Every few years, media comes alive with discussion and debate around the use of technology in pop music, often focused on that most personal of instruments – the human voice.

Vocal manipulation is nothing new. It is ubiquitous and fundamental to pop music production – from self-harmonising on records in the 1950s, to autotune technology in the 90s and now millisecond precise editing, combining hundreds of individual vocal performances at the syllable level.

Generative AI is now prevalent in music as well. The use of platforms such as Suno are hugely popular. Suno can clone a voice within minutes. This can then be used to automatically generate a song with your voice, no matter how in tune or technically capable it originally was.

It can also take existing voices and remap them to other tunes. For example, take this mashup (below) of Cotton Eye Joe, “sung” by a digital Amy Winehouse.

But with the advent of this technology, is there a threshold of achievement before the individual voice is manipulated so much it is effectively removed altogether?

Here are six songs that exemplify how evolving technologies have changed the human voice since the 1950s.

1. Buddy Holly – Words of Love (1957)

The technique of double tracking takes two separate recordings of the voice and plays them together.

This simple technique, only achievable with the creative application of advances in recording technology in the 50s, gives the impression of a “thicker” vocal.

In Words of Love, Buddy Holly went one step further and harmonised with himself. It is a technique that is still used in modern production, by pioneering musicians like Imogen Heap.

2. The Beatles – When I’m 64 (1967)

When I’m 64 features an example of pitch manipulation. It’s done by changing the playback speed of the tape the vocal was recorded onto.

The tape is sped up slightly to give a higher pitched and “frail” sound – signifying the 64-year-old man.

Prince often used this technique. You can hear it in songs like Housequake (1987) on the Sign o’ the Times album.

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3. Kraftwerk – Autobahn (1974)

The vocal statement as this track kicks in sounds robotic. That is due to the use of a Vocoder machine.

The Vocoder combines the human voice with a synthesiser, creating a strange, futuristic effect.

Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (2001) is another example of this technology.

4. Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It’s True (1988)

Milli Vanilli is perhaps one of the more controversial examples. That’s because in Girl You know It’s True, the vocals were not performed by the artists themselves. Instead, other anonymous singers were used to lay down the vocals for the albums and the two stars mimed. It caused an uproar when the truth came out.

While not strictly a technique, this is a key pivot point where music is commodified beyond the song into a wider package. The MTV era moved backing track performances to the foreground, as artists – especially pop artists – began to mime to the “perfect” recorded music.

This in turn led to protest performances on shows like the UK’s Top of the Pops, from artists like Oasis who played up to the fact they weren’t singing live.

It also caused embarrassment for singer Ashlee Simpson on Saturday Night Live in 2004 when her lip-synching was revealed as the wrong track played out.

5. Cher – Believe (1998)

Believe was one of the first mainstream examples of using autotune technology as an effect, rather than its intended use of bringing an otherwise out of tune vocal into tune.

The verses and pre-choruses of this track are where this takes place.

This was the catalyst that has led on to autotune being a valid production technique. Its use is exemplified by artists like Charli XCX.

6. Ariana Grande – 7 Rings (2019)

Extreme editing of vocals is achievable in modern music software. We are a long way away from literally taking a razor blade to tape to combine one or two vocal performances, as would have been the norm in the late 50s and 60s.

Nowadays we can edit beyond the individual syllable, and it is common practice to do so, to create the “perfect” performance.

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In this example, a stylistic choice has been made to remove the biological necessity of breathing – a technical achievement in vocal layering and processing. There are many other vocal processing effects going on as well, but the minimal breathing is notable.

Grande is also know for using Imogen Heap’s MiMu Gloves to play with her vocals by controlling the sound through hand gestures.

Too much tech?

Artists like Grande use technology creatively. But the use of autotune in particular is becoming standard across recorded, and sometimes even live performance.

It has been argued by artists like Justin Hawkins that many singers sound the way they do precisely because they are not perfect and can’t sing exactly in tune. The character and the nuance of who they are lies in between the tones and microtones.

