The Flaming Lips Make Siri Sing
Smart phones are not just utilized for basic communication needs. These small devices are musical epicenters with the ability to create sounds, capture voices, play instruments, and even mix beats, all with the push of a button or a swipe of the fingertip. As they get smaller and smaller, smart phones are able to carry a larger punch in what they are capable of in terms of musical production. Recognizing the advantage that technology can hold when integrated correctly, some musicians are redefining the art of making music.
With record breaking sales, Apple sells more iPhones daily than most other smart phone companies, including their record breaking 1 million pre-order sale day for the iPhone 4S. Around the world, people are downloading iPhone applications in hopes of exploring their own creative processes whenever they want right at their fingertips. Most of these creative applications do not come standard with the phone however, as this particular smart phone is intentionally not an artistic medium. One of the newer standard applications that the iPhone 4S has been delivered with is the last creation by Steve Jobs: Siri. Siri is a voice activated personal assistant/help application that aides in a multitude of ways, from basic note taking, to weather information, to even complimentary reassurance.
Despite the fact that Siri was not built as a creative application, some musicians cannot resist manipulating the technology of today. For the Flaming Lips, Siri was the perfect experiment to create a cyborg infused lyricist for their newest song ‘Now I Understand’. The monotone voice, the basic parroting back of information, the plain text user interface; none of it screams as a solo artistic renaissance. With a simple vocal collaboration between Siri and R&B soul vocalist Erykah Badu, this masterpiece sets fire to the line of post human experience mixed with the tangible nature of musicianship.
The Flaming Lips released this song just a few days ago but already its listening numbers are exploding on Soundcloud. The users on Soundcloud have the ability to post comments/notes on uploaded songs which can enhance the listening experience. Many of the notes on ‘Now I Understand’ make light of the futuristic and science fiction like sound that the Flaming Lips have created. The feminine but static sound of Siri creates a harsh contrast to the sultry honey soaked vocals of Ms. Badu. Together they work perfectly to create a spoken work piece that could be the future sound of music.
Steve Jobs definitely didn’t imagine that Siri would be famous for singing with the Flaming Lips but I think that Siri knew her time would come.
