@Chasey24
It's good that you're open to so much constructive criticism. But, don't go too far in looking down at what you did.
First of all -- While My Guitar Gently Weeps, 25 or 6 to 4 and that Green Day song; Chopin and Could it be Magic by Barry Mannilow (I love this song) ,Beethoven and that Elvis hit. Decades of "heads" in jazz. And, as Stravinsky said, good composers borrow, great composers steal.
For strings, just google species counterpoint and voice leading. It's the basis of all good arranging, regardless of the genre.
Clearly you're critically listening in a good way. Just keep getting rid of the things you don't like and replacing them with things you do like. Trial and error, googling and self-learing, patronizing advice in public forums, you'll figure it out.
2024-NOV-01 Info: Thank you everyone, for making MC100 a resounding success. Please show Songwriting Competition 087 the same love.
SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced
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- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2024 14:16 CEST
Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Voting until 01-NOV-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET
Chasey24 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 31, 2024 02:55 CET
ThomC - Stories of the Sky: Wow! If you can put something like this together in less than a day, I'd shudder to think what you could do with 24 days! Excellent song. Very good lyrics. Fantastic composition. Vocals are very well mixed with the background harmonies pleasing to the ear. 30 minutes of my mixing wouldn't be more than an EQ or two on a track. Great, efficient piece of music.
Thanks a lot for your words and vote! I read your self-critique as well and it's great to see that you're open to get better and to learn. I'm here exactly for the same thing, writing with a deadline is a challenging thing and even more so when the theme or suggested instrumentation doesn't really match what we usually do. Learning step by step and to correct detail after detail can be a constructive approach, sometimes small adjustments can go a long way, and that's certainly true when it comes to making music with virtual instruments.
Hoping to see you on the next challenge! Thanks again for your support and for sharing your music
Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Voting until 01-NOV-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET
Thank you for the very constructive comments, I agree with everything you said. I think that overall some vocal editing would've helped the track, I didn't have time to edit anything so the vocal was pretty much one take without corrections as far as I can remember. Stressing the second syllable of the word "harvest" kind of relates to something that I do front time to time that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't when I want to have a word work with the groove I'm working on. In this case, I also agree with you, it sounds unnatural but again, I had too little time to re-record another take.ryanc wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 17:59 CET
ThomC - Stories of the Sky
Very cool country song! I really like that simple yet catchy acoustic guitar riff. The chorus is fantastic and I really appreciate the structure of the song. That instrumental chorus following the second chorus fits in so well. There's some great lyrical work here as well - some thought provoking images there: the surface of the Earth as a page in which we write our stories; the time before us as a crop ready to harvest and enjoy, or to neglect and let it rot and go to waste. Good stuff! However, I feel that parts of the melody in the verse could be refined, particularly in the first half ("so many...found"). It feels a little disjointed, which isn't an objectively bad creative choice and, in fact I like the way it feels in the second half of the verse - it has a way of drawing your attention to the lyrics in a way a more smooth and predictable melody wouldn't accomplish. This also is reflected in the way the word "Harvest" doesn't quite sit right in the second verse, with the accent being on "-vest" when that word is naturally spoken with the accent on the first syllable. If you experimented a little more with those lines, I'm sure you'd find a little more natural rhythm and melody for them. The only other input I have is I think the introduction may be too long. The first verse doesn't begin until 0:40 which may cause some listeners to lose interest. Overall a great song!
[/spoil]
When it comes to the intro, my intention was to leave it as is regarding the length, but I didn't manage to translate my idea into the mix with the little time I had. The brass section should be very forward at that one moment and the listener should be able to hear the proximity of the brass instruments as well as the melody played by the cornet. The drums are in the forefront of the premix I shared as my entry and they don't allow for the melodic line to push through, because of that, I think it all kind of falls flat. But I'll get another mix done soon I think
Thanks again for your words, I really loved your entry!
Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Voting until 01-NOV-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET
My experience this month:
Creativity can't be forced. I got a new job and had little time to work on this project; I listened to it really often and got only to add little things at a time. I knew where I wanted to go with the lyrics and the vocals, but could not write them and get them done before the deadline. Therefore, I was really unsure if I should upload the song in its current state, but I am happy that I did because of the awesome and helpful feedback I got from all of you. You probably have no idea how much that means to me.
A big thank you to Mr. Fox for organizing and maintaining all of this!
My feedback:
I'm in no way an expert on songwriting or mixing, so please don't take my feedback too seriously.
My vote:
Once more, it was difficult to rank the songs, because there weren't any weak ones.
Creativity can't be forced. I got a new job and had little time to work on this project; I listened to it really often and got only to add little things at a time. I knew where I wanted to go with the lyrics and the vocals, but could not write them and get them done before the deadline. Therefore, I was really unsure if I should upload the song in its current state, but I am happy that I did because of the awesome and helpful feedback I got from all of you. You probably have no idea how much that means to me.
A big thank you to Mr. Fox for organizing and maintaining all of this!
My feedback:
I'm in no way an expert on songwriting or mixing, so please don't take my feedback too seriously.
► Show Spoiler
Once more, it was difficult to rank the songs, because there weren't any weak ones.
► Show Spoiler
- Mister Fox
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3349
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 16:15 CEST
- Location: Berlin, Germany
SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - results in preparation
It's the 02nd November 2024, 7:45 (UTC+2/CEST) - the Voting Period has officially ended.
All participants have submitted final feedback, we therefore have 0 disqualification.
Please no more changes to your feedback from this point forward.
I will post the results within 3-4 workdays. (this is not an automated process)
Please have an eye on this thread
All participants have submitted final feedback, we therefore have 0 disqualification.
Please no more changes to your feedback from this point forward.
I will post the results within 3-4 workdays. (this is not an automated process)
Please have an eye on this thread
- Mister Fox
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3349
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 16:15 CEST
- Location: Berlin, Germany
SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced
Ladies and Gentlemen, here are the results of Songwriting Competition 085
The winners podium consists of:
Apologies for the waiting time, this is not an automated process.
<4 participant rule is not in use (staff comments and votes, my vote would count as bonus)
We have 0 disqualifications (due to lack of feedback / a final vote)
We have 0 withdrawn entries (but counts as submission within the deadline, yet couldn't be voted for)
We have several users still in the game that tied
STATISTICS SHEET:
Overview of Submissions (PDF - updated: 02-NOV-2024, full sheet)
Here are the results as chart in image form:
Thank you so much for your participation.
License selection:
We will now perform with the usual. Selecting of licenses is handled in public. In order of the winners podium (top spot to lowest), and only if you want to, please select one license/company out of the pool and mention it in this thread, then (important) please get in touch with me (via PM) with your full name, email address and your license selection.
As usual - you're not forced to pick up anything. You can pass and therefore offer more to select for the next person in line (if there is a spot existing / not available for "sole winner" mechanic). Just let all participants/winners/the staff know in a timely manner (within 5 days of this post). Once one company has been selected, it's out of the pool for the next person on the podium.
Since SWC084 has a 3-position Winner's Podium, we can also continue to test a possible new game mechanic that offers "low placed participants" a chance to pick up a bonus license - if somebody from the Winners Podium passes on a selection. You can read more about this in SWC083 - post #067. The follow-up post will have an adjustment to that concept.
I re-open the field for talking some more about each others' productions. If things drift a bit too off-topic, please use the General Gossip thread, or Discord.
See you in in the next challenge!
Songwriting Competition 087 (November 2024) has just started.
The theme is called "Strings attached", the genre is free to select (with a focus on guitars). So far there have been 0 entries.
See you there as well.
The winners podium consists of:
- @ThomC (48 pts)
- @Elcubano (36 pts)
- @ryanc (35 pts)
Apologies for the waiting time, this is not an automated process.
