For most people over the age of 30, if you say “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie,” they will immediately know what you are referring to.
Of course, that is the incredibly iconic ballad “American Pie” from 1971 by singer/songwriter Don McLean. The song tells the story of McLean and life in America as the 60s rolled into the 70s and how the singer felt about the death of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson who all perished in a 1959 plane crash. Hence the line, “the day the music died.”
For Don McLean, the music may not be dead just yet, but it is on life support.
McLean is still a touring musician, and recently after returning from the Australian leg of his “American Pie” 50th-anniversary tour, he had some interesting takes on artificial intelligence, modern music, and the state of the industry.
AI is still in its infancy, but McLean notes what he thinks the future holds for music and AI: “Today, AI has merely presented itself — but the inflection point hasn’t been reached yet. And that’s the scary part.With any technology, you have an inflection point where it takes off.”
Technology has transformed the music industry in the last decade, perhaps for the worse. With the invention and acceptance of auto-tune, singers of marginal talent who wouldn’t be able to perform live could tour with massive success.
Other technology like backing tracks and sequencers help polish the stage performance and fill out the sound but also robs the in-person experience of its authenticity. McLean notes this as well.
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“I also want to say that before a form of artificial intelligence was in use — and it’s been in use for many years — the tape recorder and the photographic lens were both honest. If you took a picture, that was the way something looked.”
However, in current times, you have all this photoshopping and massaging and whatnot, so now the camera lies. And the tape recorder is the same way.”
Computers, backing tracks, and technology help keep the cost down for touring musicians and help with sound. However, McLean is correctly arguing that the industry is now relying too heavily on tech.
If this sounds like the grumpy old man shouting from his lawn, it’s not. Considering the cost of concert tickets these days, the fans deserve the most authentic performance possible, and they simply aren’t getting it.
McLean saved his most scathing rebuke for the topic of modern music: “I don’t think a computer could possibly make worse music than what I hear on the radio today.” He also said, “I actually think computer-made music is going to be a wonderful release from what I hear on the radio. People need some artificial intelligence because they have lost their regular intelligence to be able to write songs, you know, and make music.”
Don McLean knows a thing or two about the music industry. You don’t achieve the longevity he has without miles traveled on the road and countless hours in the studio.
If his predictions come true, we may all be going through our old records, tapes, and CDs just to find some decent music.
Featured Image Screengrab From Embedded YouTube video