2008 American Idol SongWriter

did you enter?
post lyrics and a link to the song/s you entered

details are now up at

http://songwriter.americanidol.com/

Register:
https://songwriter.americanidol.com/Registration.aspx

Enter:
https://songwriter.americanidol.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fSecure%2fUploadSongs%2fdefault.aspx

Deadline: Monday March 31st

AI Message Board:
http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/forum/?fid=157


Songwriters Guide is up at
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/songwritersGuide/

1) the songs the star
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/songwritersGuide/TheSongsTheStar.aspx
If you want to get your song heard by over 40 million people, there’s one place you need to do it: American Idol - the most watched television series in America.


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In the beginning, there was 'A Moment Like This', which hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and went Gold for Season One winner Kelly Clarkson. Series Three winner Carrie Underwood even knocked Mariah Carey off the top spot with her first single from the show, 'Inside Your Heaven' – selling 170,000 copies in its first week before going Platinum.


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Last year's winners of American Idol Songwriter, Jeff Peabody and Scott Krippayne, saw their song 'This Is My Now' performed live on the American Idol finale and released as a single by the series winner, Jordin Sparks.


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Take the success of these songs as your inspiration and show us what you’ve got. We're listening for a song with a powerful melodic and emotional hook that will connect with the American public young and old - a song that can make people sing, dance or even cry.


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Above all, it must be memorable and feel like a fitting end to this series of American Idol. Don't miss the chance to see your song in the spotlight.

2) Lyric Writing
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/songwritersGuide/LyricSheet.aspx
The songs performed by past American Idol winners usually reflect the emotional journey they have gone through on the show. We’re listening for a meaningful lyric that connects with the American Idol audience and complements a great melody and song structure.


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Is there any one genre of song that works best for American Idol?Our show is watched by millions of Americans both young and old, so your lyrics and music need to be accessible and appealing to that audience.


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Should I write the lyrics before the music?Whatever feels right...great songs have been written both ways, and the lyrics and the music are equally important to us.


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Should I write with one contestant in mind or should I submit different versions of my song for each potential finalist?Do neither. Instead you should focus on simply writing a great song with broad appeal. A song that has these qualities can be arranged by our chosen record producer to suit individual singers.


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How long should my song be?
Between two and a half and four minutes is best for us in terms of running time.

3) recording tips
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/songwritersGuide/RecordingTips.aspx
A simple vocal recording accompanied by a guitar or piano will be enough for us to hear if your song could work for American Idol. Our skilled production team can then work their magic and complete the musical arrangement around your song if you make it through to our finale.


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I don’t have access to a professional recording studio. What do you suggest?We’re not listening to the quality of the recording, just the quality of the song. Recording a basic vocal and instrument performance at home on your computer is good enough for us. If you need help creating a song file, follow our simple steps here.


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My songwriting is a lot better than my singing. Will this hurt my chances?Not at all – remember, we’re not judging your performance, just the song. Perhaps you know a friend who is more confident in front of a microphone and can help you out. If not, don’t worry, as a great song will always shine through.


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How long should my song be?Between two and a half and four minutes is best for us in terms of running time.

4) create your song file
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/songwritersGuide/CreatingYourSongFile.aspx
To enter American Idol Songwriter, you'll need to upload your song to us as an MP3 file. If you're thinking “MP-What-File?”, then follow the steps below for your PC or Mac.


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PC UsersOpen Windows Sound Recorder – you'll find it on your PC here: Start>All Programs>Accessories>Entertainment>Sound Recorder.
If you don't have a built-in microphone, you'll need to connect an external one.
Record your song and save it as a .WAV file on your desktop.
Next, download a free MP3 encoder – a quick search online should find what you need.
Launch your encoder and add the .WAV file you saved on your desktop.
Open the encoder settings and select the following:
Bit rate: 128 kbps (or higher for even greater quality)
Channels: Joint Stereo
Sample rate: 44.1KHz

Your .WAV file is now ready to be converted into an MP3. Remember to save your converted MP3 to your desktop so it's easy to find – your file should only take seconds to convert.
Alternatively, you can open iTunes if you have it installed and convert your .WAV file through that.
Make sure your file size is no greater than 4MB, this is the maximum allowed.
You're then all set to check the results and upload your file.
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Mac UsersOpen GarageBand – free with Mac OS X 10.4 (or available to buy at http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/).
If you don't have a built-in microphone, you'll need to connect an external one.
Record and save your song.
Select 'Send Song to iTunes' from the Share menu.
Then open iTunes, go to Preferences, select the Advanced tab and then the Importing tab.
Check your settings:
Import Using: MP3 encoder
Setting: Good Quality (128kbps) or higher

Find your song, then hit CRTL+CLICK and select Convert Selection to MP3.
Your file will then be saved in your iTunes Music folder on your Mac.
Make sure your file size is no greater than 4MB, this is the maximum allowed.
You're then all set to check the results and upload your file.
If your song is one of our top 20 finalists, please be prepared to provide the original source file immediately.

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ENTER YOUR SONG
It doesn't get any bigger than this. Carrie Underwood's 'Inside Your Heaven' and Jordin Spark's 'This Is My Now' stormed to the top of the US charts after appearing on American Idol - the most watched television series in America. This year it could be your song.

Read Our Songwriter's Guide
Submit Your Song
We'll be asking you for a $10 entry fee, so now's the time to fold if you don't think your song's good enough to go all the way.


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Get VotingThe 20 songs most suitable for American Idol will be shortlisted by Simon Fuller - the creator of American Idol - and the 19 Entertainment A&R team. These songs will then be showcased online and the American public will be asked to vote for their favorites.

Register to Vote

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The Winning Song is RevealedThe song chosen by the nation will be performed live in front of millions of viewers on the American Idol television finale. But that's only half the story: your song will also be released by this season's American Idol!

Don't miss your chance to become America's hottest new songwriter.

CONTESTANT AGREEMENT

Introduction

The American Idol television series ("the Series") is owned by 19 TV Limited ("19 TV") and Fremantle Media North America Inc. The Series is in its seventh season - American Idol 7. 19 TV selects the songs to be performed by the contestants on the Series. 19 TV's parent company, 19 Entertainment Limited, ("19 Entertainment") is conducting a competition to find a new song for the winner of American Idol 7 to perform on the Series and to release as a commercial recording. This agreement sets out the terms upon which you may enter and participate in the American Idol Songwriter Competition ("the Competition"). In consideration of 19 Entertainment accepting you as a contestant in the Competition you agree to the terms set out in this agreement.

Eligibility requirements
Age - You (and each Co-Writer) must be at least 18 years old on 1 March 2008. You (and each co-writer) will be required to produce proof of your identity and age upon request.
Citizenship - You (and each Co-Writer) must be a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States.
Free to contract - You (and each Co-Writer) must not be party to a current exclusive song-writing agreement and your song must not be the subject of any existing music publishing agreement.
Your Song - Your song must consist of music and lyrics. The music and lyrics must both be 100% written by you (and your co-writers if any) and be original works. The music and lyrics of your song are together called "the Song". You may only enter one Song.

Not Allowed To Enter
You are not allowed to enter the Competition if you or any of the Co-Writers are:

employees or officers of 19 Entertainment, 19 TV, CKX Inc or any other company or corporation in the 19 or CKX Inc groups of companies;

employees or officers of Fremantle Media North America, Inc, Fox Broadcasting Company or of any other company or corporation in the Fremantle Media or Fox groups of companies;
employees or officers of AKQA or of any other company or corporation in the AKQA group of companies; or
an immediate family member (spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter or son) of or living in the same household (whether related or not) as anyone referred to in (a) (b) or (c) above.

The Competition
In order to enter the Competition you must:
follow all registration requirements on the Competition's website, including accepting the terms of this Agreement;
submit one Song for entry into the Competition by sending a demonstration recording of the Song in MP3 or other acceptable format ("the Recording") to the Competition website and a copy of the lyrics of the Song in WORD, PDF or other acceptable format ("the Lyric Sheet"); and
pay the entry fee of US $10, which is non returnable.
By entering the Competition you grant to 19 Entertainment the following irrevocable rights throughout the World:

the right to copy and store the Song, the Recording and the Lyric Sheet in any and all media;

the right to copy and reproduce the Song, the Recording and the Lyric Sheet in any and all media for the purposes of the Competition (as defined below);

the right to publicly perform the Song and the Recording in any and all media for the purposes of the Competition;

the right to record and authorise others to record the Song for the purposes of the Competition;

the right to synchronise the Song and the Recording with visual images for the purposes of the Competition;

the right to use your name, likeness and biographical information and those of each Co-Writer for the purposes of the Competition; and

the right to authorise others to do any or all of the above.

The expression "for the purposes of the Composition" referred to in 3.2 above includes:
copying, reproduction, public performance and use on the Competition website, AmericanIdol.com and any other website associated with the Competition or the Series (such as a Sponsor's website);

use in advertisements, commercials and other promotions (whether in or out of context) for the Competition; recording the Song and authorising others to record the Song; and embodying the Song and recordings of the Song (including the Recording) in television programmes (including episodes of the Series) or other audio-visual productions synchronised with visual images for exploitation in any and all media and in advertisements and promotions for such television programmes or other audio-visual productions.

The Competition will comprise the following elements:

19 Entertainment will select twenty (20) songs from those entered to go forward for public voting on the Competition website. 19 Entertainment's decision on the selection of the twenty songs ("the Top 20 Songs") will be final;

the public will be invited to vote to select the winning song from the Top 20 Songs. This vote will be either by voting on the Competition website or by a telephone vote;

the winning song will be the song receiving most public votes.
If the Song is selected by 19 Entertainment as one of the Top 20 Songs, you (and all Co-Writers) will be required to enter into a further agreement with 19 Entertainment ("the Publishing Agreement") as a condition of you continuing in the Competition. The Publishing Agreement will grant to 19 Entertainment (or its publishing designee) the exclusive right to publish the Song (but not any other music or lyrics you may have written) for a period of ten (10) years in return for an advance to you of $10,000 against a royalty to you of 75% 'at source' worldwide.
If the Song is not selected by 19 Entertainment as one of the Top 20 Songs the Song will be held in reserve should the Writer of any of the Top 20 Songs fail to enter into the Publishing Agreement. If the Song is not used as a reserve no use of the Song or Recording will be made, but the Song , the Recording and the Lyric Sheet you submitted will be stored by 19 Entertainment.

If the Song wins the Competition, it will be recorded by the winner of American Idol 7, performed at the finale of American Idol 7 and released as a commercial recording for sale to the public in compact disc and electronic formats. You (and any of your Co-Writers) will receive royalties pursuant to the Publishing Agreement for all commercial exploitation of the Song (other than for use of the Song for the purposes of the Competition).

Co-Writers
If the Song is written by you together with one or more others ("Co-Writers"), you confirm that you have the authority of the Co-Writers to enter into this Agreement on their behalf. If the Song is selected as one of the Top 20 Songs you and all your Co-Writers will be required to confirm in writing that you and all Co-Writers are bound by this Agreement, failing which the Song will be replaced in the Top 20 and excluded from the Competition.

The Recording
You confirm that the Recording is owned 100% by you and any Co-Writers and that you have the right to grant to us all rights in the Recording set out in this Agreement. If you do not perform on the Recording or are not the only performer on the Recording you confirm that you have all necessary consents and permissions to make and exploit the Recording.

General Terms
The Competition is a winner-take-all competition. There will be no consolation prizes except as 19 Entertainment may otherwise determine in its sole discretion.
Contestant collusion is prohibited. Any contestants found conspiring or colluding with another contestant will be ejected from the Competition.

All decisions regarding the Competition, including but not limited to rules, eligibility, song selection, voting methods, voting results, disqualification determinations and the awarding of prizes are at 19 Entertainment's sole and exclusive discretion, are final, binding and are not subject to challenge or appeal. 19 Entertainment reserves the right to disqualify contestants from the Competition for any reason in its sole discretion. 19 Entertainment is the sole judge of the outcome of each round of the Competition and 19 Entertainment's decision is final and binding and not subject to challenge or appeal.
19 Entertainment may at any time and in its sole discretion, add or subtract a round of competition from the Competition; and/or determine the method of voting to be used for such additional round(s).

19 Entertainment may at any time and in its sole discretion reinstate into the Competition a song which had previously been eliminated.

By entering the Competition you accept and agree to be bound by this Agreement and by the decisions of 19 Entertainment which decisions shall be final and binding on all matters relating to all aspects of the Competition. The rules of the Competition are subject to change at any time for any reason, with or without notice, in 19 Entertainment's sole discretion, and such changes shall not be subject to challenge or appeal.
You (and each Co-Writer) agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify 19 Entertainment, Fremantle Media North America Inc., Fox Broadcasting Company, AKQA, all production personnel, participating television stations, and their respective parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, affiliates, advertisers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the "Released Parties") from and against any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, expenses and losses of any kind arising from or relating to the Song, the Recording, or any statement or action or omission in connection with your participation in the Competition, any related television programme and/or the making, taping, use, editing, distribution, exhibition, licensing, advertising, promoting, broadcast and/or webcast of such programme.
You understand and agree that all publicity in connection with the Competition is under the sole control of 19 Entertainment. You agree to consult with 19 Entertainment regarding any and all publicity (including, but not limited to, television, radio and print interviews) in connection with your involvement with the Competition and shall not perform or consent to perform any publicity without prior written approval of the 19 Entertainment.

You agree to treat all information and material that you receive or acquire during your participation in the Competition as strictly confidential and not to disclose any such information to any third party.

19 Entertainment reserves the right to set limits on, among other things, the duration of the voting period and the number of votes that may be made per telephone number or individual per voting period.

All decisions regarding technical difficulties or mechanical failures in connection with the Competition (including any such difficulties or failures with the internet or telephone voting systems to be used by the public) will be determined by 19 Entertainment in its sole discretion and shall be final and binding on you. If a technical difficulty, mechanical failure, human error or other possible irregularity affecting the Competition occurs during the Competition, 19 Entertainment will review the situation on a case-by-case basis and take appropriate action to preserve the fairness and integrity of the Competition. If 19 Entertainment, in its sole discretion, determines that technical difficulty, mechanical failure or human error has corrupted the Competition, 19 Entertainment may take any remedial step including, without limitation, repeating a round of the Competition and/or any other measure 19 Entertainment in its sole discretion, deem necessary and/or appropriate.

This Agreement shall be governed by the Laws of England. you and 19 Entertainment agree that the High Court of Justice in England is the exclusive court of jurisdiction in relation to this Agreement.

You acknowledge that you have read and fully understood this Agreement and agree to abide by its terms.


REFUND POLICY
The registration fee for American Idol Songwriter 2008 is ten dollars. This registration fee is non-refundable once you submit your transaction. If payment is rejected or does not clear for any reason, 19 Entertainment and American Idol Songwriter reserve the right to refuse registration and entry to the American Idol Songwriter 2008 contest.

If you have any questions, please send an email to Songwriter.Contest@19.co.uk.

TERMS and Conditons

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did you enter?

please post lyrics and links to the songs you entered

btw: I also posted all the AI contest details here
cause I'm sure it's gonna drop off their site and
we'll have it archived here
case anyone wants to refer to it later on

got this from a cowriter
it is true?

ande

here's another rule a songwriter forwarded to me
but I can't seem to find it on the AI site

Citizenship – You (and each Co-Writer) must be a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States. You are not eligible if you (or any Co-Writer) is a resident of Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland or Vermont

what the %$%$%?

residents of Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland and Vermont are NOT legal permanent citizens of the United States?

that sure sounds bogus!

yep it's there, drop by
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/Registration.aspx
read the Contestant Agreement

CONTESTANT AGREEMENT
Introduction
The American Idol television series ("the Series") is owned by 19 TV Limited ("19 TV") and Fremantle Media North America Inc. The Series is in its seventh season – American Idol 7. 19 TV selects the songs to be performed by the contestants on the Series. 19 TV’s parent company, 19 Entertainment Limited, ("19 Entertainment") is conducting a competition to find a new song for the winner of American Idol 7 to perform on the Series and to release as a commercial recording. This agreement sets out the terms upon which you may enter and participate in the American Idol Songwriter Competition ("the Competition"). In consideration of 19 Entertainment accepting you as a contestant in the Competition you agree to the terms set out in this agreement.

Eligibility requirements

Age – You (and each Co-Writer) must be at least 18 years old on 1 March 2008. You (and each co-writer) will be required to produce proof of your identity and age upon request.
Citizenship – You (and each Co-Writer) must be a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States. You are not eligible if you (or any Co-Writer) is a resident of Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland or Vermont.

Free to contract – You (and each Co-Writer) must not be party to a current exclusive song-writing agreement and your song must not be the subject of any existing music publishing agreement.
Your Song – Your song must consist of music and lyrics. The music and lyrics must both be 100% written by you (and your co-writers if any) and be original works. The music and lyrics of your song are together called "the Song". You may only enter one Song.

