Did Britney Spears play C3PO?

...Because she sure as hell sounds like him!

Yes folks, Britney Spears has a new album! And I've just listened to it!

I've never been a fan, although I was really looking to hearing to hearing Blackout for pure novelty value if nothing else. After making it through most of the record I'm kind of disappointed. She actually makes it through all of the songs, whereas I was expecting to hear an hour of disorientated gurgling broken up by the occasional 'ohh...baby.'

Although she's never been the strongest of singers, this new album really is something else. Although pretty much every singer's voice goes through auto-tuners and the like, Blackout does sound like a chorus of droids in parts. There are times where it sounds as though you're listening to an answer-machine doing its best Optimus Prime impression. It's not all bad though, in a couple of verses there are obvious Marvin the Martian influences, and he was pretty much human, right? Be grateful for small mercies!

Perhaps the most annoying thing about it though, is that it isn't awful. It's not going to change the world, and from what I've caught lyrically it doesn't seem to go much further than her usual heavy breathing and sex-baiting with the subtlety of a shotgun to the face.

If you're into your electro-pop then I think you'll find something to like here. Likewise to those of you who wondered what it would be like if your toaster could sing: this might help to ease your curiosity!

Float your robovoice.

The only blackout I care about.

ARGH! NOOOOOOO! I had hoped i'd never have to witness that again. you tricked me!

The thing you said Vega about her sounding like C3P0 well in that picture of her with a shaven head she looks like him too. Well if she was gold and made of metal.

The only thing that surprised me more than the fact that Britney actually released her album admist all the bad press she's been getting (her publicist quit, right?) is that it actually sold 124k on its first day.

^Holy whoa, really? XD

Vega, that was amusing to read <3 XD.

I listened to some of it because a friend was playing it in her car while she drove me to uni one day. Not really my kinda thing, though I can imagine dancing to some of it in a club. I didn't think it awful, but I didn't think it omgawesomewhatisthisthisisspartacoooool, either.

On a semi-related note - I never liked C3PO very much in all honesty XD. Marvin the Marshin, however, I've always liked.

Auto-tuning can sound inhuman at times (though just how "automatic" it is is a point of contention, as from experience of my own there's a great deal more to it than just clicking "tune"; there's no such thing as "studio magic", contrary to popular belief), but when used correctly (such as with a good singer on individual notes that are slightly sharp or flat), it can sound perfectly natural. Someone still has to be a decent singer that isn't completely out of tune in order for it to work even half-decently.

It's probably not the auto-tuning that makes her voice sound strange. In pop music it's common to put tons of chorus, EQ, and other effects on the vocals to give them that level of presence that makes them sound machine-like. Combine that with the fact that likely every vocal part is doubled, even during verses, without even counting backing vocals and harmonies, and you have a recipe for a great-sounding pop album... and a poor-sounding album by any other standard.

Her previous stuff wasn't really that bad, there's a few songs of hers that I have on my iTunes, though I do seem to have the widest taste in music possible next to Galedeep. That "Toxic" music video was brilliant, for example.

And a lot of artists have gone through a mechanical voice thing, including Cher, who you either like, as they are in your signature, or hate because you compared them to Tingle. Haven't figured it out yet. <_<

But I agree, I don't like the new album that much. Haven't bought any of the songs from it yet.

Originally Posted by Galedeep

The only thing that surprised me more than the fact that Britney actually released her album admist all the bad press she's been getting (her publicist quit, right?) is that it actually sold 124k on its first day.

Bad media attention is still media attention.The Harry Potter series got attacked by half the Christian world, and all it seemed to do was make everyone know about the book and who give it more sales.

Originally Posted by Monty Burns

The only blackout I care about.

When you said Blackout and had a link to a song, I thought you meant Blackout by Muse. XD

Originally Posted by DD

That "Toxic" music video was brilliant, for example.

I love the string part of that track. Hell, everyone does (MASSIVE GENERALIZATION). My buddy played cello in the school band, and during a lull in playing at an assembly busted it out. The whole auditorium went nuts. "Toxic" was a great pop track.

Bad media attention is still media attention.The Harry Potter series got attacked by half the Christian world, and all it seemed to do was make everyone know about the book and who give it more sales.

True enough, but bad press can just mean attention, not sales. Look at KFed, he had tons of negative press, and his album sold like two copies. Of course, Britney has an established career and fan base, and I was expecting her to sell a lot...but that's a huge number for a first day release, all things considered. Of course, when you look at the sales predictions (330k in the first week), it doesn't seem as impressive. I guess we'll find out in a couple days how much she sold for real in the first week.

Originally Posted by sea

Auto-tuning can sound inhuman at times (though just how "automatic" it is is a point of contention, as from experience of my own there's a great deal more to it than just clicking "tune"; there's no such thing as "studio magic", contrary to popular belief), but when used correctly (such as with a good singer on individual notes that are slightly sharp or flat), it can sound perfectly natural. Someone still has to be a decent singer that isn't completely out of tune in order for it to work even half-decently.

True enough. More often than not autotune has to be used on most records these days. It's far easier (and cheaper) to go back and tweak a note or two than rerecord an entire track. Though the thing I can never stand about autotune is when they have two vocalists singing, and use it on one of the voices to make the harmony stronger. It ends up sounding flat and obviously altered. No good.

Originally Posted by VoiceOfNoOne

The thing you said Vega about her sounding like C3P0 well in that picture of her with a shaven head she looks like him too. Well if she was gold and made of metal.

You know you didn't! Did you? XD

Originally Posted by Galedeep

The only thing that surprised me more than the fact that Britney actually released her album admist all the bad press she's been getting (her publicist quit, right?) is that it actually sold 124k on its first day.

