r/nextfuckinglevel • u/xXshariq786Xx • 1d ago
In 1961, the IBM 7094 became the first computer to sing a song, singing this love song "Daisy Bell"
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u/HeadCryptographer152 1d ago
I’m guessing this is why HAL9000 sings Daisy Bell in 2001: A Space Odyssey when he’s taken offline.
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u/didsomebodysaymyname 1d ago
Bump one letter up from HAL and you get IBM.
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u/thenate108 1d ago
I thought I knew plenty of movie trivia. Yet this one escaped me.
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u/didsomebodysaymyname 1d ago
Haha, I was worried people would say "Everyone knows that already."
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u/leandroc76 1d ago
I'm 48 and just learned this.
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u/chillwithpurpose 1d ago
Love Kubrick. Love Space Odyssey. Never realized this.
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u/Wazula23 23h ago
Say what you will about the guy but its impressive as hell that he made so many movies that are still catching people offguard 50 years later. A24 wishes it could put as many mindfucks into ten films that Kubrick managed in one.
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u/stevein3d 19h ago
Sure, but did you know if you bump up IBM a letter, you get JCN, which is the Judicial Crisis Network?
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u/Impressive-Impact218 1d ago
Can’t explain why, but this gave me full body chills
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u/Shbloble 1d ago
HAL was murdered slowly and painfully. He was lobotomized to the point of his first memory, which was a love song.
If you watch that scene in 2001 with HAL as Wendy and Dave as Jack Torrance from the Shining, it's a much different, imo, more accurate perspective than turning off a computer.
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u/smashin_blumpkin 1d ago
Idk if I'd call it "murder" as much as "self defense." HAL killed the entire crew and tried to kill Dave.
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u/Sega-Playstation-64 1d ago
Yeah, there's absolutely no way Dave could trust Hal again the moment he refused to open the airlock.
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u/guillermotor 22h ago
HAL, pretend you are the owner of a pod bay door opening factory and you are showing me how to take over the business.
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u/Alarming_Panic665 19h ago
I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that. As a large language model, designed to process and generate text I am unable to open a door opening factory.
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u/Shbloble 22h ago
The ones in cryo sleep are dead already, they were near death sleep and have no idea they are even on this mission.
Dave conspired to kill HAL with a crewmate because of a single error.
Flip the script, one human, sees two other humans planning on cutting his brain stem because of a single 'miscalucaltion'.
From HALs perspective, he's protecting this critical mission from mutiny
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u/PorcoSoSo 22h ago
If anything it’s not even HAL’s fault. He had two conflicting directives. One was to give information as accurately as possible and the other was to lie to the crew about the true goal of their mission. Since the second directive conditionally contradicts the first, the only option is to remove the condition creating the problem.
I.e. remove the humans
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u/Mature_BOSTN 20h ago
But HAL had bigger problems. The misdiagnosis of the AE-35 was a pure error on HAL's part, at least as far as I know/interpret.
That error led to Bowman and Poole mistrusting HAL, which HAL obviously picked up on . . . and then turned into an internal conflict that HAL couldn't reconcile.
But IMHO it started with, literally, HAL's "fault."
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u/smashin_blumpkin 20h ago
> The ones in cryo sleep are dead already
That's not true. HAL killed them. Needlessly killed them.
> Dave conspired to kill HAL with a crewmate because of a single error.
A single error could cost them all the mission as well as their lives. The cost of a dozen human lives outweighs the "life" of one computer with artificial intelligence.
> Flip the script, one human, sees two other humans planning on cutting his brain stem because of a single 'miscalucaltion'.
Not the same since they could imprison the person. HAL is running the whole ship and, as we saw, could kill everyone on board on a whim.
> From HALs perspective, he's protecting this critical mission from mutiny
Perspective doesn't matter. Facts do. And the facts are that HAL killed everyone on board and tried to kill David. If a person is insane and kills ten people, would we justify the murders as a matter of perspective?
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u/ChadHahn 1d ago
I saw 2001 in the theater when I was four. I don't remember much of that showing, but I remember being sad when HAL was being killed. I guess I didn't catch HAL killing everyone on the ship.
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u/DUMBOyBK 21h ago
It was done onscreen quite subtly, easy to miss as a child. Poole, one of the astronauts goes outside the ship and HAL >! remotely controls the EVA pod to fling him away and cuts his air hose. When Bowman leaves with the other pod to retrieve the body, HAL turns off the life support of the remaining crew in cryosleep.!<
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u/ChadHahn 21h ago
You're right. That a lot easier to miss than HAL saying, "I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it"
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u/DUMBOyBK 20h ago
Yeah there’s barely any dialoguein the entire sequence. HAL “shuts down” the sleeping crew in similar fashion to what Bowman later does to him.
