Auto-Tune may be the most divisive effect in music. Artists have protested it publicly at the Grammys, and critics have derided the effects for its inauthentic reproduction of the voice. And yet, nearly a decade since Jay-Z prophesied the death of Auto-Tune, the sound is alive and thriving in contemporary pop and hip-hop. Journalist Simon Reynolds has written a definitive history of Auto-Tune for Pitchfork that fundamentally changed how we hear this sound. This deep dive criss crosses geology, technology, and the evolution of pop as we know it.

Songs Discussed:

Cher - Believe
Katy Perry - Firework
Rihanna - Diamonds
Future - F*ck Up Some Commas
Emma Robinson - Stay (Cover)
Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek
Zapp & Roger - Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)
T. Pain - Chopped N Screwed ft. Ludacris
Lil Wayne - “How To Love”
Kanye - “Heartless”
The Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow”
Jay-Z - Death Of Auto-Tune
Elvis - Mystery Train
The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows
Whispering Jack Smith - Baby Face
Kesha - Tik Tok Bon Iver - Woods
Future & Juice WRLD - Jet Lag ft. Young Scooter
Shek Wes - Mo Bamba
The Carters - Apeshit

Further Reading: Simon Reynolds - “How Auto-Tune Revolutionized the Sound of Popular Music" Simon Reynolds -Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture

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ICYMI: Do You Believe in Life After Autotune?