- “Going into town” with your friends was a right of passage into teen-hood.
- Math is binary will forever be burned into your brain.
- You couldn’t wait until eighth grade to be able to sing “Five Golden Rings” at the Holiday Sing-a-long at Brookside.
- The A&P parking lot was designed by 4-year-olds.
- Your first manicure was at Swan Nails.
- Your first home run was at the Red Barn.
- You played for the Brookside Bulldogs.
- You ate at Matthew’s Diner after an eighth grade mixer.
- You knew at least two people who worked at Bernie’s Bagels.
- Your first date was at Garden State Plaza or the Ridgewood movie theatre.
- On summer nights after sporting events, you sat at the Dairy Queen and played tag against the walls.
- You secretly love the Allendale and 201 snap chat geotags.
- You marched in the Memorial Day Parade.
- You made a promise that your 21st birthday would be spent at AB&G.
- It took you years to realize that Allen Street and Dale Ave are right next to each other because it creates the word Allendale.
- You never understood the weird Allendale painting by the town clock.
- The train station underpass was for hard core kids.
- You went to a Sweet 16 at Lips in NYC.
- You went to at least thirty Sweet 16 parties in general.
- But you only went to four Bar mitzvahs.
- Going to the carnival without your parents made you feel like a bad ass.
- You still remember your partner for the flour sack baby health project.
- You went to the Haunted House every October and the Holiday Walk every December.
- You celebrated a birthday at Savini.
- In the summer, you never slowed down at the “caution turtles crossing” sign on Franklin Turnpike.
- You could identify everyone’s car when ever they were driving around town.
- You watched Louie’s Place become Darla’s Porch, which is now Nirvana in the span of 5 years.
- During your Hillside years, you called each other in August when you found out your homeroom teacher.
- You made your first purchase with your own money at the book fair and hated your parents for weeks if they let you out of the house without money that day.
- Getting a locker was by far the best day of your life in fifth grade.
- Even though everything was in walking distance, your parents drove you to school when Highlands didn’t provide bussing for Allendale residents.
- You sneaked into Crestwood Lake for Fourth of July fireworks at least once.
- You hated seventh grade because you had to eat lunch so late at Brookside.
- Then you also hated sixth grade because you always tripped up the stairs going to class.
- Every class party was catered by Village Pizza.
- Which is probably where you had your first job.
- Picking up your time capsule on your last day of high school made you wish time didn’t go by so quickly.
- There’s nothing like coming back home to Allendale.
Welcome back
Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends
or
LOG IN WITH FACEBOOKNo account? Create one
Recommended for you
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Politics and Activism![Jenna Pizzi and her mom smiling by a waterfront with a historic ship in the background.]()
![Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.]()
![Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.]()