More sophisticated techniques in production, either live or recorded, will continue to develop, now aided by AI. These developments will challenge ideas of authenticity, creative ethics, artistry and ownership.

But it is my hope that artists and musicians rise to this challenge and discover new creative possibilities, sparking new and unheard sonic textures and musical genres. All the while retaining that most fundamental component of creativity – humanity.

Semenyo and Guehi entered negotiations with their eyes open.

Both had the Premier League’s elite to choose from in January.

Semenyo was a target for Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham. Liverpool, too, were credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, who had a £65m release clause at Bournemouth. He prioritised a move to City.

Guehi was admired on an even greater scale. Out of contract at Crystal Palace at the end of this season, the England defender had suitors across Europe.

Bayern, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid had serious interest in signing him on a free transfer at the end of the season, while Real Madrid and Barcelona were also in the running. Liverpool‘s interest was well documented. Arsenal and Tottenham also tried to convince him to agree to move across London this summer.

Guehi chose City.

It is inconceivable that either player decided to sign a long-term contract without knowing it is likely the majority of that time will be spent under a manager who is not Guardiola.

Of course, the opportunity to work for him – even if it is for six months – is one most players are not afforded. But that alone is unlikely to have been enough to compel Semenyo and Guehi to sign five-and-a-half-year deals.

City can no longer lean heavily on the idea of flourishing under Guardiola in their pitches to players.

According to sources, rival club executives have used the emerging narrative over the managerial situation to persuade players to ignore advances from the Blues – as if to suggest their success will wane once Guardiola is gone.

Nevertheless – certainly for Semenyo and Guehi – City’s pitch remains among the most competitive around, despite the uncertainty over Guardiola.

There is no escaping the fact they are one of the best payers in Europe, and it would be disingenuous to suggest finances were not a big factor in the two new signings.

That said, it is understood Tottenham‘s offer to Semenyo was the most lucrative he received in January.

Indeed, sources close to both transfers say it was City demonstrating they gave a virtual guarantee of competing for the biggest trophies and consistent Champions League qualification that proved pivotal in the decision-making process.

Their state-of-the-art infrastructure and off-field ambitions are key features of their pitch to new players, but ultimately it centres on on-field success.

They impress on prospective signings the world-class squad already assembled, combined with their commitment to continue recruiting elite players.

Their strategy of extending the contracts of their best talent in search of continuity and stability also features prominently in their pitch. The 10-year contract that striker Erling Haaland signed last year is a case in point.

But it is City’s body of work under their Abu Dhabi ownership – even prior to Guardiola’s arrival – that is their truly unique selling point for prospective signings.

The trophies speak for themselves.

That is not to say there are not some uncertainties. The implications of City’s prolonged legal battle over the much-documented 115 charges in relation to alleged Premier League financial rule breaches weighs heavily over the Etihad. The club strongly deny any wrongdoing.

The outcome of the case will resonate, and any punishment may alter the landscape of English football and City’s history.

While no-one knows where the case is up to, the rebuild City have carried out over the past year suggests they are not actively preparing for the worst.

Regardless of what lies ahead in that respect, they will continue to prepare the football operation for success way beyond when Guardiola is gone.

For those at City, the arrivals of Semenyo and Guehi have provided tangible proof that their recruitment operations are not dependent on Guardiola’s employment.

Stacey Solomon stepped in for Simon Cowell at the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in Birmingham and the head judge has now praised her judging skills, calling her ‘incredible’

Stacey Solomon has been showered with praise by Simon Cowell.

The former X Factor hopeful turned TV presenter stepped in for Simon during the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in Birmingham while the head judge was absent through illness.

She took her place alongside Amanda Holden, KSI and Alesha Dixon on the judging panel, having previously auditioned for Simon herself on the ITV singing competition back in 2009.

