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I know this is a hard question to members and subject to change. I can only say what I have been working on and grouping those select tracks to a link. But there are also performers here that have had to look at audience reaction for their set. It would be fun and revelatory knowing about the originals that were favored. That can be different too from what the individual with that song thought.
I would like to hear what the personal favorites with the members are too.
Matt
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Hi Matt:
You have asked a question many of us cannot answer. I spend some of my spare time creating new songs and it gets pretty intense, activity wise. Lyric, Melody, Vocal, Backing instruments needed, Recording, Editing, Saving to Computer(s) & filing system. Listening, re-recording, deciding to register with pro (or not) and the list goes on. Thankfully, early-on, I created a system to keep up with most of this activity.
I am nearing 1000 songs... written and recorded. Some good, some okay, some not so good... and some, downright horrible... LOL!
After a while, you forget the lyrics to the first twenty or so songs created. That is why it is so important to write them down, I use a set of ring binders, then type the lyric and chords into a word processor and save it and/or print it.
I do the same with each recording session and assign a code and file number to each song created.
When you have so many "children" it is difficult to determine which is your favorite. To make matters even worse, most of us are really not capable of judging our own creations. We may think we do... but public acceptance is the court of last review... and most of us will never have that experience.
Interesting question, though. Thanks for asking.
Sorry for the long answer but I thought it needed saying.
Regards, ----Dave
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Well, The short (and) long answer is the people that I pitch a song or songs to is the only one that can answer your question. If you are putting out your own recordings for public consumption it is the public that will ultimately answer your question.
Ray E. Strode
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Hi Ray:
You bring up the most difficult part of the process: "PITCHING!"
Pitching involves the nearly impossible quest to find someone willing to listen to your creation (song) with the hope it might attract other singers, bands or artists... and eventually get your name "inscribed in the list of folks allowed to participate in the food chain." ...or, in the case of some writers, get your name and song in the minds and hearts of listeners... to the point of becoming something practically eternal.
There are "rewards" to either path, but today, there are too many songwriters, too many genres and too few real listeners... not to mention paying clientele. LOL!
Figuring out the proper way to pitch is the most difficult aspect of the process we call songwriting... if one even cares to tackle that aspect of the business. I tried it for several years, soon discovered that I lacked the musical "chops" to really succeed and gave it up in order to improve my writing, singing, melody creation and overall skills.
I recently began to have more demos made of my songs and have been pleased with the general acceptance by my peers, the number of "plays" on the appropriate forum here and elsewhere, and the nice comments. All of that said, it has not attracted the people who possess the magic wand to transport us to the next level.
I don't know anyone who has a music business roadmap or formula for success. Naturally, I'd love to hear from those of you who are achieving success musically... but I doubt if many who hang around here on "the bottom rung" have any life changing success to share either. (Caveat: I am usually wrong!)
Best of luck to everyone... if for no other reason, write (and do all those other things) because you enjoy it!
----Dave
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Humm, I used to suscribe to a couple of Tip Sheets but not for a while. According to our Nashville Connection songwriters own most of the Publishing Companies and don't take outside material. I think most everything is non existant now and may be for some time.
Ray E. Strode
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I have tried looking at what the pitch is just going through the net. Though it is not supposed to work that way. I have been doing these 30 to 60 second practice pieces for commercials. I have done about 80 verse, chorus type song attempts (2 to 5 minutes long) in my life. 40 on the internet. It looks to definitely be a matter of repetition with songwriters and musicians getting ahead. A thousand songs written sounds dedicated. I looked at doing snippets as something that would go along fine on the net, and for some reason looked at the net as more of a vehicle for soundtracking and commercials. I have posted only full song attempts thinking that would help me to do better pieces.. I always admired some of these experimental synth acts from the eighties and pre-dare Human League. Even though I listen to Dare the most. I was considering turning my practice commercials in to full songs. The instructor liked my pieces. But my full pieces are so so, so I could be back at square one.
There has always looked to be what the musicians like the most that doesn't often gel with what the audience likes. Acts like Chicago in the seventies with album cuts that dedicated fans bought it for. Somewhere in the eighties it has looked to be just for what is meant for mass consumption, and thus lead the alt and alternative acts doing what the seventies acts used to do more or less.
I guess the distinction between what is commercial and who is not with the musician and listener has always kind of fascinated me. A lot of musicians I have known of locally have an entirely different idea often from what they would like to do and what they have to do to be viable musicians.
Matt
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I know this is a hard question to members and subject to change. I can only say what I have been working on and grouping those select tracks to a link. But there are also performers here that have had to look at audience reaction for their set. It would be fun and revelatory knowing about the originals that were favored. That can be different too from what the individual with that song thought.
I would like to hear what the personal favorites with the members are too.
Matt Why, the best song I ever wrote is always the last song I wrote, of course !
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I meant the question more of what a fan or an audience likes. I can't say that my best song is the last one. I want every one of them definitely to be my baby.But the best songs are the ones I did that I did not have to ask about. Like songs I placed in a distribution site for approval. But I also like what might be more obscure and not as commercial. It is interesting to know what is liked between artist and listeners.