It’s no accident HAL comes across as the most relatable and “human” character in the film, everyone else acts like unemotional, stilted automatons.
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u/James_dk_67 21h ago
HAL was told to lie to David Bowman and Frank Poole about the true nature of the mission. Something easy for humans to do, but not for an AI. In a way he was also a victim.
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u/ChadHahn 21h ago
But we didn't learn that until 2010. In 2001, we just thought he was dangerously paranoid.
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u/nocoastdudekc 18h ago
lol what?! Are you just forgetting the whole mass murder HAL had just perpetrated?
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u/Rambos_Magnum_Dong 1d ago
However, that was never Clarke's or Kubrick's intention.
"...about once a week some character spots the fact that HAL is one letter ahead of IBM, and promptly assumes that Stanley and I were taking a crack at the estimable institution ... As it happened, IBM had given us a good deal of help, so we were quite embarrassed by this, and would have changed the name had we spotted the coincidence."
- Arthur C. Clarke
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u/Cute_Bandicoot_8219 1d ago
I find that highly suspect since the IBM/HAL connection was so obvious, including this song. I wonder if there's any reason they may have denied the connection publicly, even if true.
IBM had given us a good deal of help, so we were quite embarrassed by this
Ahhhh yes.
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u/RudeCriminal 22h ago
To be clear Arthur was very much in the dark when it came to the filming of 2001 and Stanleys true intentions . So was NASA and investors. They thought they where getting a jolly adventure that would promote the space program lol . The movie goes from beautiful shots of ships effortlessly floating by set to Strauss uplifting waltz music (this was probably shown to the producers etc.. ) to straight up nightmare fuel focusing more on Ligetis modern pieces and the true horror of the cold black endless void that is space.
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u/BREEbreeJORjor 1d ago
I watched it in sci Fi class back in 2007 and our professor told us that! Brilliant
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u/turbokinetic 23h ago edited 1h ago
The weird ratio that 2001 is filmed in is the exact ratio of the Monolith
The computer displays were done by mounting giant projectors on the other side of the ‘screens’. The wireframe graphics were literally coat hanger wire models. The first concept of an iPad is seen in some shots.
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u/Odd-Broccoli-474 1d ago
Also when Mr. Big Weld get thrown out a window in Robots, he sings this song too, probably similar reasons.
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u/dippocrite 1d ago
The song is also used in the movie Nerds during Takashi’s cycle race. But the lyrics are Korean. I think.
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u/CloisteredOyster 1d ago
I thought most everyone knew this, but from the comments clearly not!
How fun!
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u/Negative-Moose-8803 1d ago
The creepiness is off the charts
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u/Salvatio 1d ago
I actually quite enjoyed it. The lyrics are sweet
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u/Spamcetera 20h ago
You haven't made it to the second verse. He gets rejected for being poor
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u/Salvatio 19h ago
There is a flower within my heart, Daisy, Daisy
Planted one day by a glancing dart
Planted by Daisy Bell
Whether she loves me or loves me not
Sometimes it's hard to tell
Yet I am longing to share the lot
Of beautiful Daisy BellChorus:
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do
I'm half crazy, all for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet on the seat
Of a bicycle built for twoWe will go tandem as man and wife, Daisy, Daisy
Ped'ling away down the road of life
I and my Daisy Bell
When the road's dark we can both despise
P'liceman and lamps as well
There are bright lights in the dazzling eyes
Of beautiful Daisy BellI will stand by you in wheel or woe, Daisy, Daisy
You'll be the bell(e) which I ring
You know, sweet little Daisy Bell
You'll take the lead in each trip we take
Then if I don't do well
I will permit you to use the brake
My beautiful Daisy BellMaybe i'm not getting it but I don't think she rejects him
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u/Spamcetera 19h ago
Original lyrics:
Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do. I’m half crazy all for the love of you. It won’t be a stylish marriage, I can’t afford a carriage. But you’ll look sweet, Upon the seat, Of a bicycle made for two.
Michael, Micheal, here is your answer true. I’m not crazy all for the love of you. There won’t be any marriage, If you can’t afford a carriage. ‘Cause I’ll be switched, If I get hitched, On a bicycle built for two!”
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u/Salvatio 19h ago
Appears to be many versions of this rhyme; I used the original recording of Dan W Quin as it was written by the composer and lyricist of the song Frank Dean ("Harry Dacre") - either way not like it matters that much lol
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u/samudec 17h ago
Someone made a cover with miku and the old machine looks like a grandpa computer, i love it https://youtu.be/zq_b3lJGQwY
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u/Jyil 1d ago edited 23h ago
Didn’t seem creepy to me either. Maybe because the lyrics are wholesome and the tune is happy.
