Title: Johnny Cash’s AI Cover of ‘Barbie Girl’ Reflects the Internet’s Latest Obsession with AI in Music
Introduction:
A viral video clip featuring the late country singer Johnny Cash performing a cover of Aqua’s ’90s hit, Barbie Girl, has caught the attention of internet users and sparked a conversation about the growing fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry. The creator of the video, Dustin Ballard, who runs the YouTube channel There I Ruined It, aims to incorporate AI technology into live performances and revolutionize the way artists interact with their audience.
AI Covers Ranging from Politicians to Cartoon Characters:
Ballard’s YouTube channel showcases a range of AI-assisted music covers, where unexpected combinations like Elvis singing Sir Mix-a-Lot’s Baby Got Back and Frank Sinatra covering Lil Jon’s Get Low can be found. This trend is not limited to one channel; it signifies the current AI music landscape on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Users can even find covers featuring politicians such as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, or cartoon characters like Spongebob’s Patrick and Squidward crooning well-known songs.
The Rise of Voice Cloning Programs:
While training an AI model from scratch may be complex for average users, the availability of voice cloning programs has made creating these covers more accessible. Programs like voicify.ai, kits.ai, and covers.ai allow users to replicate the voices of famous artists using pre-trained AI models. This technology enables users to upload acapella versions of their favorite songs and transform them into renditions that closely resemble the original artists.
Opportunities for Live AI Voice Conversion:
As the technology continues to advance, Ballard plans to build a live band version of There I Ruined It and potentially introduce live AI voice conversion during performances. This would mean a petite female singer could step up to the microphone and sound exactly like Johnny Cash. However, the legal implications of incorporating AI into live performances still need to be carefully examined before implementation.
Legal Ramifications and Copyright Concerns:
The emergence of AI covers has raised concerns regarding music copyright law. While most AI covers are created for fun, some individuals have utilized the technology to release original music on streaming platforms, impersonating popular artists such as Drake, The Weeknd, and Travis Scott without permission. Music and copyright lawyers are taking proactive measures to protect original artists, requesting streaming services to block AI companies from training generative AI models on songs from their catalogs.
Conclusion:
The viral clip of Johnny Cash singing Barbie Girl reflects the internet’s current infatuation with AI-generated music covers. Dustin Ballard’s YouTube channel, There I Ruined It, is just one example of the wide-ranging possibilities AI offers in the music industry. However, legal challenges surrounding copyright and intellectual property rights need to be addressed to protect artists and prevent potential legal complications. As AI technology continues to evolve, it holds the potential to reshape live performances and offer exciting creative opportunities for musicians and audiences alike.