<4 participant rule is not in use (staff comments and votes, my vote would count as bonus)
We have 0 disqualifications (due to lack of feedback / a final vote)
We have 0 withdrawn entries (but counts as submission within the deadline, yet couldn't be voted for)
We have several users still in the game that tied
- The following ties on the chart happened due to various reasons
- crispy -- participation vote is 13pts -- the tie with Ike H-mope resulted due to losing out on various bonus points (resulting in 18pts)
- Ike H-mope -- participation vote is 6pts -- the participant has all bonus points otherwise (resulting in 18pts)
- PonySho -- participation vote is 6pts, the tie with EsteveCorbera resulted due to losing out on bonus points (resulting in 17pts)
- EsteveCorbera -- participation vote is 5pts -- the participant has all bonus points otherwise (resulting in 17pts)
- no (more) users that tied
STATISTICS SHEET:
Overview of Submissions (PDF - updated: 02-NOV-2024, full sheet)
Here are the results as chart in image form:
Thank you so much for your participation.
License selection:
We will now perform with the usual. Selecting of licenses is handled in public. In order of the winners podium (top spot to lowest), and only if you want to, please select one license/company out of the pool and mention it in this thread, then (important) please get in touch with me (via PM) with your full name, email address and your license selection.
As usual - you're not forced to pick up anything. You can pass and therefore offer more to select for the next person in line (if there is a spot existing / not available for "sole winner" mechanic). Just let all participants/winners/the staff know in a timely manner (within 5 days of this post). Once one company has been selected, it's out of the pool for the next person on the podium.
Since SWC084 has a 3-position Winner's Podium, we can also continue to test a possible new game mechanic that offers "low placed participants" a chance to pick up a bonus license - if somebody from the Winners Podium passes on a selection. You can read more about this in SWC083 - post #067. The follow-up post will have an adjustment to that concept.
I re-open the field for talking some more about each others' productions. If things drift a bit too off-topic, please use the General Gossip thread, or Discord.
See you in in the next challenge!
Songwriting Competition 087 (November 2024) has just started.
The theme is called "Strings attached", the genre is free to select (with a focus on guitars). So far there have been 0 entries.
See you there as well.
- Mister Fox
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3349
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 16:15 CEST
- Location: Berlin, Germany
SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced
A continuation of the "Passing on Bonus Licenses" mechanic...
We've been testing this mechanic since SWC083. So far, this concept has been taken well. However, I think we can still fine-tune some things to make it more interesting and fair for everyone. One of the ideas was to "pass on to the 'runner ups' first". Great thinking, yet with a small participation amount this can also feel less fair to the lowest spots. And sometimes, a bonus license can be the right boost to elevate a production.
I would like to propose the following:
We're all here to learn, grow from the experience, and spread positivity...
If this updated idea is well received, this might become a regular bonus mechanic for future games.
Let's experiment some further - until the game in January, I'd say.
We've been testing this mechanic since SWC083. So far, this concept has been taken well. However, I think we can still fine-tune some things to make it more interesting and fair for everyone. One of the ideas was to "pass on to the 'runner ups' first". Great thinking, yet with a small participation amount this can also feel less fair to the lowest spots. And sometimes, a bonus license can be the right boost to elevate a production.
I would like to propose the following:
We're all here to learn, grow from the experience, and spread positivity...
If this updated idea is well received, this might become a regular bonus mechanic for future games.
Let's experiment some further - until the game in January, I'd say.
Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced
Wow! That's awesome! Thank you very much for your votes and for your feedback everyone, I had a tremendous time doing this and I love the vibe on this forum, can't wait for the other challenges!
@Mister Fox I'll choose Lunaris 2 by Luftrum if that's possible. Thank you for your time and generosity and thanks to the partners!
@Mister Fox I'll choose Lunaris 2 by Luftrum if that's possible. Thank you for your time and generosity and thanks to the partners!
Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced
Congratulations to the winners, as well as all participants this month. I really enjoyed listening to everyone's creative submissions! All the feedback received was incredibly helpful to me - thanks everyone! Special thanks to Mr. Fox for doing such a great job on this competition. Already working hard on November's submission-should have a rough draft by tomorrow. Have a great weekend!
Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced
Hello, Congratulations to @ThomC and @ryanc . Thanks for your votes and comments.
It's really cool to hear all this music. Great concept, thanks to @Mister Fox !
if possible, I'll choose Musiclab as prize
It's really cool to hear all this music. Great concept, thanks to @Mister Fox !
if possible, I'll choose Musiclab as prize