Each WWDC ought to finish with a track c...

Partway by WWDC 2025, I began monitoring each time I heard the phrase “pleasant.” I may need missed a number of, however there have been no less than eight instances when some exec was insisting to me that a component of the upcoming iOS 26, macOS Tahoe and Apple’s different platforms merited the adjective. And possibly some folks actually do really feel unfettered pleasure about UI design, however that is the kind of perspective in these occasions that makes me roll my eyes.

Apple at all times tries very exhausting to inject levity and persona into its keynotes. More often than not, that winds up leaning on cringe from Craig Federighi, who appears fairly affable about being the punchline. Typically I smirk a bit, however once more, most of the time, it is one other eye-roll. That was the case this yr, as Apple bludgeoned us with a tie-in for its upcoming F1 movie, which already leans fairly exhausting on product placement.

Then there’s the developer devotion. Sure, Apple wants devs to make use of its instruments and applications. Sure, the corporate can and may give them some kudos. However generally, the adulation that I’ve heard heaped on the WWDC viewers prior to now is so tacky, so over-eager that it flies well past sincerity and into schlock.

Simply as I used to be prepared to show off the stream, the curtain rose on a grand piano. And to my shock, the ultimate three minutes of a full band performing actual critiques of apps turned the precise spotlight of WWDC for me.

This is not an unique concept. Opinions, good and unhealthy, are well-mined fodder for comedians and social media content material. Jimmy Fallon, James Corden and others have made musical gags a staple of latest late night time speak exhibits. However the best way Apple determined to do it this yr was, in a phrase, pleasant.

Every evaluation was heartfelt or dopey or each; see “saved my marriage” for Citymapper and “If this does not win finest app of the yr, I am going to eat my shoe” for Misplaced in Play. It took the important web knowledge of “do not learn the feedback” and turned it into gold. This foolish little track managed to do every thing Apple desires to do at WWDC in a extremely amusing bundle. It is the dev props, it is the splashy manufacturing, it is legit leisure.

For anybody who, like me, was really buzzing the tune even after the stream ended, the video is up as a standalone on YouTube and was carried out by soul/R&B singer Allen Stone. And to no matter producer got here up with this concept: you might have my utmost appreciation. Six out of 5 stars certainly.