A musician’s attempt to expose the limitations of AI-generated music backfired spectacularly when his experimental creation became an unexpected viral sensation.
Steve Terreberry, a guitarist and content creator, set out to test various AI music-generating tools with the expectation of producing what he calls “AI slop” – low-quality, soulless computer-generated tracks.
Instead, he stumbled upon something entirely different: a genuinely catchy power metal anthem that has captivated listeners across social media platforms.
The experiment began when Terreberry explored Mureka, an AI platform that advertises its ability to create “unique and customizable songs, lyrics, and tracks for any project.” About nine minutes into his testing process, he initially tried to craft something reminiscent of avant-garde artist Yoko Ono.
When the results leaned more toward symphonic metal band Nightwish than intended, he pivoted to creating a power metal track instead.
Here’s where things took an unexpected turn. Rather than carefully crafting lyrics, Terreberry simply pressed random keys on his keyboard. The AI tool then “optimized” his nonsensical input by adding rhyming phrases at the end of each line, creating what sounded remarkably like Japanese-inspired lyrics.
The resulting verse read: “izuxfbk we’re flying high / zxfukhz across the sky / lsugaku never say goodbye / xfghzlx our dreams will never die.”
“I have a feeling that this is just gonna sound like a Japanese power metal song,” Terreberry predicted – though he had no idea how accurate that assessment would prove to be.
The finished product, now known as “Isugaku Never Say Goodbye,” turned out to be surprisingly compelling. Even Terreberry himself was caught off guard by the quality. “Not gonna lie, man, I would probably add that to my Spotify playlist,” he admitted. “It sounds like an anime theme song, too, kinda.”
Since the video’s upload, the accidental composition has become viral across social media platforms, including X, TikTok, and YouTube, where a full version has been made available. The track’s infectious energy and unexpectedly polished sound have resonated with listeners who expected to hear something far less impressive.
Online commenters have embraced the song with enthusiasm and humor. Many joked that the AI “kinda cooked with this one,” while others praised how the track goes “insanely hard” for something created through random keystrokes and algorithmic processing.
The viral success comes at a time when AI’s role in the music industry has become increasingly contentious. Major streaming platforms like Spotify have cracked down on what they consider “spammy” AI-generated content, while simultaneously, some AI-created artists have secured multi-million dollar record deals and received promotion from high-profile producers.
Whether intentional or not, Terreberry’s AI experiment has produced something that resonates with audiences.