Auto-Tune the News #13

September 14, 2010 9:51 AM

The Gregory Brothers auto-tune Charlie Rangel, Anthony Weiner, Ron Paul, Tinky Winky, and the President to Weezer's Memories (SLYT)
posted by nj_subgenius (34 comments total)

(via)
posted by nj_subgenius at 9:56 AM on September 14, 2010

That was pretty good, but I'm still disappointed that Sarah Gregory keeps getting distracted with her husband and brother-in-law's silly videos. She can really sing well, and I needs me some blue-eyed soul from her...
posted by jnrussell at 10:03 AM on September 14, 2010

For the next metaphorical fourteen minutes or so, the Gregory Brothers (with special guest star ____) could just autotune their grandma's podiatrist appointment and acheive viral status on YouTube.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:04 AM on September 14, 2010

Weezer had some great moments

This is true, and they probably weren't as great as I remember them, but Pinkerton was basically the soundtrack of my adolescence, El Scorcho my anthem.
posted by jnrussell at 10:13 AM on September 14, 2010

I wonder if the Gregory Brothers get paid by their special guest stars. I hope so.
posted by I_pity_the_fool at 10:14 AM on September 14, 2010

I've been a big fan of ATtN, but does anyone else feel this is starting to get played out?
posted by discountfortunecookie at 10:26 AM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

The other day I heard their "Double Rainbow" song on CBC Radio. It was a weird meeting of internet famous and rest of the world famous. My mother didn't understand (why I thought it was surprising that they were on the CBC, or why the song is awesome).
posted by jb at 10:26 AM on September 14, 2010

That was pretty good, but I'm still disappointed that Sarah Gregory keeps getting distracted with her husband and brother-in-law's silly videos. She can really sing well, and I needs me some blue-eyed soul from her...

Andrew Rose Gregory is also quite talented. I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick, given that they've obviously got the talent to make great music.
posted by schmod at 10:31 AM on September 14, 2010

I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick, given that they've obviously got the talent to make great music.

I think they probably just enjoy it.
posted by I_pity_the_fool at 10:32 AM on September 14, 2010

Wow. Auto-Tuned Charles Rangel sounds awesome.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 10:33 AM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

About three or four years ago, Andrew Rose Gregory played a solo guitar/vocals set to open up for an old band of mine at the now-defunct Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville. Who knew?
posted by emelenjr at 10:34 AM on September 14, 2010

I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick

Yes. Weezer, Ween, They Might Be Giants and any other band with a sense of humor should stop having fun and start making serious music. You hear that, Weezer? If you cut out the humor and really applied yourselves, you could become the next Godspeed You Black Emperor.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 10:43 AM on September 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" is weirdly reminiscent of a Weezer that had dropped the faux nerdcore pose they adopted, favoring "Buddy Holly" over "Say It Ain't So" and "Hash Pipe." It's a shame that they decided to become the xkcd of the alt-rock superclade, as awkward in definition as the band is in delivery. One can only imagine that, in between naming albums after themselves, they'll follow up Maladroit with a title like Horn-Rimmed Glasses. I'm still digging through Grizzly Bear's other stuff trying to find that particular sound, but I know not to look to Weezer for it anymore.
posted by adipocere at 10:47 AM on September 14, 2010

I don't want to give 'em the keys back!
That is all.
posted by nj_subgenius at 10:56 AM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yes. Weezer, Ween, They Might Be Giants and any other band with a sense of humor should stop having fun and start making serious music. You hear that, Weezer? If you cut out the humor and really applied yourselves, you could become the next Godspeed You Black Emperor.

Arg. Before my original intent gets completely corrupted: They should make whatever music they damn well want to. Right now, it seems like they're selling out with a set of cheezy internet videos, and putting their albumwriting on the backburner, which is a shame, because they've got a talented singer and songwriter amongst their ranks.

Sorry if that first comment reeked of musical elitism. Not my intent -- I love The Gregory Brothers, Autotune The News, and all 3 bands you referenced. However, it pains me to see a band restrict itself due to the pressures of popularity. The Gregory Brothers have proven themselves capable of producing excellent music, and also for having a zany/funny persona -- but so far, they haven't really done both simultaneously.

_{And believe me. I hate it when musicians take themselves too seriously.}
posted by schmod at 10:58 AM on September 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Fair enough, schmod! For a minute there I thought you were advocating the musical equivalent of Synthosaurus taking off his dinosaur suit.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 11:30 AM on September 14, 2010

via lore's twitter, I give you The Backin' Up Song.

"Apparently I'm like Aquaman, except instead of needing water every 24 hours, I need this video: "
posted by The Whelk at 11:51 AM on September 14, 2010 [4 favorites]

God dammit I love Anthony Weiner.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:52 AM on September 14, 2010

Right now, it seems like they're selling out with a set of cheezy internet videos, and putting their albumwriting on the backburner, which is a shame, because they've got a talented singer and songwriter amongst their ranks.

They're averaging about 2 videos a month over the last year (and a most of those are two minutes or less). The last Auto-Tune the News was two months ago. The last 30 seconds of the video sure make it seem like they've abandoned all non-auto-tuned endeavors, and they've come out with a lot more videos recently, but I still don't think it's to the point where they're spending more time on this stuff than on less gimmicky music.
posted by Copronymus at 12:02 PM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

I think I need the Backin' Up Song as my ringtone.
posted by jnrussell at 12:20 PM on September 14, 2010

I was about to shut it down for the day and I decided "what the heck, let's click that Backin' Up link." Now I'm thinkin' I should faint.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 12:54 PM on September 14, 2010

A word on "Selling Out": if you're in a band and you don't have a day job, YOUR MISSION IN LIFE IS TO SELL OUT.

Selling out means selling every copy of every album you press. I always chuckle/wince when artistic neckbeards wag their fingers at professionals who are trying to put food on their family.
posted by mullingitover at 12:55 PM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

I realize this is auto-tuned, but something tells me that President Obama has an excellent singing voice. I really enjoyed his part. I want that to be a full song, like Bed Intruder.
posted by anniecat at 1:47 PM on September 14, 2010

Wait, is that the Backing Up link you're talking about. I'm going to go find it.
posted by anniecat at 1:49 PM on September 14, 2010

I realize this is auto-tuned, but something tells me that President Obama has an excellent singing voice.

Obama singing Happy Birthday.

Yeah. He doesn't.
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:31 PM on September 14, 2010

I think I read somewhere where they talked about whose voices "sang" better. Katie Couric is obviously up at the top and Ron Paul certainly can hit those high notes (along with Joe Biden). Obama, not so musical.
posted by Wuggie Norple at 4:22 PM on September 14, 2010

Auto-Tune the News #5 is by far the best of the 13, I think.
posted by pecknpah at 5:10 PM on September 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

jb: "The other day I heard their "Double Rainbow" song on CBC Radio"

You heard it at the end of the season 7 premier of Jonathan Goldstein's WireTap (which was seriously awesome).
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 6:41 PM on September 14, 2010

Auto-Tune the News #5 is by far the best of the 13, I think.

I spent much of this evening walking around with it's the, it's the inhalation, it's the smoooo-oooo-ooo-ooooke stuck in my head. Again.
posted by opsin at 6:47 PM on September 14, 2010

Let's assume that the ATTN guys have an ambition to do 'real music'. Their options aren't realistically to do ATTN or spend all their time making 'real music'. Their options are probably to get a Real Job and make 'real music' on the side or to do ATTN and make 'real music' on the side. All things considered, it's better to make music as your day job if you want to make music.

I think doing ATTN is enough, personally. I enjoy the hell out of it and hope they keep doing it.
posted by empath at 7:58 PM on September 14, 2010

What are you guys talking about? Obama has an AMAZING singing voice...
posted by Ian A.T. at 9:04 PM on September 14, 2010

I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick, given that they've obviously got the talent to make great music.

Yes, they should totally stop doing the thing that we are all talking about and go back to doing the thing none of us ever heard of.
posted by kakarott999 at 7:47 AM on September 15, 2010

I spent much of this evening walking around with it's the, it's the inhalation, it's the smoooo-oooo-ooo-ooooke stuck in my head. Again.

Haha you're welcome. "God bless America! (eh!)"
posted by pecknpah at 10:19 AM on September 15, 2010

Wow. Auto-Tuned Charles Rangel sounds awesome.

It's amazing that even autotune can't take the rasp out of his voice.
posted by HeroZero at 5:55 PM on September 15, 2010