UDIO and Multiple Interpretations

Same Lyrics, Multiple Styles, some totally unanticipated.

UDIO Interpretations of Some Lyrics

I had some old, kind of quirky, lyrics. I decided to see what would happen with UDIO and these lyrics. See UDIO.COM, a music AI application.

UDIO does not give much control over the arrangement, but I was able to get various interpretations of the lyrics with different runs. What is interesting is that of the various results, only one had a phrasing¹ which remotely resembled my original interpretation. The melodies usually differed considerably in terms of both pitch and duration of the notes.

There is no control, and little consistency in the melodies or harmonies produced by UDIO. At best your can specify some vague characteristics, and redo generation until you get a result you like. You can only give a lyric of limited length, and then add to it in subsequent passes. There is some overall stylistic consistency, but it is far from ideal - not perfect, but sort of there. It often does not generate and says there was a “moderation error.” Just why is not known to me.

At some point, the software will accomdate longer lyrics, and give more control over the output. There should be more consistency in the piece. Is this a good or a bad thing? The jury is out, but I think that day will come, and very soon.

It was interesting to see how differently the same lyrics could be used, done in ways which would never have occurred to me. So, it could possibly open one’s ears as to possibilities as a songwriter.

After hearing some of the treatments of my lyrics, I decided that they were not bad. Tastes will vary of course; they are quite idiosyncratic.

Country Arrangement

The piece is not my original melody or harmony, but similar in a way. The phrasing of the lyrics is different but not incredibly so. The program adds in instrumental breaks in random places, and there seems to be no control over that. There are occasional lapses in pronunciation, and sometimes, interjected words. The melody is not mine.

Soul Maybe

A given set of prompts will give different results each time. I am not sure what genre you would call this interpretation. I though it might be classed as soul influenced, but I am unclear on that.

Pop Maybe

This seems to be more of a pop music interpretation, maybe adult contempory from a few years back, but again, I am not sure what genre would be the most appropriate classification.

Eurhythmics Type of Arrangement

This arrangement gives the quirkiest treatment of the lyric, and I thought it was reminiscent of a piece by the Eurhythmics, Annie Lennox and David Stewart. What do I know?

My Original Conception

Arrangement using a backing track generator and my unaccomplished singing. It gives my melody, harmony, and phrasing of the lyrics. That is all I hoped to accomplish: just put a stake in the ground for the tune, without having to notate it all. I am not good at that.

1. The phrasing of song lyrics refers to how the lyrics are delivered by the singer in terms of timing, rhythm, emphasis, and expression. It encompasses several aspects:

1. Timing: This involves when the words are sung in relation to the beat and rhythm of the music. Singers can sing lyrics exactly on the beat, ahead of the beat (syncopation), or behind the beat (laying back).

2. Rhythm: Phrasing also deals with how the words fit into the overall rhythmic structure of the song. This includes the use of pauses, elongation of certain syllables, and the overall flow of the lyrics.

3. Emphasis: Singers choose which words or syllables to stress, adding dynamics and emotional weight to particular parts of the lyrics. This can change the meaning or feeling conveyed by the song.

4. Expression: This includes the emotional delivery of the lyrics, incorporating nuances like tone, volume, and vocal inflections to convey the song's mood and message.

5. Articulation: The clarity and style with which the lyrics are enunciated. This can range from crisp and clear to more fluid and blended, affecting the overall feel of the song.

6. Melodic Interpretation: How the singer interprets the melody in relation to the lyrics. This might involve bending notes, sliding between pitches, or adding vibrato to emphasize certain words or phrases.

Phrasing can significantly affect how a song is perceived and experienced, making it a crucial element of vocal performance.