Slopfest #35 · 1961 · Vienna
Daisy, Daisy
A computer sang its first song. We asked for an encore. It only knew the one.
Museum status: Awaiting restoration by an AI that keeps adding fingers.
- Venue
- Staatsoper, standing room only
- Attendance
- 488
- Guest of honour
- Arthur C. Clarke (heard the singing computer and took notes for later)
- Fun fact
- 1 song, 1 bicycle built for two, 0 bicycles supplied
What happened
The committee arranged a duet between a Kammersängerin and a tape of the singing computer. The tape was louder. After three verses the singer left, and the audience voted to keep the tape, which has performed every year since for zero schillings. Arthur C. Clarke, in the standing room, took notes for later.
Elsewhere in 1961
An IBM 7094 at Bell Labs sings 'Daisy Bell', the first song performed using computer speech synthesis.
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