Idolator
The Spice Girls' reunion tour announcement is set for tomorrow, and already there's speculation about the high-tech solutions to the problem that their voices might not be up to Spiceworld-era snuff:
So Ginger, Scary, Sporty, Baby and Posh are going into the studio to pre-record the songs for their tour - in order to mask the failings of their own live voices.
On stage, they will employ a new hi-tech system which will present those digitally-enhanced recordings as their own voices.
It works by taking the singer's live voice on stage and electronically comparing it to the perfect vocal sounds that have already been recorded in the studio.
When the girls sing out of tune on stage, the mistakes in their voices are instantaneously corrected - in less than a tenth of a second - by computer to perfect the pitch and tone. And it is this remastered "virtual voice" which belts out across the arena. The girls' vocals are altered so quickly that it will appear the resulting perfect voices are live and their own.
The system is not miming as such, because they are not just mouthing music to a backing track.
But the voices of Ginger (Geri Halliwell), Scary (Melanie Brown), Sporty (Melanie Chisholm), Baby (Emma Bunton) and Posh (Victoria Beckham) are actually changed to make them better.
"As they sing, the computer program corrects the mistakes so that the sound comes out as the desired sound - so they appear to be able to sing really well live," said an industry source. The system is being seen as a godsend for Posh - who is known for her particularly weak singing voice.
We applaud the Girls' (and their handlers') dedication to giving the people a show that's at least sort of on-key—if only the computers could also completely rewrite "Holler," while they're at it! But we have to wonder about the shock expressed by people who, later in the piece, expressconcern with the purity of the "live experience" at these shows. Apparently, the reporter at the Mail was only allowed to interview people who a) had never seen the Girls live and b) think that people in music videos are really singing, too.
Spice Girls need computer power to boost their weak voices [Daily Mail]
Comments
I'm picturing the auto-tune equivalent of "Girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's, girl you know it's..."
Should be lots of fun!
I guess that means they'll have to return their 1997 Best New Artist Grammy.
I love how they're trying to masquerade auto-tune as being some really new, super high-tech solution. The same 280,000 people who bought the Bon Jovi album will fall for this crap.
Fuck yes, I am not going to lie about how excited I am.
Where might one acquire the Ginger Spice UK flag dress?
@Vince Neilstein: Thank you, I was gonna say - is this even new? I heard a lot of people snarking about Billy Joel's "Star-Spangled Banner" at the Superbowl this year, which was reportedly auto-tuned up the ying-yang.
I bet more than half the major acts currently touring have several Antares units racked up with their high-end compressors and master clocks. They work especially well when you don't have to push them too hard, just enough to catch the pitchy/flat notes and bring them in line. And, come on, pitch correction was used on the orginal recordings. Unless this is really some new fancy software algorithm this definitely falls in the category of, well, duh.
yea, this is nothing new, still sad.
@heathermylove:
Heather, My love, you are not, repeat NOT alone:
[lastnightadjsavemylife.blogspot.com]
"It works by taking the singer's live voice on stage and electronically comparing it to the perfect vocal sounds that have already been recorded in the studio."
The "perfect vocal sounds?" Of the Spice Girls? That's assuming a fair amount, no?
This might work as a between-song stage banter randomizer. All former UN ambassador Ginger Spice will have to do is go "wuh" and a prerecorded track will spit out a random combo of "Woo!" "Yeah!" "Everybody!" and "Hello (correct name of city)!"
at least they're being honest about the shitty car they're selling you.
It seems like a bad idea to keep singing poorly/improperly, as it would damage their vocal chords further. Live Autotune would just make it easier to keep doing things wrong. Wouldn't a refresher course or two would at least prevent injury? I mean, we gotta keep these girls preserved for their next reunion tour in 2017.
I think singing is the least likely way Posh would damage her upper respiratory system, no?
I thought Posh's voice was being perfected via Tom Cruise's Scientology magic?
This is an awfully long way to go to just lip-synch.
Jeez-there goes their artistic integrity!
Ok, honestly, what arena-leval live act DOESN'T use this kind of technology these days?
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