Nur Ein II Round Three "State of Emergency"

jimtyrrell · Post by **jimtyrrell** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:44 am

One judge has me in 3rd place overall, and another puts me at rock bottom. Oh man.

Good luck to the advancing horde! NUR EIN!

Reist · Post by **Reist** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:52 am

Dang. I just got owned by the judges - but hey! I've been consistently in the bottom rankings for each round, so I'm lucky to have made it this far. It was a good run, and good luck to all.

ps - only getting 8 votes is a bit impressive - I almost set a record there!

Niveous · Post by **Niveous** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:02 am

jimtyrrell wrote:One judge has me in 3rd place overall, and another puts me at rock bottom. Oh man.

Good luck to the advancing horde! NUR EIN!

jolly roger wrote:Dang. I just got owned by the judges - but hey! I've been consistently in the bottom rankings for each round, so I'm lucky to have made it this far. It was a good run, and good luck to all.

ps - only getting 8 votes is a bit impressive - I almost set a record there!

I think I can speak for the jury when I say that we were extremely impressed by everyone in this fight. One judge said that he felt bad eliminating the bottom 4 because everyone in the fight had improved so much since last round. It was just that some were just slightly better than others. It was a great round. Everyone should be proud of their song this round. Nur Ein!

Post by **Lunkhead** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:22 am

Congrats to Puce! Condolences to those eliminated.

This looks like possibly the most disagreement among the judges yet, with the winner receiving only 80% of the possible points. Judge 3, you rule! Judge 5, lay off the crack!

This challenge royally sucks. See you next time.

NUR EIN!!

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Thu May 31, 2007 1:32 pm

jimtyrrell wrote:One judge has me in 3rd place overall, and another puts me at rock bottom. Oh man.

Good luck to the advancing horde! NUR EIN!

You were shafted dude. Haven't got around to my rankings yet - but I thought you should have been well and truly safe

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Thu May 31, 2007 1:35 pm

Lunkhead wrote: This challenge royally sucks. See you next time.
!

Totally. Surely Plat the Piano Man should have some alternate challenge just for him. Send someone around to cut some of his fingers off maybe?...maybe too harsh...I'm just thinking out loud here

Plat · Post by **Plat** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:41 pm

Abom, your entry made my day. Thanks for submitting that. It's foaming at the mouth with fun.

Caravan Ray wrote:Totally. Surely Plat the Piano Man should have some alternate challenge just for him.

You're in luck: I'll be studio-less Sat-Wed, which means I have just a few hours to skirmish and submit an entry by early Saturday morning. It also means skipping the mulling process where I determine the most absurd lyrical interpretation of the title.

So keyboards or not, the odds are against me.

Probably not as satisfying as neutering my hands, though.

Steve Durand · Post by **Steve Durand** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:29 pm

jimtyrrell wrote:One judge has me in 3rd place overall, and another puts me at rock bottom. Oh man.

Jim,
I feel your pain.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Back to your regularly scheduled Songfight!

Good luck to the continuing Nur Einers

Steve

Ross · Post by **Ross** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:05 pm

Well, sorry to see my brother go, happy to still be in. Big thanks to Smalltown Mike for the vox and to Steve for mentioning him.

At the end of this thing I hope it's me and no one else.

Nur Ein!!!

Oh, and Merisan - you showed me!

Adam! · Post by **Adam!** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:56 pm

What a pleasant surprise.

This challenge is too good to pass up, though.

Billy's Little Trip · Thu May 31, 2007 11:06 pm

I haven't done reviews yet, but this round must have been tough for the Judges. I''m happy to be moving on to round 4, and sorry to see 4 of my musical brethren eliminated. Truth be told, I thought I would have been out in round 2. Rock on!

Post by **Lunkhead** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:52 pm

Puce wrote:What a pleasant surprise.

This challenge is too good to pass up, though.

Um, so can we borrow your immunity then? Because it really would have been perfect for me to have to pass on the "no guitars" round.

Billy's Little Trip · Thu May 31, 2007 11:56 pm

Lunkhead wrote:
Puce wrote:What a pleasant surprise.

This challenge is too good to pass up, though.
Um, so can we borrow your immunity then? Because it really would have been perfect for me to have to pass on the "no guitars" round.

Ditto.
Well Sam, this will push us to think outside the boxen.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:44 am

Billy's Little Trip wrote:
Lunkhead wrote:
Puce wrote:What a pleasant surprise.

This challenge is too good to pass up, though.
Um, so can we borrow your immunity then? Because it really would have been perfect for me to have to pass on the "no guitars" round.
Ditto.
Well Sam, this will push us to think outside the boxen.

