Microsoft Songsmith - now anyone can create an atrocious song

The New York Times has an article today about a software package and set of YouTube videos that have taken on "Internet meme" status in recent weeks.

Microsoft Songsmith is a program developed by a couple of scientists that allows anyone to be a songwriter - you just sing the lyrics into the program and it creates a backing track for you.

The commercial for Songsmith, done by the scientists who invented the software, has become an instant classic on YouTube and demonstrates how it works. The program is available from Microsoft for $29.95.

So, here's a YouTube user that shows how an average person might use the software:

Livin' On a Prayer (Bon Jovi) sung by GEvoluton

As you can imagine, the results are often, shall we say, a little less than musical and, more often than not, rather inappropriate.

Some folks have been taking the vocal tracks from classic rock tunes and running them through Songsmith. The results:

I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyYfTips5yc

Sgt Pepper by the Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BZk6aZp9xE

Just What I Needed by the Cars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRcFcNSTZLw

Roxanne by the Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypycpKQxXR0

Long Train Running by the Doobie Brothers (which is intriquing, I'll admit)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOLjQhe7QqE

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbtlEPIlyfU

Hotel California by the Eagles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itsT9zgWRoM

And, finally, how Songsmith interprets Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kxqMpGAL3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFZvLprEIpw