If I fell of this earth tonight
I wouldn’t make a sound
I’d watch it spinning out of sight
Spinning ’round and ’round
How could I say a word?
How could I ever make it right,
When all the stars that shimmer all around me
Say everything I might?
If I fell off this earth tonight
I wouldn’t make a sound
But if you held me really tight
And pulled me to the ground
Then would I say a word
And could you pacify the night
With all the stars shimmering around us
Saying everything we might?
Oh, if I don’t say a word
Maybe time won’t find us
And forever could
And, oh, I think forever knows
That time is blinded
When you hold me close
If I fell of this earth tonight
I wouldn’t make a sound
I’d watch it spinning out of sight
Spinning ’round and ’round
How could I say a word?
How could I ever make it right,
When all the stars that shimmer all around me
Say everything I might?
The Journey with Udio AI
The evolution of music production has taken another giant leap forward with the advent of artificial intelligence tools like Udio AI. My recent endeavor to remake the song “If I Fell Off This Earth Tonight” using Udio has been an eye-opening experience, shedding light on the potential and pitfalls of integrating AI into the creative process. This exploration was not just about revisiting a piece close to my heart but also about understanding how AI can influence the art of music making.
My initial attempt with Udio was somewhat of a learning curve, with one false start before mastering how to add parts successfully. Despite this hiccup, Udio swiftly proved its worth by materializing the sound I envisioned with minimal trial and error. Compared to my previous attempts at recording—having produced three or four versions of this track—I’ve never really managed to capture its essence as effectively. Yet, whether this precision of execution offered by Udio is entirely positive is something I’m still pondering. Part of the magic of music creation for me lies in the unexpected twists and turns—the happy accidents that emerge from my untrained hands.
An intriguing glitch I encountered with Udio was its habit of informing me that it was replacing Adele and Tupac references with descriptive phrases, despite no such artists being mentioned in my inputs. This recurring oddity suggests some teething issues with the platform’s interpretation capabilities.
One aspect of Udio that posed a challenge was its limitation to 32-second parts, necessitating a reconfiguration of the song’s structure into smaller segments. This constraint forced creativity in distilling verses and the bridge into concise expressions, yet surprisingly, it didn’t detract from the overall outcome. In fact, it might have added an unexpected layer of polish to the final rendition.
Reflecting on the Song’s History and AI in Music
“If I Fell Off This Earth Tonight” holds a special place in my musical repertoire, not only for its lyrics, which I consider among my best, but also for its genesis as the first official Tapegerm track I produced, using loops provided by Bev Stanton (Arthur Loves Plastic) featuring vocals and harp by Lisa Moscietello. Recreating this track with Udio felt like honoring its origin while stepping into the new era of music production.
This venture into AI-assisted music making echoes the broader narrative of technology’s role in the arts. From the inception of software instruments and sampling to the debates surrounding Auto-Tune’s impact on vocal integrity, artists and audiences alike have navigated the complexities of innovation. Each technological advancement brings with it discussions about authenticity, creativity, and the essence of human expression in art.
Creativity Reimagined or Diminished?
The question remains: does employing AI in the creative process enhance or undermine the artistry of music production? In remaking “If I Fell Off This Earth Tonight” with Udio, I encountered a different kind of creative fulfillment. Unlike the organic, sometimes chaotic genesis of music through traditional means, working with AI introduced a level of precision and predictability that was both comforting and alienating.
In many ways, using AI tools like Udio can be seen as an extension of the musical experimentation that artists have engaged in for decades—another instrument in the vast orchestra of creative expression. Yet, it also prompts a reflection on what is lost and gained in the translation from human to machine.
As we step further into this new AI generation of music production, it’s crucial to remember that technology serves as a tool to augment our creative visions, not replace them. Whether AI will ultimately enrich or diminish the tapestry of music remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the dialogue between tradition and innovation in music will continue to evolve, challenging us to redefine the boundaries of what it means to create.
I’m still processing the implications of this encounter with AI in music making. What do you think? Is the future of music enhanced by these tools, or are we risking the very soul of what makes music resonate with us on a human level?