I was initially worried about the "no guitar" thing - but hell, Tex only knows 3 chords anyway - this may well work in his favour. It may at least bring the Lunkheads/Pacos/Aboms/BLTs etc. back to the pack a bit. They will lose a lot more from their repetoires than I will

Billy's Little Trip · Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:51 am

Caravan Ray wrote:
Billy's Little Trip wrote:
Lunkhead wrote: Um, so can we borrow your immunity then? Because it really would have been perfect for me to have to pass on the "no guitars" round.
Ditto.
Well Sam, this will push us to think outside the boxen.
I was initially worried about the "no guitar" thing - but hell, Tex only knows 3 chords anyway - this may well work in his favour. It may at least bring the Lunkheads/Pacos/Aboms/BLTs etc. back to the pack a bit. They will lose a lot more from their repetoires than I will

I think I'll play my skin flute standing on one leg for this round. Even if I lose, I win. *budump bump, crash*

mo · Post by mo » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:33 am

hey all. yes, this round was pretty hard to judge in the sense that, speaking for myself, there was a lot of improvement in the bottom and middle of the pack. we were saying in the judge's pool (it's heated and has fruity drinks, but an appalling lack of monkey butlers) that no one should feel down about getting eliminated in this nur ein, because the quality is getting better. From the wide variety in judging, there really isn't a style you can hone in on that guarantees success, either.

now! for my utterly useless and vague commentary.

songs (in itunes shuffle order):

WreckdoM: i don't know why, i just kind of like this song. it sort of reminds me of meat beat manifesto and that sort of wax trax chicago style. the mix is unpolished, but the humor is pretty strong.

Steve Durand (Wes Davis): somewhere between wham! and pat boone lies this song. that's not really a good thing in this case. i maybe would've liked to hear it go either a bit darker in style or more overtly parodic, you know, kind of how like every breath is always treated as this great love song when it's about being a fucking compulsive stalker.

Abominominous (Heather Redmon, Brian F): i found the lyrical content a bit scattered, although it has a nice boppy rhythm. i just got kind of bored, which is probably more an arrangement or mixing problem than a writing problem--i felt like there wasn't enough spaciousness to the track.

Bovine Recyclery (Bjam): the song is just ok to me. i'm not a huge fan of power pop-punk to begin with, but this is reasonably competent. i have this friend out here who forced me to listen to the green day american idiot album and who kept raving about the guitar sounds and the grammies, etc. and the guitars sound great, but the songs just kind of bore me. that's sort of how i feel about this song.

Ross Durand (Smalltown Mike): ah, a hard rock song. rocks pretty hard. yep, hard rockin'. in hard rock, it's all about the riffs. this riff is not bad, but i don't think it's good enough to sustain basically an entire song.

Paco Del Stinko (The Greek Thunder): another hard rock song, this time with wah. this one has more gadgets in it, by which i mean little transitional figures and changes of pace, which make me like it more. Plus the vox are mixed closer to the right levels for my ears.

Billy's Little Trip: more hard rock! this one is kind of really early 90s. I think the lyrics are not particularly inspired. Although this song has a bit of a pulse, i think it might be one of those songs that sounds better played live than recorded. Recorded, i'm finding it a little flat.

BeWells: the harmonies need to be more in time with each other--believe me, i've recorded enough crap where i'm not singing in time with myself, and i maybe think it sounds "real" (or don't have time to fix it) but actually it's just irritating to everyone else. this is a pretty decent pop song otherwise.

Jolly Roger: ooooh, speed metal. where did the fucking riffs go? oh, there they are. speed metal meets the beatles? it's an interesting experiment, and i support experimentation. that doesn't mean it worked. lyrics are also often awkward fits into the melody. the bass is also not locked in to the rhythm, which bothers me. that interlude section is the best part of the song.

Merisan (Amy Richey, Geech Sorenson): beautiful sounding as usual. Nicely subtle, although moments of the vox sound a touch clippy to me.

Tex Beaumont (Chorus of Lost Souls): i like this song somewhat. I'd probably like it more if the controlled chaos that it's going for was tighter.

Jim Tyrrell (Bob King): I like this kind of folky, almost country-type style. I think this song probably didn't deserve to get you eliminated, but it does lack some originality.

Puce (Brad Sucks): Now this is a really boppy, fun, danceable rock song, well-mixed. just really tight, with a very typical brad sucks type of chorus.

Thank Glenny: starts out really pretty. vox have a few intonation problems. chorus is a bit weak, performance-wise. but the solo section really elevates it for me.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:23 am

My rankings for this round. I had decided on these before the judges results came out - just didn't get a chance to post

1. ROSS DURAND: Probably the best song so far in Nur Ein II. Great work. I probably would have liked this with Ross singing - but STM on vocals is even better.

2. TGFTF: Great song and good to hear Pedro in there too - his voice works well. Is Melvin there too? I can't distinguish his voice. This could be great - but there is something about the harmonies that is a bit off to me. The high voice in the chorus I think - grates on me a bit. A few more takes and this would be a real cracker.