Speaking at ITV Showcase 2026, Simon said: “I think Stacey Solomon was incredible.” Amanda joked: “We loved her. I think the thing is Simon really liked me sitting in his seat.”

Simon continued: “I’ve noticed whenever I’m off you can’t wait to get to get on that chair. She joked: “I use one less cushion.””, reports the Mirror.

Producers drafted in Stacey to prevent the sessions from being cancelled, and she was widely commended for her warm, empathetic manner with those auditioning. She hit her golden buzzer for Braunstone Community Primary School from Leicestershire during her time on the panel.

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READ MORE: How to take part in Britain’s Got Talent series 20 as applications openREAD MORE: BGT faces backlash as fans say same thing over Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer

The pupils delivered a rousing rendition of All Things Bright And Beautiful before breaking into a freestyle dance routine set to a medley of rave classics. Stacey was captivated by the act’s infectious energy and enthusiasm, sending them straight through to the live semi-finals. They will take to the stage once more this evening (Saturday, May 2), with Stacey having surprised the pupils with a visit to the school last week.

Former headteacher Halil Tamugus, who featured in the audition as Mr T and developed the concept, told the Mirror: “Stacey’s a good friend of ours now, we back her fully, and she backs us. And she came into the school as well, she made a surprise visit last week. It was great.

“She came in, she gave us a little bit of a pep talk to believe in ourselves, and, you know, give it our best shot, but to really enjoy it. And the kids really bought into that, and they buy into her, so, yeah, it’ll be amazing to see her again at the Semis.

“When Stacey pressed the Golden Buzzer, it took me probably 30 seconds longer than everybody else to actually process what was going on. It was just a complete shock.

“We weren’t expecting it. It wasn’t the reason we went on the show. The reason we went onto the show was just to share and spread some joy.”

The school ravers face competition from Alfredo and Coral, Fabian Fox, Katherine O’Malley, Macshane and Delby, Nic Vani, Sadeck Berrabah and LMA, plus World Wings.

Alongside the exciting acts, series 17 champion Sydnie Christmas returns to perform, with an “extra-special” appearance from the Great Ormond Street Hospital Choir.

The choir’s performance, featuring hospital staff and volunteers, is backed by GOSH charity patron and BGT judge Simon himself.

Britain’s Got Talent continues Saturday, May 2 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX

This year, the Birmingham Stage company tours the two Horrible Histories books that got the gory ball rolling for actor-teacher turned publishing phenomenon Terry Deary in 1993: The Terrible Tudors and The Awesome Egyptians. The Egyptians have been upgraded to ‘Awful’: discover the foul facts of death and decay amid the mummies, and get to know some not so great things about Ramesses the Great. In Terrible Tudors, you hear tales of the torturing Tudors, discover the fate of Henry’s headless wives, and survive the Spanish Armada. The BBC has gone big on Horrible Histories for years, but Neal Foster’s productions use 3D-projections and old-fashioned rollicking theatricality to banish any whiff of classroom tedium or screen-dependency.

Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, May 14-16, 2026; touring to Oct (Storyhouse, Chester); venues include Nottingham Theatre Royal, Bristol Old Vic and His Majesty’s, Aberdeen

Age recommendation: 5+

Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Tickets: https://birminghamstage.com

Matilda the Musical

The Team Relay consists of 5 legs of varying distance

The 44th annual Belfast City Marathon is set to take over the city this Sunday.

Thousands of runners will be putting on their trainers and taking on the mammoth 26.2-mile challenge alongside relay teams splitting up the miles.

Whether you are running for charity, setting yourself a new challenge or taking part for fun, the team relay at Belfast City Marathon is a beloved event for all those involved.

READ MORE: Belfast City Marathon 2026 road closures, route, transport, results, Expo details and more ahead of race dayREAD MORE: Belfast City Marathon Results 2026: Official finish times

The Team Relay consists of 5 legs, of varying distances, with changeover points across the route:

• LEG 1: Stormont Estate – Montgomery Road, 4.2 miles.
• LEG 2: Montgomery Road – Boucher Road, 6.8 miles.
• LEG 3: Boucher Road – Falls Road, 4.5 miles.
• LEG 4: Falls Road – Duncairn Gardens, 5 miles.
• LEG 5: Duncairn Gardens – Ormeau Park 5.7 miles.

