Fails
One of the most prevalent criticisms of Auto-tune is the claim that the software is used as a substitute for talent. While I would disagree that this argument is always true, the criticism becomes valid when those with money and privilege use their resources to create music that is simply for fame and monetary compensation. While we laugh at characters like Rebecca Black, whose parents paid for her to have this record made, there is a serious issue about accessibility and authenticity of music. While some artists like T-Pain spent years studying Auto-tune and being forward about his use of it, Black simply seemed to have had her voice matched to what she thought a generic pop star should sound like. Further, the notion of reality stars delving into every market from beauty to film to politics and music gives me a feeling that they lack pure musical intention. The use of Auto-tune here feels forced, selfish, and frankly cringe-worthy. Here are a couple instances I would consider autotune use to be a “fail”:
Rebecca Black- “Friday”
https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/mar/21/rebecca-black-friday
Paris Hilton- “Come Alive”
Kim Kardashian- “Jam Turn It Up”
Then there’s a special category of Nickelodeon and Disney channel stars being Auto-tuned in this seemingly semi-intentional manner that just sounds forced and awkward.
Funnies
Let’s just enjoy the fun of Auto-tune
Retuning Auto-Tune 