by SteelyDuran at 9:55 PM on April 28, 2008 [2 favorites]


Oh, man, "butternut reduction?" Hilar. Thx 4 teh link.
posted by wemayfreeze at 10:24 PM on April 28, 2008


We found the video hilarious, context notwithstanding

Did we? Is that the Queen's we, or are there more than one of you typing?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:40 PM on April 28, 2008


Oh that was hilarious!
posted by ramix at 12:42 AM on April 29, 2008


It got me at the Snoop Dogg cameo. Fucking hilarious.
posted by nonmerci at 2:51 AM on April 29, 2008


I really, really wanted to hate this when I saw it a few weeks ago, but it's just too funny. Butternut reduction, folks. Butternut reduction.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:21 AM on April 29, 2008


the animation studio i work at made this. because i don't know who akon and t-pain are, i never got it. but its pretty cool to see it here~
posted by localhuman at 4:32 AM on April 29, 2008 [1 favorite]


It had me at the cell phone beep.

See, in Snoop Dogg's song he specifically says that they don't go to the mall and out to eat ... and ... and ... it's contrasting the exciting life of music video excess with that of mundane reality ... and ... and ... DID YOU READ THEM AT ALL!?

Sorry.
posted by False Jesii Inc. at 5:02 AM on April 29, 2008


that didn't sound like Snoop at all ... but everything else was hilarious, like a butternut reduction. squeeze that lime!
posted by liza at 5:43 AM on April 29, 2008


High point: Akon sighing through his autotune. Twice.
posted by rxrfrx at 9:37 AM on April 29, 2008


I read this as "Akron".

I'm old.
posted by the dief at 10:21 AM on April 29, 2008


Ohio is the most auto-tuned state in the union, for realz.
posted by cortex at 10:34 AM on April 29, 2008


C_D: In case you ever come back to this thread, that would be me and the missus. :)
posted by ZakDaddy at 7:22 PM on April 29, 2008


Hmmm.

Revised: "In case you ever come back to this thread, 'we' would be me and the missus."

The missus and I?

Pleh, whatevs.
posted by ZakDaddy at 8:36 PM on April 29, 2008


I really appreciate this.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 8:49 PM on April 29, 2008


In case you ever come back to this thread, that would be me and the missus. :)

Hey, I did! And I much prefer "me and the misses" for the subtle alliterative qualities.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:50 PM on April 30, 2008


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