JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum So Where Does Your Song Rank On Ourstage?

Ben,

You seem to understand exactly what I am saying. At some year in the future all the Beatles songs will be public domain. (75 years after Paul dies basically.. though I am sure like Disney, his estate will find some way to change the system just like Disney did to protect Mickey Mouse). But there are songs that are copyright protected going into public domain every single day. When the day comes, the only thing that changes is that you can do anything you want with them for free versus needing to pay money and/or get permission.

Sure you can copyright an arrangement of a PD song, but techically and artistically speaking, you can do your own "version" of a cover song as well as long as you either have permission or don't go so far away from the original intent of the song to allow the owner to sue you. Take the court system out of the way and doing a cover and a PD song is the exact same thing.

We have people send us all sorts of "cover songs" which bear very little resemblance to originals. In the cases of PD songs, most of them have no recording made at the time it was created due to technology. (I suppose some songs have slipped into the PD since recording started for one reason or another (or by choice through something like a Creative Commons license) but not many. The movie "Night of the living dead" slipped into Public domain so now you can anything you like with it (including packaging it and selling it or showing it for a fee at a theater) for free. That's why you see it used so often.

Back to music, I don't think there's any difference between doing a new bluegrass arrangement of a Beatles song and a new bluegrass arrangment of a 12th century monk chant. Both display the same type of creativity. Only the court standing and where the money has to go (or not go) are different. The creative process of doing both is the same. Hence, I still don't see any difference.

I am find with letting people post that stuff.. but let's make sure that all songs written by someone other than the artist have the same rules. Either you wrote a song or you didn't. In the case of the "Cover" Channel, many of them do an entirely different arrangement or mash-up of those songs as well. (Perhaps in some cases they might be skirting the law a bit.. but creatively it's not relevent). I've heard Beatles songs used in the most extremely diverse ways imaginable. There's tons of creativity just as I am sure there is in your song (I haven't heard that one yet). But it's still different than if you created the song from scratch in my opinion and therefore it's a different competitive advantage to already have the idea to work with rather than coming up with a totally new idea.

Are you still not seeing my point?

Brian

Ben,

Interesting on the Murder Ballad origins. I always thought they were folk tales for the most part, once based on a real story, but mostly just retold folk tales getting taller each time it was told. Do you think they mostly stayed to the facts of the situation or was artistic embellishment common?

Brian

Hey! I'm very pleased that I had three songs finish in the top twenty, some fairly high up. With the deck stacked against me (no ones fault but mine, being on dialup) I know the chances of ever winning are slim, but I never entered expecting to win, just wanted to see how my songs would fare against all the talented artist and writers on there. There are only a few categories that I can enter, but I'm glad I did enter. I'm pleased to see other JPFer doing well too.

I must enter a few more for August, not easy to do when on dialup. LOL

Everett,

If your songs finish in the top 50% they leave them up the next month, so you should be fine.

Brian

I just got an email from OurStage that our song "I Can't Undo Loving You" is a semifinalist at #11 so far on the indie pop chart. I really haven't looked at the site since I entered a handful of songs about 2 weeks ago.

From what I understand, to advance in the semifinals, people have to pay money to vote for any song. I don't understand why anyone would do that, especially if they won't pay for the CD or for a download. I know I would much, much rather pay to receive something I like and would want to have than pay to have my opinion heard. This whole business doesn't make sense.

Huh? I've never heard of Ourstage charging for anything?

Brian

Brian

I can't speak for all murder ballads, but I think the song about Omie Wise (Naomi Wise) is pretty close to the truth. I believe it happened in North Carolina around 1808. She was an orphan who was adopted by the Adams family. A wealthy young man, John Lewis, had been messing around with her, but his family wouldn't allow them to marry because of her social status. Unfortunately, she got pregnant and John Lewis drowned her. He was eventually executed for the murder.

I've heard some versions of that song that kind of make it seem like it was HER fault for being murdered because she was greedy for "many fine things."

Don't know if that answers you question or not.

Eric

Ben--I've seen it spelled both ways--though I don't really know which is correct. I do know that her real name was Naomi.

