SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC087 November 2024 - Winners announced

[OlliH]

My submission
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lmG7fO ... sp=sharing

This month I tried to do some 1950s Western Swing with a Rockabilly twist. I'm ashamed to admit that I like both genres. Quite a lot, actually.

The song is in Finnish and it's called "Vanha vinyyli", or "Old Vinyl". The lyrics were written by my wife about 20 years ago. The song is about longing for the times when everything seemed better, when life was full of possibilities. It's about reliving those lost opportunities in your memories. I tried to make a song out of these lyrics at the time, but I never got it finished. So it just became one of those initial song ideas that I quickly discarded in a folder called "Unfinished Songs". The lyrics would have deserved a more elegant genre, but I was stubborn and went with the chosen one.

I happen to have a RealLPC plugin. I've been wanting to learn how to use it, but for some reason I haven't. I first played each part on my wooden guitars, and then tried to recreate them with RealLPC. So my plan wasn't to test the plugin randomly, but to give it specific tasks. This time I only tested simple things (string damping and drains), and RealLPC handled them without a problem.

I've never been a singer. And I never will be. But as I still want to make songs, I'm forced to make some kind of placeholder of singing that expresses the melodic idea. Unfortunately, my voice has turned recently into a vague rasp, so it's not really suitable to be a temporary replacement for the missing singer. Even Melodyne has difficulties to determine the intented melody line out of my voice noise.

PRODUCTION TOOLS

► Show Spoiler

DAW: Reaper
Drums: SSD
Bass: Trilian
RealLPC virtual guitar, MusicLab
Wooden Electric and acoustic guitars
Pedal Steel: Impact Soundworks
Vocal: It's me trying to sing the melody line

Analyzed with KYoulean
Integrated = -14.60 LUFS

LYRICS

► Show Spoiler

Translated from Finnish to English with the help of Google Translate.

1. Verse
I am caught up in memory again
and lost in the past when I almost fell in love.
My feet take me back to that familiar park,
to the place where dreams faded.

2. Verse
Caution won out, ending the fairy tale.
We broke up too soon.
I tried and tried, but I couldn't forget.
I still remember those days.

Chorus
Again I hear that voice.
Again your voice calls me to dwell in these vain dreams.
My thoughts are circling around the same track again and again.
The needle got stuck in the old vinyl.

3. Verse
I don't really know which one I miss more, you or the time back.
I let these dreams can take me to a world where everything was better.

[mouse the singer]

Final Entry.

Hello all.
I haven't done the singer/songwriter thing in a very long time, so when i saw this contest i thought it would be a fun way to dust off.
Thanks for putting on the contest, hope i have followed the rules properly.
https://soundcloud.com/iderdown/swc087- ... attached-3

What a cool and dreamy track. The singing reminded me of Bowie in parts. Can you post the lyrics, please?

Thanks so much for the kind words!
here's the lyrics:
there's this feeling - that a deal was made - a quiet stealing - from the moments that remain;
a conversation - i was never privy to;
there's this leaving - when i fall away - no plans were keeping - to brush a side and say;
nice to see you;
your eyes revealing - strings inside the words we say - your eyes revealing - conversation to be made;
i'll couch this moment for now and walk off this way;
there's a seeing - of a certain way - past is reaching - from the moment that remains;
a conversation that i can't escape;
your eyes are reaching - strings inside the words we say - your eyes revealing - conversations to be made;

[mouse the singer]

FINAL VERSION
Here is my song called, 'Stringy.' It's an indie rock song. The song is about a guy who's girlfriend is fondly nicknamed, Stringy. He's so busy with work that he doesn't get to see her much. So in his morsel moments of spare time, he writes her letters. The song is quite energetic in an effort to portray his energy and enthusiasm for his girlfriend. Thanks for listening.

Love this, such a fun energized indie punk sound

[mouse the singer]

My submission
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lmG7fO ... sp=sharing

PRODUCTION TOOLS

► Show Spoiler

DAW: Reaper
Drums: SSD
Bass: Trilian
RealLPC virtual guitar, MusicLab
Wooden Electric and acoustic guitars
Pedal Steel: Impact Soundworks
Vocal: It's me trying to sing the melody line

Analyzed with KYoulean
Integrated = -14.60 LUFS

so good!, my partners face lit up when your song came on.

[Mister Fox]

It is the 25th November 2024, 00:20 UTC+2/CEST - this month's Songwriting Competition has official ended


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 10 submissions this month (1 entry less than last month, and also 2 entries more than November 2023)
• We have 0 submissions after the deadline (as of 25-NOV-2024 00:20 UTC+2/CEST)
• We have 0 submissions that has been disqualified (production released outside of the game's timeframe)
• We have 0 submissions that has been withdrawn (therefore it can't count to the overall participation)
• The "staff balancing vote" add-on rule does not apply (special game mechanics do apply)
• "Sole Winners Podium" rule (equal or less than eight participants results in a single winner) does not apply (3-position Winners Podium)

How do we go from there?

Over the course of the next (hopefully) 24-48 hours (usually up to 6-12 hours maximum after the game has ended), I'll gather all links into one post and hot-link to that from the first post of the thread. Please, no more changes to your entries, but please do check your links that these entries are accessible and downloadable. We then perform with the final feedback and "public vote" system.


We have 10 official participants. We are adapting the overhauled vote mechanic, as talked about in the following news blog:

Songwriting Competition - game mechanic changes: Voting Process (October 2022 Update)
(Info: I am aware that the Rule Book has not been properly updated yet. Time constraints, apologies for the inconvenience)


Summarized:

!

