- The media's inaccurate portrayal of cheerleading. Hollywood depicts cheerleaders as girls who wear skimpy uniforms and have nothing going on in their heads. They are typically part of a clique for mean girls and rule the school. In real life, this is not true. Yes, the uniforms can be skimpy, but if the skirts were too long we would be restricted in motion. Since cheer involves gymnastics and stunting, that would be a hazard.
- Spelling out words in my head to chants I've learned. Certain cheers I’ve learned spell out words, so whenever I write out those words, the cheers go through my head automatically.
- Being able to do my splits anywhere. I love pulling my splits out anywhere, although I admit sometimes it’s harder than other days if I haven’t stretched in a while. Nonetheless, it’s nice to have the skill. I'm not the most flexible person I know, but being able to do my right/left splits has never left me.
- Cheer lingo. To an outsider, the terms we throw around mean nothing. They become bamboozled when we say "extension," "full," "needle," "basket toss," "lib," and so on. These refer to stunting, which is when a group of three girls (two basses, and a backspot) throw a flyer into the air to accomplish certain stunts. Stunting has always been my favorite part of cheer, and I always feel so accomplished and proud of my group when we hit a stunt perfectly.
- Wanting to stunt all the time. When you can throw up cool stunts, you want to do it everywhere and take a picture. In a way it’s showing off, but to us it’s more than just that. It’s our passion and we are always ready to up our picture game to a new level.
- Faking it. Being able to stand on the sidelines all night and look happy is a art, especially if it’s raining out. Or performing a routine for judges at a competition. Both involve shoving your nerves down your throat and looking like there is no other place you’d rather be. “Fake it, till you make it”.
- Too many cheer bows- They accumulate like socks in my house, I find them all over the place. We have bows for every occasion, but once you’re done with cheer they just sit around waiting to be worn again.
- Making a second family. With any sport, your team becomes your second family. We spend a lot of time together at practice and games. During that time we are working hard, but enjoying inside jokes and silly antics to keep us going. I’ve definitely made some friends for life through cheer and strengthened other friendships.
- Cheer Camp. This is a cheerleader's worst nightmare! ...Not really. It’s more bittersweet; it involves three days of hard work in the burning sun and making sure to stay hydrated. We get up at seven and start right after breakfast, and don’t see our beds until after midnight. The positive part is being there as a team and growing together while bonding. We focus on learning new material to take home and show off to the student section at football games.
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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
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