In an episode last week, South Park took on 17-year-old producer Lorde. The punchline: Stan’s Dad is actually Lorde. (For some reason, publications like SPIN think the writers are serious about this. In the immortal words of MST3k, guys, just repeat to yourself, “it’s just a show. I should really just relax.”)
What makes all of this interesting to us is that the show did go to some detail creating a realistic DAW UI. Eagle-eyed readers may figure out which UI elements were modelled here. It’s closest to SONAR, I would say, though with a GarageBand / Tracktion-style loop browser and a very clear Pro Tools toolbar at top.
And, yes, it does take an amusing shot at how production tools can mask … a lack of talent. (Guilty as charged.)
In case the YouTube link is removed, here’s the video on Hulu (for US audiences or people who know how to use VPNs only) for the two-episode story. The Lorde plot line is brought up first in Gluten Free Ebola, but they run far at Spin’s expense; the DAW reveal is in the second episode, “The Cissy.”
Thank you, David Abravanel.
Gluten Free Ebola [Comedy Central]
This is soooo funny. 😉
This is soooo funny. 😉
This is soooo funny. 😉
what episode is this???
The Cissy, from the new season
No, it’s Gluten Free Ebola, as listed above.
Actually it really is from The Cissy! Admittedly it’s easier to get mixed up this season, this is the first season where episodes are constantly referring back to previous episodes in the dialogue.
Confirmed, I record to DVR all new episodes of SP and the ‘Daw’ sequence this post referred to (and included screenshots from) is definitely episode 461 ‘The Cissy’. There is barely a couple of seconds of reference to ‘Lorde’ in #460, ‘Gluten Free Ebola’.
It is actually both. First we had Gluten Free Ebola, then Spin Magazine wrote an article bashing the episode then we got The Cissy where South Park is completely owning Spin Magazine.
Yes, sorry, corrected my title references there; fixed.
what episode is this???
The Cissy, from the new season
No, it’s Gluten Free Ebola, as listed above.
Actually it really is from The Cissy! Admittedly it’s easier to get mixed up this season, this is the first season where episodes are constantly referring back to previous episodes in the dialogue.
Confirmed, I record to DVR all new episodes of SP and the ‘Daw’ sequence this post referred to (and included screenshots from) is definitely episode 461 ‘The Cissy’. There is barely a couple of seconds of reference to ‘Lorde’ in #460, ‘Gluten Free Ebola’.
It is actually both. First we had Gluten Free Ebola, then Spin Magazine wrote an article bashing the episode then we got The Cissy where South Park is completely owning Spin Magazine.
Yes, sorry, corrected my title references there; fixed.
what episode is this???
The Cissy, from the new season
No, it’s Gluten Free Ebola, as listed above.
Actually it really is from The Cissy! Admittedly it’s easier to get mixed up this season, this is the first season where episodes are constantly referring back to previous episodes in the dialogue.
Confirmed, I record to DVR all new episodes of SP and the ‘Daw’ sequence this post referred to (and included screenshots from) is definitely episode 461 ‘The Cissy’. There is barely a couple of seconds of reference to ‘Lorde’ in #460, ‘Gluten Free Ebola’.
It is actually both. First we had Gluten Free Ebola, then Spin Magazine wrote an article bashing the episode then we got The Cissy where South Park is completely owning Spin Magazine.
Yes, sorry, corrected my title references there; fixed.
Maybe beside the point, but I don’t think Lorde is or has ever claimed to be a producer. At least she hadn’t at the time “Royals” hit—she was always really open about collaborating with the guy who produced her first album.
Yeah, but I don’t think South Park is really directly making fun of Lorde – more of production in general, and having fun *with the idea* that Lorde isn’t Lorde.
Right, but you said “South Park took on 17-year-old producer Lorde.”
Maybe beside the point, but I don’t think Lorde is or has ever claimed to be a producer. At least she hadn’t at the time “Royals” hit—she was always really open about collaborating with the guy who produced her first album.
Yeah, but I don’t think South Park is really directly making fun of Lorde – more of production in general, and having fun *with the idea* that Lorde isn’t Lorde.
Right, but you said “South Park took on 17-year-old producer Lorde.”
Maybe beside the point, but I don’t think Lorde is or has ever claimed to be a producer. At least she hadn’t at the time “Royals” hit—she was always really open about collaborating with the guy who produced her first album.
Yeah, but I don’t think South Park is really directly making fun of Lorde – more of production in general, and having fun *with the idea* that Lorde isn’t Lorde.
Right, but you said “South Park took on 17-year-old producer Lorde.”
🙂 nice
🙂 nice
🙂 nice
I don’t know why it’s “surprisingly” realistic. Trey Parker has been prolifically involved in the music production side of what they do, as well as side-projects – at a guess I’d say that music is probably his first love. Thanks to the success of the show and the associated movie soundtrack/s he’s had more commercial success as a musician than most people reading this blog. Seriously, he even has a Grammy.