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I meant the question more of what a fan or an audience likes. I can't say that my best song is the last one. I want every one of them definitely to be my baby.But the best songs are the ones I did that I did not have to ask about. Like songs I placed in a distribution site for approval. But I also like what might be more obscure and not as commercial. It is interesting to know what is liked between artist and listeners. I'm a jazz songwriter, so my songs are not commercial at all. I've performed to a number of audiences, given a few concerts in a band, and the one they seem to like the most ( keeping in mind I play to people who like jazz singers, like Diana Krall, Michael Buble, etc. ) is this one: https://soundcloud.com/patricklockwood/obsessed-feat-caitlin-macdonaldHere's another vocalists interpretation of the same song, she's a more dynamic singer, and I'm having trouble deciding who I like the best: https://soundcloud.com/patricklockwood/song-75
Last edited by pathardy; 08/11/16 06:08 AM.
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Hey Pat,
For what it's worth, I much prefer Caitlin's version. I think her "voice" matches the song better. Just my opinion, but this song doesn't need the "prettier" voice.
To me, the singer of this song ought to be on stage with a glass of wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and Caitlin's comes closer....
....But that's just me:-)
To answer your initial question, I have one called "Angelina". It is by far, not my "best" in terms of rollicking or heart-breaking. In truth, the band and I rarely played it, even during our mellow "coffee house/cafe" days, and it was never requested. I only pulled it out now and then when the mood struck.
But I vividly remember one night, after a cafe performance where I sang it. A guy came up to me afterwards and said:
"I haven't seen you guys in over a year, but it's been a really sh!tty day, so I dropped in and you were singing Angelina. I heard that and knew that everything would be okay."
So, it may not be my best "song", but it wrangled up my favorite "response".
Midnite
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Hey Matt, I've been quite amazed at the feedback to my songs over the years, and I must admit that what I thought was "good" was deemed as nothing to the response to songs which I thought were second rate. My advice ? Let the public decide. They have much better ears than musicians. cheers, niteshift
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Save The Planet is certainly the most expensive. I wrote it for Frida of ABBA and took it to Stockholm. Frida was out of the country, so she never heard it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0C2yi5qaSMSAVE THE PLANET - Johnny T We're floating on a grain of sand in the vastness of space If future generations are going to inherit this place We've got to Save The Planet Do something while there's still time Save The Planet This earth is yours and mine The tropical rainforest is disappearing more everyday We'll never replace it, we'd better not burn it away Save The Planet The wonders of nature are free Save The Planet Have you ever planted a tree? If the skies are blue And the oceans too Isn't this a better home for me and you? If the air is clean And the land is green Wouldn't you like to be part of this lovely scene? solo I'm thinking of the animals that once roamed the African plain Their numbers have dwindled, pretty soon none will remain Save The Planet Do something while there's still time Save The Planet This earth is yours and mine Save The Planet The wonders of nature are free Save The Planet Have you ever planted a tree? Save The Planet Save The Planet Save The Planet Save The Planet Save The Planet, Save The Planet Save The Planet, Save The Planet Save The Planet, Save The Planet Save The Planet, Save The Planet Save The Planet Save The Planet Jim Colyer ascap
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I heard some of those early Abba songs with the male singers. Not what fans might want to hear the most from them. But who's to say something could not have been made of that? The orgins of The Cars were in a folk duo.
The hardest part I have noticed with musicians is not as much being able to deliver a style but finding an identity when they intend to write themselves. It is almost like artists have to pare down to one style. At least to start out. I have noticed too nite that the audience does seem to be the best judge of what is more acceptable. I have looked at what the bit of an audience I can gather of me likes. Naturally it falls back on influences I started out liking. They seem to like what falls even more off form too I have noticed, although musicians watch out for that more. There is a music appreciation class at college I am looking in to. People from the inexperienced looking at radio production and commercials to experienced musicians seem to have that common thread of weighing what their identity is with the audience.
Matt
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I think that I've been getting better as a songwriter, in general. And as a producer. So, naturally, a couple of my newer tunes are the ones that I am going to offer up as examples of my best work. I hope you dig them, too: "We Made It To the Middle"https://hoponpop.bandcamp.com/track/we-made-it-to-the-middle-2A sort of "Wild Horses"-styled ballad which I think also has my best-ever vocal performance. "Break My Heart"https://hoponpop.bandcamp.com/track/break-my-heartMidwest power pop, along the lines of Cheap Trick and Material Issue. This one has maybe my best guitar solo. Hope you like 'em.
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F&ck all, Todd...
Awesomeness!!!
Apparently, whiskey ain't the only thing that gets better with age.
Thanks!!!!
