I’ve blogged recently about the AI muzak from YouTube that I have to hear every time as our band’s scrambling for live performing.

It looks like there’s kind of a development. Expectedly unexpected – or vice versa: the AI ‘reimaginings’ of classic rock music – or any other.

I’ve bumped into a flick of Scorpions’ classics… that turned out being AI forgeries. Yes, pretty much the same arrangement, sounds close to the original, but a totally different voice – bland and emotionless.

In my school days I listened to Scorpions’ ballads a lot. I’m still loving some of those :) So it was enough for me to tell the difference instantly. Love or hate Klaus Meine’s voice, but in their golden days he always delivered emotionally. While the forgery sounded diluted and unnatural.

But, again, as a musician I’ve got somewhat a trained ear, and have learnt a thing or two over the 2.5 decades of my trade. I can tell the difference? What’s with the other non-music folks?

In fact I’m pretty sure that a general listener – the one who comes to the public cafeteria to do a jawsjob – doesn’t care. Like, at all. Something familiar is playing? Fine! Not genuine? Whatever…

And if I get it right, public venue owners wouldn’t have to pay fat royalties for the public broadcasting of this muzak: why? It’s not exactly the Scorpions record, it’s a cover version!

During my days in University we had a totally fascinating course on history of cinema. Our tutor, a notable film scholar and criticist, taught us not just what’s what but also where exactly should one look to comprehend the art and references in full, and to interpret – and enjoy – it the right way.

This approach, in fact, is relevant for any art, and music in particular too.

AI – or, rather, its unscrupulous purveyors – preys exactly on the unwillingness of the general consumers to look deeper and to listen closer.

It is enjoyable to see at least some push-back from the actual artists and art experts such as Ted Goia. An all-hands-ahoy negativity towards recent AI actress Tilly Norwood (S1m0ne case becoming a reality) also makes some room for a cautious optimism – looks like the people are not quite ready to stomach what is being shoved down their throats.

Problem is, the opposite side is just as impertinent, bold and arrogant as to force the general public into accepting AI slops of any kind as something equal to genuine human creativity.

Which it is not.