Microsoft hits a wrong note with Songsmith video

When Matt Asay wrote that earlier today that he really liked Microsoft's new advertising campaign, I don't think he was talking about this surreal Children of the Corn-esque video that was just released for Microsoft's new Songsmith software.

Songsmith generates musical accompaniment to match a singer's voice. "Just choose a musical style, sing into your PC's microphone, and Songsmith will create backing music for you. Then share your songs with your friends and family, post your songs online, or create your own music videos."

Word on the street is that this is real and not a parody.

Via Videogum

[andrewwcbrown]

I heard about this first on Giles, and he makes draws a good connection about concepts. Check it out
http://gilesbowkett.blogspot.com/2009/01/never-build-concept-car.html

[gkeramidas]

speaking of childeren of the corn, my brother actually was the film editor

[delf76]

The overall idea of the software is actually pretty cool... but that video, is, um, well, not so cool....

[Everlovin G]

THAT'S HILARIOUS!

No wonder Redmond is losing ground in the OS turf wars, networking wars and Web advertising wars -- they've lost their freaking minds (sung to the tune of "Taps").

[catch23]

Have you seen their bottom line lately? Have you seen the increase in server sales?
Losing the OS turf wars? what drugs are you on? They release Vista , perceived as an absolute failure, and lose only a few percentage points? That says more about the crap you can switch to then anything else.

Here is hoping the company I work for 'loses their freaking minds' in the same way!

[tm_anon]

@catch23

You may want reread the comment. Nobody said your secret software lover is losing yet. They're just losing ground in the OS wars. Notice that? LOSING GROUND.

@Everloving G

Agreed, that's the funniest thing ever.

[gtdtm]

:|

[CDubber]

I'm sure they'll claim it was lame by design. You know, corny to be ironic. The whole "I *meant* to do that" routine.

Bottom line: this is epic lameness from a company that specializes in epic lameness.

[jayteemo]

I'm pretty sure it is supposed to be corny... Have you seen some of their other web ads?

[mrorie]

This is the same company that put this together, let's remember:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPv8PPl7ANU

[aka_tripleB]

With just one low pay-ment en ent, of twenty-nine, ninety-five-. You can make your very own music studio and sing just like the Jackson Five.

[Acrobatman]

Well.. the irony here is that the laptop in this repugnant film is a 17" MacBook Pro.. with "Kiddie Stickers" to cover the Apple Logo. Ugh.... The one line that particularly made me retch was "Microsoft huh? So it's pretty easy to use" ... while they are using a thinly veiled Mac as their "prop."

Excuse me while I get some antacid.

[mcgwiz]

lol, i saw that too! ridiculous.

[Acrobatman]

Well.. the irony here is that the laptop in this repugnant film is a 17" MacBook Pro.. with "Kiddie Stickers" to cover the Apple Logo. Ugh.... The one line that particularly made me retch was "Microsoft huh? So it's pretty easy to use" ... while they are using a thinly veiled Mac as their "prop."

Excuse me while I get some antacid.

[jayteemo]

Microsoft doesn't make computers.... So why can't they use a 17"MBP, which can easily run Windows?

[CrashPad63]

Christ people dont you even look at this before you spout? This is not a Mac Book.

[oassaf]

Does anyone else notice that the notebook they are using in the promo looks quite a bit like a Macbook Pro?

[hornerea]

I thought the "infomercial" was quite funny. I don't agree with any of the bloggers who blew up about the people in the commercial being "too serious" for this to be a farce.

I also think the songsmithing of "Run With The Devil" over at metafilter is hilarious!

http://music.metafilter.com/2943/Runnin-With-The-Songsmith

[Brian]

On a Mac, it's called Garageband.

[top8]

Somebody needs to rub it it for Matt, so is too often right.

[Channel0]

its going to become a cult ad! mark my words! its GENIUS!

[tm_anon]

I watched that whole video and now I need to go vomit. Well, it's Microsoft so maybe they've found a way to transmit viruses from the online world into the real one. It's what they're good at.

[ZUrlocker]

Wether the software is a good idea or not is a separate issue, but this video made me want to barf.
--Zack
www.guitarvibe.com

[Regac]

This is even worse then the pointless Seinfeld commercials
What is MS thinking?
One horrid commercial after another...

[kojacked]

OMG! That was gag-o-licious! I'm sure it was meant for the "my little pony" crowd. You can't get anyone to try voice recognition software because it makes you look so lame talking to your computer. Can you imagine signing to it? Kids will love it though.

[CrashPad63]

Most of you losers have no idea what is good or bad.