JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum 2008 American Idol SongWriter

Tammy I do not know why you are bothering Fox or Freemantle (the company behind AI) They are just making sure that AI complies with the different state laws. The problem is obviously state legislation with respect to entering competitions. I would contact your local elected representatives to establish what exactly these legislations are and why they are in place. It is political brought about by Iowa laws and nothing to do with AI.

I believe you are right, johnnyvn.

I agree. It just wouldn't make sense for AI to deliberately omit a state or states on some discriminatory basis. I'd bet it has more to do with local state laws and contest rules. I would check and find out the specific law that applies and then write your State Congressman to have it changed.

Hey all,

Sorry for all the hullabaloo about certain states being ineligible. I hope you can find a way to get your song out there one way or another, Tammy.

In the meantime, I finally got my demo recorded! Heather Cowles out of Nashville delivered a fantastic vocal and musical accompaniment to the lyrics -- which we revamped quite a bit. And I snuck it in for submission right under the wire yesterday afternoon!

Here is the link to www.myspace.com/goldencatfish . Please disregard the second song...that was my kitchen klunker from last year...sort of want to keep it up to remind me where I started from...

Anyhoo, the song is called "Right From the Start", and the lyrics, though available on the link, are as below....Hope you enjoy it!


Right From the Start
© 2008 Lyrics Beth Williams, Music & Vocals Heather Cowles

The road rises up in front of me
But without you, what’s ‘round the bend
Guess I'll never know if I just stand here
I gotta get past playing pretend
I take a step, heart half-way open
I’m kind of scared, but also hopin’
I’ll somehow find my way in the end

Chorus
Right from the start
You taught me to be strong
Right from the start
You showed me right from wrong
Right from the start
You always cheered me on
Right from the start
You were there, all along
Right from the start

But the future’s bright in front of me
Because our dreams live on inside
Since you helped me love my imperfections
And supported everything I tried
Don’t know what I’m heading toward
But I’m happy going forward
Now feeling you’re along for the ride

Chorus
Right from the start
You taught me to be strong
Right from the start
You showed me right from wrong
Right from the start
You always cheered me on
Right from the start
Now I'm here, where I belong
Right from the start

Bridge:
Tuck away sad memories, but keep the lessons learned
When dreams and fate collide you’ll find what you have earned

Chorus 3:
Right from the start
This feels so right
Right from the start
You knew I'd be alright
Right from the start
And finally, tonight
Let me thank you for everything.... you did....right from the start

I'm thrilled for you, Beth!!! I just listened to Right From The Start and it is beautiful, best of luck to you!!!!!

Thanks Brenda!

As I type this, I'm talkiing ("listening to") to my parents listen to the song for the first time. They just got a computer recently, and it's handholding every step of the way to get them to find the internet, etc. But they enjoyed it...and of course are thinking I should send it to our favorite past idol Bucky Covington (who we saw Saturday night in concert -- awesome! In fact he'll be on a segment Wednesday night on Idol)...

So anyhoo....all my thanks go to Heather for pulling this off in time and in such a great fashion.

Thanks again,
Beth

Nice message with your American Idol song. I wish you success with the song Beth. Good luck in the contest. I listened to both of your songs on your site.

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards.com

OH Tammy!

Thanks for listening and for your words of encouragement. I know it must be challenging to be supportive while all this state-exclusionary business is being worked on. I appreciate it...

Good luck to you as well....

Cheers,
Beth

P.S. Goodness, you're brave to listen to "Found My Way"...I hope you didn't hurt your ears!!

Great idea Ande...it makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

This thread is very interesting...

I feel for you Tammy....I live in one of the other states (CT) and am banned as well! But I wasn't prepared to enter anyway...maybe I will next year purely out of SPITE! It's sounds like a dumb rule...we have gambling here but it's all under The Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegan tribes who own the casinos and they have their own governing body etc..etc...it's got to be a local thing. Try to get some publicity out of it anyway!

Anyway, I listened to the ones posted here and hey...GOOD LUCK everyone...very nice work! And Beth, so glad you were able to pull it together...you must be so excited.

Best of luck to you all!

Thanks, Kristi!

In my mind, just making the deadline with a more than decent demo was (almost) enough of a thrill for me!

Thanks so much...looking forward to hearing the selected songs....

Ciao for now,
Beth

Well, I've sent 'em mine. Titled, pursuant to suggestions here, simply "I'll Think of You." I am not expecting much out of these folks at A.I. except a prompt sucking of ten bucks out of my bank account, but I done it.

Lyrics and link to the *.mp3 file are posted over on the MP3 Forum. Lots of luck to everybody who entered. I've read and heard some good stuff here.

Joe

Nope
I think I'll use my ten bucks for gas to get to Nashville.

But Best of luck to you all. Go get 'em Joe.

Bill, ten bucks in gas won't get me to Nashville. You live closer.

The ten bicks was sucked out of my bank account within ten minutes of my submission to A.I. I now believe they have everything they want from me.

Joe

Hi Joe,

I responded to your entry over on the MP3 forum....but I had to remind you, AI DOES NOT HAVE THE DUCK !! So you can always lord that over them!!

Cheers,
Beth

Hello all,

My name is Karen, I used to be here all the time, but then I disappeared and now I'm back...:-)

My songwriting partner and I submitted a song for the AI songwriting contest, it's called "My Miracle (My Time To Shine)", feedback would be appreciated...

http://www.myspace.com/karenmack2005

-Karen

MY MIRACLE (MY TIME TO SHINE)

Lyrics by Amy Matthew
Music by Karen Mack
© 2008 by A. Matthew/K. Mack

I’m looking around
I can’t believe I’m finally here
There were days that took my breath away
And nights the brought me tears
I never lost hope
Felt the rush of the crowd
And now I’m here, my head held high
So I can start the show

PRECHORUS:
I’ve dreamed of this moment ever since I was a child
My body is shaking from these feelings inside

CHORUS:
This is all I know
This space in time is finally mine
And I won’t let go
Of my dream that’s now reality
I can’t believe this is happening
That you saw the best in me
This is my miracle, my time to shine

I look out at the crowd
There’s so much I want to say
All the endless love you gave to me
Helped bring me to this day
People wait their whole lives
For the one day they can fly
Your faith was all I need
For me to reach the sky

(Repeat PRECHORUS and CHORUS 2x)

Here's my "Daughtry-like" entry, "You Believed In Me" - www.perrysmith.com or www.myspace.com/perrysmithmusic

You Believed In Me © 2008 Perry Smith

Verse 1

Life can have so many ups and downs
There were times I was so low
I reached up to touch the ground
But you were there for me
And now I can see

Chorus

The struggles of my yesterdays, the work, the tears and the scars along the way
Were meant to be
As I live this dream and move ahead, I promise you I won't forget that
You believed in me
You believed in me

Verse 2

You may not be where you hoped to be
Sometimes it seems impossible
To ever achieve your dreams
But I know you’ll find the way
And someday you will say

Repeat Chorus

Bridge

When I was down you lifted me, you wiped my tears, helped me to see
Without you I could never make my dreams come true

Verse 3

I don't know just where my future lies
But I know that I'll have lows
And I'll hit my highest highs
I will give my everything
Now that I can see

Repeat Chorus

You believed in me

Karen,

That is a great song ("My Miracle, my time to shine"). It would not surprise me if this made the top 20... On the recording itself, I wish the vocal track had been a little louder because without the lyrics printed there is no way I'd have been able to understand them. However, I'm certainly impressed with the song structure, chords, melody, etc and the lyrics are exactly the right area for what AI seems to want.

Good luck to you!

Perry,

Another nice one. If either David Cook or Michael Johns is in the top two, this will definitely fit their style.

Very nice songs folks, I wish you all the best of luck.

Randy

Perry, "You believed in me" was the title of the song I submitted last year. I hope you have better luck with it than I did. I thought it was a good song but it was just a guitar/vocal and I quickly found out, especially after listening to the top 20, that a guitar/vocal wasn't going anywhere. If AI judges were fair, they would take the top 20 songs, and have the AI band record them all over before they submitted them to the public. The winner last year, "This is my now" had a production as polished as as Her Royal Majesty's dinner ware. And if you are going to have the "general public" and not professionals assess the merits of a song, they are going to go with production over content every time.

In case you are interested, this is how I used the title in the chorus:

You believed in me
When I wasn't even sure myself
You taught me all I need
is love and nothing else
When I didn't think that I could fly
You showed me my wings
I'm flying high tonight
'Cause you believed in me

Hello Larry,

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

Sorry for the hasty mix, I was mixing this in my headphones and I thought that the vocals were too loud when played them back on my speakers...does anyone else have that problem with my vocals being too soft?

-Karen

Funny. I was talking to someone and told them I thought there would be at least 50 entries titled "You Believed In Me" -- I just needed mine to be the best! Did you submit anything this year?

I did. I just didn't try to write a song according to the AI guidelines because easily half of last year's top 20 ignored the guidelines to write about the "AI journey" or "AI experience". I uploaded a love song that I wrote recently and have been singing locally called "Maybe someday I won't love you"

Here are the lyircs:

(V1) I may not love you forever
But who could last that long?
It isn't fair to love you this much
and to know that someday it will all be gone

CHORUS
That someday when the sun burns out
There’ll be no more songs to sing
No more prayers to answer
And no more dreams to dream
When our dust has scattered
Through the Milky Way
Someday, maybe someday I won't love you

(V2) I praise the day the Master Weaver
Placed your heart next to mine
And I'm trying hard to be a believer
That love will last 'til the end of time

But someday when the sun burns out
There’ll be no more songs to sing
No more prayers to answer
And no more dreams to dream
When our dust has scattered
Through the Milky Way
Someday, maybe someday I won't love you

(Bridge) And when the Universe loses all it's light
I hope I'm still around to help you through the night

modulate 1 step (G to A)

CHORUS
Someday when the sun burns out
There’ll be no more songs to sing
No more prayers to answer
And no more dreams to dream
When our dust has scattered
Through the Milky Way
Someday, maybe someday I won't love you

Oh, oh someday, maybe someday I won't
love.....you

You can listen here. Still a guitar/vocal with zero post production. Recorded on one mic just like it would sound at a coffee house.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=538905&songID=6358589

I'd agree, it's some sort of legal thing based on the state laws of the excluded states

Great song! Really enjoyed it. Nicely put together. I can hear a bigger production.

No Deadline Extensionsno such luck, no extensions,
the contest is off the front page and done for now

when you drop by
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/
it says "HELP US CHOOSE"

now it has a link to "The Search" http://songwriter.americanidol.com/theSearch/
where you can read

The Songs Are In
Last month, the call went out for a song fit for an American Idol. And the nation responded with thousands of great songs.


Make your vote count
Right now, our panel of experts is finalizing a shortlist of the top 20 strongest and most suitable songs for American Idol. These songs will then be showcased online from April 10 and you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorites.

Register To Vote
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/registerToVote/Default.aspx
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/Registration.aspx


The Winning Song is Revealed
The song chosen by the nation will be performed live on this season’s American Idol finale in front of millions of viewers. But that’s only half the story. The winning songwriter will walk away with a highly-prized publishing deal for their song, and it will also be released by the winner of American Idol!

Don’t miss your chance to choose America’s hottest new songwriter.

Karen, your song certainly fits the AI theme. Whoever said the mix was off, is right I think. The vocals are too soft for the rest of the production. Your song fits the inspirational theme very well. But for me, it is a song I cannot imagine a guy singing. And this year, right now, it looks like the top three left standing may be guys. The judges know this so I am sure they are going to be looking for a song that a guy would be comfortable singing. I could imagine Jordan Sparks singing this however.

It's too bad that I didn't have enough time to mix it properly, but it is now sent, so there's not much I can do about it now. I guess we will have to wait until the results of the top 20, maybe this kind of song can be easily transposed for someone that can sing in this ballad-style (like Clay Aiken), and I haven't kept up w/ AI this year, so I'm not too familiar w/ the contestants. I guess we'll all just have to keep our fingers crossed.

Thanks for the input! :-D

-Karen

Tammy

If your song is selected as a finalist
I think it would be pretty funny to say
I moved out of Iowa to be eligible to enter the AI song contest

ande

LOL Wouldn't that be something?! As of right now I live in two states. Tennessee would be one and I have an address there. Just so everyone knows. I talked to the attorney generals office a couple of hours ago. They don't have a clue on why this happened. They could not offer any help and felt sorry for me and wished me luck. They said the only way to find an answer would be to talk to 19 Entertainment directly and their attorneys to see what law they dug up. It is some old thing, which may likely be the deal in the 4 other states. It is just crazy and they are the only ones at this point who could tell me. I will not inquire until later.

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Is anyone else wondering why AI is rushing to get these songs up on the site? 10 days to choose the top 20?! (and probably less when you consider they have to contact the people, get signatures, etc.) Considering the song won't be sung until the end of May, I have no idea why they couldn't have taken a few weeks to sort through the 20,000+ entries. While I don't believe the conspiracy theorists, it certainly makes it hard to believe they are getting any opportunity to actually listen to and consider the songs.

Also, interesting article in the Arizona Republic about the prohibition on certain state residents (it offers a bit of a hint as to why, although no official word from AI).

David

wwww.davidkraut.com
www.myspace.com/dkraut

You are kidding David, Are they rushing through again? I thought this would give them more time. This really has me believing they can't be getting a good listen.

Tammy

Hi all! I just added a little bit of production to a previous piano/vocal track I submitted to A/I last year. Although it's still mid-creation, I thought I'd submit it anyway. It's also posted on the mp3 boards.

My husband and I don't get much time to arrange and produce our own tracks, so we had to sneak in about nine hours to get this far. Doesn't seem fair to own your own studio but never have time to produce your own songs! LOL!

Thanks for the listen! Here's the link:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=693656&content=songinfo&songID=6418276

Does anybody know the fate of the songs of any of last year’s Top 20 finalists? Did the other singer finalists record any of them?

Heidi I remember this song before without the bells and whistles and I loved it then. Your friend Elisa can sing and soar. Very nice work, very nice!!!

Howdy Heidi,
that's a very strong song
Great production
Excellent vocalist
hope it goes all the way

Ande

If y'all want to hear more songs submitted
drop by the AI SongWriting Message Board:
http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/forum/?fid=157

I do have specifics on CT laws. Falls under the Unfair Trade Act which states that you can't pay a fee for a contest or sweepstake (this also includes purchases for participate). It's ludicrous. However in CT there is a specific line that talks about "games of Skill". You are allowed to pay a fee to enter as long as there are specifics about the contest. To me, CT should therefore be allowed to participate. It's basically a Talent contest - therefore Skilled. Brian is right. Corporations are entitled to offer their business wherever they like (tho they shouldn't take your money). Since the main Contestant Agreement didn't list states, I wonder if they will really follow through on this. Maybe it's best to lay low.

Lynn and Ande,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'd love to get a song to a level where I don't have to make excuses for it one of these days! LOL! I guess we all have priorities though.

Heidi

That's interesting...but I wonder how CT gets away with having the lottery? A lottery seems like a sweepstakes to me. I wonder if those other states have lotteries too.

Weird...I posted a response to this yesterday but it maybe got wiped during the server mishap...

My comments were basically that your singer really has nailed that Celine Dion feel and your production certainly helps hint at it as well. Very nice job!

There was no server mishap that I am aware of. Unless it was at your end Larry.

There's some good entries posted here so far. I think Perry Smith's song is good enough to compete, especially for a male winner. I like Tammy's too, but it's probably better for a female and I think it will be a male winner this year.

Brian

Kristi, I expect CT did it the same way the State of Oregon does. In Oregon, lotteries are illegal--unless run by the state. Video poker is illegal--unless run by the state. It's even illegal to sell hard liquor by the bottle--unless you're the state.

It would be interesting to run the "it's a game of skill, not a game of chance" argument bhy the state regulatory gods and see what happens. They might give you a very quotable "take" on American Idol.

Joe

You're right Joe, that would be interesting. That does seem to be the argument to be made...it makes sense.

Hello Heidi,

I love your AI entry, it definitely fits the mold of what they're looking for, a soaring ballad full of triumph (ala "Power of the Dream" or "One Moment in Time" from the glory days of adult contemporary ballds"). Good job!

-Karen

Hey Karen,
Your song has such wonderful chord changes behind it. You also have the right message and power in your song! I really enjoyed it as well as some of your other tunes. You have a lot going on. Plus, you are young and beautiful! What blessings are ahead for you!

Heidi

Heidi, killer melody with an AI contender vocal (that is you right?) The production is top notch so that isn't going to hold it back. I can hear Carly singing it but nobody else. I can't not imagine a guy singing it unless the arrangement was changed big time. I don't want to discourage you in anyway and I am no expert on inspirational songs but do you think the lyrics rise to the quality of the melody and the production? Man, I couldn't help thinking that if you could write a lyric to this that had a really unique and emotional edge, this song could not be touched. I know, I am shamelessly frank sometimes but we all know this song has to be unimpeachable if it is going to reach the top of the heap. That is where you want it to be, right? Excellent vocal. Good luck.

Hello Samuel,
I thank you for your enthusiastic response. Although I wish it were me singing, I must say that it is my friend, Elisa Furr.

As for the lyric not touching you as much as the music, well, I feel that certain things mean different things to different people. I can totally understand how you might not relate to the lyric as I do.

For me, this is a very deep message in which the singer is faced with a big turning point. This situation would have caused much distress had she not reached out toward those with similar hopes and dreams. For me, I have found out more about who I am by helping others. Every time I reach out to another being, there is an interchange of energy which gets released. It's very magical and healing. It's a rough world out there and it seems that some feel it necessary to withdraw inside themselves in order to feel safe. However, that only makes one's space smaller.

So, my message is that if you truly want to be all that you are, you have to reach outward. Perhaps there is a better way to say it and I will certainly take a look.

Thanks for reaching out, Samuel. You are very appreciated for having done so.

Take care,
Heidi

Hey ya'all,
Here is my entry for the 2008 American Idol Song Comp. Turn your speakers down. It's a LOUD mix. Thank you and good luck to everyone!
Brian
The song is "Believe (Only Human)and here is the link.
http://www.myspace.com/brianddarnellmusic

Believe (only Human)

seems I’ve waited all my life
for this moment to arrive
standing here
I become one dream alive

some are flower some are steel
some are meant to break some heal
once was fallen
now I’m given wings to fly

I believe believe believe
I’m a lot like you
I believe believe believe
you’re a lot like me
I believe I’m a lot like me
I believe believe believe
you’re a lot like you.

be it fantasy or real
with this grace I take the wheel
every breath a fate
we walk another day

some are flower some are steel
some are meant to break and yield
to the calling
all are given wings to fly

against all fault and fail
we make our human way
we find ourselves
with truth to light the way

so in our human way
we’re bound to rise and fail
with love our dreams remain

believe. .

I’m only human
your only human
we live our life today

Words and music, copyright 2008, Brian Darnell, Greg Thune

OK
I entered

Aint Gonna Stop
that I cowrote with Steve Callif from Austin, TX
performed by Mez
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/srplayer.php?type=hipub&trackid=32584

Dreamer and Her Dream
That I cowrote with Tammy Edwards from Nashville TN
That's Tammy playing and singing on the demo.
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/srplayer.php?type=hipub&trackid=60475