AI Rocks: A look at using AI chatbots to generate lyrics

Introduction

In the realm of music, AI is no longer a strange presence. It's helping artists and composers explore uncharted territories of creativity, and one of the most intriguing applications is generating song lyrics and chord progressions. Today, we'll take a look at how three top AI chatbots - ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Bing Chat - perform when asked to create a dark and emotional pop song.

The Challenge

We gave each AI the same task: "Create a modern pop song. Make it dark and emotional. Use your knowledge of popular songwriting techniques and famous pop songs as your guide. Explain your process."

The Results

ChatGPT

ChatGPT spun a tale of longing and loss, wrapping it in a blanket of poignant lyrics. It painted a vivid picture of an elusive love that has slipped away, with a recurring motif of a "ghost". The chord progression followed a well-worn path in pop music (vi-iv-I-V), lending the song a familiar feel. A deviation in the bridge (iii-IV-ii-V) added a pleasant surprise, while the outro tied up the song with an emotional bow.

(Verse 1)
Am
In the ashes of the twilight, you're a shadow in my mind
Dm
Still I'm reaching out to touch you, but you're always just behind
G
In the echoes of your laughter, in the silence of your room
C
I'm a wanderer lost in the darkness, I'm a moth without the moon

(Chorus)
F
You're the ghost in my mirror, the whisper in my ear
C
The endless night that's calling, the silence that I fear
G
You're the love that I can't hold, the story left untold
Am
You're the phantom pain that's lingering, in a heart that's growing old

(Verse 2)
Am
In the pages of our story, there's a chapter left unread
Dm
In the corner of my memory, there's a word we never said
G
In the ruins of our castle, in the echoes of our song
C
I'm a ship lost at the sea of time, where you no longer belong

(Chorus)
F
You're the ghost in my mirror, the whisper in my ear
C
The endless night that's calling, the silence that I fear
G
You're the love that I can't hold, the story left untold
Am
You're the phantom pain that's lingering, in a heart that's growing old

(Bridge)
Em
I'm drowning in the sorrow, I'm lost in yesterday
F
I'm haunted by the echoes, of a love that's slipped away
Dm
In the silence of the darkness, in the whispers of the night
E
I'm chasing after shadows, in the absence of your light

(Chorus)
F
You're the ghost in my mirror, the whisper in my ear
C
The endless night that's calling, the silence that I fear
G
You're the love that I can't hold, the story left untold
Am
You're the phantom pain that's lingering, in a heart that's growing old

(Outro)
Am
So I'm singing to the twilight, to the echo of your name
Dm
In the ashes of the silence, where the ghost of you remains

Google Bard

Google Bard took a slightly different approach. Its lyrics touched on themes of shared struggle, resilience, and hope. While the words were straightforward and easy to connect with, they lacked some of the poetic imagery that made ChatGPT's song stand out. The chord progression was a bit more complex, with different sets of chords for the verses and choruses. The song was definitely emotional, but it missed a bit on the 'dark' side of the challenge.

(Verse 1)
I'm lost in the darkness,
I can't find my way out.
I'm surrounded by pain,
And I'm drowning in doubt.

(Chorus)
But I know I'm not alone,
There's someone out there who feels the same.
We're all lost in the darkness,
But together we can find our way out.

(Verse 2)
We're all broken,
We're all scarred.
We've all made mistakes,
And we've all been hurt.

(Chorus)
But I know we're not alone,
There's someone out there who feels the same.
We're all broken,
But together we can find our way out.

(Bridge)
We can't give up,
We can't give in.
We have to keep fighting,
We have to keep believing.

(Chorus)
Because I know we're not alone,
There's someone out there who feels the same.
We're all broken,
But together we can find our way out.

Chord progression:

Verse 1: Em, D, C, G
Chorus: Em, C, G, D
Verse 2: Am, D, G, C
Chorus: Em, C, G, D
Bridge: Em, D, C, G
Chorus: Em, C, G, D

Bing Chat

Bing Chat, much like ChatGPT, explored a narrative of loss and longing. Its lyrics were straightforward and a bit repetitive, which could make the song catchy and easy to remember. However, it fell short in delivering the unique and poetic imagery that made ChatGPT's song shine. The chord progression, though, was right on the money for pop music, using the vi-IV-I-V progression for verses and the IV-V-vi-iii for the chorus.

Verse 1:
Am F C G
I’m standing on the edge of a broken bridge
Am F C G
Looking at the water that’s too deep to swim
Am F C G
I wonder if you ever think of me at all
Am F C G
Or if you’re too busy living your new life

Chorus:
F G Am Em
You left me here without a reason why
F G Am Em
You took away the only thing that made me smile
F G Am Em
Now I’m just a shadow of who I used to be
F G Am Em
A lonely soul who can’t let go of you

Verse 2:
Am F C G
I try to fill the emptiness with other things
Am F C G
But nothing seems to ease the pain inside my chest
Am F C G
I wish I could forget you but it’s hard to do
Am F C G
When every song reminds me of what we had

Chorus:
F G Am Em
You left me here without a reason why
F G Am Em
You took away the only thing that made me smile
F G Am Em
Now I’m just a shadow of who I used to be
F G Am Em
A lonely soul who can’t let go of you

Bridge:
C G Am F
Maybe someday I’ll find someone who’ll love me right
C G Am F
Maybe someday I’ll heal the wounds you left behind
C G Am F
But until then I’ll keep on dreaming of your face
C G Am F
And hoping that you’ll come back to me someday

Chorus:
F G Am Em
You left me here without a reason why
F G Am Em
You took away the only thing that made me smile
F G Am Em
Now I’m just a shadow of who I used to be
F G Am (hold)
A lonely soul who can’t let go of you

Conclusion

The challenge proved that these three AI models are capable of composing songs that respond to specific prompts. They effectively used common chord progressions to evoke the right emotions, and each had its unique take on the lyrics. ChatGPT stood out with its poetic imagery and consistent narrative, while Google Bard and Bing Chat opted for more universal and repetitive lyrics. It's an exciting glimpse into the possibilities AI brings to the table, though it's clear there's still space for the unique spark of human creativity.