Not Allowed To Enter
You are not allowed to enter the Competition if you or any of the Co-Writers are:

employees or officers of 19 Entertainment, 19 TV, CKX Inc or any other company or corporation in the 19 or CKX Inc groups of companies;
employees or officers of Fremantle Media North America, Inc, Fox Broadcasting Company or of any other company or corporation in the Fremantle Media or Fox groups of companies;
employees or officers of AKQA or of any other company or corporation in the AKQA group of companies;
an immediate family member (spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter or son) of or living in the same household (whether related or not) as anyone referred to in (a) (b) or (c) above; or
a resident of Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland or Vermont

The Competition
In order to enter the Competition you must:
follow all registration requirements on the Competition’s website, including accepting the terms of this Agreement;
submit one Song for entry into the Competition by sending a demonstration recording of the Song in MP3 or other acceptable format ("the Recording") to the Competition website and a copy of the lyrics of the Song in WORD, PDF or other acceptable format ("the Lyric Sheet"); and
pay the entry fee of US$10, which is non returnable.
By entering the Competition you grant to 19 Entertainment the following irrevocable rights throughout the World:
the right to copy and store the Song, the Recording and the Lyric Sheet in any and all media;
the right to copy and reproduce the Song, the Recording and the Lyric Sheet in any and all media for the purposes of the Competition (as defined below);
the right to publicly perform the Song and the Recording in any and all media for the purposes of the Competition;
the right to record and authorise others to record the Song for the purposes of the Competition;
the right to synchronise the Song and the Recording with visual images for the purposes of the Competition;
the right to use your name, likeness and biographical information and those of each Co-Writer for the purposes of the Competition; and
the right to authorise others to do any or all of the above.
The expression "for the purposes of the Composition" referred to in 3.2 above includes:
copying, reproduction, public performance and use on the Competition website, AmericanIdol.com and any other website associated with the Competition or the Series (such as a Sponsor’s website);
use in advertisements, commercials and other promotions (whether in or out of context) for the Competition;
recording the Song and authorising others to record the Song; and
embodying the Song and recordings of the Song (including the Recording) in television programmes (including episodes of the Series) or other audio-visual productions synchronised with visual images for exploitation in any and all media and in advertisements and promotions for such television programmes or other audio-visual productions.
The Competition will comprise the following elements:
19 Entertainment will select twenty (20) songs from those entered to go forward for public voting on the Competition website. 19 Entertainment’s decision on the selection of the twenty songs ("the Top 20 Songs") will be final;
the public will be invited to vote to select the winning song from the Top 20 Songs. This vote will be either by voting on the Competition website or by a telephone vote;
the winning song will be the song receiving most public votes.
If the Song is not selected by 19 Entertainment as one of the Top 20 Songs the Song will be held in reserve should the Writer of any of the Top 20 Songs fail to enter into the Publishing Agreement. If the Song is not used as a reserve no use of the Song or Recording will be made, but the Song , the Recording and the Lyric Sheet you submitted will be stored by 19 Entertainment.
If the Song wins the Competition, it will be recorded by the winner of American Idol 7, performed at the finale of American Idol 7 and released as a commercial recording for sale to the public in compact disc and electronic formats. You (and any of your Co-Writers) will receive royalties pursuant to the Publishing Agreement for all commercial exploitation of the Song (other than for use of the Song for the purposes of the Competition).

Co-Writers
If the Song is written by you together with one or more others ("Co-Writers"), you confirm that you have the authority of the Co-Writers to enter into this Agreement on their behalf. If the Song is selected as one of the Top 20 Songs you and all your Co-Writers will be required to confirm in writing that you and all Co-Writers are bound by this Agreement, failing which the Song will be replaced in the Top 20 and excluded from the Competition.

The Recording
You confirm that the Recording is owned 100% by you and any Co-Writers and that you have the right to grant to us all rights in the Recording set out in this Agreement. If you do not perform on the Recording or are not the only performer on the Recording you confirm that you have all necessary consents and permissions to make and exploit the Recording.

General Terms
The Competition is a winner-take-all competition. There will be no consolation prizes except as 19 Entertainment may otherwise determine in its sole discretion.
Contestant collusion is prohibited. Any contestants found conspiring or colluding with another contestant will be ejected from the Competition.
All decisions regarding the Competition, including but not limited to rules, eligibility, song selection, voting methods, voting results, disqualification determinations and the awarding of prizes are at 19 Entertainment’s sole and exclusive discretion, are final, binding and are not subject to challenge or appeal. 19 Entertainment reserves the right to disqualify contestants from the Competition for any reason in its sole discretion. 19 Entertainment is the sole judge of the outcome of each round of the Competition and 19 Entertainment’s decision is final and binding and not subject to challenge or appeal.
19 Entertainment may at any time and in its sole discretion, add or subtract a round of competition from the Competition; and/or determine the method of voting to be used for such additional round(s).
19 Entertainment may at any time and in its sole discretion reinstate into the Competition a song which had previously been eliminated.
By entering the Competition you accept and agree to be bound by this Agreement and by the decisions of 19 Entertainment which decisions shall be final and binding on all matters relating to all aspects of the Competition. The rules of the Competition are subject to change at any time for any reason, with or without notice, in 19 Entertainment’s sole discretion, and such changes shall not be subject to challenge or appeal.
You (and each Co-Writer) agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify 19 Entertainment, Fremantle Media North America Inc., Fox Broadcasting Company, AKQA, all production personnel, participating television stations, and their respective parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, affiliates, advertisers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the "Released Parties") from and against any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, expenses and losses of any kind arising from or relating to the Song, the Recording, or any statement or action or omission in connection with your participation in the Competition, any related television programme and/or the making, taping, use, editing, distribution, exhibition, licensing, advertising, promoting, broadcast and/or webcast of such programme.
You understand and agree that all publicity in connection with the Competition is under the sole control of 19 Entertainment. You agree to consult with 19 Entertainment regarding any and all publicity (including, but not limited to, television, radio and print interviews) in connection with your involvement with the Competition and shall not perform or consent to perform any publicity without prior written approval of the 19 Entertainment.
You agree to treat all information and material that you receive or acquire during your participation in the Competition as strictly confidential and not to disclose any such information to any third party.
19 Entertainment reserves the right to set limits on, among other things, the duration of the voting period and the number of votes that may be made per telephone number or individual per voting period.
All decisions regarding technical difficulties or mechanical failures in connection with the Competition (including any such difficulties or failures with the internet or telephone voting systems to be used by the public) will be determined by 19 Entertainment in its sole discretion and shall be final and binding on you. If a technical difficulty, mechanical failure, human error or other possible irregularity affecting the Competition occurs during the Competition, 19 Entertainment will review the situation on a case-by-case basis and take appropriate action to preserve the fairness and integrity of the Competition. If 19 Entertainment, in its sole discretion, determines that technical difficulty, mechanical failure or human error has corrupted the Competition, 19 Entertainment may take any remedial step including, without limitation, repeating a round of the Competition and/or any other measure 19 Entertainment in its sole discretion, deem necessary and/or appropriate.

This Agreement shall be governed by the Laws of England. you and 19 Entertainment agree that the High Court of Justice in England is the exclusive court of jurisdiction in relation to this Agreement.

You acknowledge that you have read and fully understood this Agreement and agree to abide by its terms.


REFUND POLICY
The registration fee for American Idol Songwriter 2008 is ten dollars. This registration fee is non-refundable once you submit your transaction. If payment is rejected or does not clear for any reason, 19 Entertainment and American Idol Songwriter reserve the right to refuse registration and entry to the American Idol Songwriter 2008 contest.

If you have any questions, please send an email to Songwriter.Contest@19.co.uk.

THANKS ANDE!

For posting all this, it's much easier to read & folloe here than there sites...

QUESTION:

Can you submitt more than one song????? at $10 each of course...

And what about submitting two versions of the same song? If you could.
That would be too confusing I guess wouldn't it?

Thanks

you're welcome
I wanted to archive it here incase questions come up mid year after they've pulled it off their site

they also amended the rules

I was hoping more JPFer's would participate on this thread and post what they submitted

I was surprised they blocked out residents of particular states

you can submit more than one song, I've already submitted 2
I'd think you could also submit different demos of the same song

ande

Citizenship – You (and each Co-Writer) must be a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States. You are not eligible if you (or any Co-Writer) is a resident of Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland or Vermont


THAT'S A BUNCH OF BULL S@*)*$@*!!! And unless I can see something in writing proving how they can leave residents of these states out I may take legal action against the company. The reason better be good!

I can understand Arizona--the state of Arizona officially has doubts about whether they want to be part of the U.S. anyway. But Iowa? What have they got against Iowa?

Joe

Thanks Joe! I am wondering that too. I am probably the only one in this state who is even entering a song. Come on! Its just full of corn fields and insurance companies. Good grief! What did we ever do? Can anyone shed some light on this?

T

I would suppose that Iowa must have some kind of law that is stopping AI from accepting your song. Different states have different rules concerning contests. The old "Void where Prohibited" statement.

Kevin

No one likes Insurance companies, they always bail out when you need them, therefore screw Iowa!! kidding of course but not about the insurance companies

I think I understand now: it must be some sort of copyright infringement issue. Arizona? Sounds like "American". Iowa? Sounds too much like "Idol". It would follow that Connecticut, Maryland and Vermont are obviously pretending to be Cowell, Jackson and Abdul.

Shame on those states.

Well I guess I will be residing with a friend from out of state for a little while. ha! There are ways to beat the system. No problem there. This is crazy. There are alot of state laws that we don't know about in each state that make no sense at all. Perhaps this is one of them. I would like to see the fine print on this one.

T

Hey Ande, where did you find the contestant agreement page? I read through the conditions and terms and read that pretty thouroughly and could not find anything written about the states that you mentioned being excluded. Could you help us find that exact location other than reading what you have posted here? Thank you ! I want to see this for myself written on the A.I. site. Update, never mind... I found it and there is no explanation at all for this.

T

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

It has to be something about the way a contest is conducted and whether they feel like you are essentially "gambling" for example by participating. Different states have a myriad of laws about paid contests and there's also a of state laws governing what type of contract you can be forced to enter into for your music. (For example, some may block anything forcing you to give up rights to your song by simply entering, which AI does and we discussed all that before). All this is simply speculation, but it's more likely because of existing laws or previous litigation with those states than any reason on AI's end. They're such a huge lawsuit target, I am sure they've got to cover their butt on every front. And I doubt you'd have legal options Tammy... People are free to offer their products or services to any states or exclude any they want to. For example in Indiana we can't purchase wine to be shipped to us from outside of the state due to a bogus Indiana law passed by distributors to stifle competition. There's so many possible reason that would block them that your best shot at making any noise would be to contact your local Fox news TV affiliate (and perhaps their competition if they don't respond) and ask them why Iowa is being left out. At least you'll likely get an answer.

Brian

This is very interesting. I have been on the phone with several people trying to figure this out. It has to be some law here and in the 4 other states. But surely there is a way to get around this. It seems so odd. They must considered the contest gambling, which is ironic because we are opening yet another casino in this state. We are close to 20. We have horse races just down the street. People come from all over to gamble and go to the horse racing but now ya can't enter a songwriting contest when there are well over 20k people in it and the odds still are pretty bad to make the top twenty.

So if anyone is curious about why they did this, I will contact our local Fox TV station tomorrow and a few other sources. This could prove to be very interesting. I will definately keep you posted on this.

t

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

Tamera, maybe the difference is that with horse races and casinos, you can sometimes win. Ya think?

Joe

You got it! LOL!! And at this point Joe, it's a whole lot more fun to just go play the slots than to be dealt yet again, another hurdle with the American Idol contest. Somehow I didn't see this in the print last year. Perhaps it was there.

Tammy

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

tammy

drop by
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/Registration.aspx
then scroll down a little
read the Contestant Agreement

Tammy you have a valid grievance here. It is a form of discrimination. My feelings on AI are now legend however I am an advocate of fair play and freedom of choice. Why should you be barred from a national competition because you happen to reside in a certain part of the country. Brian also raised a point about bogus import laws. I am no expert on the USA constitution but I would hope that these unfair laws breach it somewhere or other. That is an angle you may want to pursue. Freedom is hardly freedom if there are laws that prevent you going about lawful pursuits.

HI Guys! I have made contact with the attorney general and am awaiting a call back. The lady that I did get to speak to in the office was unaware of anything crazy like this? She seemed intriged. I am sure it will raise a few eyebrows. They have put me in contact with an investigater and he will be handling this. Man I hope he calls soon!

T

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

Hey Tammy watch out now the FBI will be watching you. LOL
Best of luck. Milk the publicity.

I can see the headlines.



Young songwriter exposes gov human rights scandal.

Attorney general takes up case.

I will fight this through the courts AI will get my entry.

I will even move to another state to get an entry in AI song comp.

LOL ...Big Jim, they probably already are watching me. There is no privacy here in the US> ha! The internet has taken care of that. Heck I googled myself and even found quotes that I said here on JPF come right up in my face and thought....oh great! now the whole world knows what I have said. Any thing we say on here or anywhere on the net can be google and pulled up. Ha! I can't possibly undo all the links and conversations. Scary huh? So I suppose I can be tracked down anywhere.

I can't wait to see what they have to say about this contest. This will probably big news around here. ha!

Tammy

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

Tammy,

Did you call a local TV or Radio station? I bet if there is a local radio talk show, they'd LOVE a little controversial topic like this one.. it might make you a mini celeb in Iowa! = )

Brian

That is my next move Brian. Today I called the attorney generals office and got in touch by voice mail with a private investigator that will take my case. They secretary was very intriged. The next call will be this weekend to the FOX TV station we have here. This could get interesting. I keep thinking why me?! LOL But it does seem quite unfair.

Tammy

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

Not sure why you need a private investigator. The media will do that work for you if the ask the right people.

Brian

That would be great. I guess after the lady heard my story that was who she patched me through to. Maybe after I talk to the FOX people I might not need that.

Tammy

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

Seriously Tammy AI is big business and it sells news especially anything controversial. I would think that what you have uncovered is worthy of local even national news. The publicity would do everyone including you no end of good.

you should go public with your story
tell them how you went to nashville spent a small fortune in hopes of having a better demo to enter then found out you couldn't

the other choice is to be quiet and "move" to another state and
enter the contest

ande

Hmm... under the Eligibility requirements - part 4 'Your Song' - it says "You may only enter one Song"

I hope that does not disqualify you. I think it would be very cool if you won. If you're in the top 20 - I'll be voting.

Ok guys! Lets take a poll! I need your help!!! First of all, I did enter the contest with my song. They accepted my money and my entry online. They don't require that you put what state you are from on the entry form. However...should the bridge be crossed where that may come up, what should I do? Have a residency somewhere else? Which I do have in place now. Or should I blow the whistle this week when the Attorney General calls and should I call FOX TV? Should I bother with all that now? Or wait to see if I even have a chance? Or will I get thrown out and have never known they did that to me in the stack of songs?? OPINIONS PLEASE!! WHAT WOULD YOU DO??

Tammy

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

And I see that Ande did enter more than one. You can do that. I am pretty sure. Last year they started out with the one song only rule. Then as the time passed they did change that post and say more than one song... or songs. So they do change the rules as they please. Of course they aren't going to turn down the cash cow. Ha! The more the merrier.

Tammy

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

Tammy, I for one believe you should pursue this. Who knows, the next No 1 hit may be sitting on someone's computer in Iowa and won't be sent in because she read that one line in the terms. Unfortunately, we Canadians can't enter 'either'. You've got my vote also!

Randy Justason

Here's what I'm wondering...if you enter a song, and it doesn't end up winning, is your song still now published by AI? In other words, I could see being forced into signing a Pub deal for your song if you won, but if you didn't win...you're still tied to a Pub contract with AI? That seems to be a drag...although it also seems as though they are offering $10k for ALL Top 20 songs? Anyone know for sure?

If they don't select your song, you have no obligation to them. You didn't sign over your rights to the song just by entering. That would be crazy and unfair and would lose in court even if they were so sly as to slip that in the fine print. Besides, they would never know which song they rejected even if it became a hit outside of the contest- just too many songs to keep track of.
sjh

samuel, I think you are right. I think they only time any of us would have to worry would be if we made the top 20. Then there would be things to consider. Other than that, you are right there are just way too many songs for them to even keep track of or deal with.

Tammy

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

Samuel, it appears that ALL TOP TWENTY songs have to sign a Publishing Agreement. Note where it says this, "If the Song is not selected by 19 Entertainment as one of the Top 20 Songs, the Song will be held in reserve should the Writer of any of the Top 20 Songs fail to enter into the Publishing Agreement."

What that sounds like to me is this...if your song is selected for the Top Twenty, you must sign the Pub Agreement. If you don't, the #21 song will replace your song and you're out completely.

SO, with that in mind, say your song goes in to the Top Twenty and you do NOT win the #1 slot...it appears as though 19 Entertainment still has a Pub Agreement on your song. UNLESS, the Pub Agreement that you are asked to sign specifically states that if you don't win the whole contest, you are released from the Pub Agreement. But to me, that would kind of suck if you made the Top Twenty, gave away your publishing and then didn't win the whole thing. Now you've given them your Pub for no apparent reason.

Thoughts?

Tammy here is what I would do. I am not a pessimist but chances are your song is not going to get a top 20 slot from a statistical POV. So do the next best thing get your song airplay and publicity from pursueing the I come from Iowa and am barred fro entering a song in AI angle. Contact local even national TV radio and press and draw their attention to this state of affairs I am sure they will listen it is A great news story. Anything good or bad relating to AI sells. So you milk the cow and do not let the cow milk you.

Yep could'nt agree more...turn the situation to your advantage.."IOWA SONGWRITERS ARE BARRED FROM ENTERING AI"..send an e mail to all radio stations highlighting that part of the rules...why are we being discriminated against?..should make a good story,at local level to start with..who knows where it might end up...but i'd reckon the IOWA radio stations will pick up on it...It's akin to this country in the fact...X FACTOR..(uk version)invites songwriters from anywhere in the UK to write a song for the finalists..get your entry in right away..P.S Writers from Scotland need not apply..........Terry...

Ok guys, I called the FOX TV station just now. The first lady was cluesless...the next guy on the phone was also clueless but seemed interested. He said he wanted to contact someone about that and would call me back. He thinks it is some rule out of Calif. not here in Iowa. I find that hard to believe because it would be the state that would be forbidding it. He is calling to find out. So cross your fingers that we will get an answer. I just know most people have no idea about this. This guy didn't even know there was a songwriting contest.

Tammy

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

Hey Terry X FACTOR must have already heard our stuff and heard about our reputations. LOL

This whole residency thing is quite puzzling tho it doesn't affect me.

Anyway, I decided to enter this year. I didn't last year.

I took an end-around on the subject matter , injecting a bit of humility to the whole process.

Here's my lottery ticket:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6416370


Isn't Love Enough?
Lyrics: Timothy A. Perry
Music: Jeffrey Oxford
© 2007

Verse 1:
Some might search for diamonds
But get a life full of rocks.
Some gaze at the ocean,
But never leave the docks.
Some might toil their whole lives through
And never rise a notch.
Work with peers for 40 years
And never get a watch.

Chorus 1:
But if someone loves you heart and soul
And you love them just as much.
When everything is said and done,
Isn’t love enough?

Verse 2:
From a mansion on a mountain top
To a broke down double-wide,
Home is where we live and love
And we find a place to hide.
Instead of high accomplishments
Most try to fill their cups.
Struggle to the day’s last light
Just trying to keep up.

Chorus 1:
But if someone loves you heart and soul
And you love them just as much.
When everything is said and done,
Isn’t love enough?

Bridge:
Most will never make their way into the history books.
Or have the kind of talents that compel the world to look.
'Cause hidden from the public eye are feats of faith and brawn.
It’s within our own circles that the lines are clearly drawn.

Chorus 1:
But if someone loves you heart and soul
And you love them just as much.
When everything is said and done,
When everything is said and done,
Isn't love enough?

Very nice, Tim! Good luck to you.

I posted a link on the mp3 site here yesterday as well as uploaded it to the AI site, but I don't think many have seen it here, so I'll post it again.

It's not quite up to my current production standards, since it was written and recorded in just a few days (and it's a demo, not a master). I hope it has a shot...We're hoping they also might consider it for "Idol Gives Back" since it's about helping others.

http://www.myspace.com/larrywilliamsproductions


WHAT THEN?
c 2008 Steve M. Jackson/Larry O. Williams

Okay, so we build a brighter place to live
Wash away all the hate and fear it had to give
Will we find all the happiness we're lookin' for
Will the children really know exactly what's in store

When we finally make the other side
Can we tell them that they'll never, ever have to run and hide

What then - when we make a better world
What then - will we find ourselves alone
What then - will we find a willing hand to hold
To help us find our way back home?

Can we forget all the pain it took to get us there
Should we forget? Somehow it doesn't seem quite fair
If we have nothing to compare it to
Good turns bad, new to old - there's nothing we can do

When we finally make tomorrow
Can we look back on the yesterdays that we all came to know

What then - when we make a better world
What then - will we find ourselves alone
What then - will we find a willing hand to hold
To help us find our way back home?

We've got to face the past...if we run the future may not last
Let's prepare for the worst life has got to give

And then - when we make a better world
And then - we won't find ourselves alone
And then - we'll find that willing hand to hold
To help us find our way back home!

Nice job on your’n as well, L!

I didn’t write mine for AI. It was written last fall and inspired by a good songwriter friend whose wife died at 48 last year.

I just self-rationalized the content enough to enter it. ;-)

The FOX TV man just called me back again. He is still waiting to hear from Calif. I showed him the rules. He said it has nothing to do with FOX that he knows of. He says it is Freemantle and 19. Whatever that means. Somehow they know something about the 5 states that keeps them from allowing us to enter. He says they are VERY strict and if any of us would make it that far they would do their homework and disqualify us. I don't know. I am not sure what to think. I expect to get one more phone call of information from him. This is so darn crazy.

Tammy

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

here's what I wish:

1) that those judging the idol song contest
would select a pool of the very best submissions
and have a week where idol contestants go through them pick one and perform it on the show

2) that after the show idol contestants & AR
could go through the pool of songs on their song search for hits
when they are preparing to record their CD

Tammy, in case no one has said this, I believe it has to do with states' rules for contests. There is some law on the books in Iowa and the other states about entering contests, or entering contests with international companies (19 Entertainment is in the UK), or something like that. I don't believe it has anything to do with 19 discriminating against certain states...it has more to do with those states having some problem with such competitions. I'm no lawyer, but I read that someone else...

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

over on AI SongWriter Board
I thought this thread was interesting

I never heard so many awful songs in all my life.
Lets be honest, people!
Post a song here for an honest critique of your song
http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/topic/?tid=876444

Ande (et al.), do you know when they're supposed to publish the names of the Top Twenty? I have to check to make sure I'm not among them.

Joe

It's actually a pretty funny thread...They're calling the OP "Cyber-Simon" as a nickname because he's brutally "honest". No one escape criticism...

No credentials given, but I think it's all in good fun.

Here I am in Maryland but actually I may only be visiting here and I may be a resident of North Carolina depending on AI's Top 20. The Maryland Attorney General says it's an old Sweepstake's law that says you can't pay a fee to enter a Sweepstakes where you win a lot of money. I told them that there is no money to win in this situation only the royalties that the song would earn on its own merit. The problem is that the Government has no clue what a Songwriter has to do to get noticed by the Music Business. They think that Songwriters are those folks in LA, Nashville and New York who they see at the awards shows. Anyway I've enjoyed listening to a lot of your songs. I was around here last year. Hopefully one of you guys will be in the Top 20. I wrote and entered a song called "It Was You" That I wish I could have had a female lead vocalist but I did it myself. Of course I was born in Washington DC. Maybe a birth certificate would work Hmmm?

Oh yeah my song is at www.myspace.com/philpieraldi

Post deleted by TAMERA64

started this thread
http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/topic/?tid=878698

That's a good idea Tammy,I actually used to live there for about eight years. They don't like the Lottery but they have nothing against Sweepstakes.

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Hey Tammy,
My guess is that they'll start calling on Monday. Hope you're doing well! I see that you've been very productive as a songwriter lately! Awesome! Loved what you and Ande did together.

Heidi

For The AI contest Someone lent me $10 bucks to submit one song.

All I can say is this.. with complete certainty
I know I won't make no top twenty, NO WAY.

However also with complete certainty, I send my deepest sympathy and apology...
To whoevers song that gets played & judged right after mine LOL

thank you heidi

ande

Hey Ande,
I think that your dedication to songwriting is worthy of high praise. Your work ethic, as witnessed on your songwriting blog, sets a stellar example.

Best of luck.

Heidi

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Hello Heidi,

Thanks so much for the compliment...you certainly know how to make a young newbie feel shy and flattered at the same time...LOL

Good luck with your submission!

-Karen

Hi Tammy,

What a beautiful song
You sound absolutely incredible

Ande

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Nice string arrangement, Tammy. Your voice sounds great, too.

If Idol can't use it, I can hear it as a soundtrack song easily.

Post deleted by TAMERA64

I just found this thread from Ande's IFS newsletter. I also submitted a song, "Fly", which I wrote expressly for the contest within the week or two before the deadline (mostly the last 5 days). I'll post the lyrics below, and you can hear it at either:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6417163

or:

http://www.myspace.com/rickpaulmusic

Here are the lyrics:

Fly
words and music by Rick Paul

Verse 1:

It's been a long uphill climb
And I've fallen down at times
But here I stand, looking back on where I've been
Each lesson learned along the way
Made me who I am today
And I'll never be the same again

Chorus:

I'll fly
On the wings you gave me
Soar above all that laid me low
And I want you to know
I'll sail toward the stars on your love
If there's one thing I'm sure of
With you beside me I'll reach for the sky
And fly

Verse 2:

I've so very far to go
Where it leads me who can know
But I bet it'll be quite a ride
Through the sunshine, through the rain
Through the passion and the pain
You will always be here on my mind

(repeat Chorus)

Bridge:

I was drifting before I found you
You shone a light, showed the way
You pulled me through

(repeat Chorus)

© 2008 Rick Paul (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved

Rick Paul... where the heck have YOU been hiding the last few years? = )

Brian

Still get chills hearing your song Tammy. Picturing the singer with a very black screen with a million stars radiating/pulsating as she/he sings this. I love the addition of strings. You did something alittle different in the part in your Chorus where the words say "but deep in my heart, I believe". In the old version there was more of up/down melody there on just those particular words and quite honestly I missed hearing that. It's still wonderful but I did notice that difference.

Best,
Lynn

[quote=Brian Austin Whitney]Rick Paul... where the heck have YOU been hiding the last few years? = )

Hi Brian, it's hard to hide someone my size.

I've been around, performing a lot more than in the past. Put out a few initial releases (2 singles, 1 EP) through iTunes and the like. Still on-line a whole lot (probably way too much), but I've never successfully managed to deal with keeping up with webboards (wouldn't have noticed this post if it hadn't been for Ande's newsletter) -- call me a dinosaur, but I still can only handle newsgroups and mailing lists, and I'm a regular on a few of those. I'm also a regular in our local JPF chapter, which has been pretty active.

I've missed the annual Rusty's thing the last few years -- would have made it a point to be there as I've always enjoyed those. Hopefully we can catch up next time you do a SoCal roadtrip. It definitely has been awhile.

Nice song and an incredible voice. A little Disneyesque but really nice. I could see it being picked.

Nice work,

Brian

http://songwriter.americanidol.com
says voting starts Thur 04/10/2008

so my guess is finalists are choosen and
starting to get notified,
they are probably being sent overnight packages to sign and return.

Ande

Hopefully Tammy is there to answer her Tennessee phone number or get her Tennessee mail in case they try! = )

Interesting how fast this moves along.
They probably got 25,000 entries maybe more and most probably went in in the last few days and they have already selected the final 20? Is that how it works?
Wow, must be a ton of screeners.
I wonder how many seconds of the songs get heard?

Pretty amazing that they can do it so quickly.

Post deleted by TAMERA64

It really wouldn't take that many screeners believe it or not. 2/3rds could be eliminated almost instantly.. the last third could be narrowed down in a couple days and they probably started screening the entries day one as they came in. You'd be amazed at how fast you can efficiently screen music when you know going in where the bar is set quality wise.

Brian

Rick, you sound like Dan Hill, nice song by the way.

I bet they didn't wait for the deadline and all the songs to be submitted, I'm sure they started evaluating songs as soon as they were entered

I forget how they announced the top 20 last year...do you think they'll mention it this Thursday?

By the way, I found the link to LAST YEAR's top 20 songs. I hadn't really listened to them...they are all near-master-quality recordings. Live and learn...

http://www.americanidol.com/songwriter/all-contestants.xhtml

That's the reality of submitting songs anywhere now. You can't get away with a low quality demo no matter how amazing the song is, I don't care what people tell you. Sure, if you're an established writer with connections, those connections may be willing to deal with simple low end demos, but for the average writer/artists submitting, the competition is consistently pro master quality all the time, even in amateur contests. I've been saying this to folks for years but people seem to believe the myth instead. Of the 300-400K songs we get this year, I bet the top 3rd (maybe even the top half) are all pro-level master quality.

Brian

Brian, C'est La Vie.
Larry, reading over the profiles and looking at the pictures of the finalist, it looks like most of them are under 30. Does it take youth to write a song for the young? It might.

Yep, i have mentioned the same thing on a few topics on these boards...you have to speculate to accumulate...top quality demo's are the order of the day..no matter what genre...and unfortunately, you have to put your hand in your pocket..but that is the state of play nowadays...it certainly ain't a hobby when you are shelling out your hard earned!.....Terry..

Well.. if someone is a hobbyist, they should expect to favorably compete with professionals. Just as hobby basketball players shouldn't expect to get a spot on an NBA team. There are more pro football players than major label artists. Most folks don't expect a 90 pound weakling who is out of shape to make a pro football team. Why would the musical equivelent make it in pro music?

Brian

I think the problem is that American Idol is dishonest about what we all know is true, that only a "pro level master quality" recording stands a chance to be considered. Here is what they SAY about the quality of recording they will consider:

[[We’re not listening to the quality of the recording, just the quality of the song. Recording a basic vocal and instrument performance at home on your computer is good enough for us...]]

.. and later
[[Remember, we’re not judging your performance, just the song. Perhaps you know a friend who is more confident in front of a microphone and can help you out. If not, don’t worry, as a great song will always shine through.]]

Last year, two song got through with simple productions, one was deceptively simple (Someday); but it was recorded by a master of the mixer; and the other song, (One night) was in fact a simple piano/vocal but the execution was professional. The winning song (This is my now) was as processed as sausage. So anyone who read the rules last year and then heard the actual songs selected would have to understand that they wouldn't stand a chance this year if they submitting another rough demo.

I actually believe this is possible -- with a very big IF!! When I listen to some of my home made recordings, I truly believe that I have "enough" recording quality to impress anyone -- IF THE SONG WAS REALLY GREAT AND I COULD SING WELL!!!! There's the rub -- true talent will shine through on good home recordings, but those of us who really don't have enough vocal talent are never going to make a big enough impression for a judge/screener to hang with the song more than 30 seconds.

Kevin

Which goes back to what so many of us have been saying: one of the easiest ways to even up the playing field -- at least at voting time -- would be to have the AI band/back-up singers perform them all, so the public is voting on the quality of the songs not the production. But that would cost AI time and money....and if people are willing to spend their OWN money for a great submission, I can see why they wouldn't.

Still, I think that would generate a HUGE amount of goodwill...

Anyway, in case you didn't see this over on General, I found this post on the Spinme.com site a little while ago:

BTW - I received an email earlier in the week from one of the Top 20 from last year who basically confirmed that the "calls" went out about 5 days before the songs were posted on Idol's website last year. They had to sign an additional royalty and usage agreement (which 19Entertainment eventually released 19 of them from once the contest was over).

Whether it's legitimate or not is anybody's guess...but at the least, it's some more fodder for intrigue!! If we all play again next year, we should make a concerted effort to find out just how early the calls started going out...so people aren't sitting by their phones all day! ("Luckily", with broken foot in cast, at least I have a "legitimate" excuse for doing so! hahaha!)

Can't wait to hear the finalists!

Ciao for now,
Beth

My opinion is that if the vocal and melody are intelligible, that is all that is required. EJ's "Tiny Dancer" could have been recorded on a RadioShack cassette and it still would be a hit. It's about melody and vocal period. Something I need exercise myself. they call it a "Hit" for a reason.

Beth, I agree with you! That would make it fair if all the songs were presented equally. It sure will be interesting to see who they have chosen.

Tammy

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

true, Mr Darnell to a tiny extent...but too many variables would need to all fall into place at once..the first one being the screener likes the rough demo...but the old saying springs to mind here..
"they would say that wouldn't they"..when telling entrants that a basic demo done on a PC would suffice...if they told the truth, that in fact they prefer a top notch recording...which really is the case...think of all the 10 bucks they would not recieve...just my 2c........Terry...

saw this today

Topic: I want my money back!
Posted: Tue, Apr 08 2008, 6:00 PM

At least 10 different songwriters for the 2007 Songwriters contest have had prior working relationships with either American Idol Judge’s Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, American Idol bandleader BLEEP Minor, American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest, former American Idol finalist or Fox Television.

One Songwriting Finalist Colin Armstrong, according to his American Idol bio, won the "BE A STAR" contest on L.A. radio station STAR 98.7 FM.
Sadly, the bio doesn’t mention that Ryan Seacrest was the radio DJ, and that 2 of Colin’s Armstrong’s co-writers Mikal Reid and Marti Frederiksen are credited on Bo Bice’s 2005 CD and Clay Aiken’s 2006 CD.

(Side note, Marti Frederiksen and Clive Davis are producer’s on Clay’s CD).

Songwriting Finalist Jennifer Hamady spent 2 episodes as a backup singer on the 2007 season of American Idol.

Songwriting Finalist Kelly Corsino has her own music production company "Framistan" and one of her clients is Fox Television.

Songwriting Finalist Cal Harris Jr. was an engineer on Paula Abdul’s "Head Over Heels" CD.

Songwriting Finalist Sam Sims was the bass player on Paula Abdul’s "Under My Spell" tour.

Songwriting Finalist CJ Vanston played keyboards while Randy Jackson played Bass on Richard Marx’s "Repeat Offender" and "Days In Avolon" CD’s.

Songwriting Finalist Shedrick Mitchell gets the credit of playing the organ while American Idol Bandleader BLEEP Minor played the bass on "Queen Latifah’s Dana Owens" CD.

I still haven’t mentioned the winning song yet. And remember that that the songwriting contest, according to the shows producer Simon Fuller, was meant for amateur songwriters.

Ok, lets examine American Idol Songwriting Contest Champ Scott Krippayne’s true bio.
At Walmart.com, you can buy Scott’s 2005 "Gentle Revolution" CD for the low price of only $12.88. I’ve been to Walmart and looked, there isn’t an amateur CD section, but there is a Scott Krippayne section.