Please note that team relay leg distances are approximate and subject to change and may differ as a result of where you changeover with your fellow team mate. Each changeover point could stretch over 0.5 miles.

The Belfast City Marathon has shared exact changeover points along the relay stops which correspond to each relay team numbers.

See the exact points in the post below…

Belfast City Marathon route map

How to get to Belfast City Marathon Relay starting points

A shuttle bus service will run 8:00am – 10:00am from Annadale Embankment at Dunnes Stores to drop runners off at their designated relay changeover point:

• Montgomery Road – 08:00 – 08:30
• Boucher Road – 08:30 – 09:00
• Falls Road – 09:00 – 09:30
• Duncairn Gardens – 09:30 – 10:00

Getting back to Belfast City Centre – a shuttle bus will transport participants from Ormeau Embankment to Belfast City Centre. This service will run from 11:45am – 4:00pm.

Getting back to Stormont – every 3rd shuttle bus leaving Ormeau Embankment will transport spectators back to Stormont

All buses are free to spectators and participants on race day.

Official Belfast Marathon finish times and results will be available here as soon as runners cross the finish line.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Wannabe Reform UK councillor Stuart Prior has been exposed for a series of horrendous and alarming tweets.

A Reform candidate has launched an appalling racist tirade, even declaring white people “the master race”. Stuart Prior, standing in Essex in next week’s local elections, hit out with a slew of hateful comments just months ago.

The property company director appeared to celebrate Punjabi and Sikh women being raped, suggested black people had smaller brains and branded Muslims “rats”.

His extreme comments, made on a X, previously Twitter, account under his name, was revealed in a joint investigation with the Mirror and anti-racism group Hope Not Hate (HnH).

The 54-year-old was confronted by the Mirror at his detached property in an Essex village with a dossier of evidence, but denied being a racist.

On his “master race” tweet, Prior claimed: “I don’t recall that at all, blimey.” And in reference to his comment about black people’s brains, he said: “Goodness me, that is not me, 100 per cent not.”

And reading back his tweet saying “good” and “reap it” in reference to women being raped, Prior said: “No, this isn’t me.”

Prior’s X account is believed to have been deleted earlier this year. He is standing in Rayleigh West in a bid to win a county council seat, as well as in Sweyne Park and Grange, part of Rochford District Council.

HnH’s director of research Joe Mulhall said: “Of all the racist and extreme Reform candidates we’ve found, Stuart Prior is one of the worst.

“In the local elections, Reform are hoping to do well in Essex, the county in which Nigel Farage is an MP, and have been projected to win the Council. Reform’s decision to select Stuart Prior shows, however, that the people of Essex deserve far better.”

Prior’s tweets mark the latest blow for Farage’s party and its vetting standards. Last month, the Mirror exposed a series of Reform candidates’ views including one for being a fan of notorious fascist leader Oswald Mosley.

In response to a tweet questioning whether white women should be allowed to wear braids, Prior wrote in December: “As the master race, they can do as they please.”

In October, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana tweeted referring to a woman of Punjabi heritage being raped in a racist attack and a Sikh woman suffering the same fate, adding: “These horrifying attacks show how racism and misogyny feed each other – fuelled by the rise of fascism and hate.” Prior reposted the tweet, writing: “good.reap it”.

In November he suggested white people had bigger brains than black people. A user shared pictures of white athletes on the floor next to their black counterparts standing, writing: “But how did they manage to colonize us?”

In response, Prior wrote: “Larger brains. Google which race has the smallest brain…. Then, once you have that answer, Google whether brain size dictates intelligence in humans.”

