Microsoft. Huh. So It's Pretty Easy to Use?
Microsoft has gotten marketing all wrong for one of their new products called Microsoft Songsmith. Microsoft Songmisth listens to you singing and automatically figures out the chords that go with your song. It's a cool idea, but not a very practical implementation. I think they should have targeted a younger audience only. Instead, this is what they came up with. The title of this post shows my favorite quote of the whole promo. Get ready to laugh. Or cry.
To make matters worse, according to internet sources, the laptop used in the commercial is a Mac (hence the many stickers covering the logo).
What is even funnier is the unexpected use that people have found for Songsmith. There are now a great number of videos on YouTube which have taken famous music videos, left only the vocals and cooked up the music with Songsmith. The results are funny, entertaining, and sometimes just plain weird. Here are a few of them. Enjoy!
Roxanne by The Police
Beat It by Michael Jackson
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
And, of course, a metal rock version of Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.
Comments
I totally agree that the commercial was terrible. The music reminds me of midi songs on websites. However, I'm not sure if it would have been successful with any audience. When you said that you thought they should focus on a younger audience, what age group exactly did you have in mind? I think the music would be cool for really young kids (in elementary school).
At least the software did prove to have entertainment value - just not the kind Microsoft had hoped for. =)
Posted by: Keila | February 4, 2009 2:36 PM
Shame on Microsoft... Big shame indeed. I haven't seen the other videos. But using a Mac, to think Microsoft couldn't sink any lower. Did the current economic problem prevent Microsoft from getting a cheap Laptop instead of a Mac... I wonder these days...
Posted by: RuneArcN8 | February 4, 2009 2:40 PM
That is a sad, sad commercial. And to top it off there's rumors that the laptop used is a Mac? I can't believe it. And I though my opinion of Microsoft couldn't get any worse. The title of this post is my favorite quote as well. I can't believe they had the nerve to say that! I mean, 'cause everyone knows how easy to use Microsoft products usually are... sure...
The YouTube videos are hilarious, though. I do agree with Keila on the audience; elementary school kids would have a lot of fun with software like this... if it really is all that easy to use.
Posted by: Lidia | February 4, 2009 5:38 PM
As a Microsoft Student Partner, I do not endorse this product :P
It is hilarious though!
Posted by: Kamran | February 12, 2009 10:59 AM
Ahem. I am sorry to inform you that (knowing the researcher that developed and sang on the video) this is totally tongue-in-cheek, and hilarious exactly for the reasons that Dan intended... but kudos to the Web for the many adaptations.
Posted by: Mor | February 24, 2009 10:52 PM