So much for searching for a great undiscovered songwriting talent.

And if you visit the U.S. copyright website, a quick search shows Scott Krippayne has written songs for several christian artist like Jaci Velasquez, Rebecca Saint James, Kathy Troccoli, Point of Grace and more.

And if you check out Scott’s Purplehonda myspace page, Scott says he has written 14 number 1 hits and 20 top 10 hits for artist like John Tesh, Ronan Tynan, Saddi Patty and more.

F.Y.I. Scott Krippayne also wrote the title track "Wonderful Crazy" for American Idol Juniors finalist Katelyn Tarver’s 2005 debut CD.

So much for having an untapped songwriter. He seems fairly tapped to me.

Scott Krippayne has written with Andy Marvel.
Ok, we know what your thinking, who’s Andy Marvel?
Well Andy Marvel is one of the songwriter’s on Jordin Sparks 2003 "For Now" Demo CD.

And then there’s Matthew Ward.
Both Matthew Ward and Scott Krippayne get credit for solo’s on "The Heart of a Martyr" Celtic Cry CD.
Matthew Ward produced American Idol winner Jordin Sparks 2003 "For Now" demo CD.
Scott also has written with Jorge Corante.
Jorge was the producer on Paula Abdul’s "SpellBound" CD.

Here’s a little something to take home and ponder...............

What are the odds that 2007’s American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and 2007’s American Idol 3rd place Finalist Melinda Doolittle would both be singing with American Idol season 3 Finalist George Huff before American Idol season 6 even began?
Just so you know...Ryan Seacrest announced on American Idol’s final show that over a 100,000 people tried out for the 2007 season.

Math was never our subject, but 100,000 to 1 seems close.

Here’s a quote from Shoutlife.com.
Christian artist Michael W. Smith’s manager Chaz Corzine says
"Three years ago I met and became friends with a young girl that possessed about as much talent as I had ever seen in one person.
Her name is Jordin Sparks and when I first met her - she was 14 years old.

Shortly after I met Jordin she, her mother and her grandmother visited Nashville. I had the opportunity to take them to Michael’s house where Jordin and Michael’s girls hit it off like they had been best friends all their life!
Another unique thing about that visit was that former American Idol contestant, George Huff, was at Smitty’s house.
As you might imagine - it wasn’t long before the three of them (Michael, George and Jordin) wound up around the piano.
That is a night I will never forget. Well, it wasn’t long before Jordin was on the road with us singing background vocal’s for Smitty’s 2005 Christmas tour.
She was a hit - both on stage and off stage. That was the first of two tours Jordin would do with Michael. She also joined him on his 2006 Christmastime Tour."

So where does American Idol 3rd place finalist Melinda Doolittle fit in all of this? She’s a backup singer on George Huff’s 2004 "My Christmas" CD.

So why is this important? Because American Idol's doing it again.

It Needs To Be Exposed!
from: http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forums/topic/?tid=883810

So now I am thinking perhaps nobody is listening to the web submissions. Why would they if they already have their songs picked out? This sounds like a scam and a mean one at that.

This is how I felt last year when I found out you guys... it's all true. All the info Ande has posted. I thought I would try one more time to see if things would turn out any differently. I am waiting anxiously as they post the songs to see how it all falls. This will truly determine if I ever do this one again. I wish it was an amatuer contest. But they may list it as such, maybe not. Eithor way, pro's have been picked with MAJOR hits such as Scott Krippayne whom has written for the JR Idol long before his song was picked for last years A.I. winner. It certainly was not just a coincidence. Lets see how this pans out. Then we can hash it all out. This ought to be a fun one for us!

Tammy

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

They picked a couple JPF members last year.. so it wasn't entirely a scam. I bet someone gets in again this year as well.

Brian

I would never have expected a completely level playing field. In this business there is always an element of "who you know" and certainly "what you've done" that gives you an edge.

Quite frankly, if a rank amateur writing their first song would ever get into the top 20, I would be more shocked than hearing about some of the industry connections above.

Well it does happen. Read a bio on John Prine. His first time up on stage in a venue that expected to laugh at him, he stunned the audience and the other performers into silence. The same thing happened with Paul Hogan who played Crocodile Dungee. He went on an Austrialian talent show that made fun of the "guest" kind of like the Gong Show. He used is wit to turn the tables on the "judges" and made fools of them on National television. The audience loved it and his spot on the show turned him into a movie Star. There are lots of examples of really talented people getting discovered accidently. Rosanne Barr was a housewife with an attitude who leveraged it into a career. This years American Idol contestant, Jason, comes from a family of Opera singers. He barely made a sound until two years ago and had only been in front of an audience 5 times before he was "persuaded" to go on American Idol. Some rank amature is hiding out there with talent that will someday stun the critics into silence. And Brian, I think you are totally wrong about Kristi. She is green and goes off pitch once in a while but she has an amazing tone to her voice and she can "feel" a song. I will still put her in the top three just like I have been saying since the first week we posted comments on the top 24.

Interesting thing about David A. He has been an amazing singer since he was 5 but he caught a virus and one of his vocal chords was completely paralized. He did not completely recover from it. I think that is why his voice is kind of breathy and high. It isn't his fault. He is coping with a disability.

Hey Joe,

I don't know who John Prine is, but I looked him up on Wikepedia. It didn't mention anything about surprising anyone on stage, so I guess your example isn't documented well. It says he was a well-known folk performer in Chicago until Kris Kristopherson spotted him.

Having a unique personality that people find interesting like Rosanne Barr is a bit different than having a fully-developed skill set from the first time you try it as is required in songwriting. Even Dolly Parton knows her early songs aren't as well-written as her later stuff.

If a beginning songwriter were to win ANY songwriting contest, I think it would be a fluke due to the novelty of the lyric or something, not because it was well-written.

Larry, You don't know who John Prine is? How old are you- 12? He's a bloody songwriting genious! Try listening to Angel from Mongomery by him or the multitude of covers especially, Emmy Lou Harris or Bonnie Rait. Wikepedia is not a reliable bio of anyone. Every serious songwriter I know, knows who John Prine is. Here is Bonnie doing his song on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5HpW1Sula8

Now if you still don't think this is brilliant songwriting, then I guess we just travel in different song universes.

Dolly Parton wrote "I will always love you" before she left the Porter Wagoner Show in the seventies's. Whitney Houston covered it in the 90's. It was still a brilliant song even before it was "discovered", mainly because it showed up in a movie. I have no doubt that the best song ever written has never been heard by more than a dozen people. Talent is very deep in this country. I think it is silly to think that the most talented people will naturally be discovered. Having talent, and having recognition are two separate things.

speaking fo great writers
todd snider is signed to john prine's label

I see why he is on John Prine's label. He has a lot in common. This Youtube video has him telling how this Garth Brook's songwriter ripped off his song "Beer Run" and how he got even by writing a song called "If tomorrow never comes". Snyder is about 50% comic and 50% songwriter. Very funny guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ke9FhsSgZI&feature=related

Hey Joe, I'm WAY older than 12....but sorry, John Prine is not a household word to me. I don't follow the folk and Americana genre very closely, but that's OK. You guys don't need my approval and I'll take your word for it that he's that good (I did watch the Bonnie Raitt video, though - nice).

I hope you didn't think this is where I was coming from: "I think it is silly to think that the most talented people will naturally be discovered. Having talent, and having recognition are two separate things."

Of course. I know of several extremely talented people who, for various reasons, will never be "discovered".

My earlier point was only that I don't think the work an artist does while just learning their craft is their best.

I think I see you point Larry but you have to consider that creative people just naturally do their best work when they are young; and that holds true for songwriters like Bob Dylan, who probably wasn't 25 when he wrote "Blowing in the wind", to the young Eaqles, Beatles, the Who, you name them..to scientist like Albert Einstein who was in his teens when he started forming his ideas about light, gravity, space, time and general and special relativity. That is just the hard cold truth- genius is reserved for youth and it rarely has anything to do with honing the "craft" In fact Don McClean, who wrote the American classic "American Pie", admitted in his later years that he was writing "beyond himself", that he didn't know (now) how he did what he did then. I wish us older guys could catch a break on the creativity train, but except for a tiny few creative minds, there is not much originality breaking out of a mind over 40. That is why I hang around young people as much as I can- a little bit might rub off.

Dang it...you've got some very good points about creativity and youth, but I kind of doubt whether any of those smash hits were the writers' first or second songs - they WERE early in their careers, though.

There are also exceptions to both viewpoints: John Williams has been creating unique and colorful film scores well into his 60's. Elton John has had several hits not too long ago for movies such as The Lion King.

Can we BOTH be right - some of the time?

The Top 20 are posted.

Hey everyone. Just a note to let you know that I was lucky enough to have my song, "You Believed In Me", selected for the top 20. Unfortunately, there is another song called "You Believe In Me" and yet another called "Believe." Mine is a male rock ballad -- You BelieveD In Me (you can listen first at www.perrysmith.com if you like. :-) The competition is stiff, I can use all the help I can get, so would love a high rating if you like the tune.

Thanks,
Perry

Congrats Perry! I was waiting for you to spill the beans! I just checked out all the other songs and I think you have a shot. I'd say you're in the 5 most likely candidates from the show's viewpoint (i.e. that would work for likely winners). Of course who knows who the public would vote for. There's a few songs I was really surprised at how weak they were this time around. I also recognized at least 3 other songs that I've heard before but not sure if they are JPF members or what exactly.. without having a copy to replay it's hard to pinpoint it.. but I am going to check around and see if I can decode a few more of the top 20...

I think your nomination should put to rest the notion that outsiders and grassroots folks can't get selected! Way to go!!!!

Brian

I just scanned through all 20 songs at AI Songwriter site ( http://songwriter.americanidol.com/ -- I think you have to register to see the songs ) and I must say -- there is no John Prine (or Joe Wrabek) scratchin' out a cool song on a guitar. They are for the most part well produced, well performed "finished" pieces. Only one song was a "basement quality" recording with a little too much "tape hiss" going on.

Of course, we all knew where the bar was going to be, so it shouldn't surprise anyone. Perry's song has as much chance as any one's!! I plan to re-listen to all of them and vote sometime this week.

Kevin

I actually thought the recording quality was way way down from last time. Very few of them are finished master quality. Most are simply good demo quality.

Brian

I only listened to the first 30 seconds or so under headphones and I was really just looking for the # of instruments, the quality of the sound -- just a first quick take. "simply good demo quality" is probably a better description than a "finished" piece, which sort of implies CD ready.

Of course, "simply good demo quality" is still a quality bar that most of us can't match in our home recordings.

Kevin

My take on this year's batch is that while the recording quality is a bit worse overall, the songwriting quality is much better. There were more interesting song titles, unique takes on well-worn AI subjects, and less cliched melodies than last year.

It was nice to hear a country-ish tune in the batch (think it was called "When You're Born With Nothing") -- makes me wonder if my entry from last year, " A Day Job and a Dream ", may have fared better this year (although it is not a first person song, which most if not all of the Top 20 seem to be). Tried to do the first person thing with this year's entry, "Turn the Spotlight On", but that song had me as a demo singer (which leads to the key thing in this contest -- I think a good singer was more important than a good production).

Anyway, will be interesting to see which one wins -- nothing jumps out at me yet as the clear frontrunner (although I'll be pulling for JPF member Perry).

David

http://www.davidkraut.com
http://www.myspace.com/dkraut

* Hear Texas artist Shiela Harrison sing David's songs "Liquid Sunshine" and "Change of a Dress" on her debut album at http://www.myspace.com/shielaharrison

After listening to the top 20 this time around, I was surprized they were not an order on magnidude better than last year. I think on average, they were worse. The judges did seem to pick songs that were more "on theme" (the struggle-the dream etc.) The problem is that by about the third song, they all seem to be saying exactly the same thing. Nothing blew me away- let's imagine that Martina McBrides song "Anyway" was one of the to 20 this year. It is on theme and has a stunning POV. I think Perry's song has a better chance than most to get selected, especially if David Cook stock rises.

Perry,
You must be so very proud and excited! Please keep us informed as to any other benefits you might encounter such as publishers or artists contacting you to hear more tunes. I've been curious as to whether or not those in the top twenty got anything out of all the great PR.

Best of luck with the rest of the contest. We'll be watching with our fingers crossed!

Blessings,

Heidi

Thanks Heidi and all. I will definitely let you all know anything that happens (good or bad--can't imagine bad, but you never know). This place has beenv ery kind to me in the few months I have been actively doing this--in fact, I felt obligated (in a good way) to make a donation to the site earlier this year because of how it has helped me. I will do so in the future and I will give anything I can give as far as info that might help someone else here as so many have been so generous to me with their talent and experience. Count on it!

Perry

Congratulations, Perry. Hope it goes past the Top 20.

I did review the Top 20, and made sure my song wasn't on it. (Didn't want to stop telling audiences I had a song that was being rejected by American Idol.) Now I feel justified.

Nice jobs, everybody. And congrats again, Perry.

Joe

here's lyrics to all of them
http://songwriter.americanidol.com
http://songwriter.americanidol.com/player/Player.aspx


Dream Big

When I was a little girl
I swore that I would change the world
When I grew up
Nothing else would be enough

Back then it all seemed black and white
But these days I just can't seem to find
The child in me
Who always believed

I see it every day - we settle for safe
And lose ourselves along the way

But if you don't dream big - what's the use in dreaming
If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing
It takes wild hope to make the stars worth reaching for
So reach out - for something more

It took a well-perfected plan
For me to finally understand
That it's not me
Faith is something I can't see

I loosed the reigns then let 'em go
I broke the chains of fear that had their
Hold on me too long
When all I felt was wrong

I've wiped my tears away - now it's time for a change
No I can't wait another day

Cuz if you don't dream big - what's the use in dreaming
If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing
It takes wild hope to make the stars worth reaching for

So close your eyes and tell me what you see
Between what's real and make-believe
Here's the path we've all been searching for
So reach out - for something more
Than you ever could imagine
Then move - don't wait for it to happen
Life's too short for not taking chances
The stars aren't as far as they seem

If you don't dream big - what's the use in dreaming
If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing
It takes wild hope to make the stars worth reaching for

So close your eyes and tell me what you see
Between what's real and make-believe
Here's the path we've all been searching for
So reach out - for something more

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All You Will Need

Verse 1:
Seems to me you've put chains around your heart and locked it away
By doing this you hope no one will see your lonely pain
Would you believe that I can see right thru your disguise
The one you wear when you declare to speak no lies
It's evident that I've been sent to save your soul
By getting you to just let go!

Chorus:
I am all you will need to be free
The heart and the soul will know where to go when set free
I am all you'll need

Verse 2:
You've made yourself the prisoner and the guard in a one room jail
No one comes in and you can never get out again to fail
It's not a crime you're doin' time unjustified
You've judged yourself and no one else was by your side
Can't you see you need to free a lonely friend
That wants you to shine again

Chorus:
I am all you will need. . . . . . . . . I am all you'll need

Bridge:
I want you to know (I want you to know) I want you to know
I'm here I'm here for you
I want you to know (I want you to know) I want you to know
I want I want your love
So let it – just let out. . .you'll see

Music break w/vocal: That I am all you'll need to be - to be free! Yeah!
The heart and the soul, they'll know where to go

Chorus: I said!! I am all you will need. . . . . . . . . I am all you'll need x2

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here I Am

I've been searching
Never finding
And I never understood why

I've been waiting
Always praying
That the moment wouldn't pass me by

But now I think I finally know
That the path I walked was the way to go
Cuz I'm ready now
Yes I'm ready now

Chorus:
Here i am
My arms are open wide
Here i am
I've nothing left to hide
Cuz i've been waiting for a love, you see
To rain down and wash all over me
I'm where i'm s'posed to be
Here i am

Days were drifting
Time was slipping
At times, I felt I was gone

Dreams were fading
Chances untaken
But faith kept holding on

And now I think I finally see
That everything is meant to be
And I'm ready now
Yes, I'm ready now

Chorus:
Here i am
My arms are open wide
Here i am
I've nothing left to hide
Cuz i've been waiting for a love, you see
To rain down and wash all over me
I'm where i'm s'posed to be
Here i am

Now I know I've found my way
Cuz I can stand here and finally say
That I'm ready now
Yes, I'm ready now

Chorus:
Here i am
I've nothing left to hide
Cuz i've been waiting for a love, you see
To rain down and wash all over me
I'm where i'm s'posed to be
I'm where i'm s'posed to be
Here i am
Here i am

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stronger


Verse 1:
You're just one face in a big place, every day's a fight
You've settled in to strugglin', barely getting by
Tangled up in detail life can be so mean
Keepin' up with keepin' up part of the machine
You can lose your head…but you can't forget…

Chorus:
That you came here for the rush of the moment
When you're worn down you gotta keep going
It's a big world so don't go cavin' in
Take a deep breath, rediscover
What you came with…all the hunger, so what if it takes a little longer
It'll make you stronger

Verse 2:
It's a tough game but ya gotta hang when you feel like you've hit the wall
The chance to fly is worth the try even if you fall
You'll turn around again, but until then…remember

Chorus

Bridge

Chorus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We're Gonna Make It

Tell me baby how'd you sleep tonight?
With all these insecurities plaguing your mind
We both know this was not gonna be easy
All these demons telling us we're stupid crazy

There's temptation waitin' around every bend
And I miss you sometimes more than I can stand
But there's not a shred of doubt that passes thru me
Oh cause deep down in my heart I believe

We're gonna make it
There's no mistakin'
Oh no fight or storm that we can't weather
You and I will last forever more
Of this I'm sure
We're gonna make it

You pick me up when I have fallin' down
And I stable you when you're on shaky ground
Oh you're the only who can sooth me
And I still need you like the very air I breathe

We're gonna make it
There's no mistakin'
Oh no fight or storm that we can't weather
You and I will last forever more
Of this I'm sure

So when you're feelin' lost inside
Oh, take my hand
Listen and
Look into my eyes

We're gonna make it
There's no mistakin'
There's no fight or storm that we can't weather
You and I will last forever more
Of this I'm sure
We're gonna make it
We're gonna make it

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You Believed in Me

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Something Like Heaven

I've said goodbye to the boy that I once knew
He is not himself cause loving you
Makes me feel like someone new
As my friends can tell

And you lift me higher then I've ever been before
Who knew an angel would come knocking at my door

Chorus:
How did I find something like heaven
And in your eyes is something like heaven
Your touch defined feels something like heaven tonight
With you I feel something divine

I wave hello to these long and winding roads
That I've walked alone
It's been a while since this sand has felt my toes
Now you're standing close

And you take me places I have never thought I'd go
And each adventure feels like finally coming home

Chorus

Now that you're with me I feel like has just begun
All my mistakes have lead me to find this perfect love

Chorus X3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FAITH

Was it fate that brought me to this place
To find you waiting
It's no mistake we're here now face to face
Chance is always worth taking

Here's to never giving up, backing down
Even when the doubts would creep in we kept believing

Chorus:
With faith you know we can't be afraid to fall
Love will carry us through
And hey, looks like we made it after all
Look what faith can do, it led me to you

There's a weight pulling you down when a dream is gone
And your heart is hurting
But it's never too late to find out just where your heart belongs
If you never stop searching

Here's to all the sleepless nights, the tears we'd fight
That made the road seem so much longer
But just made us stronger

Chorus:
Through all the change we stayed the same
Believing in each other, we can discover

Chorus:
With faith we're still standing tall
Don't give up on me, I'll never give up on you

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fly Me Away

You and me
Why can't it be like I remember

Where there's a place
Where we can be one together

Flying on a wing and a prayer
Fly me from despair

Fly me away
Up where we belong
Fly me away
Where angels roam
Fly me away
Where dreams are born
Fly me away

From my fears
Of lonely days with no tomorrows

Stay close to me
Guide me on through my sorrow

Fly me on a wing and a prayer
Fly me from despair

Fly me away
Up where we belong
Fly me away
Where angels roam
Fly me away
Where dreams are born
Yeah....

Fly me away
I call out your name
Fly me away
Through clouds of rain
Fly me away
Where dreams are born
Fly me away
Fly me away back home

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Only Love

Keep your head up, don’t ya give up
Don’t ya back slide to the dark side
When it seems the whole worlds gone insane
There’s still time to make a change

If you want to, you can break through
All the madness, that surrounds you
Together we can face the night
It’s up to us to end the fight

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
They take a soul we take one back
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Till all that’s left is where we’re at
And so it goes until we learn
Oh…only love can change the world

Let it in now, we’ll make it somehow
In the hard times, open up your mind
The battle lines will fade away
When love becomes the only way

When you look in my eyes
There’s a light that can’t hide
It’s a change from within
Longing just to begin

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
They take a soul we take one back
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Till all that’s left is where we’re at
And so it goes until we learn
Oh…only love can change the world
When you look in my eyes
There’s a light that can’t hide
It’s a change from within
Longing just to begin

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
They take a soul we take one back
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Till all that’s left is where we’re at
And so it goes until we learn
Oh…only love can change the world
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
They take a soul we take one back
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
Till all that’s left is where we’re at
And so it goes until we learn
Oh…only love can change the world…

Only love can change the world…yeah…yeah!

Only love can change the world
Only love can change the world
Only love, yes only love
Only love, yes only love
Only love…
Only love…
Only love…
Only love…


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You Can do Anything

Still small voice whispers to you

Will you trust it, your anchor of truth?

You've waited to answer destiny's call

Your moment has come, will you stand tall?

Then you feel what you're made of wash over you
The power's unleashed from all you've come through

Now you know You Can Do Anything you dream of
Go for the gold If you believe You can find your own star
Reach any height Like sun on the water be a diamond of light
You Can Do Anything you dream of

Anything now

Out on the edge, awake and aware

You're ready, your mission is clear

Every day is a gift, each breath is a prayer

Eye on the prize, you can make it there

No fear in your heart now, no doubt in your mind
Never been so sure or felt so alive

You can move faster

You can soar higher
You can be stronger
You can shine brighter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thank You What Ever Comes

I was a loner and a roamer
You couldn't touch my heart I was the only owner
I wasn't blind I just needed some time to notice what was missing in my life

Then you brought the light of a new day
You showed me how to love in a different way
You opened my arms and taught me to dance
Now I'm grateful for the second chance

Thank you whatever comes
For the moments we make now cause yesterday's done
Thank you whatever comes

I had a dream and a vision had to have it all
I walked alone on a mission
Somehow I lost my soul on the road to the top and as i watched my bridges burn I had to stop and check out the view on the way there and all the people in my life that still seemed to care

Oh look at me now baby I'm learning to fly

In the freedom of the open sky

Thank you whatever comes
for the moments we make now cause yesterday's done
Thank you whatever comes

We leave our footprints here forever so let's celebrate each step we take together I wanna take each step with you

Thank you whatever comes
for the gift of this new day and the grace enough to say
Thank you whatever comes
For the moments we make now cause yesterday's done
Thank you whatever comes
Thank you whatever comes

Thank you for whatever comes our way
I wanna say thank you baby for whatever comes
Thank you thank you whatever comes my way
For the first day of spring and the song that I sing that reminds me
For the moon up above and the people that I love thank you

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Time of My Life

I've been waiting for my dreams to
Turn into something i could believe in and
Looking for that magic rainbow on the horizon
I couldn't see it until i let go,
Gave in to love - and watched all the bitterness burn
Now i'm coming alive, body and soul
And feeling my world start to turn
And i ...

Chorus
Taste every moment and live it out loud
I know this is the time
This is the time to be
More than a name or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

Holding onto things that vanished
Into the air left me in pieces but
Now i'm rising from the ashes - finding my wings
And all that i needed was
There all along - within my reach
Close as the beat of my heart ...
And i ...

Repeat chorus

Bridge
I'm out on the edge forever
Ready to run
I'm keeping my feet on the ground,
Arms open wide,
Face to the sun ...

Repeat chorus


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Believe

Verse:
There's a time when you know that it's right
Maybe once in your life you find the reason
Turning the dark now into the light
I'll be making my way beyond the shadow
Gonna take my time, gonna do it right
With all I've got down deep inside
And to feel this good is something that you'll never know
...until you try...

Chorus:
If you believe it
See you can do anything
If you believe it
Everything you see in your dreams
If you can see it, then just believe it, you know you can reach it
If you just believe...
I think it's time for changes in my life
Believe it!
And this time I'm gonna do it right
If you can see it, then just believe it, you know you can reach it
If you just believe...

Verse:
Can't find the words just to say what I feel
But I know that it's real- I can't believe it
I'm standing here and I'm looking at you and you're looking at me
I love this feeling
No turning back now, no givin' up now
No tears are falling down, tell me can you feel it now
And to feel this good is something that you'll never know
...until you try...

Chorus:
If you believe it
See you can do anything
If you believe it
Everything you see in your dreams
If you can see it, then just believe it, you know you can reach it
If you just believe...
I think it's time for changes in my life
Believe it!
And this time I'm gonna do it right
If you can see it, then just believe it, you know you can reach it
If you just believe...

Bridge:
And now I wanna thank you
For helping me see, turning my dreams into reality
You know it means so much to me
And now I can see, if you just believe....

Chorus:
If you believe it
See you can do anything
If you believe it
Everything you see in your dreams
If you can see it, then just believe it, you know you can reach it
If you just believe...
I think it's time for changes in my life
Believe it!
And this time I'm gonna do it right
If you can see it, then just believe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

No Turning Back

Verse 1:
Time and time again, again,
You take a look around
Time and time, again, again
You look for solid ground

Bridge:
And it’s hard to feel the meaning when my life’s been written for me
My eyes are open wide
On my way to the other side

Chorus 1:
There’s no turning back
Giving me a new sensation
Giving in to all temptation
There’s no turning back
Need to feel acceleration
Need to feel the elevation

Verse 2:
Hearts and minds, I leave behind,
The things that came undone,
Saw the signs, I needed to find,
The way up to the sun

Bridge 2:
And it’s hard to feel the meaning of the words when my life’s been written for me
But I won’t be denied
And I’ve got nothing left to hide

Chorus 2:
There’s no turning back
Giving me a new sensation
Giving in to all temptation
There’s no turning back
Need to feel acceleration
Need to feel the elevation

Bridge 3:
And it’s OK
And it’s OK
And it’s OK
And it’s OK to climb
And it’s Ok
Ain’t no slowing down,
Nothings gonna change my mind
It feels like I’ve been dying
But tonight I come alive , yeah

Chorus 1:
There’s no turning back
Giving me a new sensation
Giving in to all temptation
There’s no turning back
Need to feel acceleration
Need to feel the elevation

Chorus 2:
Whoa yeah
Giving me a new sensation
Giving in to all temptation
There’s no turning back
Need to feel acceleration
Need to feel the elevation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When You Come From Nothing
Will Hopkins

I was nobody – just a face in the crowd
With a dream far too big to get off the ground
People told me, "You're crazy – it ain't gonna fly
There's no way you can make it, so don't even try"
I could've told myself, that's just how it is
Accepted my fate, oh but I never did

I held on to my dreams, somehow I believed
Someday I'd sail past the clouds
Even when times were tough, I never gave up
No, I wouldn't give into those doubts
Oh, you've gotta believe in something
Yeah, you've gotta believe in something
When you come from nothing

It ain't always easy keeping the faith
Blocking out all of the things people say
You learn who loves you, you learn who to trust
You learn that the rest doesn't matter that much
I just did my best, that's all I could do
I believed in myself, they believed in me to too

I held on to my dreams, somehow I believed
Someday I'd sail past the clouds
Even when times were tough, I never gave up
No, I wouldn't give into those doubts
Oh, you've gotta believe in something
Yeah, you've gotta believe in something
When you come from nothing

Instrumental

I held on to my dreams, somehow I believed
Someday I'd sail past the clouds
Even when times were tough, I never gave up
No, I wouldn't give into those doubts
Oh, you've gotta believe in something
Yeah, you've gotta believe in something
When you come from nothing


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Overcome

Verse 1:
Somehow I knew that I could make a difference
I set my course on sites I couldn't reach
I rose above myself to find out something more
And I found out who it was beneath
Cause I lost myself in front of me

Chorus 1:
And I have overcome
I've changed my ways
Look what I've become
And I stood up for myself
Forgotten what I've lost
Look what I've done
I have overcome

Verse 2:
I watched the world pass by me in the distance
I saw my life as something it could be
It took some time for me to finally realize
There is more to me than what you can see
So I asked myself if I believed

Chorus 2:
That I have overcome
I've changed my ways
Look what I've become
And I stood up for myself
Forgotten what I've lost
Look what I've done (x3)

Bridge
When every part of me was broken
I found the piece that I'd been looking for
It's inside of me
Inside of me

Chorus 3:
And I have overcome
I've changed my ways
Look what I've become
And I stood up for myself
Forgotten what I've lost
Look what I've done
I have overcome (x3)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Align

It took a long time
To put a man up on the moon
It took a long time
To get past me to get to you

But it feels like the moon and the earth
And the stars all around me align
When I'm with you
You make me believe the secret is still finding you

The surface is changing
I beam, I'm satellite
I'm faster than a shooting star
But I can't leave your sight

Chorus:
Can you tell me you feel this way
Do you feel just like I do

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You Believe In Me

(Cuz) you believe in me
And trust in me
There's nothing I can't do

No star too high
Or river wide
No mountain I can't move

And from the moment that we met
I felt your heartbeat in my every step
My spirit's finally free…
(cuz) You Believe In Me..

Cuz you believe in me
I've come to see
The road I left behind

(always) searching for more
(when) what I was looking for
Was around me all the time

You were that candle in the night
A flame before me, shining bright
My heart is finally free
(cuz) You Believe In Me

Come what may, it doesn't matter
As long as I know that you're by my side
I'll toss up my dreams to let the 4 winds scatter
I trust the power of love…


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In This Moment

Mother, can you hear me for the first time I see
born into eyes not by my own decision
take me away from a life with no vision
step down from the subway,
climb the staircase to the street
spinning in circles and holding on tight
to this moment forever
if only tonight

-Chorus-
I wanna be in this moment, no one can take it from me
I wanna stay in this moment, no one can take it away from me

Driving through the city for the first time you and me
staring through windows at my own reflection
how can a window encompass perfection
now that I know what it's like to be living
this beautiful world will never stop giving
I can't return to a life with no vision
born into eyes not by my own decision

-Chorus-

Watching the world through the eyes of a child
sitting alone in my room
wishing that someone would take me away someday
give me a chance and I'll show you what's real
open your eyes and you'll see
that I'm stuck in a moment and no one can take it from me

-Chorus-

Certainly changed my mind. What's more, Perry's song is a damn good song...I didn't expect to find any of the songs to be personally appealing. Well-written, yes, but I didn't think I'd care much for them. Perry's I genuinely like. Sure hope you win, Perry--you've got my vote, and it's not just for the home team...it's because the song is rock solid.

2 of my cowriters, Noel Cohen & Hugh Colocott cowrote "We're Gonna Make It" Amber Rhodes and it is one of the final 20 songs in the 2008 American Idol Songwriting Competition.

congratulations
that's an excellent song
good luck

ande

Thanks again everyone. Going on a couple of hours sleep last night and somehow not feeling like much is going to come tonight. Sort of overwhelmed by the whole thing. Weird. I am getting emails from people I haven't spoken to in a decade or more (friends sending emails to friends, etc.) and, between just us here, I am not sure I want to reestablish those relationships ;-) Just kidding, just kidding. It's fun. Glad to share it and appreciate how kind everyone has been.

Perry

well i live in Scotland...logged to AI to vote....just took a chance...ohhlaa!!..e mail came back...i could register and vote..so Perry you have 10 star from over the pond...having listened to them all..i'd say your song is in with a big chance..all the best...Terry..

Yeah Noel's a previous JPF Award winner as well. He won for Best Pop Song in 2004 for a song he co-wrote with another JPF member Jenny Bruce.

Brian

Just had a chance to vote on the final 20 songs! Very cool! I'm rooting for Perry's song or a song called "Overcome"... I love that both songs are so current and exactly what Pop and Hot AC radio are playing right now. I think that's the problem with past winners' songs - most were just not as radio friendly as they needed to be.

Anyway, I'm so happy for you Perry! Best of Luck! I really love your song.

I wonder if there's anyone who can help me. If you haven't signed up to "judge" the A.I. Top 20, can you please do so and let me know how your sign-up went? I've signed up three times and I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE EMAIL VERIFICATION FROM AMERICAN IDOL, so I can't hear the songs, etc. When you sign up, you're supposed to get an email verification and THEN you can log in. Well, I keep waiting on the email verification, but it never comes. It's not in my JUNK folder, and I've not known earthlink to kick back emails. If someone can try signing up and let me know if you get an immediate email verification, it would be most appreciated. Thanks, everyone, and good luck, Perry!

Hi johnnyvn,

I signed up two days ago. You may just want to create a yahoo email account real quick and use that (it comes right away). It works with yahoo, cuz that's what I did. Be careful though, I typed in the wrong email address and I was wondering the same thing, where is it?! So someone has an Idol verification in their mailbox just sitting there, but once you click on that, you then enter the password you used to get registered. Without it, it's a no go.

Good Luck! That reminds me, I think I'll go over there now and finish judging...I've only gotten thru a couple songs so far....

Kristi

Hey thanks for the help Kristi, I finally got it! I've listened and voted! Perry, did you have to sing the American Idol contract to keep your song in the Top Twenty? And if you don't win, can you get your song back or how does that work (if you don't mind the questions). I'm sure many of us would like to know the process. Thanks much and good luck!

Johnny

when you vote on a song it drops it from the list

so here's how to hear them all again

go to internet explorer

click tools

then internet options

then delete

then delete cookies

then go back to http://songwriter.americanidol.com/registerToVote/Default.aspx

register and sign in with another email address

if you don't have another email address drop by gmail yahoo or some other place and get one

then sign in with that email address and DON'T Vote till you're done listening to the songs

We have 3 JPF members at least with songs in the Top 20. Noel Cohen, Fran Lucci and Perry Smith. I haven't seen a list of all of them, but I was able to figure out Fran and Ande told me about Noel and of course Perry told us all.

Brian

Definitely seem to be more "amateurs" in this year's contest than last year. Of course, even the amateurs have been, for the most part, refining their craft for years.

Interesting local newspaper articles here about 3 of the finalists -- I guess AI really changed their policy this year about promoting your own song in the finals:

Mendy Shaw -- "Stronger "

Aaron Sidwell -- " Something Like Heaven"

Mark Holman -- " Overcome "


David

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

* Hear Texas artist Shiela Harrison sing David's songs "Liquid Sunshine" and "Change of a Dress" on her debut album at http://www.myspace.com/shielaharrison

Do you know what songs they submitted? I know about Perry's song - definitely one of the best.

My two favorites were "You Believed in Me" by Perry Smith and "Thank You Whatever Comes" (unknown author at this point).

Perry, I gave your song a "10" not necessarily because you're a JPF member (although that might have helped otherwise), but because I think the song is really that good. The two songs above get me a little misty-eyed, and that doesn't happen very often.

Other "also rans" (I gave these "9's" - IMHO):

"When You Come From Nothing"
"Dream Big"
"No Turning Back" and
"The Time of My Life"

BTW, I captured the 20 songs into wav files so I could listen back later. They could also make a good study in what it takes to get to the top 20 for AI.

Remember, EVERYONE here can (and should) vote simply by registering at the americanidol.com site as a songwriter.

Wouldn't it be great if a JPF member actually WON?!

"When You Come From Nothing" is by Will Hopkins
http://www.broadjam.com/artists/home.php?artistID=5397&artistID=5397

here's an interesting exercise

go through each finalist lyric
delete the cliche's and weak lines
then see what's left

I don't think I like too many of them
Perry's song has a nice sound but if you take a look at the lyric he has the "e" rhyme in every verse, chorus and bridge
It sounds draggy but it'll take him places many of us haven't been if he wins, so kudos for him if that happens
But being honest here and as a viewer of idol for every season who also owns every american idol cd, I sure hope they choose the right song based on the song itself and not votes
As american idol this songwriting contest is also about popularity

You're probably right: a LOT of cliches. My co-writer (the lyricist of the team) also mentioned that. My viewpoint is if writing a bunch of cliches gets $10K and future royalties, then write a bunch of cliches! Get the money rolling in, THEN write something that is stronger and more original.

I don't think too many people know that cliches are bad
I trained myself to stay away from cliches the second I started writing, I did read a few books on writing lyrics
I think It's harder to stay away from cliches when you've only been writing with cliches

Thanks, Everett, and sorry for the belated response. That's actually the second time I've heard the Dan Hill comparison in the space of the last week. Someone said that the other night at one of my live performances, too. I'm just now listening to some clips off his web site (I was previously only familiar with a couple of his songs). I'm not sure I'd have made that comparison myself, but I definitely like his voice and vocal style, so I don't mind.

Rick

Thank You Whatever Comes was co-written by JPF member Fran Lucci..

In fact, they've figured out who wrote ALL the songs.. check this out:

ALIGN – Written by James Smithson
ALL YOU WILL NEED – Written by Lauren Dion and Phil Minardi
BELIEVE – Written by John Buchanan
DREAM BIG – Written by Emily Shackelton
FAITH – Written by Zach Ziskin
FLY ME AWAY – Written by Scott Sheets
HERE I AM – Written by Tom Kitt, Matt Zarley, and Andy Zulla
IN THIS MOMENT – Written by Ryan Gillmor
NO TURNING BACK – Written by Luke Ebbin and Curt Schneider
ONLY LOVE – Written by Ken Stacey, Windy Wagner and David Walsh
OVERCOME – Written by Mark Holman
SOMETHING LIKE HEAVEN – Written by Aaron Sidwell
STRONGER – Written by Jason Phelps and Mendy Shaw
THANK YOU WHATEVER COMES – Written by Fran Lucci, Danny Powers and Dara Stewart
THE TIME OF MY LIFE – Written by Regie Hamm
WE’RE GONNA MAKE IT – Writen by Noel Cohen, Hugh Colocott and Amber Rhodes
WHEN YOU COME FROM NOTHING – Written by Will Hopkins
YOU BELIEVE IN ME – Written by David Barrett, Kurt Schreitmueller and Dan Yessian
YOU BELIEVED IN ME – Written by Perry Smith
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING – Written by Gail Farrell, Mark Gasbarro and Larry Kenton

At least 10 of these are written/co-written by JPF members.. but Perry's the only one active on the message boards. Noel Cohen and Fran Lucci are both previous JPF awards nominees/winners. A few others have been to Roadtrip events and the rest aren't very active.

Brian

Hey, everyone. I haven't been around in a few days. I have read the posts above, and I wanted to say a couple of things.

I don't know how many of you know my "history" with songwriting (nor did you ask), but here's the deal: I have written about a total of a dozen songs in my life, with seven of those being in the very recent past. The other five I know I wrote somewhere along the way (not sure I ever completed them, though), but I don't have them now. So, since I know I wrote them, the number "about a dozen" is more accurate than the seven I can remember!

As with many new writers, I am full of cliches and the majority of my songs are negative ballads (but I kind of like them ;-) If you want to hear some good negative ballads, go to www.perrysmith.com

I have been working on more originality, painting better pictures, etc. I think I am improving. (In fact, I still think my song "The Song I Didn't Write" is going to get cut SJH!)

About American Idol, though. There were specific instructions on the AI website to write about the "journey" of American Idol. Sure, they said a song about something else could get through (and they did), but this seemed to present the greatest chance. I attacked this project as a specific target. I listened to the top 20 from last year. It seemed that there was no anti-cliche rule and no "be original" rule, etc. I decided that I wanted to write a big power ballad that gave credit TO THE AUDIENCE rather than simply being self-indulgent. I decided to not worry about all of the "Nashville" rules I have been learning over the last few months, since few of the top 20 from last year followed those rules.

The result was "You Believed In Me." I joked via email to a friend that there would probably be 100 submissions titled "You Believed In Me." Huh. Funny how that top 20 worked out. Two of them in there and a third titled "Believe."

I agree with you that when you apply all of the rules we learn as songwriters (all of the stuff I have only been learning recently), YOU CAN RIP MY SONG UP AND DOWN, LEFT AND RIGHT, BACKWARD AND FORWARD, ETC. Indeed, reading the blogs over the next weeks will be hard to do -- I have no doubt that my song will be called terrible, horrible, awful, cheesy crap. But, dare I say, the target was the target. It looks like I hit the target. I do not expect to win this thing (if you want my honest opinion, a David Archuletta song will win because he is such the strong favorite--probably "Here I Am" (which, I did not much care for)), but I got this far by looking at the target despite the distracting "rules" around me; the shouting in my ear "too many "e" rhymes; too many cliches; too cheesy; too predictable". It's not to say that the rules would prevent anyone from getting in the top 20; they simply were not prerequisites to doing so.

Bottom line: I wanted to write a big fat pop/rock ballad that people of all ages could relate to. It may sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to songwriters so buried in the "rules" that they cannot hear past them. To me it sounds like a nice melody, a nice voice, a nice mix, a nice message and a step forward in my songwriting career.

Perry

Perry,

You have no need to justify or explain anything. I predicted last year when the songs then were being similarly attacked that if one of our own, even someone from the message boards, ever found similar success, that they'd be attacked just like everyone else. I personally am quite tired of the negativity coming from those who seem more jealous than wise. People like to attack success and claim it's not deserving, or it's an insider, or is cheesy crap.. but if that is true, what does it say about their own failure to even reach THAT level?

You have exactly the right attitude. You did what they ASKED you to do.. and when you achieve it, some who couldn't be bothered to do so attack you for it. People rarely think that rules or advice or guidelines apply to them. That's all well and fine. But they should have any problems with someone who DOES follow the directions and guidelines having success over them. It was their choice to do their own thing... they have no one to blame but themselves.

The more successful you become, the more you'll be attacked and ridiculed and insulted by those who can't be bothered to do the heavy lifting themselves. If you "got" it so quickly, it might be because you hadn't yet learned that it's not hip to follow the rules for commercial success.. i.e. giving folks what they actually want, rather than what you personally want to give.

Just prior to you telling folks you made the top 20, there were some raging against it being only for connected "insiders" and that it was all a cheat. So what do they do when a clear outsider from our own family makes it? Do they ALL celebrate? Thankfully some do. Some don't. Instead some turn on you. That says far more about them than it says about your song or your talent.

Congrats again.. totally deserved and I hope you win.

Brian

Hey Perry,
I wish people were tearing up a song that I got in the top 20!!!! LOL! There's an old saying that I love and it goes, "You are known by the stature of your enemies." So, if your enemies are getting higher up on the food chain, so are you!

IMHO, I'd just keep my eye on the mountain top and forget about the debris along the way! (If you get down, try skipping! hehehehe)

Blessings,
Heidi

Thanks Brian and Heidi. I did not mean to sound defensive. I just wanted to lay out my approach and help people understand how I thought through this in case any were interested. I will be around to and past the end and let veryone know of anything interesting or educational I learn on this short ride.

Perry

Its great that everyone on these boards wants to see Perry do well but lets pick the BEST song not just because we know him and want to see "one of our own" win (Ive seen threads made here knocking idol because it isnt about the best singer, the same is likely going to happen with this contest as well)

The songwriting winner will benefit from this but the greatest benefactor should be of the winning idol, last years song didn't get anywhere close to #1, I'm sure it only got to #15, I don't see this years going to number one, I could be wrong through
I've watched idol every year and ive bought every winners debut cd so I deserve the best song that is in the top 20
And If it's the best song then i'll be happy but dont assume I am jealous because I'm hoping his song doesn't win

My favourite idol song is
Melissa Oniel - Alive (canadian)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWruUnf1LGg&feature=related

Stuck in a world
No longer turning
Always the girl
Waiting for something
Too many days
Walking around sleeping
Open my eyes
I'm tired of dreaming

[Chorus:]
I wanna run with the reckless emotion
Find out if love is the size of an ocean
Even if I crash down and burn out
At least I'm gunna know what it's like
To feel alive

Sun on my face
Lights of the city
Maybe in love
Or just learning to be
On my two feet
I can only imagine
I'll say the words
And believe it will happen

[Chorus:]
I wanna run with the reckless emotion
Find out if love is the size of an ocean
Even if I crash down and burn out
At least I'm gunna know what it's like
To feel alive

They think they know
But how can they know me
I'm getting to know myself
I'm finally ready
To be somebody
With a story to tell

[Chorus:]
I wanna run with the reckless emotion
Find out if love is the size of an ocean
Even if I crash down and burn out
At least I'm gunna know what it's like
I wanna feel 'til my heart breaks wide open
I wanna blaze like a fire that's growin'
Even if I crash down and burn out
At least I'm gunna know what it's like
To feel alive
Oh, I feel Alive

Perry, IMHO, you took the exact right approach to the contest. Last year I entered a song I thought could work for an Idol final, but which wasn't literally what they said they were asking for -- it was more of a wedding song. Then when the final 20 were revealed, it was pretty clear they wanted exactly what they were literally asking for, independent of how advisable that might be for netting a powerful song or true hit single (i.e. one that gets action beyond just what the Idol PR bump gives it).

This year, I decided to do exactly what you did -- write a song specifically targeted toward the guidelines. I also went back and read all the lyrics from past Idol final songs, including the one from last year's contest. At the same time, I kept in mind the possibility of alternate meanings (most directly a spiritual meaning), trying to target beyond just the Idol final, though, at the same time, being a lot less concerned about things like cliches than I would if I were, say, writing a country song.

Interestingly enough, when I shared my song with a songwriting critique e-mail list I participate in regularly, some of the "no cliches police" basically took the "you know you can do better" stance, but most everyone else loved it. In fact, one guy who'd previously accused me of being a commercial hack, just writing songs "for the money" (despite my decade-plus negative income and only a dozen or so indie cuts), actually said he loved the song, and I had to share a bit of a laugh with him because, of all the songs I've written, this one was the closest I've ever come to literal commercial hackery, even if I'd tried my best to make the result ring true (at least given the less than a week I had to write and record the song).

In any case, I didn't make it to the finals, but I'm happy I took up the challenge, and I've ended up with a new song in the process. I've already tried it out live three times, and it's gotten great response, so nothing's lost, other than the $10 entry fee anyway.

BTW, did we meet at Songwriters Live in Lake Forest a few months ago? Something about stuff you've written here and on your website seems familiar. (Oh, and, in case I didn't mention it previously, I thought you did a good job with your song. Awesome demo, too.)

Oh, now I get it! "Airun" is "OntarioLightning" from Taxi! That explains a good bit. Just before my news on the top 20, he ripped my song "The Song I Didn't Write" for being entirely unoriginal, cliche, and a "dime a dozen" kind of song. Who knows, maybe someday I will write a song that he does not think has been done a thousand times (although I still can't find the other thousand songs he is apparently referencing that use "the song I didn't write" as a metaphor for a girl I didn't take a chance with).

Peace,
Perry

Thanks, Rick. If I didn't mention it, BTW, I listened to your entry several times. Enjoyed it. And, yes, I was the "new guy" that showed up the night Bobby Tomberlin and Steve Dorff played. You were quite helpful and spent significant time helping me understand a few things about the business. Appreciated it.

I am sure I will see you around.

Perry

I think the 2 best Rock edged songs are Perry's and Aaron Sidwell's songs. Both have plusses and minuses. Aaron's has the advantage with better production and is probably the best recording of any of the Top 20. I'd rather see David Cook win than David Archuletta and that will likely require a rock song should those two go head to head in the final. Most agreed that the final song performance last year made it clear who deserved to win. There are other good songs, but they're R&B, Pop, Contemporary, Country, etc and not rock (well, one other is, but I find it to be the weakest song in the running). So of the two equal songs in the Rock style, I hope Perry wins. For me, that would be the best outcome in the context of this show. Now, it's quite possible neither song will do well as AI has always been a Pop/R&B showcase for the most part. I'd prefer to see a Rock song and a Rock artist for a change.

Brian

I thought it was pretty funny when I read where someone said your song wasn't what AI is looking for before they announced the Top 20. That had to be a "doh!" moment for him.

Brian

I wish Canadian idol has a songwriting competition this summer
American Idols the only show to have one so far right

I smiled when I saw that because I knew my song was not typical and I thought THAT might just get it through. Let's be honest, here, if you put my lyric to a Celine kind of track, it would have never made it through. I think it was the rock feel and the rock voice that brought it through. So I don't blame anyone for thinking it was not an "AI" kind of song, but I thought it could be because it WAS different sounding. I remember telling my wife about that comment and telling her that it actually made me feel like I had a better chance because it stood out from the others.

I've heard some fantastic, idol type songs that didn't get picked in the top 20 and some how did that get through type songs that made it through so it was anyones ball game

Just as suspected, once again some of the songwriters have had big connections to the music biz for quite some time. We can expect this to always be a PRO game. I snatched this tidbit from Regie Hamms page. I recognized his name right away. Read below.

Regie's music and songwriting are clearly the work of a keen observer of the world who has something to say about it. Combining the beauty, irony, and sometimes even harshness of life, Regie's work has a cinematic quality that leaves the listener with the feeling of an experience they will not soon forget. His critically acclaimed debut solo album, American Dreams (Universal South/Refugee), yielded the Billboard top 15 AC hit "Babies."

As a songwriter, Regie has enjoyed more than 400 cuts -- over 20 of them number one hits -- and he was honored as the "SESAC Songwriter of the Year" in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000. He has multiple Grammy and Dove Award nominations as both a producer and writer. He currently writes with, produces and plays in the band "Smokey Lonesome". Their debut record is soon to be released. He continues to play solo dates and is working in the studio on a new solo record.


You see...he has been nominated for GRAMMY'S and DOVE'S. Pretty major stuff. I have come to SERIOUSLY realize and lets get this clear people. THE SONGWRITING PORTION OF AMERICAN IDOL if CLEARY DIFFERENT than the SINGING PORTION OF AMERICAN IDOL. American Idol is looking for undiscovered talent vocal wise. BUT if you are a songwriter you have a BETTER SHOT having some GRAMMY and DOVE nominations. It is NOT a Fair competition when it comes to finding UNDISCOVERED talent. I will NEVER change my mind about that. I call it like I see it. Yes, perhaps a few unknowns got a break and got in there, and to be honest I pray to GOD one of you wins it!! Go all the way with it and prove to us indies that you can do it! Break the code!! Please!! Show me it can be done! I am with you all the way!

Tammy

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

Tammy.
Last year I really felt there might be two separate piles for the entries. But I was probably wrong. Who knows?

This year, I dunno. If anything AI was surely aware of the discontent from last year.
I would also suggest that this year there were many songs that were worked on since last year. Giving them a full year to develop the song.
I would also think there were more entries than last year.
The short time allowed for this is what I don't get. I figure it is how they limited the sheer volume.
I would be willing to bet they received five hundred songs that were just as good as the twenty that got picked. Maybe some that were better.
How did they finally pick those twenty? Who knows? My guess they narrowed it down to a couple hundred then just picked twenty from a pile. If you were lucky you got picked if not you didn't.
The other option is they actually did sit and listen to every single song after they eliminated the ones that were obviously not what they were looking for. (which I believe would be a fairly easy thing to do. A few seconds into many songs would get them tossed aside).
If one of the people who post here got into that pile I say HOORAY for them. I hope they win it.
Their song was good enough to get them that far. They deserve a shot.
I didn't enter because I did not have anything that fit what they want.

I was never under the impression that they were looking for the best undiscovered songwriter, only the best SONG.

I heard there were 48,000 songs this year. I don't know if that's true, but I did hear that.

Tammy

THE SONGWRITING PORTION OF AMERICAN IDOL isn't CLEARY DIFFERENT than the SINGING PORTION OF AMERICAN IDOL.
the singers have all had success
AI is looking for unsigned talent.
AI is looking for available songs

They aren't looking at finding UNDISCOVERED talent. They are looking for currently available talent.

indies can do it!

I also hope an indie gets the break....it would certainly send out the right message.....and a reference to a previous post by Brian...it was me who said to Perry "i don't think your song is what AI is looking for,but a very good song nonetheless"...next day he is in the top 20...shows what i know about this business..so it does show they have widened the parameters at least ...songwise...but will it get widened further to include an indie winner?...time will tell...good luck to all the songwriters who are waiting on the phone call.....Terry..

Post deleted by TAMERA64

Hey Tammy,
While I totally agree that there are so many wonderful artists out there who are way over 30, I can also say that from a business standpoint, it's a different view. If I were going to spend a million dollars or so to break someone's career, (and that's about what it takes,) I think I'd rather do it with someone who has a very long shelf life so I can make my money back more times over. That's most likely the reason for the younger age.

As far as the songwriters go, Perry is living proof that someone who has not written for very long can get in the top 20. From there, it's up to the public.

This business is mostly who you know and from there, it's a crap shoot. I've been in some sort of the music biz as a living for about 30 years but haven't found a way to crash that glass ceiling yet. But, I keep finding a way to earn my living doing something in the biz and that's a blessing in itself.

Anyone with talent is blessed with a gift. We just all need to find our niche. I'm still looking...

I remember a time when a friend of mine auditioned a young country singer for her production show here in Las Vegas. The girl had a great voice but did not have the look that the producer wanted. So, she passed on LeAnne Rimes.

It made me realize that just because what you have isn't chosen by someone else, it doesn't mean it wasn't wonderful. I've also seen the reverse where the person cast for a show here was not very good at all. It's all in the eye or the ear of the beholder.

There's got to be more than one way to skin a cat and I've got 87 tools in my hand at all times! LOL! Boy, this ol' gal can take a lickin' and still keep on tickin'!

Heidi

I don't think it should matter if an amateur or a professional songwriters song was chosen for the finale

I think you guys missed the point, They are looking for the song that best fits the WINNER,Whether that comes from an amateur songwriter or a professional

This isn't a songwriting contest looking for the best written and produced songs as much as American Idol is a contest for the best singer

Which doesn't always mean the best singer or song gets chosen but they will be the right one

They're looking for a singer as well as a song that will fit the winning combination and thus making them millions of dollars
Do you really think they care if it's a pro or a beginner or even a struggling writer thats been trying to break through for years?

At least half the top 20 are JPF members. Several of them I know personally and they're not remotely insiders. Perry Smith here on our message board just started writing songs in November. How is HE an insider?

Over and over we've talked, including BEFORE any of you entered, that it was open to anyone.. not just "begginers." Most of the AI singers have had significant professional experience. Many have already had record deals. I'd say the fact that Perry got one of the Top 20 slots suggests it's far more likely an amateur will get a slot in the song portion than make it onto the TV show.

If you want to compete with amateurs only, then enter some of the amateur only song contests where everyone sucks. Then when you win you can feel important that you beat a bunch of people who don't even know how to write a decent song. Whoopee!

Brian

If you want to compete with amateurs only, then enter some of the amateur only song contests where everyone sucks.
Then when you win you can feel important that you beat a bunch of people who don't even know how to write a decent song. Whoopee!

Brian are you implying that every amateur songwriter has no talent
because they are just an amateur?

At the risk of upsetting the cliche police, "it is an honor to be nominated" and I can't really worry about the rest. No, really, I have 400 claims to prove by next Friday (my day job--employment lawyer) and I have decided I cannot worry about this, but should simply be grateful for the cool opportunity. I am doing what I can to keep people interested and hopefully garner some support, but my clients and the judge's don't seem to understand that I need a few weeks off to worry about this American Idol thing!!!!!

There is some speculation in other places that since the AI page simply says that the audience can "help" pick a winning song, that ultimately AI may not go with the song with the most votes. I suppose that is possible, but somehow it did not dawn on me.

Perry

No one was taking your honour away Perry, Of course It'd be an honour to just be nominated, now that I know you're a lawyer...eh nevermind lol

I must take issue with your last paragraph saying that ALL amateur songwriters suck. I have gotten into trouble generalising that a lot of the current pop stars and AI finalists suck.

The only difference between a lot of amateur songwriters and singers and there professional counterparts are earnings not talent. I have heard some pro songs that suck and some amateur songs that are great and the same with performers. I judge each and every song and singer on merit not on earnings. To do any different is plain stupid and disrespectful.

I didn't mean to imply that anyone was taking my honor away(actually don't think I did imply that). But thanks for skipping whatever "lawyer" comment might have been coming.

Post deleted by TAMERA64

If someone is so worried they might lose to a good song that they want to be sure that no one who has ever sold a CD, performed out live a single time for money or done anything else successful with their music is even allowed to participate, I suggest they have no right to have their feelings hurt about the quality of their music. By definition you're a hobbyist ONLY... and not only that, you're proving you want recognition, but not if you actually have to compete with people who are professionally competent.

It's like saying you won the Super Bowl, but no one who has ever played High School, College or Pro Football was allowed to participate. Amateur ONLY means that no one such as Tammy Edwards would be allowed to enter because she is a PROFESSIONAL whether she likes it or not. Once you make a single PENNY off your music in ANY way, you are a PRO. That also means Jim would ALSO not ever be allowed to enter, nor could the majority of anyone connected to JPF who has ever recorded a CD or done a live gig where commerce takes place. So yes, if you want to enter a contest where the people with talent, ability, success, or desire to ever find it are not allowed, I suggest that you want to compete with substandard talent. I assure you the quality of "Amateur" only contests sucks badly compared to those who allow people with CD's for sale and who do gigs or write for other artists to compete.

And gosh.. what a shock.. someone who is a Pro can write a bad song? Thanks for that brilliant revelation Tammy. The reality is that most writers of any level mostly write songs that aren't very good. Ask Diane Warren who is the first to admit most of her songs simply don't cut it. But people don't usually enter their worst work into a contest, they enter their best. There aren't many Professionals who get paid for their work who haven't done anything worthwhile. Your analogy isn't legit.

100% of the AI singing contestants this year have gotten paid for performing and/or had record deals, album sales, high profile Television success and so on. So they are all, by definition, pro's as well.

As for the Amateur "only" contests? I've been a judge on quite a few. And even the winning song sucked badly. It's sort of like saying your song is #1 on the radio, but that's only because no one is allowed to listen to the station in case they might not like what you're doing. Amateur only contests are money making schemes that prey on people desperate for a short cut to success who think by paying a fee AND not allowing any real competition, they might somehow get recognition for music that otherise couldn't compete. Once again I say "Whoopee!"

Indies are NOT Amateurs. Life long hobbyists are Amateurs. But to hear some of you talk, you can't tell the difference. Sad.

Brian

I agree with you Brian now that you explained it better

I guess I'd have to agree with you also Brian.
But I have a problem. I have observed that there are two kinds of writers in this world.
Writers who make money and writers who don't.
Unfortunately there are a lot more writers who don't make money than they are writers who do.
By making money I don't mean the few bucks we make on our self produced CD's where 950 of the 1000 we ordered are sitting in a box in the basement 3 years later.
The fact that 50 sold does NOT make you a professional.

I sat in a room with 75 other professionals last night. Getting our songs listened to by a Publisher that has the number two song on the charts today.
Why were we professional's there? We were there trying to get that all elusive cut by a major Artist.
By the end of the night we were all reduced back to amateurs. None of our songs were picked, we were not good enough.
On the way home that number two song came on the radio.
"I Saw God Today" sung by George Strait...Wow...I wish I had written that.
That is the only songwriting contest I am interested in.

I'm curious if any writers are over 40. They asked for your DOB when registering. I found that odd, but then again market research may enter in here. Most of the writers appear to be young. Just wondering if there was some kind of filter to prohibit entries after certain birth years. This has nothing to do w/the talent of those selected. Actually think this yr yielded a few really good tunes. At least they were melodic - a rarity these days.

Post deleted by Perry Smith

Perry,

I think staying off the boards might be a good idea until the dust settles! However, don't be put off by the "dragging down of the winners" syndrome. It happens everywhere, every time in all sorts of competition and life experiences (and most of the time the dragger-downers don't really mean any harm). The fact that you are in the top 20 amazes and astounds me -- not because you are relatively new to songwriting, but because you were able to do it against great odds.

Am I envious? -- absolutely (LOL!). Did I enter the AI contest? -- no, I didn't really anything that I thought could compete. I think the vast majority of folks here are wishing you well. My opinion is to try and enjoy the ride, knowing full well that the next few weeks will be pressure packed.

Your song was picked by industry professionals with a lot at stake to be a top 20 song -- that is an incredible accomplishment. My hat's off to you.

Kevin

Sorry that you've been insulted here Perry!! I am sooo disappointed in the behavior of some members!! Count me out of here.

Hey Perry,
Being a lawyer, I'm certain you've had your share of people airing out their frustrations. You must also realize that they are not personal, even though it feels that way.

It's just that when people work hard for years toward a goal that another person reaches with ease and in short time, it can be reason enough to kick in any past failures or frustrations they might have in many areas.

So, don't back away my friend and don't take any negative thing anyone says personally. You have risen to the top of a songwriting contest and it just might also be an opportunity to rise to the understanding of why others react negatively toward that success.

Withdrawing communication never produces anything but silence and a shrinking of space and reach. Accomplishing what you have done is not deserving of your withdrawal but of your extended reach further outward by communicating your experience along the way.

That is my humble opinion and I encourage you to hold your position of "nice guy who got in the top 20" no matter what false picture gets painted of you.

Blessings,
Heidi

I still can't believe real professional songwriters wrote the "lyrics" to most of the top 20 songs,It looks like they've been writing songs for half a year, and we're supposed to settle for that, when we're gonna be spending money on their cd?

Look. Let's be honest here (as I have been trying to be since I got here). The AI contest is a lottery--sooooooooo many entries, so short a period of time to narrow the songs, etc. Someone I know put it well-- you are holding a lottery ticket by joining. If you have a good production, you are holding a few more lottery tickets. If you have a "different" sound, you are holding a few more. If you wrote well to the target, you have a few more. But in the end, there is more luck than skill involved. I am not at all bothered by this rather obvious fact. Were there far better songs than mine that were not picked? Absolutely! Many, many, many of them, I have no doubt! I am an amateur songwriter, who got really, really lucky after doing what I could to try to hit the target. I am not unrealstic about this. And I am not unrealistic about the fact that when it is over, I will go back into my small music room/home office and see if I can figure out how to play that F chord better on my guitar to open up some more chord progressions. (And I will keep working long hours at my day job so I can continue my hobby of writing.)

I think I will hang back a bit, but I will be around.

Perry

Perry,

Seems like a good attitude to me. Writing to "hit a target" sounds pretty tough. I think to succeed at that you have to remove some of the songwriter ego that can get in the way. The fact that you were able to do this so quickly in your writing career just means that you probably have an innate sense of what works in the musical marketplace. I think that this could be a relatively rare gift. Good luck in the contest.

Kevin

Hey Perry,

I was going to stay out of the fray, but I just had to chime in with Kevin.

I think sitting back and trying to enjoy this part of the ride might be good idea. While I suppose there's probably a little "campaigning" you'll want/need to do, I suspect your nerves are hugely frazzled right now, and until The Call does/doesn't come in, you're likely going to drive yourself nuts by checking all the AI song threads posted here and on the other boards.

I do understand Heidi's point about not walking away....but I don't think that was Kevin's (nor my) intent. As I mentioned in my PM to you, I had thought it might be a good idea to take a little breather now anyway, explaining that once the winner is contacted, he/she will likely be under a huge gag order, and you don't want your fellow JPF'ers to be disappointed/encouraged if we didn't hear from you suddenly .

While I think that you've done a valiant job rising above the "sour grapes" so far, I say that's an energy zapper you don't need right now. Enjoy yourself. Smoke a cigar. Leave work early. Call that cheerleader who wouldn't go out with you because you were only a freshman. This is a very highly-charged window of excitement and anticipation, and one way or the other, it's not going to last much longer.

But as I think everyone can agree, whatever "flavor one's grapes are", you should be very proud of yourself. GOOD LUCK!!

Ciao for now,
Beth

I've been trying for a month to write a chorus for an idol coronation song and I came up with something not even close to an idol coronation chorus, I guess Kevin is right, some people need to lose most of their lyrical artistry and imagination in order to write a song in that style

Here is a link to all of the idol top 20 songs and comments under
In which not many are being praised mind you
http://www.rickey.org/?p=7627

Is that what I said? However if you feel that you must lose your "lyrical artistry and imagination in order to write a song in that style", then I would suggest staying away from that style. It sounds too painful.

Kevin

Yes It sounds very painful

Case in point, here's the first half of the chorus to
You can do anything:

You can do anything you dream of
Go for the goal if you believE LOL (the LOL should've been part of the song)
You can find your own star
Reach any height
Like sun on the water
Be a diamond? you'll fight- it wasn't very clear as to what that was
You can do anything you dream of
You can do anything now

Not to mention the song sounds like its a fricking 80's ballad
And this song is a top 20?

Then there's a fricking choir at the end
HELLO RUBEN STUDDARD WAS SEASON TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for Believe why the hell is there a male R&B song that sounds like Frankie J would sing, do we have any R&B'ers?
No I don't think we do, ugh I do not get these songs
Can anyone explain this madness, there's no way I believe that lottery crap, they already know what song is going to win
We're all being ryan seacrested

Hey Perry, this one's for you:



Shame on us. You've been nothing but decent on this forum. You wrote a great song that most of us couldn't put on the table if our lives depended on it. And you just achieved something many of us tried to do, but couldn't. You deserve our support and positive thoughts. I for one am cheering you on...you've given me a reason to get excited about it this year, and you've also given me reason to believe this can be done.

And you're just another working stiff like us, so the pressure must be intense...the WONDERING, the HOPE...the not sleeping. Must be a real thrill to read these threads and get knocked down a peg or two. Well, that's humanity for you. I'd stop posting for awhile too.

Perry, GO GET 'EM. Show us how it's done...and when your song sells a million...because you wrote it...maybe you can quit that day job for awhile. -Mark

Perry keep focused my man!...these discussion boards are what they are....discussion boards...they can't and won't change a thing...if it is meant to ..then it will happen...you are halfway there...what is meant for YOU...WON'T go past you...if it is not meant to happen then start brushing up on your guitar chords..but in the meantime....enjoy the ride...we are all rooting for you..it is a great team effort,the writer, the song, the singer, the production,..you need all these key elements to get near the bulls-eye..and of course investment...Good Luck...hope the "ham bone" rings out for you next week....Terry...

Hi Perry

I think that you got sidetracked by Bill...he misspoke about when you joined and stuff...but that isn't the issue at all..this whole argument is a carry over from the contest last year...it's like dejavu...Tammy was angry last year about the same thing...it's the "what is a pro?" or "who should be able to enter" or "they didn't phrase the rules correctly"...it's the argument is about THE CONTEST ITSELF...

Bills misstatements and the debate here that sort of was about you making it (in the context of the argument) INHO made you feel
that is was PERSONAL...like they were talking about you PERSONALLY...As someone who has been around JPF for years and didn't enter a song and read these threads last year too...I can tell you for certain...IT ISN'T ABOUT YOU...not in any way shape or form...You got lucky, true... Let's say it's world championship of Poker...let's say a relative newcomer makes it to the final table, with tons of big names and previous winners eliminated...people will piss and moan that you made it over them and you didn't have the experience. It isn't YOU it's just the way it happened...In a car dealership, you'll have say 12 salesmen and a new guy gets hired. The "pro's" think they know it all...then the new guy does really well and outsells most of them...they all then HATE the new guy. He embarassed them...It's human nature. That is exactly what is happening here. You have to remove yourself personally from this argument. It's not about YOU...it's just that...you're the NEW guy and other people feel that they have paid their dues way more than you...ADD to that, the fact that "best song" is SO ambiguous...in sales, numbers are numbers...in best song, everything is grey, and that leaves even infinitely more excuses and jealousy as not only is the best song open to interpretation, but also the road to getting there, the level of talent, there is a million things one could pick at...Anyway, I could be rambling, the bottom line is you have to not take this personally, it is not in ANY WAY about you personally.

Post deleted by Perry Smith

Okay, you're in a songwriting competition where your song is going to be scrutinized under a microscope by millions and millions of people, 30 million people will hear the winning song
Thats the bottom line, does that mean everyone who doesn't like it is jealous, no that conclusion is what lazy people come up with
What burns me is the show gets 30-40 million people in ratings yet these are the best songs they have put through?
For goodness sakes american idol your fans deserve something a lot better than what is offered, I hope this is the last year for this songwriting competition, sure its good for the songwriter (Last years song sucked so bad I feel like it hurt their career)
I dont know about this year, I have a feeling it'll be another great talent singing a less than mediocre song

Perry

I am pretty sure you are a nice man and you passed the bar, so you are also smart. BUT...your response leads me to think that you didn't really understand my post...and I don't know if I can say it any better.

Airun
some are jealous, some are envious, some are happy, some are sad...etc, etc...observing that does not make one lazy. Would you be happier if they just picked a song that you had NO choice in?