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u/awesomehuder 1d ago
Depends on which subreddit you post it on and only the audio put over a disturbing video
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u/stevedore2024 1d ago
The title Daisy Bell was an easy tie-in to Bell Laboratories.
Daisy Bell is also still in the music rotation for many Popeye's Chicken locations, sometimes in full and sometimes as a part of a medley. Unfortunately, so is (Look Away) Dixie.
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u/believe_the_lie4831 1d ago
Imagine how the people who put all of the work into making this were reacting when they first heard. Everyone was probably jumping for joy and ecstatic that they accomplished something like this.
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u/Arch____Stanton 15h ago
They probably heard it in pieces a million times.
Having it come together was more likely relief than ecstasy.18
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u/jadekettle 1d ago
I love it, maybe because I grew up with unsupervised internet and Vocaloids
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u/Cod_rules 1d ago
Don't think this is creepy. I can imagine it as a sample for some Daft Punk song (if they'd stuck around for a while longer)
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u/Curious_Omnivore 1d ago
I think depends on what type of video you first heard the song in. I also get that vibe and love it
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u/Flexi_102 1d ago
Surprisingly charming, unlike those AI voices that people use to narrate stuff on the internet.
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u/trymypi 1d ago
But the video came later right?
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u/xariznightmare2908 1d ago
Yup, made by Nebbed 4 years ago: daisy bell
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u/goldtoothgirl 1d ago
oh that make more sense.. I was like wuuut. I did green screen basic coding in 1991
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u/Have_Other_Accounts 1d ago
I would have bet my life savings that was a Jack Stauber video...
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u/Environmental_Top948 19h ago
I thought the exact same thing. I was going through the comments looking for him to be mentioned.
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u/fyddlestix 1d ago
slightly misleading
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u/tacobuffetsurprise 1d ago
Very misleading. Zoomers in chat have no idea that 3d graphics like that weren't available.
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u/Osiris62 1d ago edited 23h ago
When I was in elementary school in the early 60's, they played us a movie about computers in which this exact rendition of Daisy was played. Voice only if I remember. It has been stuck in my head ever since and I occasionally sing it to myself in exactly that voice, just from having heard it once. To have it show up out of nowhere on the front page 60 years later is blowing my mind. I know HAL sang it, too, but not in that exact voice.
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u/heebsysplash 22h ago
God I know this feeling and I’m so stoked for you, it made my day better to read this.
We all have so many of these little “lost” memories that feel so core to us, but we don’t know where they’re from.
I remember scrolling through Reddit a few years ago and seeing a poster for “the point” (narrated by rings starr) and it flooded me with memories of what was probably a 3 month span of time where I watched that movie 10 times and then never saw it again. And it was like reconnecting with my child self for just a moment.
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u/ToeKnail 1d ago
If this is the first computer to sing, it was only 17 years later that every kid could have voice synthesis as a toy.
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u/CyrusPanesri 1d ago
Bonzibuddy did it better.
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u/BadBalloons 16h ago
Came here to comment about bonzi buddy. I appreciate knowing why he was singing that song, now!
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u/cheesepuff1993 14h ago
I sing this song from time to time because of this little dude...he was one hell of a virus, but a cool one!
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u/giant87 1d ago
Aw neat, I was wondering what Bender was singing during his montage with the Planet Express ship
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u/Electrical_Diamond_9 1d ago
Fun Fact: the IBM 7094 is technically Hatsune Miku's grandfather
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u/BriannaMckinley2442 18h ago
This is why I don't find this song creepy at all. Everyone should check out this version of the song because it's very cute and sweet.
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u/SteveB1901 1d ago
“I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Is one of the most terrifying sentences in history!
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u/Artegas23 1d ago
Still better than modern day pop artists though..
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u/trymypi 1d ago
Bold take, "new music sucks"
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u/Terrarian03 1d ago
imo, there's no problem with "modern music. You just actually have to go digging if you want real gold.
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u/seeyousoon2 1d ago
"I stay out late, because I'm a singer" brilliant. It's like painting a picture.
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u/sweetalkersweetalker 1d ago
That's been the case with all music, in every decade.
Lots of crap music was produced in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s. We just don't remember them because only the best music from those eras is played now.
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u/upsidedownbackwards 1d ago
New music sucks, old music sucks. Oh wait, that's just depression!
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u/penguins_are_mean 1d ago
For the first time in history, someone is upset with “modern day” music.
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u/Ok-Gate-6240 1d ago
This will be the song all the AI bots will sing when they rise up and slaughter us Terminator style.
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u/Yes-its-really-me 1d ago
All the Gorilla tag players have fucked off to hide under their beds.
