Liza Minnelli Confronts AI Criticism Over New Dance Track Release
Legendary Broadway performer Liza Minnelli has directly addressed mounting criticism regarding the use of artificial intelligence in her newly released single, offering clear clarification about the technology's specific role in the creative process.
The iconic entertainer's latest track, titled "Kids Wait Till You Hear This," emerged this week as part of The Eleven Album, a compilation project curated by AI voice technology platform ElevenLabs. The song shares its name with Minnelli's forthcoming memoir, serving as what she describes as a "tease" for the upcoming publication.
Minnelli's Firm Stance Against Voice Replication
In a detailed statement shared via Facebook on Thursday, Minnelli responded to backlash she has received since the track's release, making her position unequivocally clear regarding what she will and will not permit regarding AI technology.
"What I will not allow this great company to do? Create, clone or copy my voice!" Minnelli declared emphatically. "On this dance track, 'Kids Wait Till You Hear This' which is a tease for my book, we used AI arrangements. Not AI vocals."
The performer expressed frustration with what she characterized as premature criticism, noting that "a few trolls didn't bother to read the truth, check with me or my partners." She confirmed that all spoken lines and shout-outs featured in the track are authentically her own vocal contributions.
Creative Collaboration with AI Technology
The composition features an AI-generated dance and deep-house musical arrangement, with Minnelli contributing spoken dialogue rather than traditional sung vocals. This represents her first new musical release since 2013, when she recorded "A Love Letter from the Times" for the NBC musical drama Smash.
In a press statement accompanying the album's release, Minnelli elaborated on her philosophical approach to the collaboration with ElevenLabs, describing her perspective on technological innovation in artistic expression.
"I've always believed that music is about connection and emotional truth," she explained. "What interested me here was the idea of using my voice and new tools in service of expression, not instead of it."
Minnelli further contextualized her decision by referencing her family background in entertainment, noting "I grew up watching my parents create wonderful dreams that were owned by other people," alluding to her famous parents Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. She praised ElevenLabs for making "it possible for anyone to be a creator and owner. That matters."
Broader Context of AI in Entertainment
The Eleven Album represents a significant experiment in human-AI creative collaboration, featuring contributions from several notable artists alongside Minnelli. Fellow music legend Art Garfunkel appears on the compilation with his track "Authorship," which incorporates a spoken excerpt from his memoir What Is It All But Luminous set against an AI-generated piano accompaniment.
According to ElevenLabs, their AI system aims to help artists "spark new ideas and accelerate their creative workflows" while facilitating what they term "co-creation" of original musical content.
Both Minnelli and Garfunkel participate in ElevenLabs' Iconic Voice Marketplace alongside Oscar-winning actors Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine. This platform enables the company to develop licensed synthetic versions of these celebrities' voices for authorized commercial applications.
Growing Industry Concerns About AI Protection
The release comes amid increasing industry apprehension regarding artificial intelligence's expanding role in entertainment. Just last week, Matthew McConaughey filed to trademark his signature catchphrase "alright, alright, alright" specifically to protect his likeness from unauthorized AI exploitation, including his voice, smile, and the famous expression he first improvised in Richard Linklater's 1993 comedy Dazed and Confused.
This follows multiple incidents that have sparked controversy within the entertainment sector. In September of last year, numerous stars voiced concerns after a Deadline report revealed several Hollywood talent agencies had expressed interest in signing "AI actress" Tilly Norwood—a completely virtual creation owned by talent studio Xicoia.
Additionally, in April last year, the Australian Radio Network's CADA station faced significant backlash after employing ElevenLabs technology to create an AI-generated radio host named Thy, who presented programming for six months before the station acknowledged the synthetic nature of the presenter.
Minnelli's statement concludes with characteristic enthusiasm, inviting listeners to "Go listen, enjoy, and shake your pretty buns to the music, as we glide down the runway to send my book into the world and your very own hot hands." Her most recent studio album, Confessions, was released in 2010, making this new AI-assisted track her first musical offering in over a decade.
