All right, I am not reinventing the wheel, I’m aware this ins’t groundbreaking.

Anyway I want to address this, and forgive me in advance, I am gonna be off-topic here and there.

Also, expect straightforward language (and also the use of dashes, yeah, not ChatGTP generated), like we were having a casual conversation over beer.

Whatever… Last night I was just scrolling the tube, and something caught my attention:

Rihanna – Tribute Song for Ozzy Osbourne [Official Video)

It made me curious… such an unexpected connection—at least to me.

Nothing wrong, not unusual for artists of different genres showing mutual respect.

Anyway, the beginning curiosity was broken in less than a minute—just a few seconds actually—by two things.

The backing music was cold, basic, flat.

Her singing was “good” itself, but cold again, pretty unemotional. Completely disconnected from the meaning of the lyrics. And one more thing caught my attention. That was not Rihanna singing’s style. It sounded like someone else was singing with her voice.

And… wait, even one more thing. Just a few days after his loss, Rihanna release a tribute to Ozzy? Even if she just self-produced, music and video, would it be already out there? Yes, technically possible; ordinary day for someone working in the music licensing industry. However, still quite unusual for a major artist.

I have to confess I don’t usually “watch” YouTube. I turn off the screen and just listen. Usually podcasts while I am doing other things.

In this case I felt like I had to take a minute and also watch. And everything became crystal clear:

• Not any official music streaming page, or Rihanna official page, neither a label. Just a channel name tricking you to think about a sort of brand/label—nothing established though.
• The video was split in two, with questionable quality. On left side Ozzy, AI generated in motions. On the other side, mostly, video segments of Ozzy’s farewell concert at Villa Park. (btw bud, do you even have the copyright or permission to use it?).

Then, just after that, I realized there were at least 10 other supposed to be “official video” things, always “Rihanna tribute song for Ozzy” stuff. And beyond that, hundreds more doing the same with other artists. A trend.

OK. GREAT. 

Enough stuff to rise a giant red flag.

I mean, is that where we are now? Seriously? WTF

But this is not yet what really pissed me off.

The most disappointing aspect is the sheer volume of comments, hundreds of them from genuinely touched and grateful users expressing their heartfelt appreciation for Rihanna’s touching tribute. People COMPLETELY misled into believing it was genuinely Rihanna.

And again, two further considerations:

• How many people struggle to distinguish between what is genuine and what is not.
• People’s understanding of music is truly astounding. Music generated by prompts—sounding cold, playing flat, devoid of any emotional dynamics, and featuring a cloned Rihanna voice that feels completely out context, like a completely different person—still manages to reach people…

We are fucking over. And it makes me wonder… do people even care about the music? Or is it just the story they’re buying? 

I have a theory since forever about this, but it would be off topic now, maybe next time.

Let’s finally get to the point.

That so called “tribute”. 

Everything is arranged to mislead people.

• The title format: Artist name – Tribute… [Official Video]
• The lack of enough information to make people aware of the AI nature of the content. There should be a HUGE disclaimer about it, if you ask me. Even if you don’t.
• Generating content around a hyped topic, like Ozzy’s loss, with the clear intention of taking advantage of it.

RECAP.

Someone created AI stuff—and no, I won’t call it MUSIC again—using a hyped topic to lure people in and deliberately mislead them. And unfortunately, this is happening, and it’s quite effective.

Pretty evil—and pretty ironic considering we are talking about the Prince of Darkness…

This is the point. Taking advantage of people good faith, in most cases unaware that who they are listening to is not the real artist. THIS CAN NOT BE TOLERATED. 

I genuinely hope that the new YouTube policy, unveiled on July 15th regarding the monetization policy and their previous statement on responsible AI innovation (click here to read) will effectively eliminate all the trashy content currently present—sometimes even prevailing—on the platform. 

A “AI audio stuff with fake voice and fake lyrics” tribute toward someone who really touched millions of people, with HIS REAL music and real emotions… This is even worse than any Black Mirror episode.

And for those who tell me that AI music is very good now… Yes, technically amazing, and surely it will improve. But you’re missing the FUCKING point. I’ve heard dozen of them. They all are missing just one tiny little thing, a little detail. THE FUCKING EMOTIONS.

If you are still reading, thanks for your patience, and read the whole rant. I’m not against progress, or even AI, as long as it’s honest and fairly used. But this fake-ass thing pretending to be something heartfelt, represent a line that cannot be crossed. You want to play with AI voices? Fine. Just don’t fucking lie about it. Don’t wrap it in candles and fake tears and call it a tribute. This is never a tribute. That’s a scam dressed in sentiment. 

Side last note. Have you noticed how many YouTubers suddenly care about Ozzy? All lifelong fans? All so touched they had to make heartfelt tributes? Or maybe… they’re just riding the wave? You decide.

And btw… RIP Ozzy. Stealing Youngblud’s words, “The f-cking music was enough, thank you so much, honestly, you gave me an outlet…“

You really did Mr. Ozzy fucking Osbourne.