Randy Travis - "Where That Came From"

[rbundy1987]

Randy Travis

"Where That Came From"

Album: TBA

Label: Warner Music Nashville

Writers: John Scott Sherrill, Scotty Emerick

Impact Date: Immediately (NOW) - PlayMPE- (buddy inboxed me to tell me that it is at Country Radio NOW!!

[McCreerian]

What a great song and it's so good to hear new Randy Travis music again however it was done! I doubt it'll even chart but I'm glad it's out there.

[christianlarson9]

FYI the playMPE thing mentioned no impact date, so it appears they just serviced it.

I doubt this does much damage on the charts beyond its first week.

[liza]

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6gyEtlOzPu

[sbp17]

I am so conflicted on this. At least it’s done while he’s alive and able to give his consent and he even helped produce it. Its a good song But this is wild.

[taylor]

Lovely song, but AI is still scary, and this should honestly serve as proof. The fact that Randy Travis will never be able to actually sing like this again, and hasn’t for over a decade, yet computer-generated software brought his voice back, down to the minute details, is terrifying. I’m glad Randy was able to consent to this, but to imagine what this kind of thing will do to music—and the fine arts in general, for that matter—in the not-so-distant future…

[.indulgecountry]

Yeah, I explained my thoughts yesterday when I heard this was AI-generated in another thread, but I'm definitely in the mixed bag camp on this release as well. Good for Randy, but... also not sure if this is truly good.

[someguy]

I think this is a dangerous slope, and don't support releases like this. It feels like we're just one step away from new singles being created for deceased artists this way.

[Kanenrá:ke]

May 5, 2024 2:08:11 GMT -5 someguy said:

I think this is a dangerous slope, and don't support releases like this. It feels like we're just one step away from new singles being created for deceased artists this way.

I’m close to this thought too. I can make an exception for Randy as he truly lost his voice but is still with us in every other way. I just don’t want to see new songs made for artists who have no input in the process.

Basically only if they’re alive and truly can’t sing anymore then I’d be okay with it. I wouldn’t even accept using AI to make their voices younger , like if Willie Nelson tried to sound 50 years younger.

[recordyear]

Interview on CBS Mornings.

[onebuffalo]

Commentary on the new Randy Travis:

[cowboyduck]

The love with which this song was created is all the difference to me. A beautiful song with a voice attached to it that I’m overjoyed to hear again.

[McCreerian]

[g8erboi]

This is hauntingly beautiful and the AI doesn’t even bother me due to the specific circumstance. So happy we get to hear that voice again.

[recordyear]

4 adds and total historic adds on country radio this week.

[LBTrocks]

I don't really see the big deal about AI being used here, given the circumstances. He's alive but is sadly unable to sing, and he is just using a technological tool to be able to put a new song out. It's not like everyone went behind his back and did this without his consent. He was present and participating, and seems very proud of the finished product (as he should be). I also don't see this as any indication that there are plans to, or will ever be plans to, create new singles using AI from artists who have passed away. It might happen, but that will be a discussion for when it happens. Cuz that isn't even remotely the situation here. I don't personally enjoy the song; I've never been a Randy Travis fan, but I don't see an issue with how AI was used in this specific instance.

ETA: All the thoughts I gave above are strictly in relation to country music, not other genres. I honestly have no idea how other genres are or are not using AI lol.

[recordyear]

Been thinking about this release for a while, especially after viewing the CBS Mornings segment and the Grady Smith video which talks about common concerns for this kind of releases, and I don't really mind them?

The very common concern which is about AI music from dead artists (and hence the lack of consent from the artist themselves) is actually fallacies of relevance in the sense that the potentially malicious intent from human has never stopped useful but potentially destructive stuff from being made. In short, this argument does not refute the idea of AI music in general.