The same month, Prior declared: “There cannot be a genocide against Muslims. It’s only ever self defence against those rats.” Reacting to a video of a black man apparently being disruptive on a tube train, in October Prior used a racial slur.

In response to a tweet referencing the Huntingdon knife attack, Prior wrote in November: “If this was caused by another third world invader, then this country needs a purge. From North to South and from East to West.”

When put to him by the Mirror that he had identified his house by sharing a picture of his dog by the window, Prior confirmed he had one of the animals, adding: “I don’t recall these tweets…”

Another image he posted of a Union flag shows part of his property. Read a tweet in which he had referred to immigrants as a “cancer”, Prior said: “This looks likely something that’s been kind of created against me.” Reform said it was “looking into” Prior’s posts.

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Charlie and Laura Haynes banged on Stacey Blackman’s front door in Folkestone, Kent, and then ambushed her with the weapon, before launching a prolonged assault that left her jaw fractured and teeth missing

A mum and son have been jailed for a combined 10 and a half years after a “vicious” and “unprovoked” hammer attack on a former friend.

Charlie and Laura Haynes banged on Stacey Blackman’s front door in Folkestone, Kent, and then ambushed her with the weapon, before launching a prolonged assault that left her jaw fractured and teeth missing.

When their former friend curled into a ball, the duo dragged her into the bathroom and forced her head underwater, causing her to fear drowning.

Charlie, who was 19 at the time of the attack, then repeatedly punched Ms Blackman’s face as she tried resting her head on the toilet seat inside her blood-splattered bathroom.

Following their arrest the next day, the pair denied their actions, but a jury unanimously convicted them of grievous bodily harm with intent in February following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

Ms Blackman was left with horrific injuries, including a fracture to her left upper jaw, eight missing teeth, bruising and wounds to her mouth. Following the assault on the morning of June 1, 2024 mum and son fled and took the hammer with them, washed it, before stashing it in a cupboard under the sink.

The prosecution said the attack was a revenge one, although the motivations were unclear.

One suggestion was an incident where Laura’s windows were smashed by stones. Another was that the attack was over a missing phone.

Prosecutor Allister Walker described how the mum gave her son instructions as he beat Ms Blackman, and made comments such as, “Where’s your boyfriend now?”

He read the court a statement written by Ms Blackman, in which she said: “I used to feel safe in my home. I’m still physically suffering due to the attack. I was beaten so badly that eight teeth were knocked out of my mouth, and I need further dental treatment.

“This treatment isn’t covered by the NHS, and I am told it will cost £20,000, including bone grafts. Sometimes, I get phantom pain where my teeth were. It has impacted my self-confidence. I hate looking in the mirror as the scars are a reminder of the assault.

“I am not the same person I was before this happened.”

She said that she no longer goes out before 9pm, as that’s when the mum and son’s police enforced curfew began. Ms Blackman also says she could not use her own bathtub for months after the assault.

She added: “Laura was my friend. This was not a random attack.”

Mr Walker said that there was “a significant degree of planning and premeditation” by the pair.

Defending both Charlie, now 22, and Laura, Nicholas Hamblin said they both were of previous good character.

He told the court: “Laura, aged 40, has a caution or reprimand when she was considerably younger for an offence of a completely different nature. She has caring responsibility not only for her 14-year-old twins, but also for her mother, who unfortunately is subject to early-onset dementia.

“Charlie has, in the pre-sentence report, spoken of regret for attending the home and what happened thereafter. He was 19 at the time, so an immature young man.”

Mr Hamblin also said Charlie has suffered from considerable anxiety, to the extent that a referral to mental health services was considered.

He said that as a single mother, Laura’s two girls would have to be rehoused, and her pets rehomed. He added: “A friend of over 25 years describes her as a devoted mother and a kind and compassionate person. She is sincerely sorry for how things unfolded, and said it was the biggest mistake of her life. It’s my submission that there is every hope this young man and his mother will never trouble the court again.”