"what? why cant you just leave her alone, shes livin her life n havin fun and your just a jelluz hatur. she is my light and my luv"

Britney's fans are scary-scary. If you posted that over at the comments section of one her videos on YouTube I doubt you'd survive to tell the tale. o_o

And if Micheal Jackson can still sell records, then Britney shouldn't have much to worry about. :/

Originally Posted by Liah

I listened to some of it because a friend was playing it in her car while she drove me to uni one day. Not really my kinda thing, though I can imagine dancing to some of it in a club. I didn't think it awful, but I didn't think it omgawesomewhatisthisthisisspartacoooool, either.

Yeah I think it's going to be really popular in clubs - pretty much every song could be a single in my opinion.

Although that begs the question: What Britney songs are you dancing to when you go out just now?
And don't try to tell me none, because I'll know that you're lying XD.

And a lot of artists have gone through a mechanical voice thing, including Cher, who you either like, as they are in your signature, or hate because you compared them to Tingle. Haven't figured it out yet. <_<

*sigh*

You're talking about that Believe song aren't you?
Yes it's one of the most annoying songs ever written, and yes it's because of that awful effect they put on the word 'believe' half way through, but I think that we should cut her some slack. Cher probably wasn't properly defrosted when she recorded that song from whatever ice-chamber she resides in when she's not working, so I wont hold little help from robots against her. :]

And I don't hate Cher or Tingle. I love everybody. :]

Annnnd I hated the video for Toxic. Spilling a drink on a man's crotch? Unprofessional!

Float your Air Hostess code of honour.

Originally Posted by Vega Vega Vega

Yeah I think it's going to be really popular in clubs - pretty much every song could be a single in my opinion.

I'm not sure how much of the album we actually listened to that day, but I'mma agree with you that most of them sound like it's something that can be played in clubs, or released as singles, yeah. Not saying they'd all be successful singles XD, but they were all pop/dance-ish enough for it.

Although that begs the question: What Britney songs are you dancing to when you go out just now?
And don't try to tell me none, because I'll know that you're lying XD.

LOL! Okay, I won't lie XD. When I last went out, they actually played two Britney songs (both at different clubs - I like to go from place to place). The first was that one she released recently where she's pole dancing, or something, and the other was Slave 4 U. The music for Toxic was made into some awful remix with a Justin Timberlake song, if I remember correctly, so I don't know if that counts since I didn't hear Spears singing. And did I dance? You're goddamn right I did XD. When I go out, I don't really care for who's the artist/band/whatever singing - just lemme hit the floor and I'm in heaven, baby .

Annnnd I hated the video for Toxic. Spilling a drink on a man's crotch? Unprofessional!

Float your Air Hostess code of honour.

XD XD XD.

Originally Posted by Vega

And if Micheal Jackson can still sell records, then Britney shouldn't have much to worry about. :/

I'd much rather listen to Michael Jackson than Britney Spears.

Please at least tell me that her new album songs don't all relate to sex. I hated how her new albums all have a sex appeal. Same with Christina Agulara. I listen to music for other reasons than that....

Originally Posted by Monty Burns

The only blackout I care about.

You got that from me, no?

Originally Posted by Moop

You got that from me, no?

Correct. That was so epic, I had to use it.

No doubt about it.

I never thought she had an ounce of talent to begin with.

Britney was a thing EVERYONE made fun of back then. Me and my cousins would always make "toilet humor" refrences to her song "Oops, I did it again". Don' think her album's gonna change her view even though I haven't heard it.
Speaking of which, she was voted "Worst Model for Children", with Paris Hilton being second place. Close tie-ins for two of the world's biggest sl-

Originally Posted by Liah

LOL! Okay, I won't lie XD. When I last went out, they actually played two Britney songs (both at different clubs - I like to go from place to place). The first was that one she released recently where she's pole dancing, or something, and the other was Slave 4 U.

I kneeeew it. I saw it in me tea leaves!
Eurgh, there's always a Britney song played whenever I go out (yeah, I go those kind of places and nobody has the right to judge me! XDD) and it's always Stronger. That's the one where she's wrestling with a chair in the video.

And a video with pole-dancing? Oh come on Liah, that could be anything. Did you see a cake? If so, it was a wedding. Did you see children? Probably a Christening. Or it could just be a Tuesday. [/QUOTE]

Please at least tell me that her new album songs don't all relate to sex. I hated how her new albums all have a sex appeal. Same with Christina Agulara. I listen to music for other reasons than that....

Hmm, let's see...
Just a quick look at the track listing and I can see

Ohh Ohh Baby - I know it's not looking good, but it could be a heart-warming tale dedicated to the miracle of childbirth...

Perfect Lover - Let's not be too quick to judge. There's every chance that this is a commentary of the world's economies.

Let's Get Naked (I Got a Plan) - Well, it's...umm...obviously it's a critique of...politics...Jesus...Okay I've got nothing, but I don't know what String Theory is, so it could be about that.

And I know that there was a post in here earlier about how she's talentless, but I'm guessing that it's been deleted or something.

Float your poetry.

Originally Posted by Galedeep

True enough. More often than not autotune has to be used on most records these days. It's far easier (and cheaper) to go back and tweak a note or two than rerecord an entire track. Though the thing I can never stand about autotune is when they have two vocalists singing, and use it on one of the voices to make the harmony stronger. It ends up sounding flat and obviously altered. No good.

What do you mean, record an entire track again? 95% of the time bands these days record their songs in sections and piece them together in Pro Tools or whatever they're using. Vocals are sung verse-by-verse (or sometimes even line-by-line) and a bad note can just be recorded again and pasted over the original recording. Voice tuning is most often used for harmony vocals because most singers aren't good enough to do it on their own.