The other more interesting argument to disown these releases is about the billing, i.e. how much Randy Travis is here that it is acceptable to call this a Randy Travis release. I would say artists don't have to sing to get these credits (see how Ashley McBryde got credited for all songs in Lindeville despite not singing in a lot of them), the minimum requirement is that there should be some sort of input from these artists in order to be credited, and in this case, it's Randy's old recordings. I think it's acceptable to do so. May be better if there is some sort of signifier that this is an AI release.

A somewhat adjacent argument that I saw sometimes is Warner Nashville is deceiving listeners for selling this like a vault release, with no indication of this being AI. Now I would be hesitant if it was happening to other artists, but I have to tell you the sign is there, right at the single cover which features him on filter, and the promo before release describing the making process as "magical moment", but of course you can say nobody really cares stuff other than the product...

So this brings us to the fundamental question: Is this "good" in the sense that it is worthy to be released this way? And there is where I would be at most negative and say no. It is neo-trad country music but also quite underwritten about some things that just cannot be replaced in life. One can say it's a funny remark on the whole situation about "getting voice back" because in truth that was long gone, but otherwise no, I don't really care about this song, but will remain on the fence of AI music. I am glad the discussion happens this way, in this genre that focuses on "human" and "tradition", that has repeatedly witnessed the "fall" of it all the time especially from unexpected artists, like more notably, George Strait being one of the first country artists using autotune in artistic way.

[bboat11]

My God, Randy's humongous smiles in the music video absolutely melted my heart. He is SO happy with this! His excitement is infectious to me. I can't listen to this without seeing his smile now.

[onebuffalo]

Picking up stations and spins:

RANDY TRAVIS Where That Came From 39 277

[McCreerian]

Here in Charlotte on WKKT they were playing it every hour yesterday. I haven't had it on today so I don't know if it was just for that one day.

[superdave3556]

Debuts at #45 on Billboard Country Airplay!!!  (his first chart appearance in 20 years).

[taylor]

Holy smokes, I was NOT expecting that. I imagine Randy must be over the moon to see this song pop up on the charts. I still have my reservations and qualms, but this still is a lovely song; and to somehow manage to have new music from this man in the year 2024, and to have it chart at radio, is incredible, and I’m happy for him. I don’t know if this does much more than this, but it’s cool to see his name at least appear on these charts, even if it winds up being brief.

[sabre14]

Yup, first solo charting single since “Angels” in the summer of 2005. Nearly 19 years.

[onebuffalo]

Angels peaked at #48 in 2005. Randy Travis now has a 46 year span of chart appearances dating back to 1978's She's My Woman (#91). Here is that section of the chart:

BILLBOARD #41 - #50 FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 3, 2005:
41. Where We Both Say Goodbye-Catherine Britt and Elton John-RCA
42. Come Friday-Aaron Tippin-Lyric Street
43. USA Today-Alan Jackson-Arista
44. Your Man-Josh Turner-MCA
45. Rainbow In The Rain-Clint Black-Equity
46. Summer Girl-Jessica Andrews-DreamWorks
47. Good People-Jeff Bates-RCA
48. ANGELS-RANDY TRAVIS-WARNER BROS./WORD
49. Fightin' For-Cross Canadian Ragweed-Universal South
50. The Dollar-Jamey Johnson-BNA

[CoJoFan]

Would love to see it go top 40 at least. He hasn’t had a top 40 hit since his last #1 which was “Three Wooden Crosses” in 2002.

[castleoblivion26]

I feel conflicted about AI being used to create new songs like this for artist that have no say in its creation. This case, where Randy himself was a part of the creation of this I have no problems with him using it. I'd have no problem with any artist using AI as a tool to create an album they are proud of. That said I do worry about the slippery slope this entire debate is about. It is only a matter of time before some estate of an artist who has passed away decides to use AI to create new music. I feel that only artist that are able to consent to its use should be able to use AI

That said, I absolutely love this song and am so happy it is doing so well for him. As bboat11 said above seeing Randy's smile when hearing this in the music video has stuck with me. It is also crazy that this is his first charting single since "Angels", which is a song I had dedicated to my mother when it first came out, what a beautiful song, radio should have played that one more.