3. MERSIAN: You get me from the first line about the gum tree - great image. I didn't think you had that many eucalypts in California - I suppose you are referring to E. globulus which was exported out of Aus. and now grows as a weed in many places. Flora references aside - I do suspect shenanigans here - this sounds to me like a pre-existing song with the "state of emergency" tacked on - but, that doesn't bother me. Its a good song, played well - and I'm not Ross Durand. Vocals are wonderful, as usual.

4. JIM TYRRELL: Great vocals. I like the song. Love how the country feel and the chorus seem to trick the listener that the song is going one way - but the verses go another. I tried the same thing on my "Obey the Laws" - don't know if it makes a good song - but it is fun to write that way.

5. WRECKDOM: Not bad - but a little bland. I usually like to find something a little more stimulating my Wreckdom

6. ABOMINIMINIMINOUS: Really great lyrics. This is a good song that is not quite working just yet. The vox aren't quite snappy enough for the lyrics on this take. And I think if you are going to use a word like "Australopithacus" - it needs a perfect rhyme to tie it into the song. You used "junior mince" or something - it leaves it hanging out a bit like dogs balls.

7. PACO DEL STINKO: The guitar is just so good on this. Good vocals too. Song isn't my cup of tea - but the performances sell it. Good luck this week, guitar boy.

8. BEWELLS: Not bad - but reaches no great heights. Some harmonies sound a little dodgy

9. BLT: I think I only need you repeat my comments from your song last week. Great start - but the chorus lets it down.

10. STEVEDURAND: You have written much better than this. This sounds like a desparate man trying to cling to one last thread of hope. Lyrically it is fine, and the performance/production is good, but the music seems a bit bland - and we know from past experience that you are one of the better music/melody writers here

11. JOLLYROGER: Wow! What a song!. Great job on the writing. You have really extended yourself - but sadly the end product probably doesn't quite match your vision. Your drums and guitar are great. Your voice isn't bad - but you struggle on the higher bits. Your song needs a big ball-tearing Roger Daltry or Robert Plant type voice - and they can be hard to find. Loved the do-wop bit in the middle.

Now - from Jolly Roger and his valliant attempt to achieve his grand vision - we come to...
12. PUCE: who we all know has remarkable ability, yet he dishes up this crap that sounds like frikking Savage Garden. The Brad Sucks bits redeem it a litte - but overall - I hate this. The judges ranked this first?!? WTF!

13. BOVINE RECYCLERY: And sorry Plat - this week I snapped. I have had enough twee ramblings about yummy cakes and washing machines. I hadn't really realised it before, but in trying to work out why I didn't like your song, it occured to me that almost all of my own songs are either about having sex or starting a fight - or preferably both. We both write silly songs - I guess I just prefer to be silly about different things. Oh - Bjam sounds fantastic by the way. The whole song sounds great.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:25 am

Billy's Little Trip wrote:
Caravan Ray wrote:
Billy's Little Trip wrote: Ditto.
Well Sam, this will push us to think outside the boxen.
I was initially worried about the "no guitar" thing - but hell, Tex only knows 3 chords anyway - this may well work in his favour. It may at least bring the Lunkheads/Pacos/Aboms/BLTs etc. back to the pack a bit. They will lose a lot more from their repetoires than I will
I think I'll play my skin flute standing on one leg for this round. Even if I lose, I win. *budump bump, crash*

I've got an old pink oboe around here somewhere that hasn't been played for years

Ross · Post by **Ross** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:14 am

rdurand wrote:Well, sorry to see my brother go,

BTW - sorry to see the others go, too.

Post by **Lunkhead** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:16 am

Yes, Ray, we cheated. Our song was originally "State of Massachusetts". We thought we could slip one by you all, but now we know better. Please let us know what's the minimum number of times we have to say the title in our songs to shake off suspicion that we're cheating, for next time.

KTHXNUREIN!!

erin. · Post by **erin.** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:33 am

To those of you who have shared the opinion that I wrote the song ahead of time, or "squeezed the title in".... I just want to say that I have never submitted pre-written material to Songfight.

If you listen to my lyrics, the song is talking about having buried a loved one, and how hard it would be to lose another loved one, based on that terrible experience. The bridge stands out on purpose to explain that the story teller (me) has "Passed the state of emergency". Meaning that time has started to heal the pain of loss. Surely if you have ever lost a parent, you will know how much of an emergency it really feels like.

My father died unexpectedly at the age of 55 six years ago on May 18th.
Just happened to be the week that title was posted. My mother was also visiting me that week.
That's where the song came from.

Reist · Post by **Reist** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:49 pm

So - are there going to be some judge reviews for this one?

Nur Ein II Round Three "State of Emergency"

round 3 thoughts