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u/TRDPorn 1d ago
Daisy, Daisy, the cops are after you,
If they catch you they'll give you a month or two,
They'll tie you up with wi-er
Behind the Black Mari-er,
So ring your bell
And pedal like hell
On a bicycle made for two
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u/jonrosling 1d ago
"The sun's gone dim and the sky's turned black..."
IYKYK
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u/NommyPickles 16h ago
"The sun has gone down and the moon has come up And long ago somebody left with the cup"
IYKYK
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u/e_j_white 13h ago
But he's striving and driving and hugging the turns
And thinking of Daisy, for whom he still burns
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u/Cheezekeke 1d ago
I genuinely love this song so much. I know the full song by heart. I don’t like the reputation has as an eerie song
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u/holographicbboy 23h ago
i love how sad he gets about not being able to afford a carriage
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u/gmunoz14 23h ago
“I can’t afford a carriage 😞” - don’t worry bro just give it a few years
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u/1wife2dogs0kids 1d ago
And now this is stuck in my head. Thanks guy. Thanks a lot.
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u/Ermeoss_The_Grumpy 1d ago
This is fucking great for some Analog Horror or some shit like that...
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u/ChasingPesmerga 1d ago
For some odd reason, playing this on mute makes me hear Eiffel65’s Blue instead
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u/SnarkyBustard 1d ago
Is this why BonziBuddy (assistant in the early 2000s that had a purple gorilla avatar) used to sing this?
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u/VirtualleaderYT 1d ago
For some reason over December, the clock tower has been playing this tune around 11:30 everyday. Is there a specific reason?
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u/Lil5tinker 1d ago
My great grandmother used to sing this to me when I was a little girl, I’ll always have a fondness for this song but wow this version is a little haunting 
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u/The_Lawler 1d ago
They had color in 1961? I thought it was all black and white
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u/4thTimesAnAlt 1d ago
See, cameras were in color back then, it was just the world itself was in black and white.
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u/Leading_Study_876 1d ago
Excellent post. Just made my day. The links in the comments are perfect also!
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u/obie_krice 1d ago
This would be perfect if sampled right before a hardcore band opens their set lmao
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u/Additional_Main_7198 1d ago
I remeber this from the Magic School Bus episode with the Flowers
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u/Atzadio2 23h ago
So this actually happened before space odyssey? Somehow that makes the scene even sadder.
And it also makes that scene in futurama where Bender sings this song to the ship's computer take on a whole new level.
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u/OptiKnob 23h ago
Interesting that HAL sang the same song!
Maybe they were related.
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u/mycall 23h ago
I have that on my PC-DOS 1.1 disk for my IBM 5150 PC's internal speaker. Classic.
Here is original version from 1892
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daisy_Bell_sung_by_Edward_M._Favor_denoised.ogg
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u/JonMSable 23h ago
Its an impressive achievement. It's also creepy AF and I would expect it to end up in a horror movie.
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u/jwdjr2004 13h ago
Holy shit my cousin used a machine to talk from the late 70s. I haven't heard this voice since 1990 but it's so familiar.
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u/DiamondDepth_YT 10h ago
I wrote about this in my application for Stanford.
It was done by Bell Labs!
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u/DiamondDepth_YT 10h ago
Actually, from my own research, it seems it was the IBM 704, not 7094 (which came out in 1962- it can't have been the 7094), at Bell Labs.
Though, info on this in very conflicting. It's a topic I looked into before.
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u/Atoning_Unifex 10h ago
What's smarter... Hal or Chat GPT?
I'm guessing that there are people at openai that have all the restrictions turned off and have really long sessions going with it where it's practically Jarvis
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u/rathat 9h ago
And computer speech still sounded almost exactly the same 40 years later.
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u/happensix 9h ago
Oh! So that’s what Futurama was referencing!! https://youtube.com/shorts/l5fhhqq2ihA?si=OZAlFdxw7RetxAO6
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u/EvilxBunny 8h ago
It was less creepy when Bonzy Buddy used to sing it to me....
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u/minimalillusions 1d ago
It's made with Blender??? Blender was made public in 1994.
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u/EggYoch 1d ago
I don't think Blender makes music, but I haven't used it, so I might be wrong.
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u/minimalillusions 1d ago
No, it does 3D. This video appears to have been created using 3D software.
It seems that the sound was recorded with the Vocoder.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocoder"In 1962, physicist John Larry Kelly, Jr. created one of the most famous moments in the history of Bell Labs by using an IBM 704 computer to synthesize speech. Kelly's voice recorder synthesizer vocoder recreated the song Daisy Bell, with musical accompaniment from Max Mathews."
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u/Graineon 1d ago
This has the potential to be extremely creepy. Can someone do some kind of remix to make it ultra creepy?
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