Midnite
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I'll toss this in: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1085431Seek out the song titled: Where Your Daddy Don't Go. Is it my "best" original? No. But it took me twenty years to write, from one line in the second verse, to the first line in the first verse. Once the two lines came together it took me 10 minutes to write. A year later, after singing it on porches and variety of bars, and after most band-members had moved hither and yon, I brought everyone together for a "reunion". If ya listen to it, ya might think we were all having a good time...And that's what I was hoping for:-) But the reality is, when we did this CD recording session, on a long Sunday in a garage, this song almost ruined everything!!! We recorded 8 songs in 7 hours...This song took up 3 hours. Two hours and fifty minutes to figure & fight it out, and then get it all in one "take".... ....It was worth it!!!:-) ....And for what it's worth, the original title is "McGarlindy Square"....A fictitious "Square"(city corner) that I made up and is a combination(abbreviated & combined) of the 4 U.S. Presidents who have been killed while in Office. Is it my best original? Not really. Is it my best original that traveled a fair distance? Perhaps:-) Midnite
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Bob— That was great! Reminded me a bit of John Prine! Even my wife, as she was walking by, stopped to ask me who was playing and said that she dug it. But yeah... dig it!
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Gosh, Todd, now I have to put your wife on my Christmas card list:-)
Midnite
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Every song I ever wrote was the best thing I ever heard when I wrote them. Time changes all things. Fortunately for me, I always give them a rest and come back to them a little later. I'd guess that about 2 to 3% make it to any one elses ears, other than my own.
In response to RM: You can let your audience decide whether a song is a good one or not. But, all audiences are different. One audience may really enjoy a tune while another audience could care less. Learned that lesson performing in bar bands.
Last edited by Rick Heenan; 11/19/16 07:56 PM.
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Why, all of them, of course! :-p
Peace, TC
PS: that, or the latest one I am working on....
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I know this is a hard question to members and subject to change. I can only say what I have been working on and grouping those select tracks to a link. But there are also performers here that have had to look at audience reaction for their set. It would be fun and revelatory knowing about the originals that were favored. That can be different too from what the individual with that song thought.
I would like to hear what the personal favorites with the members are too.
Matt The best original is always the last one recorded, eh?
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A contradiction to be sure. But there is the thought that this will be the one song among a whole lot of other this will be the ones. And they all feel just as important.
Often what professionals think seems to be different from others. But professionalism often means conformity, even with a creative expression.
Do the members here that do cd projects balance what conforms to what marketeers say, or do they like to mix it up? I did not come on here to learn about what I am better at. But even conformist musicians must have something they liked that did not fit in to anyone's particular formula. I think I would like to do a project around what others might prefer and what I want to do. But professionalism often seems to be too rigid for that.
Last edited by R&M; 01/02/17 07:10 AM.
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pathardy:
Jazz has always seemed to be a perfect example of how to feel it and what the listeners can come to. At least authentic jazz. I am going to look at that in school other than a passing interest, and appreciate seeing members like you on the net with that. I was looking to go from media studies in a 2 year college to a university for music. I would have to pay straight out of pocket. But I would like to know more about forms than riffs and what seems familiar.
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youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7z2dSa3_kTwo women are sitting at a table in a restaurant. The first woman is telling the second woman about a guy with whom she just had a bad relationship. He's a heartbreaker! The first woman knows that the second will not listen and will have to find out for herself. HEARTBREAKER I've been wanting to talk to you Tell you what I'm going through You won't believe a thing I say But I'll say it anyway He can be so sweet and kind I remember when he was mine Get ready for some lonely times He's a Heartbreaker Poor woman ahead of me He drove her to insanity I had a real good laugh on her Now I'm sorry she got hurt He's a phantom in disguise He's another Jekyll and Hyde Get ready to forget your pride He's a Heartbreaker He's only out for himself He doesn't care for anyone else He's only out for what he can get He could never commit solo I've been wanting to talk to you Tell you what I'm going through Now I see that it's too late You're gonna suffer, It's your fate He can be so sweet and kind I remember when he was mine Get ready for some lonely times He's a Heartbreaker He's a phantom in disguise He's another Jekyll and Hyde Get ready to forget your pride He's a Heartbreaker He's a Heartbreaker He's a Heartbreaker Interlude He's a Heartbreaker He's a Heartbreaker He's a Heartbreaker Jim Colyer ascap
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Hey Pat,
For what it's worth, I much prefer Caitlin's version. I think her "voice" matches the song better. Just my opinion, but this song doesn't need the "prettier" voice.
To me, the singer of this song ought to be on stage with a glass of wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and Caitlin's comes closer....
....But that's just me:-)
To answer your initial question, I have one called "Angelina". It is by far, not my "best" in terms of rollicking or heart-breaking. In truth, the band and I rarely played it, even during our mellow "coffee house/cafe" days, and it was never requested. I only pulled it out now and then when the mood struck.
But I vividly remember one night, after a cafe performance where I sang it. A guy came up to me afterwards and said:
"I haven't seen you guys in over a year, but it's been a really sh!tty day, so I dropped in and you were singing Angelina. I heard that and knew that everything would be okay."
So, it may not be my best "song", but it wrangled up my favorite "response".
Midnite
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback, and yeah, thats' just about the mood. The song I feel should be placed in something like a film noir -- femme fatale type movie, dark, brooding, etc.
Last edited by pathardy; 03/12/17 09:03 PM.
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"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
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