UnGLEEful- Page 9

[bway1261]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 10:22am

"I thought it was mawkish."

I would have to agree that it was in someways, but I thought that most of the show was somewhat touching.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 10:23am

Many friends are saying that they thought last night's episode was "great". Really? I thought it was lame and, I don't know, kind of weird. Not as bad as the slushie episode from two weeks ago - but this one was... meh.

I do have to say that I did like the cute ending of the episode (prior to PROUD MARY). Showing that some of the characters really did have some heart & soul. And motivation!!! But alas, I still think it was a 'miss' this week. For me, at least.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 10:28am

Remember a few weeks ago when Mercedes bitched about all the sing is showtunes (which wasn't even true)? Then last Matt said all they really sing is pop. Do they have different writers for each episode and keep them quarantined from one another?

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 10:52am

^That's exactly what I said last night to a friend after not only the episode but the bizarre preview for next week's episode about Rachel's sudden crush. It's almost comical waiting to see what random plot line they will come up with and then be dropped by the next episode never to be dealt with again.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 10:59am

I still have a huge problem with the fact that they equate homosexuality with a disease or disability. This is only the second time Kurt has been a major focus of an episode, and he is slated right alongside wheelchair paralysis, a stutter, and Down Syndrome. I understand that they are going for the message of "being gay makes you unique", but I am sure they could find other ways to say it without comparing it to diseases and disabilities.

Also, I know the point of Artie being upset with "No-Stutter" was to show that he felt alone, but he came off as really shallow. The actual writing was like "I cannot like you BECAUSE you don't have a stutter. We have nothing in common. *hangs head in shame and rolls away*". I thought he came off looking like a total tool.

All in all, I thought the episode was a mess, but I thought Proud Mary was actually well done.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 12:06pm

Mawkish describes it perfectly.

Kurt's singing didn't even sound human. Ughhh autotune.

And, jeez, Quinn is driving me crazy. What the heck do you expect Finn to do? Television without Pity does put it nicely.

I actually thought Sue had a better point than Matthew Morrison's character. Which was weird.

Updated On: 11/12/09 at 12:06 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 12:11pm

Especially since he's not even the father. What dumb hos (Quinn and Finn, not you).

I thought the same thing about Kurt. I feel like he sang it in a lower register and they used autotune to make it higher.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 12:12pm

Quinn is a hot b*tch

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 12:14pm

And a dumb ho.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 1:07pm

So true, Phyllis, so true.

Posted: 11/12/09 at 7:27pm

"That's exactly what I said last night to a friend after not only the episode but the bizarre preview for next week's episode about Rachel's sudden crush. It's almost comical waiting to see what random plot line they will come up with and then be dropped by the next episode never to be dealt with again. "

You know... I think this is almost a conscious decision. I know that sounds like a crap defense, and I admit it may be that I found it to rationalize what used to drive me crazy as well. But... Ryan Murphy in my mind is basically defined by his love for dropping plots (watch any year of Nip Tuck) and in this case I almost feel like it's meant to be one of Glee's quirks--especially how random each development is. Now that I've stopped even watching it to really see any soap opera type developments from episode to episode it doesn't bother me. lol

That said, after enjoying the show more and more I found this episode pretty iffy (ironic it was written by Ryan Murphy himself--but actually I often think his episodes come off the most forced). While I'm not sure I saw them trying to equate being gay with being in a wheelchair, I found the "messages" of this episode kinda, weird, and two sided. So Kurt is proud to be gay but is essentially gonna tone down who he is because he loves his dad more than loves being a diva? Isn't that completely against the whole "be yourself" idea of the show? Don't get me started about wheelchair boy losing interest in stuttering girl cuz they no longer have anything in common
Updated On: 11/13/09 at 07:27 PM

[snowskittle]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 8:54am

What is autotune?

Posted: 11/13/09 at 9:03am

It's a device that's routinely used (at least in pop music) to help make flat notes, or sharp notes, on key. I believe it was first used for live concerts, etc, and then someone realized youc ould use it very much like the old 70s "vocoder" (Cher's "Believe" robot voice is an early use of autotune in this fashion) and now it's become overused on Kanye West style hip hop tracks (some rapper or singer actually has an album out called Death to Autotune) Anyway it can be used to move vocals up significantly as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Tune

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 9:28am

Any time someone's voice goes robotic (think Rosario Dawson singing "Out Tonight") it's been autotuned.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 10:08am

Hahah. Nice example, Phyllis.

