One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
T-Pain can totally do the National Anthem without auto-tune, or whatever else you want
File: T-Pain performs during "The Big Live Comedy Show" presented by YouTube Comedy Week held at Culver Studios on May 19, 2013 in Culver City.
(
Mark Davis/Getty Images for YouTube
)
T-Pain made his name by popularizing the sound of cranked up auto-tune, with hits of his own like "Buy U A Drank" and dozens of guest spots on hit songs like Flo Rida's "Low." Auto-tune ended up falling out of fashion — Jay-Z took a direct shot at it with his song "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" in 2009.
Amidst all of that, a lot of people didn't realize that T-Pain is actually a great singer. He reminded Los Angeles of that a few days ago, singing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium on Monday before a Dodgers/Giants game. Watch him deliver, sans auto-tune:
T-Pain's National Anthem at Dodgers/Giants game
NPR's "All Songs Considered" was also on the train making clear that T-Pain was an actual legit singer last year, when T-Pain played an NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert. Watch him make fun of his own reliance on auto-tune, as well as delivering a mellow version of "Buy U A Drank" with just keyboard accompaniment:
His last album was in 2011, and followed record label drama with the collapse of his previous label and a switch to RCA. Can T-Pain recapture some of his old mojo? You can find out when his new album comes out this November.
Of course, if you want to reminisce about T-Pain at his "Hey, I'm in on the joke" peak, complete with one of his previous trademark ridiculous top hats, just think back to his 2009 appearance on the Lonely Island song you couldn't escape, "I'm On A Boat":
Sponsored message
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