Yeah, the balladeer as newsgiver dates back a loooooonnnnngggg ways. Epic poems such as Beowulf were sang, rather than told, around the fire. It was in existence for a couple of hundred years before it was ever written down. Now there's an exercise in memorizing. I think that poem has about 20,000 lines. Yikes. Makes memorizing all of Desolation Row seem easy.

Eric

Eric

I made the Quarter-finals!

Here is the email I got from Ourstage:



LOL. Wish me luck!

Brian, your right, a lot of the songs gained embellishment over the years but a good number of the old murder ballads were regional (N. Carolina. W. Virginia etc.) and happened in a certain era around the turn of the 20th century. When songs like this are passed down through generations before radio, thing are likely to change. To find the most accurate accounting, I would listen to the library of congress collections by John and Alan Lomax.

I've always wanted to be a modern day Alan Lomax and in a tiny way I am sort of in that I've been recording the music of local peformers for the last 10 years via video tape and have about 17,000 of them recorded. I need to start doing better audio recordings of it all though as now I just use the audio from the video tapes which is hit or miss. I'd like to do the same around the world as well. I'd really love to record at least 1 JPF member live from every single country on the planet. But some are very dangerous and some don't even allow Americans in. Not sure I want to risk my life for that.

Isn't it also kind of sad that the acts of murderers have been immortalized, but so rarely do the acts of good people get remembered? And it's no different today. Most of history is told through the acts of warmongers and tyrants, not of the great good that has been done. That's quickly forgotten.
Brian

You are happily mistaken. It's all free.

Congratulations and good luck!

JPFers are still at the top of Comedy. ...But has anyone listened to "I Wanna Go in a UFO" in that category? I LOVE that song, just fun as all get out. And despite sort of wanting to win, I also think Russ Tamblyn's song is too good to lose...really great song.

I guess that the good that happens gets passed over because we expect good to happen, and the infamous gets glamorised. It's always been that way but I wouldn't expect to hear a song about Jeffery Dahmer or Ted Bundy too soon.
It's ironic, or maybe my subconscious brought up the subject because I happen to be finishing up a song that I wrote about Edgar Watson. He was a western outlaw who moved to the Everglades to evade justice in 1880. He was a mass murderer who was shot down by a mob of vigilantes in 1910. His daughter went on to marry a railroad tycoon and bank president. Because of her, his family went on to prominence and have a prominent name to this day in my area. I have friends who are ancestors of Watson, but everybody knows the story.
I'm waiting for a private critique from a fellow JPF member before I finish the lyric. I have the melody pretty much down. It will be in the key of B with some slide guitar. Kind of Steve Earlish. Ben

Actually they don't need to write songs anymore. Check the internet for Jeff Dahmer or Ted Bundy.. they are huge world wide celebrities.

Brian

Last day of quarterfinals...how ya doin'?

I'm clinging by my fingernails to #10 in comedy...

I dropped from #1 in Comedy to #20 "System" is not doing well in Techno/Ambient either. However, in Club/Dance, I'm #2.

We have so many JPF members in so many categories in these quarterfinals that I can't keep track.. I Figured I'd look more closely in the semi-finals and finals. Andrew, you're all over the place!

Brian

Andrew, I predict "ROMance" will end the day back in the top five where it has been all month. That song is too good to stay down, and just might take it all. But my gut tells me Greg Tamblyn is the one to beat.

Thanks for the support, fellas Mark, I thought your song was excellent. Most of the Comedy songs, frankly, are just crude or offensive, so it's refreshing to hear one that's genuinely clever, well-played, and funny.

Thanks Andrew. Meanwhile up goes you to #3 and down goes me to #12. This whole day is going to be a carnival ride. Things are jumping up and down all over.

But I'm kinda pleased to see "I Wanna Go in a UFO" hit the top after weeks out of the top ten...that is a fun, fun song, like a cross between the B-52s and the Kinks.

WoW!! its crazy how the songs go up and down.
This judging is so addictive!! Its hard to break away to get anything else done!! yikes!!
I've been hanging in the bluegrass channel.. so manys good songs from JPF!!! I need to get to some of the other channels!

Good luck to everybody!! this is fun
Joanne

July is now in the Semi Finals with I believe three JPFer's in the final ten for th ebluegrass channel. Nice job!!!

I am glad they've added the genre to the mix. It is probably going to grow quickly.

I've seen at least 1 JPF member in every single genre I have checked.. some have as many as 4 JPF members in the finals (like Comedy). Pop has Jenn Cristy and Wil Deynes. But all the way down I saw one after another after another. Hopefully our folks will rake in some cash this month!

Brian

This morning I am #2 in comedy, #10 in bluegrass, and # 12 in traditional country. I wish everyone well, I'm hanging in there, that pleases me to no ends, I just wish I could listen to the other songs and vote, oh I hate being on dialup, but, short of moving, I guess I'm stuck with it. LOL

Hi. I just finished judging the comedy genre. I have you in second Everett. It appears that some in that category are gaming the system. Beauxdensteiner has some loopsided margins against the top talent in that category - and I don't think the Chris Leyland Band would have even made the quarters without some organized voting. It's just the first month for this category. When word catches on and there are more entrants, it will be harder to game your way up in the standings. I personally like to judge the Jazz category. There's a lot of talent there. I also favorited a song in the Contemporary genre(I'm very picky).

I don't know...I think Beauxdensteiner probably has a lot of appeal. It's a genuine comedy concept, well-packaged enough, and that voice is very unique. Not my favorite, though.

Watch this category bounce all over the place. And congrats to Andrew, Everett and Greg--all four of us are still swingin'!

Everett dude - you made it through to the semis to in two genres - good job!

Thanks Doug and Summeoyo, where ever I end up, they won't be able to say I rigged the votes, I can't even get a chance to vote for myself. LOL

Well OurStage is doing what they set out to do. They enable music fans to find new talent. Here's my endorsement for Beautiful Criminal. They're semifinalist in one category and a quarterfinalist in another. The song I favorited was only 451st in the genre where it competed. But what I've learned about OurStage is that like a lot of song competitions out there, they are unreliable for predicting success. Everett has two songs that I like that are in the semis. However, as much as I like that them, I don't believe they'll ever be in rotation on commercial radio. Both are good album songs and live plays for any professional in their genres - and that's great!

To all my fellow OurStage contestants,
Congrats to all that are in the Top 10 today!

BTW, my song Shir Hashirim made it into the semi-finals on the New Age/World channel. Currently it's #6 and we still have 10 hours of time left on this round.

If you get the chance please vote anytime today before midnight Eastern Standard time. Also, thanks to all for your support & votes over the last few months, much appreciated!

Michael

Congrats Michael!
Is today another milestone day on OurStage?
Joanne

Oh .. I see!
There are 3 JPF members in the top 10 Bluegrass! Three Tall Pines, Mike Dunbar & Everett! thats pretty cool!!
Joanne

Thanks Joanne!
Yes, today is the last day of semi-finals and the 1st place for each channel will go on to the Grand Prize showdown for one day, which is all day long tomorrow, the last day of the month!

I'm in California, so our "midnight" will occur at 9:00 PM tonight. All voting after that time will count only towards the Grand finals, so today is really quit an exciting day for anyone that's currently in the Top-10 in any contest channel!

Michael

The Comedy channel has been like watching popcorn pop...seems like everyone has been in every position in the past day. Where she stops, nobody knows.

I checked out the comedy channel.. I really think Common Side Effects is the best track.. but I saw that it dropped from 1st to 10th... not good... but I will refrain from comment until it's over.

Brian

I don't think that means much. I've seen so many wild shifts all day that those positions seem to mean very little at this point...I've been in #1 and #10 today, and so have a lot of the others.

Strange that you see Greg's song in #10 though...my screen has shown the exact same order for the last couple hours, with him in #5. Wonder if something's wrong on my end...

If I were a betting man, I'd still place my money on his song.

I am very happy that I managed to get two songs into the finals this month - ROMance (Comedy) and Breathing You In feat. Jillian Goldin (Club/Dance). I know that in Comedy I was definitely jumping around throughout the day (as low as #8) but there were really some excellent tracks there. I think it was anyone's game. Congratulations to any other JPF members who made it into the finals, and even to those that didn't, but did well overall.

On a side note, anyone catch the announcement they made? Artists can now only enter three songs (total) per month.

Congratulations Andrew - Well deserved!

Yeah, I did see the announcement about the 3 song limit. Apparently they're trying to increase the overall quality of the songs that are entered in the competition. It'll be interesting to see if it works out that way.

Awesome work, Andrew! A two-fer. No doubt about it, your stuff is top shelf.

I sort of wish they'd accept five instead of three. But I also believe this will weed out a lot of poop. If they didn't do it now, they'd definitely have to do it later as all the submissions increase.

Congratulations to those that finished well. Everyone has different taste in music, comedy, food, clothes, cars, etc., doesn't mean one is better than the other, just different. I finished #5 in comedy and #10 in bluegrass, just missed at #12 in traditional country. I'm happy, not as happy as if I had won, but still pleased. Lots of talent out there.

This is unreal! the last time I checked my song Trial By Style it was at 245th, then I get an email sying I'm in the Quarter finals, then the semi finals!! Now it's sitting at THIRD on the instrumental channel!!!! Holy Crap!!!!

I hadn't even heard of Ourstage before signing in here, so a huge thanks to the JPF community for making this known to new members!

Andrew,
First, congrats to getting into the finals again... truly amazing!

Also, regarding the 3 songs (total) per month, I think that's a very reasonable limitation. Besides the one song per channel entry limit, each artist still has three chances to win each month!

Michael

Well I woke up this morning .... That seems like a good start to a blues song. Well I did wake up this morning (thankfully) and Foreclosure Blues is at #1 on the Blues Channel. I joked in the MP3 forum that I should take a snapshot of me being #1 and withdraw the tune -- going out on top! I'll let it ride for now.

I need to try and determine why "Wake Up" (220/674 in rock) and "Oh, Whistling Wind" (221/427 in Americana/Alt Country) aren't doing any better, though.

Kevin

Hi!
I just posted a topic on the General Message Forum called [b]Can You Pick The OurStage Winners?[/b]

Please take a look and let me know if you are interested in particpating.

Basically we would post our most likely list of OurStage music winners by the 20th of August for any given channel. I think it will be a fun way to sharpen our talent selection skills as a way to learn which songs might have the most success potential.

It's "tricky" because some songs that will win may not be songs we personally like, but they may still have some wider success potential with fans or other commercial interests, etc.

Thanks for posting your feedback & reply!
Michael

Since I have started out the month doing fairly well in blues, I decided to judge a few blues entries. Dang, this is going to be tough. The first few entries have had some pretty "mindless" lyrics and off-tune bends and timing issues. I know there are some great tunes in there, but man, blues are an elementary art form that require that the players need to understand the pain of human existence. The only one in pain here is me (ha ha!).

Kevin

OK, I might have spoken too soon. I am in a run a songs with that acoustic blues feel that I love so much. Lots of bands trying to impress with hot blues guitar playing, though -- hard to do unless they have got soul!

Kevin

Edit: Ya know how they are saying that if you are a "good" judge, then your vote counts more. Right now, in blues, I am in the minority a lot!

Kevin,
Blues has 386 entries right now, so that's a good indication that there'll be at least 5 really great songs from this channel for this month. In comparison, New Age/World typically has 350 - 400 songs, which usually builds up until about the 15th of the month.

I'd like to pick some winners from the New Age channel for August by or before the 20th. There's some great new material I haven't heard before, and some of it appears to be very authentic and high-quality sounding, so it will be fun to "predict" which of these have a chance to make it into the Top-10.

I look forward to seeing your "picks" when you're ready to post them!

Michael

My song "Fly Away" has reached #8 in the rock category on ourstage.com

I just recently joined the site, so that's an interesting surprise.

Thought I'd share.

Greg

Hey everyone, Thanks for any suipport on ourstage, we finsihed #1 in bluegrass and I think #8 in the grand finals.

Stressful watching your song bounce all over the place. Not sure I am looking forward to doing that anytime in the near future. I think we need an emotional vacation! HA!! Good luck to eveyone involved this month.

HAs anyone form JPF's ever one the Grand Finals?

8 in the finals is really good.. congrats!