# In praise of the Gregory Brothers - Autotune The News **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691 "2010-07-06T07:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/1 "2010-07-06T07:23:28Z")
Like many of my fellow Dopers, I’m a big fan of the Gregory Brothers _Auto-tune The News_ videos. They are indeed hilarious. But the thing that really gets me is that many of the tunes are really catchy pop tunes, the sort of thing that could and should be a hit song. One of my favorites is the less-heard _[Nashville Debate in Song and Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LLrVlw6Qqc)_, which has a really poppy, Jackson 5 sound - in addition to MC Tom Brokaw. Some of the most trivial bits have the strongest tunes, possibly because of less need to fit the music to topicality. For instance, [the mock interview of President Obama by Alexa Chung](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CO2SfB1dnA) is a real earworm. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/2 "2010-07-06T12:25:58Z")
That interview of Obama is pretty funny! I like this… I think in part because I hate autotune! Please, make fun of it… make everyone realize just how ridiculous it sounds! ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/3 "2010-07-06T12:48:19Z")
Honestly? Their early stuff is fine, but I think they’re only recently hitting their stride. [number 12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbc2NaLuv1A) is a work of utter genius, fitting disparate voices together in a song that seems to work on its own. > [@](#): > > You would have to smoke fourteen joints in 1960 > (today minus 50) > To get just as high as in 2010 with just one joint > (goin’ back in time always disappoints) > Isn’t that amazing? > (It’s gonna be crazy in 2060) The [Obama ass-kicking](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yghFBt-fXmw) video is pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/4 "2010-07-06T19:40:56Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Honestly? Their early stuff is fine, but I think they’re only recently hitting their stride. [number 12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbc2NaLuv1A) is a work of utter genius, fitting disparate voices together in a song that seems to work on its own. I’d love to hear a dance mix of that song. I wonder if anyone is working with them on one? ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/5 "2010-07-06T20:16:46Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Honestly? Their early stuff is fine, but I think they’re only recently hitting their stride. Actually, I kind of think #5 and #6 are still their best. But their more recent stuff has been more consistently good, yah. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/6 "2010-07-06T23:26:31Z")
My faves are: [#2- Very thin ice…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBb4cjjj1gI) Someone did a very[beautiful piano, music only cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vDG8MghMdQ). And I can’t believe no one has mentioned [#10 - Turtle Fence](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qizNQKzatXA). Now that’s a song! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/7 "2010-07-23T17:10:58Z")
I’m digging through their more obscure stuff, and there are some real pop gems. For instance, the boringly titled [“Vlog #3: piano fail(ure). babies. omg song.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHfAvR5wqRw) has a [sweet little pop song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHfAvR5wqRw#t=1m9s) that sounds like it could have been written by The Turtles. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/8 "2010-09-12T07:54:23Z")
They have a new video that is [one of the most infectious tunes I’ve ever heard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIoG4PlEPtY). ---
**Author:** ![sohvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sohvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sohvan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/9 "2010-09-12T10:03:45Z")
I wish they did more historical autotunes like [Winston Churchill](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW6jW9y59JY). ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/10 "2010-09-12T15:27:45Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > And I can’t believe no one has mentioned [#10 - Turtle Fence](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qizNQKzatXA). Now that’s a song! That’s my favorite by a mile. (And I drive a truck! _clap clap_) This guy does a [cover version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBZQE_PSjjo) on the shamisen, which helps to bring out just how rhythmically complex the songs actually are. See also his description [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePUaRdGx5PQ). ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/11 "2010-09-13T22:52:19Z")
Episode 13 features best accidental guest band: Weezer [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KucV8renOfI/hqdefault.jpg "driving. stripping. swinging. (ft. Weezer) // Auto-Tune the News #13") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KucV8renOfI) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/12 "2010-09-14T04:15:11Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Episode 13 features best accidental guest band: Weezer > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KucV8renOfI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KucV8renOfI) Sorry, but Weezer just doesn’t have the Gregory Brothers gift for melody. Unless doing all these Autotune The News segments have eaten up their collection of tunes and they are having to invite in outsiders. Weezer hops on the latest Internet meme. [What else is new](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQHPYelqr0E&ob=av3e)? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/13 "2010-09-14T04:56:13Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Episode 13 features best accidental guest band: Weezer > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KucV8renOfI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KucV8renOfI) It starts off slow, but once it gets to Anthony Weiner it really kicks off. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/14 "2010-11-12T04:32:34Z")
The Gregory Brothers have been busy - no official “Autotune The News” videos, but a bunch of really excellent pop tunes from autotuning various viral videos: _[Rent: Too Damn High! Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg5SwyTvAHw&feature=related)_ featuring New York gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan _[Sanity Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQbkPS8zCA)_ from Jon Stewart’s speech at the Rally To Restore Sanity. _[I’M NOT A WITCH - sung by Christine O’Donnell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44mqiBrB0zI&NR)_ - pretty self-explanatory. [_SunnyD and Rum - THE POP SINGLE!_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdRo2NJJcUU) - pretty much impossible to explain ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/15 "2011-07-01T07:23:56Z")
Supposedly they are working on a program for Comedy Central, thought I doubt they can keep up their consistency on a weekly program. I’ve fallen in love with the latest “throwaway” songs, [Michael Gregory’s _Hello Again_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ghA8QIUNOo) and [Sarah Gregory singing _Always Summertime_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT_4YytbF-w) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/16 "2011-08-04T17:39:25Z")
[Their latest is a “songification” of Pastor Joe Nelms’ memorable NASCAR pre-race prayer.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZnDt2wEFjk) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/17 "2011-08-04T23:02:09Z")
I also like [Can’t Hug Every Cat.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP4NMoJcFd4) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/18 "2011-08-04T23:19:10Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I also like [Can’t Hug Every Cat.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP4NMoJcFd4) I was a little cold on that because “Debbie The On-Line Dater” is a character created by an actress. Give me real characters like [Diana](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjYSERaXEGI) or [Antoine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtZfW2z9dw). ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-gregory-brothers-autotune-the-news/545691/19 "2011-08-05T23:52:30Z")
I’m pretty indifferent to the source as long as they take a popular video and make a catchy little song out of it.