Music

Paul McCartney records audio emojis for Valentine's Day

by Jeremy Mersereau

Just in case you needed any more proof that we’re entering a new era of technological domination over every aspect of human communication, here’s a story that should put all doubts about the upcoming gamification of discourse: Sir Paul McCartney has recorded audio emojis, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“What’s this? A cartoon moose holding flowers, with music by one of the most renowned artists of all time? Baby, you shouldn’t have.”

In collaboration with Microsoft-owned video call app Skype (‘collaboration’ in this case probably involving a big sack of money with a dollar sign like a cartoon robber), McCartney has painstakingly crafted the soundtrack to 10 new animated emoji characters, from Love Sumo to Excited Octopus to Flirting Banana. These “Love Mojis” (ugh) are part of Skype’s larger plan to enlist celebrity-branded content to bring more users to its mobile chat service.

Sir Paul, who I must remind you was knighted in 1997 for forever revolutionizing popular music with his unforgettable songs with the Beatles, Wings, and others, created the short instrumental jingles that accompany cartoon animations of a sumo-wrestler Cupid shooting an arrow, two snakes dancing with each other, and a banana that seductively peels off its skin. Jealous much, Meat on Bone emoji?

If you need more insight into the moji-making process, here’s a behind-the-scenes video of Sir Paul bouncing around a studio recording his mini-masterpieces, coming across like some kind of unhinged, ADHD-afflicted seven-year-old. It’s kinda endearing, actually: