Pharrell Williams: ''Letter To My Godfather''

The 13-time GRAMMY winner makes his first visit to The Late Show to perform this song which appears in the Netflix documentary ''The Black Godfather.'' #Colbert #Music #Pharrell
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[@stillatin]

How is he almost 50 and looks like Jaden Smith

[@joanne4346]

😆😆😆

[@siwi666]

black don't crack

[@undeadly1103]

sold his soul to autotune for eternal youth

[@srpatterson10]

Lolz! 😂😂😂

[@SirDiamondRod]

Melanin

[@sosukewifhat]

he can sing he's using auto tune to bring a melancholic vibe

[@crimsonwring2723]

“Cause everybody hurts, sometimes...” Oh wait, we’re not singing REM??

[@chantellewilliams8289]

Right? I thought this too!

[@bibiseraphina]

THAT'S what I was hearing. I couldn't pinpoint it, but that's it!

[@naslisntxaij]

Wow. This would've been another beautiful song from Pharrell Williams but he messed it up with the autotune. Hopefully there's a regular version out there with no autotune.

[@DomDom-gh4dm]

Nope. The song is good with autotune. Y'all hating.

[@theR0ck3tsumm3r]

DomDom FACTS

Only boomers hating on auto tune. Y’all never heard Kanye West go in with it? Artistry in its own right.

[@sharonmickey4566]

I'm 58 and I don't get it either. I mean Roger Troutman, Peter Frampton and Stevie Wonder were using Talk Boxes in the 70's!!!! It sounds just like those old retro sounds... This song and lyrics are beautiful!! xo :)

[@qvimeracom]

@@sharonmickey4566 you rock

[@theR0ck3tsumm3r]

Sharon Mickey that’s the best way to put it... its our generations versions of those tools

[@advi86]

This man is too cool for this planet

[@srpatterson10]

He doesn't need the auto-tune. Nice song! 💖

[@neci596]

At all

[@romanmcghee600]

The documentary was an eye opener. The song is beautiful and to those critical of it, I challenge you to do better. I love this song.

[@taliyahgolden1156]

Im so proud of you shay❤️☺️

[@JesusLopez-cx3xb]

What a beautiful song. So great.

[@ChoskarChulian]

I liked it

[@cv972]

LOVE to EARTH

[@JTwist]

You guys really dont know about why auto tune is used smh

[@janovewaldner1]

There are thousands of black guys that could have performed that song magnificently without autotune, Pharrell should have given the opportunity to one of them and do just the chorus.

[@isabelxavier4698]

Chegando agora depois de assistir ela Netflix...

[@edsonsilvaoficial602]

🇧🇷 tmj

[@musicalcommentary2476]

Nice!

[@TwoLimzTwo]

I’m expecting a lot more positive comments, this man gave too much passion to hear y’all basic

[@MTortillaKitt]

Hunter Stroker too much passion to break down and record live performance with auto tune. I know he has a better voice than to have to use that crap. People don’t like it, it is what it is.

[@TwoLimzTwo]

M. Kitteh naw I’d have to disagree, what he did with the auto tune was on purpose and it’s a powerful song imo. Musicians understand because it’s hard to replicate exact notes with you’re voice, exspecially when you’re put on the spot on a live performance. No way he could of did some of that with his own voice, nobody can

[@MTortillaKitt]

Hunter Stroker and I’m gonna have to disagree with that. You sing, you within the pitch you are capable of doing. If not - do you really have talent? Should you really be performing that piece?

[@TwoLimzTwo]

M. Kitteh yeah he should

[@TwoLimzTwo]

M. Kitteh and did sooo

[@GeraltBosMang]

Jay-Z: Death of Autotune Snow Flakes: Hold my Autotune.

[@captindo]

You're voice is fine, ya don't need auto tune.

[@shawnette1]

so beautiful

[@marie_84]

Hey...our good old friend autotune!😲 Cher? Is that you?!😂😂😂

[@D.JustinCalderon.1]

I retract my last statement

[@novivianngo]

Bro I thought it was Jaden Smith in the thumbnail

[@jacovawernett3077]

The second thing that God told me I am...Wick...you light them on your prayer candles

[@everythingiseverything9920]

Is your godfather t-pain?

[@Babycakes102494]

EverythingisEverything go on Netflix and educate yourself on who he is

[@everythingiseverything9920]

@@Babycakes102494 I don't have Netflix.

[@JoeyFeranda]

I don't get people attacking the auto tune. Do you not see the generation that we live in? We're living a life that's intrinsically electronic. Brittany Spears fucking ruined auto tune, because she was trying to use it to sound better, and not simply to augment her sound. T- Pain, Brockhamton, etc, use auto tune impeccably, because its not a crutch, it's a tool. We're living in a era that's devoid of pure human interaction. And this newer generation is aware of that. That's the difference to me. Auto tune is an expression of the feeling of not connecting. There's a coldness to it, and it's not by accident. I honestly feel bad for people who see a performance like this, and immediately write it off because if the auto tune. You're missing out on transcendental music over a pure misunderstanding.

[@trueblackknight8409]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MEvans-tt1ri]

Yall cryin about auto tune..but missing the whole message of the song!! Go head pharrell!!🙏🏾🙏🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@johnbaboian781]

If something distracts you from the song, it's not helping get the message out there.

[@christhomas2060]

the look on his face was occasionally.. "wtf am i doing.. this sounds really.. really fkn bad.."

[@benm5221]

Is he afraid of his own voice or what?

[@XP9724]

It's just the artistic direction for the song/performance. People don't just use autotune to help them to sing better, it's an instrument

[@benm5221]

@@XP9724 Point well taken.

[@happy-my3df]

He has a great voice just sing from the heart

[@kennygold3631]

Why someone as talented as Pharrell would feel like this song or he needs Autotune is baffling to say the least. This is just 1 more reason I find much of contemporary commercially oriented music unlistenable,I’m totally disappointed.

[@Sethdoesntsleep]

This is just impossible to listen to.

[@thelifeofjay8317]

Voices of Fire on Netflix ... WATCH IT you’ll thank me later 😁

[@navigatingwithnana]

Study some music history, please. Music is a creative art form and artistic expression is the exploration of images, movements and sounds. Did you haters "thumbs down" David Bowie or Peter Frampton for exploring synthetically distorted vocals? Would you have said Monet was a heathen for leaving the studio and painting outside? Geez people, have some reverence for The Arts.

[@peacefulisland67]

Love the feel. The size. But not the tech. We're over saturated.

[@voices00]

A rip off of R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts. Except it's worse because of auto-tune. The entire 'choir' was lip-syncing as well. 1.5 / 10.

[@prosperia]

The choir is not lip synching.

[@terrellkmercer8066]

That choir is not lip synching for sure. VOF is just that consistent in their vocals

[@wzup77ify]

Yeah but if it was Kanye it would’ve been a musical genius right? Foh

[@thatscrazyyyyyy]

what im sayin, and i’m a huge kanye fan. this performance isn’t really all that bad as everyone is makin it out to be

[@KM10HM12]

Yes it would because kanye know how to work with auto tone better.

[@anmolmenon681]

Only Daft Punk can get away with this level of autotune.

[@danielplasencia7724]

Kanye is that you?

[@JustFamilyPlaytime]

Nice work with the autosuck!

[@Zakyrie]

Another reason why autotune sucks.

[@Cornbreadfed82]

Who's here after watching 'Voices of Fire' on Netflix?

[@hebrewisraelitetribeofyuda189]

Yessss! Me lol

[@jodarby9448]

Me lol

[@Aaron-M-Simpson]

I'm recognizing choir members like I see you twins lol

[@tiffanydavenport508]

Me

[@theylovekizzy9202]

Me😂

[@alkietheduck]

Who's here after watching Voices of Fire? 🙋

[@Batters56]

This level of auto tune was literally a Jimmy Fallon joke 10 years ago.

[@kooler1994]

Paaartyyyy

[@solderbuff]

@@kooler1994 , kzbin.info/www/bejne/enrJe4uwft2aqpI

[@castalia6479]

@@solderbuff thank you!

[@feliciawilliams514]

The choir was the best thing out of this performance.

[@dennishaynes8810]

My cuz..Patrick Riddick n Divine Worship..super proud of him!!!

[@marcwilliams548]

Dennis Haynes it’s not divine worship lol. it’s the Voices of Fire.

[@lovejones1897]

Did you watch Voices of Fire on Netflix?

[@tashademos6426]

After watching the documentary, this song has even more meaning. Beautiful song and dedication.

[@trinaphillips6132]

Don’t it though,I like it. Loved the series

[@dbone3356]

Pharrell Williams using autotune is like putting ketchup on a salad.

[@FloraMHorta]

I'd say like putting ketchup on a homemade lasagne cooked to perfection, but hey, tomato, to mah toh

[@thefuckingweasel9924]

LOL AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESNT MIND THE AUTOTUNE . LOVE THE CHOIR. GREAT SONG. DOPE SWEATER

[@kevinsargent]

God I just discovered a new hatred for autotune.

[@mattmulugeta6850]

Lol white people are so cute with they're little opinions

[@suelae.6750]

Kevin Sargent same here!

[@logirex]

Sounds like a voice vocoder to me. Autotune as annoying as it can be is usually a lot more subtle. This was done intentionally.

[@lyrsweetwater8684]

Excellence! Excellent arrangement & background singers 🎼🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎼 Autotune or not, the shit still sounds NICE!!!🎤👌😊🎤

[@B_Bodziak]

@@lyrsweetwater8684 I completely disagree!

[@shelbytomy07]

Aw man, too much auto-tune

[@eb0526]

1 Million Subscribers Without Any Content Agreed...my ears

[@B_Bodziak]

I think that was intentional.

[@B_Bodziak]

@13 dollars Did he sound like that on Seth Meyers, too?

[@random007nadir]

It's a thing. Subtly, it's a way for tone deaf gangsta rappers and models turned pop-stars to pump out passable singles, but it's been a novelty effect since the 90s.

[@marijkeoord6776]

Why ??? He should know better he is old enough!!!😟🤔🤔

[@Lily.M.]

I get a Kanye vibe from this

[@shelbytomy07]

Me either

[@threat9231]

1 Million Subscribers Without Any Content lol wtf

[@thobelanikhuzwayo7893]

Me too😅😅

[@down42]

gospel choir+auto tune+worships+hairs?

[@KM10HM12]

At least kanye knows how to work with auto tone better. Listen to heartless by kanye

[@dadsophia320]

There is nothing wrong with Pharrell singing...the use of auto tune was intensional...the choir and spiritual feel fits together...song was great...

[@elgerardoedwardio2498]

It looks like Pharrell, but sounds like... everyone else who has ever used auto-tune

[@shelbytomy07]

Kanye

[@TwoLimzTwo]

Naw

[@mark-davidchandler5895]

came here to say this

[@njosborne6152]

El Gerardo Edwardio They wrecked his voice‼️ WHY⁉️ It could really be great without the extra technical crap‼️

[@babycakes2077]

Dig it, total bore!

[@jimlawton4184]

I can't help but wonder how much more moving that could have been without autotune. Autotuned a cappella is like acoustic disco-just doesn't mix!

[@FixNewsPlease]

He Can't Sing

[@XP9724]

@@FixNewsPlease Yes He Can Hater

[@FixNewsPlease]

@@XP9724 Have a link to him singing live where he doesn't suck?

[@collinrymer424]

This isn’t even close to a cappella. Do you know what a capella is?

[@jimlawton4184]

Collin Rymer Lol wow Mr know-it-all, did you know that the first 50 seconds was a cappella followed by acoustic guitar entry which also didn't fit with the tone of the text. I didn't *have* to go to music school to make that opinion, yet I still did. That's how I know the term a cappella, and that's how I probably know way more than you because I don't go bragging about my mastery over simple musical terms to plebes on KZbin.

[@VincentKingGlobal]

This is a beautiful representation of past, present, and future sounds.... Pharrell #thegoat

[@lucasaguirre385]

My brother Alrenzo killing it front and center in that choir! So proud of him!!

[@TheGfacekilla]

i liked the performance autotune and all cant be the only one

[@TheophaniStyle]

The song is beautiful. All of it. Creative.

[@jenniferj.5209]

Sounds like a track that didn't make it to Kanye- 808's & Heartbreak's

[@rasmusholm2982]

Vixtage Cartel and thats not a bad thing

[@eb0526]

I couldn’t watch but a min...my ear drums shattered from the autotune🥴. Disappointed in Pharrell

[@vernajackson9675]

The message is deep but his vocals were a distraction. The choir was awesome. If he was clearer it would of been alot better.

[@dixonmay]

dyed hair, a live choir, autotune, BIG kanye vibes

[@BRUVCHANNEL]

Dixon May this was out long before JIK

[@qvimeracom]

@@BRUVCHANNEL kanye was doing choirs since late registration , kanye was using auto-tune since 2007 , this type of dyed hair both started doing it after frank tho

[@ilaphroaig]

Don't like that autotune sound. Never. Too bad, we know he can sing.

[@teddy2493]

This is the definition of closed minded. Auto tune can be used in an artistic, deliberate way and this is an example. Yes, the song would have also sounded good without it. But people who think like this are missing out on an entire realm of musical possibility by writing it off as lazy. I've had this on repeat since hearing it the first time and I cannot grasp why people are so against it.

[@johnbaboian781]

@@teddy2493 I understand what you're trying to say, but this was just awful. 30 singers behind him singing without it, and up front, all I could pay attention to was that awful autotune sound.

[@undeadly1103]

@@teddy2493 it's not close minded to have an opinion or a preference for something. it's close minded to tell others that their opinion or preference is wrong cause it doesn't line up with yours. this is not artistic expression. this is someone who has no ideas left and no confidence in their voice to carry them anymore

[@DomDom-gh4dm]

@@undeadly1103 you trippin bro. this IS artistic expression whether you like it or not. Pharrell isn't running out of ideas until the deathbed, he is an artist through and through.

[@teddy2493]

@@undeadly1103 . Closed minded is not telling someone they're wrong, it's saying you will never like something under any circumstance, which is what they did. Where did I even say they were wrong??? Telling someone they're missing out and should try looking at something from a different perspective is the exact opposite of closed minded.

[@exelchannel8806]

How about we agree to let autotune be a thing of the past in 2020...this is garbage.

[@kishona69]

Let's leave auto tune behind in 2019 please. Thanks in advance.

[@elgerardoedwardio2498]

It should have started and ended with Cher's "Do you believe in love after love"

[@juliankenzo]

Sorry but it's never going away lol

[@osmoho7165]

This is a beautiful song by Pharrell just WOW

[@iheartbillie1324]

The auto tone isn’t bad everyone is overreacting , can we focus on how great of a performance this was tho & the song in general listen to the lyrics .

[@kgmorris20]

Pharrell Williams you are the soul sound I Have been longing to hear since Motown was placed on the shelf. You are a natural talent. I appreciate this music from you. I can tell this sound was embedded into your genes U sent an electrical light all through out my body and woke up my soul. I love this song I will always give praise to sounds like this. I appreciate this sound 🥰. Big up love the song and your electric ⚡️ ..chorus. Choir Love it!

[@kagiles72]

This hurt my ears. Why did you ruin it like this?

[@melvettearmond4207]

Sing Voices of Fire!!! #vof

[@Aaron-M-Simpson]

Ma'am. You blessed me the whole season! Can't wait to hear more from you all

[@melvettearmond4207]

@@Aaron-M-Simpson To God Be the Glory!!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 thank you so much!

[@themollymachine]

He should have just used his own voice like he's been doing. No point in the switch up

[@FixNewsPlease]

He was never a strong vocalist. Not even actually average.

[@everythingiseverything9920]

@@FixNewsPlease I'd rather a "just good enough" singer's voice over a full on autotune thing. Unless it's t-pain because, of course! But Pharell's voice can handle this song.

[@FixNewsPlease]

@@everythingiseverything9920 Not live. Pharell can't sing.

[@BriannaF930]

I’m happy to see some of my favs from Voices of Fire

[@trvrshoe4518]

This is amazing. Skateboard can do no wrong

[@pukvvozduh]

Pharrell is King)

[@WilliamChoochootrain]

You can't convince me this isn't Jaden Smith.

[@teddy2493]

Why do people hate the autotune so much? I personally have grown to love heavy autotune on talented singers over the past decade. It's so cool to hear passion underneath so much distortion. I implore you to try listening with a different perspective.

[@LK-bu9rg]

I peep my cousin in the back💪🏾

[@cher2209]

Voices of Angels!👼 People with beautiful testimonies💖

[@suelae.6750]

🤦🏻‍♀️Auto tune is a disaster!!

[@chibombedavid598]

The mood of the song is fire

[@tristanwaldron5525]

I dont understand how people hate this. Auto tune is an instrument of its own. Not a crutch.

[@ChangetheCircumstances]

it's not a bad song but i wish it wasn't autotuned

[@MarkKramKarmVI]

Awesome Pharrell.💖

[@karofagua4971]

No paro de verlo. Una hermosa presentación ... Saludos de colombia 🇨🇴♥

[@itsEpsilon]

Why autotune..

[@deoncuba5168]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE SOUND OF THIS CHOIR IN THIS SONG EVERY PART IS SOOO BLENDED AND ON POINT YUP..I'M A FAN PLUS I NEED TO HEAR A VERSION OF THIS WITHOUT PHARELL AND THAT AUTO TUNE I LOVE HIM THO BUT I REALLY WANNA HEAR THIS CHOIR BY THEMSELVES👈👼🙏💖

[@XcrimsonnX]

Watch voices of fire if you havent

[@siwi666]

overcooked. I'm sad as I love Pharrell.

[@Mmmkay10]

I feel sorry for this phenomenal choir having to sing backup to this HORRIFIC autotuned scrawny robot who forgot leg day!

[@GoblinGamingChannel]

If you hate auto-tune because you think its not real music or whatever the effect has been used by Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson as a vocoder like effect just like Pharrell is doing here so shut up

[@8upredhead]

Everybody hurts -R.E.M.

[@gabergabe223]

😂 came here to report the same thing...I’m not hearing things

[@darrenbent7601]

Is it just me, but does anyone else think that this song sounds a lot like Everybody Hurts from REM?

[@MrPablortega]

At 2:18 my brain actually started singing, And everybody hurts... I hope this time he asked for permission and is paying the rights . Does he want another blurred lines lawsuit?

[@johnjhill3]

*Overblown Autotune* So Disappointed.

[@korpen3770]

The auto-tune is an intentional artistic choice in this specific song, it is used as an effect, not an enhancement.. This is not a case of "overdoing auto-tune on accident." Remember, if the auto-tune is very noticeable and obvious throughout every word of the song, then it is intentional. If the auto-tune is subtle, and only noticeable in certain parts of the song, then it is because of the lack of confidence from the artist to sing without some enhancement.

[@jasonjimerson7046]

I was wondering why there were so many dislikes... Know I know.

[@grigorsimonyan625]

Idiots he uses autotune as a musical instrument not as correcting technique. I don’t think he have to prove that he can sing. Other thing is if you don’t like q song ore it will be better without autotune

[@trinaphillips6132]

The series was awesome. Love the choir

[@sadiqmohamed681]

Interesting. I can't work out if the effect it is actually auto-tune or a vocoder. It sounds like a mix with his voice dry and through the effect. I like the song, and the effect of the heavily processed lead and the clean choir.

[@jacovawernett3077]

When God spoke into my right ear it made my eardrum tickle and my straight hair turned to ringlets

[@happy-my3df]

I heard this twice I like it

[@TGreen89]

This is awful.