Yeah... basically the entire RENT Movie Soundtrack.

[snowskittle]

Posted: 11/14/09 at 10:56pm

Thanks for the explanation of autotune. I had never heard of it before.

Does that mean that everyone and anyone can be a star now?

And, as a related question, does that mean that people who are already stars, but have admitted to using autotune, or who are known to use it...really can't sing at all?

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/14/09 at 11:12pm

In response, Snow...

Firstly: Anyone can be a star. If you're willing to sleep around. Or have enough $$$

Secondly: I can promise you that 95% of all recording artists use Autotuner on their albums. Yes, even the talented singers do. Jason Mraz, Carrie Underwood, Norah Jones, etc. etc. It's a standard step in today's post production of professional albums. The use of it is much more subtle on other recordings, which is why you've never noticed it.

The music producers of GLEE, for whatever reason, have chosen to approach the recordings in this manner - so it sticks out like a thorn. They're not trying to hide it, clearly. It's a choice and they're sticking to it. Their current use of it is not actually necessary. There are other methods of achieving this same goal. So... take it for what it's worth. I suppose.

[amoni2]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 8:47am

Of course because every singer not live in front of their faces on stage singing, people here assume EVERYONE uses auto tune, and well, they just have to be correct. What the hell are you people watching this show in the first place? You are all obviously above it all, even though it's the breakout hit of the year. Oh that's right popular don't play here. It seems that the only glee some of you get is to run here at 10PM on Wednesdays to trash the show.

[snowskittle]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 8:55am

Thanks snob. Do I understand correctly then that autotune is something that takes place only in a recording studio, or afterwards during editing, but is not, or cannot, be used for a live performance? Thus it isn't (and cant be) used in concerts or live theater shows?

Is this correct?

Posted: 11/15/09 at 9:21am

Not at all, in fact I believe its first major usage WAS for live concerts.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 9:58am

You are all obviously above it all, even though it's the breakout hit of the year. Oh that's right popular don't play here. It seems that the only glee some of you get is to run here at 10PM on Wednesdays to trash the show.

Welcome to BroadwayWorld!

Is there something you hate you'd like to discuss? You're bound to find some like-minded people who hate it as much as you do--or maybe more!

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:25am

snowskittle,

Autotuning is a process that takes place after recording. Using a VOCODER, which possess the same attributes of autotuning, can manipulate vocals in a live setting.

This is what many rappers (i.e. T Pain, Jaimie Foxx recently, 3Oh3!, etc, etc) use when they decide to sing in their Hip Hop pieces. It's becoming fairly standard and accomplishes the same type of sound.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:32am

Actually, in the begining, most folks seemed to like it -- even here. It has been slipping in those opinions each week. Does htat mean that no one can talk about thier disappointment in the shows progression (or lack of it?)

And why get offended by what someone else doesn't like?

Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:59am

"snowskittle,

Autotuning is a process that takes place after recording. Using a VOCODER, which possess the same attributes of autotuning, can manipulate vocals in a live setting.

This is what many rappers (i.e. T Pain, Jaimie Foxx recently, 3Oh3!, etc, etc) use when they decide to sing in their Hip Hop pieces. It's becoming fairly standard and accomplishes the same type of sound. "

Umm notquite.

As even Wiki makes plain, autotune can be used during OR after recording--or live. And it can be used (when its exagerated as it often is now) to make a vocoder effect but the actual technology is completely different than a vocoder and there's no connection whatsoever except in the finished sound.

A vocoder can be used live too--it has to be (it can'tbe used post recording) but a vocoder can't be used to simply pitch a flat vocal note to the rigth key, for example.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 11/15/09 at 12:16pm

Haha, are you trying to say that Glee doesn't use autotune? If that's the case, then I really fear for those kids because they're obviously turning into robots.

Glee has cute musical performances, and that's pretty much why I watch it. I don't watch shows just to tear them apart; when a show is or becomes bad I just stop watching it.

In this case, I don't think asking for consistent characterization and storylines is too much.