Hi again, Perry,

Guess I'm in a chiming-in sort of mode today . This time I'll hop on Herbie's bandwagon (I know, Herbie, 'get in line, get in line' !) and reiterate that the contest itself has stirred up a lot of angst and conversation and conspiracy theories. Especially since this year the time frame was moved up and then certain states couldn't participate, etc. etc. etc. How you managed to be one of the 20 needles in the haystack would be fodder for conversation no matter what your experience level. I'll go with the "it's a great and fitting yet updated finale song"....but that's just my opinion. I more than appreciate everyone's entitlement to an opinion -- but I agree, it's just not necessary to make it personal and/or mean-spirited (whatever the motivation). And it's not always easy to interpret intent of a given post, given the format in which these communications take place.

Anyhoo, I guess that speaks to my next point. IF and/or when you hear you did not make it (which strictly from the numbers standpoint is a possibility, alas)...you had best prepare yourself for the "I told you so" backlash. And the "see, they really don't let amateurs win, it was all a master plan to let them THINK we let them win" conspiracy. Etc. Etc. However, I certainly believe that the majority of the comments you'd receive would be of support and understanding and "it was an honor just to be in the Top 20" -- and rightly so. So try to chill and again, enjoy this time. At the very least, your future is going to be VERY INTERESTING!!!!

Have FUN!!!

Cheers,
Beth

P.S. BTW, if you happen to win, would you mind if I PM'd my phone number for you to pass along to my hopeful winner David Cook??

Well, I think It'd be easier for the viewers If they do choose a song that we had no choice in, The consensus among all the forums that aren't brainwashed doesn't leave much hope for this years idol and they're growing very weary from past winning songs, Simon Cowell is doing a smart thing in the UK Idol version, the winner Leona Lewis whos the next international superstar (soon to be bigger than Rhianna)
Cut kelly clarksons - A moment like this
Her cover of that song was downloaded 50,000 times in 30 minutes of its release making it the fastest selling download to date,and the biggest selling download in one week
The single sold a total of 571,253 copies in its first week, outselling the rest of the Top 40 combined and making it the fastest selling single in the UK by a female artist, beating
Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears
As of November 2007, Lewis's version of the song has sold over 800,000 copies in the UK
Not to mention number 1 in numerous countries and top 10 in others

Compare this to Jordin Sparks "This is my now"
Which only spent 4 weeks on the billboard charts, going from #15 and dropping to 95 and then off the chart, her career was picked up again thankfully due to the song, Tattoo and No air featuring Chris Brown

An awesome debut single starts you off on a great foot with a lot of momentum, a bad song does the exact opposite and very fast!!!

deleted

I took Perry's statement to mean, even though he really wants to take off three weeks due to this earthshaking turn of events, the reality is that he has a job he needs to keep, and that there's too much work to be done for them to allow him the time off.

So, keeping his job means he doesn't take this seriously? He's supposed to defy his employer and get fired? I sure wouldn't.

No Mark
It does not.
But the way it was worded sounded like he did not care. Now If I read that wrong then I apologize.

Post deleted by Perry Smith

deleted

Post deleted by Perry Smith

deleted

Okay, Bill. I just deleted my last few posts so we can let all that go into the past. Apology accepted in whole. Let's move on. Please feel free to delete any post that followed a post I deleted so that things make more sense.

(People who are wondering what the posts said, there were just some misunderstandings about intent and meaning as happens on message boards--nothing too fun )

I am going to take some time off the boards, as suggested by Kevin (and my wife), so if anyone wants to contact me, please do so through my website www.perrysmith.com.

Best,
Perry

Perry

It ISN"T about you...trust me...in my previous example of the car salesman, the guys that the NEW guy beat DO make it personal in their attacks on him...BUT...it isn't really about him...it's about THEM and THEIR feelings. IT IS DEEPER THAN THE WORDS. The words are the mask they hide behind.

I don't know how I ended up in this position...I was just trying to explain to you why you shouldn't be hurt, that it's about people's frustration with THEMSELVES. Personally, I like your song as well as any other, and I hope you win ! ! Seriously, an outsider winning, especially someone who shared the song with us before the contest, would be one of the most exciting things that I can remember ! The fact that you are a working person like most of us makes it even BETTER. I voted for your song.
You are like the Charlie Bucket of JPF buddy! ! You picked the golden ticket (well you created it)...and I really hope you are Mr Wonka's pick! !

Thank you Perry for accepting my apology. I truly did not mean you any harm. It was all just a bad idea.

And please don't let my indiscretions taint your opinion of JPFolks. This is still the best songwriting community on the web.

Please stick around. You can obviously write songs and your involvement would be a plus to the community.

ALRIGHT EVERYBODY!!

KUMBAYAH!!

Perpetual busybody,
Beth

Oh, just to be clear, I did not mean that in an "I'm taking my ball and going home" kind of way. Just going to take a breather. I will be around and back for sure. I cannot help myself. Just until the voting ends next week.

Perry I have stayed out of this but glad things are sorted out. I think you are wise to bow out until the competition is over. You have to keep a low profile. But look forward to seeing you back here when things get back to normal. I can back Bill up we have fallouts and the occasional tiff but nobody holds grudges especially Bill. We are all in this together. Best of luck in the comp.

We're about to find out on Tuesday night! Good luck Perry!

Brian

So what happened? Which song "won?" Did it end up being the artist's choice as to what the songwriter winner is, or do you think they will reveal the vote totals? I personally like the two songs they picked (but I might have had them switch songs). The 6/8 ballad Archuleta sang is originally very alt-rock in it's MySpace delivery. And the song cook chose has a "country" feel to the demo that worked better than his arrangement I think. Details, does anyone have details? If I'm Perry, or any of the other finalists, I'd sure want to know what was going on.

If you look at Perry's other post on the general message board, he names the winner.

Thanks. I just saw the answer to my question on CMT News:

In the article - "Nashville Songwriter Wins American Idol Songwriting Competition" - May 21, 2008, it said ...

"Regie Hamm, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter, has won the second annual American Idol songwriting competition. His song, "Time of My Life," will be performed live by the winner of the show -- either David Archuleta or David Cook -- on Wednesday (May 21). "This song is about living in the moment and embracing your blessings and letting go of bitterness and past pain," he said. The song was chosen by fans from among 20 finalists, narrowed down from thousands of submissions."

USA TODAY Article
'Time' is now for American Idol Songwriter winner
5/20/2008 11:45 PM
By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY

(USA TODAY) -- Whether David Archuleta or David Cook prevails in Wednesday night's American Idol finale, Regie Hamm will be having the time of his life.

In the closing four minutes of the two-hour show (Fox, 8 ET/PT), the newly crowned David will sing Time of My Life, Hamm's winner in the second American Idol Songwriter contest.

Yep, it's inspirational, says the Nashville singer/songwriter, who calls Life "a midtempo anthem, no surprises. (Fans) can wave their arms and light their lighters, all that cool stuff. We've all heard those finale songs, so you know the parameters and almost by osmosis what the moment is all about."

The song was among "tens of thousands" submitted and combed through by 19 Entertainment's more than 60 Artists & Repertoire staffers, who winnowed the list to a manageable pile before Idol creator Simon Fuller and his team pruned to 20 semifinalists, says Jeff King, 19's U.S. head of digital entertainment.

The task is "daunting," he says. "Not unlike the show, you get a wide variety, from comical to genius."

More than 500,000 voters chose Time of My Life from the 20 audio clips posted online. What gave Hamm's tune the edge?

"Its feel, its groove, the message," King says. "The lyrics aren't too sappy, and it's contemporary."

In a departure from Idol custom, producers decided against using the coronation song in competition. The Davids each picked another tune from the 10 songs that received the most votes in the contest to sing Tuesday. Cook, 25, chose Dream Big by Emily Shackelton; Archuleta, 17, selected In This Moment by Ryan Gillmore. Both are on iTunes, which also will sell tonight's rendition of Life by the new Idol.

A year ago, the first song contest yielded melodramatic This Is My Now, a natural for pop singer Jordin Sparks and a handicap for beatboxer Blake Lewis, who was thrashed by the judges. That mismatch didn't trigger this year's shift, King says. The show simply wanted to offer the finalists flexibility.

At a cost of $600 and with help from friends, Hamm composed and recorded Life the week before the contest deadline.

"I tried to keep the show in mind, but it's autobiographical," he says. "It has to do with living in the now and letting the good times carry you through the bad times."

Hamm, 40, says his victory is a reversal of a career slump that began when he and his wife, Yolanda, adopted their daughter in China. Isabella, now 5, has the rare genetic disorder Angelman syndrome, which causes severe developmental delays. (They also have 19-month-old son Gabe.)

"I've been a housedad while my wife works at Starbucks, which provides insurance," Hamm says.

"When we find something (Isabella) responds to, we stick to it," he says. "The really bad singers on Idol make her laugh hysterically. We started watching because of her. When better singers come along in the top 10, Isabella loses interest, but then we're hooked."

Born in Nashville, Hamm traveled the country with his Pentecostal preacher father and played drums in the family band. He wrote his first song at age 9. Influenced by Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, Merle Haggard, Randy Newman and the Gershwins, he switched to piano and enjoyed some success writing and recording. On Thursday, his gospel/country Starlight EP hits iTunes. He co-wrote Something About Us, which is on Clay Aiken's new CD. (Attention, conspiracy theorists: Hamm also co-wrote the ballad In the Name of God with Scott Krippayne, who co-wrote 2007's winning Idol song.)

"I've made records and rubbed shoulders with people in the music industry, but nothing like this," Hamm says of his Idol conquest. "The last five years have been the toughest of my life. This one song has turned my career and my life around. It's a shot in the arm."

But is it? The clout of the coronation song has waned since 2002 inaugural Idol Kelly Clarkson released A Moment Like This, which sold 987,000 copies in combined singles and downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Sales of 2003 runner-up Aiken's This Is the Night exceeded 1 million copies.

Numbers have drooped since then, as has Idol enthusiasm for the typically schmaltzy launches. Taylor Hicks, 2006's Idol, didn't put coronation single Do I Make You Proud, which sold 654,000 copies, on his album. A year ago, Sparks left the Idol gate with This Is My Now, the first Idol debut single that failed to reach Billboard's top 2. It has sold 263,000 downloads.

this part of the article is eye opening


On Thursday, his gospel/country Starlight EP hits iTunes. He co-wrote Something About Us, which is on Clay Aiken's new CD. (Attention, conspiracy theorists: Hamm also co-wrote the ballad In the Name of God with Scott Krippayne, who co-wrote 2007's winning Idol song.)

Ande's Comment: the finalists and winner aren't amatuers
the song they submitted isn't likely to be one of the first they've ever written

What complete, total and utter disre-freakin-spect for the songwriters of the winning song.

AI launches this huge, nationwide contest to come up with the showcase song for the finals and all Seacrust doesn’t even say who wrote the damn song. They bring in Andrew Lloyd Webber, Clive Davis, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton…all for their songwriting credits…and make a huge deal out of it all season.

Then when Cook sings the winner’s song (no, it wasn’t all that good), the songwriter gets zippo billing.

If it weren’t for the songwriters, these kids would be singing the phone book.

Disgusting.

Hey,

Those are my sentiments....exactly...I was appalled at that to say the very least, Tim.

Hopefully, I'll be at the next songwriter's meeting when my new demos get back....have missed all of you.

Jan Hopkins

Hey Janice!

Didn't know you posted here! ;-)

Songwriters are used to getting little or no credit. They don’t need or want anyone’s tears over that. Their names appear in teeny, tiny mouse type in the CD liner notes. Everyone assumes (in most cases anyway), that the singer wrote the songs. Hardly anyone outside the writing community even knows Garth Brooks didn’t write Friends In Low Places, arguably one of his biggest hits.

But with all the effort put into poring over 20,000 submissions to the contest and the spot of prominence the winning song was to get, it was like the Lotto people saying of the $40M jackpot, “And we have a winner!”…and then leaving it at that.

Yeah…the songwriters got their billing this year. The big names anyway.

I’m still disgusted.

Don’t forget about the GR Festival, Janice…. GRSA will be playing….round robin style, 2 groups of 4 performers.

I’ll be sending out a reminder to the members. ;-)

Yeah Tim,

I have over 100 songs on here, I believe....look at me go...I'm a top 100 poster even. I write with alot of them on here, too. Its been great. I'll be at the festival to hear all of the rest of you that have the talent...Ha....Jan

Cool!

I’ve been around for a long time here (2002), but mostly lurk. I chime in every once in a while.

Almost 1400 posts in 9 months?! Holy crow, woman….you need a hobby!

Oh, wait a minute. I guess this would be it. ;-)

(thass a joke….you’re not a hobbyist and I know it!)

Hi Tim:

I've posted my opinion previously about the folks at "Idol" and their apparent low regard for songwriters. (What else is new... that seems to be the current trend thoughout the industry!)

I listened to both "Davids" sing their selected songs from "unknown" (LOL!) songwriters and was surprised at how little credit they (AI) gave the writers. I can't say that I was very impressed with either song but you would think they would flash the name of the song and the name of the writer across the screen for a few microseconds.

I sure hope you are able to "snatch victory from the possible Jaws of Defeat" in your particular case. "Shyeesha's" performance on the closing show was pretty impressive to me. Hopefully, she would be a great ticket builder for your song. Good luck and best wishes in your writing career.

Dave

I think you’re confusing me with the “other” Perry. ;-)

I entered, but didn’t make the Top 20.

Dave,

Don't confuse Tim Perry with Perry Smith. Easy to do, but they are different people.

And Tim, you should stop in more often. We'd love to have you more involved! I had a great time with you guys up in Grand Rapids last summer.

Brian

Our gang is still talking about that event, Brian! Make sure you let us know if you want to do GR again.

Truth be told, I’ve been kinda preoccupied with the Stanley Cup playoffs of late. Red Wings are in the big show and it’s got me rather tunnel-visioned. ;-)

That and practicing for 2 gigs at GR’s Festival in 10 days.

I will try to stop by more often, tho.

;-)

here's the announcement of the winner

David Cook

5 minutes & 20 seconds into the video
he performs the winning song
"Time of My Life"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P_K3pxNLtmw

Maybe this is an indication of why so little importance is given to the songwriter process.
The voting went on for, what?, a month or so. And the winner only got 500,000 votes. Even if all of them got 500,000 votes that would only be 10,000,000
They get 50...60....MILLION votes in a couple hours on the show. Idol gets 200...300...MILLION votes in a month.

I am not sure why they don't mention the songwriting contest every week on the show. It seems they don't put much importance to it.

What I am surprised at is everyone seems to think the final group of songs were not that good. I though Perry's song was pretty good. A little cliche, IMHO, but that is what they want. It was a great fit for the contest. Production was top notch and I think that is the biggest determining factor.

Don't forget that with the Songwriter voting, you get one vote per login/screen name. The weekly voting has people voting many times, some of them voting more than 1000 times.

I thought that at least 10 of the top 20 songs were pretty good, but only about 5 of them had hit potential. I thought Perry's was one of the top 5.

They have STUDIO versions of David Cook singing both of the "original" songs on iTunes if you want to support the songwriter by downloading. They were "Dream Big" (on Tuesday), and of course, the winner, "The Time Of My Life" for the finale.

I actually thought Dream Big was a better fit for DC than "The Time..". It was the kind of song he'd put on his CD - a really rocker.

Also with the voting, you rate the songs on a scale of 1 to 10.

You do NOT pick "your favorite" out of the bunch, You vote for EVERY song.

(Unless you rate all of them a "1" and only one of them a "10".)

Makes me wonder if 500,000 was the TOTAL number of votes.

Also, how did they tabulate? Did they add up the numbers or did they count how many "10"'s each song got? Did they add all the numbers and then devide by # of votes to get an average?

I don't see why they would use this system for voting. It makes it too goofy to tabulate, in my opinion.

But, in no way am I saying it is unfair, I am just saying it seems like an odd choice.

The negative press on the winning song has started
Yahoo music writes...
"But with a lackluster first single like "The Time Of My Life," we're not so sure...maybe Cook was really crying because 19 Management stuck him with such a lousy song."

I think the song he did the night before was a better choice as a single than the winning song.

Oh.. and how about how lousy nearly every single new song that the big name artists peformed during the season? It's hard to love ANY song the first time the masses hear it. And that winning song was WAY better than most of the new songs by most of the famous artists performing all season.

Brian

That does not surprise me a bit. It seems like people will find any excuse to crap on someone else's success.
I'm surprised they aren't screaming foul because the guy had a cut with Clay Aikin and wrote with last years winner. I think successful writers write with lots of people and get cuts. It is how the business works.

I don't think Perry had any connections and his song made the cut. Good for him.

Time of My Life
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt4aTMTGZPM
Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxwbeL4i0zo

I believe johnnyvn is right. It likely has everything to do with the laws in the State you live in.

the funny thing is
now with some perspective
I feel like this song was well embraced by radio
I still hear it being played

xxxxxx

I quite liked "Time of My Life" the first time I heard the demo. I haven't had the pleasure of hearing the single recently, but I can still hum back the melody almost start to finish. I'm pleased the song was embraced by mainstream radio.

Mitch
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs

x

As far as I was aware there was always a co-writer on that song. I don't think that's anything new.

Brian

x

x

I expect those states are protecting their residents......

time of my life is registered with SESAC
looks like Regie is a lone writer

TIME OF MY LIFE
Publishers: (ii) 19 Music Publishing
Writers: Reginald Glenn Hamm
SESAC Work Number: 64814400

don't see Daniel coursey any where on ASCAP SESAC or BMI

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