The pair, from Folkestone at the time of the assault but more recently living in Ashford, were sentenced yesterday at Canterbury Crown Court. Recorder Michael Turner described the attack as “vicious, unprovoked and sustained”.

Jailing Charlie for five years and Laura for five-and-a-half, he said: “It’s difficult to see your motivation for such an out-of-control, violent assault, and it’s unsurprising that, as said in the impact statement, Ms Blackman has continued to suffer not only physical injuries but also from the psychological impacts of them.

“Ms Blackman was a victim who was obviously vulnerable due to her personal circumstances.

“I have taken into account your respective caregiving responsibilities, which in each case are significant, Laura, in particular, the twins for whom you are the sole carer. At the end of the day, this was an extremely serious assault that was completely unprovoked, on a defenceless, vulnerable woman early in the morning.”

The pair will each have to pay a victim surcharge of £228 and are subject to a restraining order preventing them from contacting Ms Blackman for five years.

They will be required to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences behind bars before being released on licence.

It’s revision season. If you’re a student preparing for upcoming exams, you might be tempted to put aside sport or other physical activity for a while in order to dedicate more time to learning.

But exercise is extremely important for academic success. Make time to be active. It may well help you revise better.

Doing some physical activity improves our ability to think and process information. My research with colleagues has shown this to be true for both primary school and secondary school pupils.

In fact, when we consider the different types of cognition, such as perception, memory and attention, the domain where physical activity has the greatest benefit is executive function. This is our ability to carry out complex, higher-level thinking. It’s the domain that is linked to academic performance.

Research has found that the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition last for around 45 minutes. This means it is important to have regular activity breaks to maximise the boost exercise gives to revision.

You could try scheduling your revision in hour-long blocks: 45 minutes of work followed by 10-15 minutes of physical activity. This could be walking, running, body weight exercises such as squats, or even some stretching.

Perhaps most importantly, though, find an activity that you like. You’ll then be more likely to incorporate it into your revision routine. So this could be a ten-minute walk after an hour of revision, a quick five-minute break for some squats or press-ups every half hour – or a morning swim or lunchtime run.

If you can, try to go outside for these breaks. My colleagues and I have recently carried out research showing that outdoor physical activity is more beneficial than indoor physical activity for cognition.

This was true for attention, memory and executive function, which we assessed using a battery of computerised tests. So, get up, take a break, get outside, get active and boost your revision.

You can also use the boost that exercise gives you on exam days. Perhaps take a pre-exam walk – it might help calm any nerves, too.

There are many possible reasons why physical activity can boost your revision. For example, it can increase blood flow to the brain and cause the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters – the tiny signalling molecules which help our brains work more effectively.

It’s vital that schools keep in mind how important physical activity is during exam season, too. One challenge here is that, in many schools, the sports hall also becomes the exam hall. This is understandable given space requirements.

Rather than limiting opportunities for PE, though, it could seen as an opportunity to take school physical activity outside, and for teachers to find innovative ways to help their students get the extra cognition boost that comes from being outdoors.

It’s key that schools, parents and students themselves don’t stop prioritising keeping active, even when there’s so much revision to cram in. Of course, there is always a balance to be found, but physical activity boosts our cognition, revision and learning. Why would we not want to make the most of this?

I often use the term “unleashing the power of physical activity”. I encourage you to do just this during revision and exam season. Whether you (or your child, your class, or any young people you know) are revising for GCSEs, A levels, university exams or any other tests, the same applies – stay smart, and stay active.

Looking to capitalise on any slip-up from the Tractor Boys is third-place Millwall, who host relegated Oxford as they look to book their place in the Premier League for the very first time. A point behind them is Middlesbrough, on the road at Wrexham with a tough task to end a top-tier exile that has lasted for almost a decade. Only one of those teams can go up this afternoon, with the other two having to pick themselves up quickly for the lottery of the play-offs, where Southampton are already guaranteed a place.