Bonus Info

Participants can (and must) vote for their Top 5 entries (tiered mechanic). You're furthermore asked to please reflect on your experience this month (2-3 paragraphs max), what you have learned, what you would like to do different in the future, etc. (personal growth) You are also asked to give feedback to at least five (number: 5) entries (tiered mechanic) -- things that stood out to you, providing some final thoughts and constructive feedback for possible improvements. This adds to the learning experience of our community. It is recommended that these entries are outside of your personal "top entry" voting. Have the chance to get additional bonus points if you decide to invest the time to provide more constructive feedback than the requested minimum. It must be more than just "nice production, please keep up the good work" however. This is to boost more interaction and can balance out your overall points on the score sheet. (get 1 point if you give constructive feedback to 2-3 more participant, get 2 points if you give helpful feedback for everyone) The "Voting Process" mechanic is mandatory for all participants, and the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. Please don't just collect feedback, and not give back to the community. The overall "Bonus Point" mechanic still applies. Please update your posts with proper production documentation, most notably regarding whom you have collaborated with (as in: proper credits -- not doing so will result in a 2pt deduction on the score sheet at the end of the game). Please also make your entries downloadable, or provide an additional download link if not existing already. You got until the voting period has ended. (please: no changes to the arrangement anymore) Please cast your vote (not the feedback) in collective form through the "spoiler text" bbcode (button on the WYSIWYG editor that features the orange triangle with an exclamation mark in it). Please use the forum username of the participant to make it easier during the score collection to address what vote belongs to whom. And please, have one post as final feedback and vote. Thank you.

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⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	For transparency: The staff (Mister Fox) will not give feedback to all entries and/or cast a vote this month. (unless there is a tie that can not be broken otherwise)

Feedback from non-participants and/or collaborators is highly encouraged (voting not needed!). The same goes for entries after the deadline, or those that sadly do not count for the current running game (even if you've exceeded the deadline, why not post your entry regardless?). Musicians and Engineers are always after constructive criticism. This is what this forum is about.





Have some general feedback? Please provide that here:
Songwriting Competition - General Gossip Thread, or on Discord.



Please give me a moment to collect all entries.
Please make sure your files are accessible, and please have an eye on this thread!




EDIT: 25-NOV-2024 00:20 - initial post

[Mister Fox]

Let us kick off the VOTING PROCESS, which will end on Sunday, 01-DEC-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET latest


There is a GLOBAL COUNTDOWN to check for deadlines.
Just follow this link: Global Countdown (on homepage)


Here is the collection of productions from all participants (in hope that I didn't forget anyone). As usual, if you click on the small upwards-arrow right beside the quoted name, you can jump to the original post and read up on the documentation for this production.


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"Santa Clause"

"Storm's Solace"

"Gotta Go but 1st"

"Relaxa't I Viu El Moment"

"Stringy"

"Strings attached"



ADMIN INFO: No documentation available

"Twilight Forest"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download
MP3: Google Drive playback and download

"Occams Krzr"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download
MP3: Google Drive playback and download

"Old Vinyl"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

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WITHDRAWN (not participating - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)

"Waiting in the Yard"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

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BONUS ENTRIES (submitted after the deadline - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)


<no bonus entries>
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GAME MECHANIC SUMMARY:

► Show Spoiler

Please consult this news blog post regarding an overhaul to the voting mechanic. To make it simple for me for counting the votes - please use the forum usernames in your listing, not the song titles. Thank you!

Please also consult the previous post that features a summary for this month's mechanic (see "Bonus Info" in the red colored box).
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This month's SWC participants giving feedback to each other is mandatory, it is the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. Please also do not just collect feedback, and give nothing in return. The concept of the Songwriting Competition is interaction and "learning by doing". If you have collaborated with somebody, then only the one doing the main entry needs to give feedback and vote. Bonus feedback is always welcome. However, please be open minded, objective and constructive.


INFORMATION: If you have submitted your entry in multiple file formats, the statistic sheet (posted alongside the results) will focus on the uncompressed material first (WAV), then FLAC, then MP3. The higher the quality (e.g. lossless format), the less possible loss on bonus points for "Loudness Specs" due to offsets introduced by a used CODEC.

Good luck to all participants!




If you have an idea for a future Songwriting Competition, please post about this in the theme/genre request page or on Discord.


Post updated: 25-NOV-2024 01:25 UTC+1/CET -- initial post
Post updated: 26-NOV-2024 23:10 UTC+1/CET -- one participant has withdrawn mid feedback/voting time frame. Entry can be listened to, but no longer be voted for.

[PonySho]

My submission
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lmG7fO ... sp=sharing

This month I tried to do some 1950s Western Swing with a Rockabilly twist. I'm ashamed to admit that I like both genres. Quite a lot, actually.

The song is in Finnish and it's called "Vanha vinyyli", or "Old Vinyl". The lyrics were written by my wife about 20 years ago. The song is about longing for the times when everything seemed better, when life was full of possibilities. It's about reliving those lost opportunities in your memories. I tried to make a song out of these lyrics at the time, but I never got it finished. So it just became one of those initial song ideas that I quickly discarded in a folder called "Unfinished Songs". The lyrics would have deserved a more elegant genre, but I was stubborn and went with the chosen one...

This is soooo good! Such a wonderful live and jovial feel. Nicely balanced, too. Great work.
Any chance you can post the lyrics in English?

[OlliH]

This is soooo good! Such a wonderful live and jovial feel. Nicely balanced, too. Great work.
Any chance you can post the lyrics in English?

Thanks! I added the translation of the lyrics the submission post.

[VCA-089]

MP3 file is now corrected (wrong song name and tags).

[PonySho]

This is soooo good! Such a wonderful live and jovial feel. Nicely balanced, too. Great work.
Any chance you can post the lyrics in English?

Thanks! I added the translation of the lyrics the submission post.

Thanks, OlliH.