For a few seconds and an AutoTune gag, yes, it’s surprisingly realistic. They actually created an entire UI, not just a cartoon UI. And this show is produced on stunningly tight deadlines. I don’t think that was taking a shot at Trey Parker. 😉
You’re totally right – I didn’t realise you meant the detail involved when you said realistic. I thought you meant in a more general sense, ie. here’s a laptop, here’s a DAW, this is how people make music now.
Also, there’s a Store menu. Could South Park have accidentally predicted a new sandboxed App Store for Logic? 😉
Parker is awesome in the field of Musicals. “Southpark – The Movie” is largely an incredible and funny parody of Disney Musicals and I was fortunate enough to see “The Book of Mormons” in London with most of the american cast, it was absolutely amazing.
Definitely.
It should be noted that for the TV show, Jamie Dunlap is credited as composer. Of course, Parker is also involved.
Exactly what I was thinking. They make their own music for the show, they’ve probably used a DAW for years.
I don’t know why it’s “surprisingly” realistic. Trey Parker has been prolifically involved in the music production side of what they do, as well as side-projects – at a guess I’d say that music is probably his first love. Thanks to the success of the show and the associated movie soundtrack/s he’s had more commercial success as a musician than most people reading this blog. Seriously, he even has a Grammy.
For a few seconds and an AutoTune gag, yes, it’s surprisingly realistic. They actually created an entire UI, not just a cartoon UI. And this show is produced on stunningly tight deadlines. I don’t think that was taking a shot at Trey Parker. 😉
You’re totally right – I didn’t realise you meant the detail involved when you said realistic. I thought you meant in a more general sense, ie. here’s a laptop, here’s a DAW, this is how people make music now.
Also, there’s a Store menu. Could South Park have accidentally predicted a new sandboxed App Store for Logic? 😉
Parker is awesome in the field of Musicals. “Southpark – The Movie” is largely an incredible and funny parody of Disney Musicals and I was fortunate enough to see “The Book of Mormons” in London with most of the american cast, it was absolutely amazing.
Definitely.
It should be noted that for the TV show, Jamie Dunlap is credited as composer. Of course, Parker is also involved.
Exactly what I was thinking. They make their own music for the show, they’ve probably used a DAW for years.
I don’t know why it’s “surprisingly” realistic. Trey Parker has been prolifically involved in the music production side of what they do, as well as side-projects – at a guess I’d say that music is probably his first love. Thanks to the success of the show and the associated movie soundtrack/s he’s had more commercial success as a musician than most people reading this blog. Seriously, he even has a Grammy.
For a few seconds and an AutoTune gag, yes, it’s surprisingly realistic. They actually created an entire UI, not just a cartoon UI. And this show is produced on stunningly tight deadlines. I don’t think that was taking a shot at Trey Parker. 😉
You’re totally right – I didn’t realise you meant the detail involved when you said realistic. I thought you meant in a more general sense, ie. here’s a laptop, here’s a DAW, this is how people make music now.
Also, there’s a Store menu. Could South Park have accidentally predicted a new sandboxed App Store for Logic? 😉
Parker is awesome in the field of Musicals. “Southpark – The Movie” is largely an incredible and funny parody of Disney Musicals and I was fortunate enough to see “The Book of Mormons” in London with most of the american cast, it was absolutely amazing.
Definitely.
It should be noted that for the TV show, Jamie Dunlap is credited as composer. Of course, Parker is also involved.
Exactly what I was thinking. They make their own music for the show, they’ve probably used a DAW for years.
I miss MST3k. But they had to run out of bad movies eventually, I guess.
They still do it but as Riff Trax now!
I miss MST3k. But they had to run out of bad movies eventually, I guess.
They still do it but as Riff Trax now!
I miss MST3k. But they had to run out of bad movies eventually, I guess.
They still do it but as Riff Trax now!
…aaaaand it’s gone.
Try Hulu (if it’s available in your area) or else one of the official South Park sites (they’re region localised but available in many countries… or learn to use VPN 😉 )
…aaaaand it’s gone.
Try Hulu (if it’s available in your area) or else one of the official South Park sites (they’re region localised but available in many countries… or learn to use VPN 😉 )
…aaaaand it’s gone.
Try Hulu (if it’s available in your area) or else one of the official South Park sites (they’re region localised but available in many countries… or learn to use VPN 😉 )
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The quantizer is lifted from FL Studio, so a bit of everything we think – http://www.image-line.com/support/FLHelp/html/img_shot/pianoroll_quantizer.jpg
The quantizer is lifted from FL Studio, so a bit of everything we think – http://www.image-line.com/support/FLHelp/html/img_shot/pianoroll_quantizer.jpg
The quantizer is lifted from FL Studio, so a bit of everything we think – http://www.image-line.com/support/FLHelp/html/img_shot/pianoroll_quantizer.jpg