If they really feel auto-tuned vocalists deserve Grammys, by all means, let’s have a category for that. And lets have a “Truth in Packaging” note at the bottom of the screen when they use it live, as many now do, or at least when they lip-synch to an auto-tuned vocal (so they are actually faking it twice). I might actually tune in to watch if they have a category of “honest to god actual singing” awards, especially if they actually have real musicians playing the instruments on the recording. Until then, every Grammy Awards show should open with Simon & Garfunkel’s “Fakin’ It”.
Won’t someone please create an award restricted to non-auto-tuned performances? And let me answer my own question: all of the major media companies benefit from the auto-tune scam. They all sell the same types of artists, the same types of product, the same shit.
There is one possibility: a website devoted to non-auto-tuned artists accompanied by real honest-to-god musicians playing real honest-to-god instruments. No synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines, and so on allowed. I would start it myself if I didn’t have more than enough other activities to keep me busy. They could have articles and links and they should create an annual award for honest artists in several categories not including rap or hip hop whatever flavor of the decade rears it’s ugly head.
I would suggest these categories:
- Folk
- Rock
- Pop (for the inevitable dreck)
- Classical
- Soul
- Gospel
And no fucking other categories. Not one, not ever. Each category would have two sub-categories, for performance and composition.
I suspect that a website like that could develop an impressive following, though it would probably never hit mainstream acceptance. Vinyl is doing pretty well lately, but it’s no threat to Spotify.
Incidentally, “Grammys” is correct; not ‘Grammies’.