Nur Einers Anonymous

[Lunkhead]

Hi, my name is "Lunkhead", and I think I am addicted to Nur Ein. I have entered or judged for every one except the first. Every time, Nur Ein crushes me to dust, leaves me destroyed and demoralized, and I have never even won. I told myself I would not go through it again this year. And yet ...

I am tempted! I've never won, but I've come close every time. Maybe this time will be different?! (Definition of insanity, anyone?) And every time I've come away with having helped make at least a couple songs that I thought were pretty good, so that's something. For some reason once April comes around all the past craziness and stress and conflict just seem like a bad dream, not real, nothing to worry about...

If you are like me, I invite you to tell your story here.

[Niveous]

Despite the drama, you know it's totally worth it. It somehow brings great things out of you. For instance, Merisan's "No One Else" is one of my favorite songs, Nur Ein or otherwise.

[roymond]

I get to listen to tons of participants' awesome music. And get all opinionated on their asses. One year I may compete, so it's a double edged sword.

[Billy's Little Trip]

That's how I feel Lunk! Glad I'm not alone. Not what you were saying, but I've become a disgruntled Nur Einer as of last year, but <3 it so much. I formed an opinion after last year that Nur Ein isn't about the music anymore, it's about the game. I hate games. I love making music. So I am done.

But what you said is inspiring. Nur Ein is hard. You have to pretty much put your life on hold for up to 8 weeks. And for what!? A cyber pat on the back? Our families and coworker thinking we're on a 2 month vacation, because we aren't there? While we're heart and soul all in trying our best to "be awesome".

Yeah, everything I just said is obvious and everyone is thinking, so, that's Nur Ein. Yep, I know. But I just want to punch a hole in my wall thinking about it. I love Nur Ein!

If I'm not there, have fun SF'ers. It's an incredible learning experience.

[JonPorobil]

But what you said is inspiring. Nur Ein is hard. You have to pretty much put your life on hold for up to 8 weeks. And for what!? A cyber pat on the back? Our families and coworker thinking we're on a 2 month vacation, because we aren't there? While we're heart and soul all in trying our best to "be awesome".

If I'm not there, have fun SF'ers. It's an incredible learning experience.

I think just about anyone who's ever made it past Round 0 of Nur Ein knows that it's a little more complicated than that. Yeah, winning is nice if you can manage it, but win or lose, just about everyone walks away with some of the best music they've ever come out with. Each year, almost every participant finds that something about the intensity of this competition, something about the psychology of knowing that you have to bring your A-game every time or else risk elimination, has pushed each and every one of us to make something that we hadn't thought possible before. I can think of at least six of my own songs which stand among my best, most successful, or most ambitious; and which would never have come to fruition if not for Nur Ein. And I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if you could say the same.

And I can also say this, BLT: you've been a staple of the competition, and it just won't be the same without you.

[Paco Del Stinko]

I was a round or two too late to enter NUR EIN I after just discovering SongFight!. But man, was I intrigued! First off, to find a site that wrote songs to titles, as I had been doing for years was thrilling, but to also have a high pressure elimination contest, with strict guidelines to boot, was nearly too much to consider! I knew I would be in the next years contest, and was. And the two years after as well. I missed number V as I was offline for a year. But I knew it was happening. I knew I was not a part of it. Then to actually WIN it the following year, deserved or not, (right, TWSA?) was beyond my scope of comprehension. I still don't believe it!

This year I am a judge. I find this appropriate as a champion to do. I am excited to hear what's coming and to stand behind the curtain that hides its inner workings. I will miss the sweat and obsession of participating, I can not lie. I will miss the push to create and what good, and bad, would come of it. But there is comfort in knowing that after the ashes settle and the cinders cool, NUR EIN VIII will rise up next year and beckon me, and you all, to join and drive ourselves to near madness. Ah, such sweet madness! Long live NUR EIN!!!!!!!

[RangerDenni]

I love Nur Ein.

I think we have the Psychotics because of it.
It seems like an emotional maelstrom and a place of songwriting catharsis for me. I will always do it, I think.

My family knows this. They're prepared to Deal with my silliness.
There will be more blogging this year. I'm sure the people just CAN not WAIT and are really HOLDING their BREATH!!!

[RangerDenni]

ps. Merisan's 'Blame It on Ginger' was completely sassy and adorable and I'm getting into that place where I'm about to go mass downloading Nur Ein tunes so that I may regush over them all

[Niveous]

That's how I feel Lunk! Glad I'm not alone. Not what you were saying, but I've become a disgruntled Nur Einer as of last year, but <3 it so much. I formed an opinion after last year that Nur Ein isn't about the music anymore, it's about the game. I hate games. I love making music. So I am done.

I think of Nur Ein like one of my college English classes (I believe it was English 305). I used to crab and complain a lot when i started the class because of all the crazy assignments that the professor made us do (I once had to write the longest non-run-on sentence I could). Then I looked back at all the work I was doing and I was happy with it. I realized that sometimes your work becomes stronger with limitations. Nur Ein just manufactures the limitations. It gives you a title, forces you to do a mandatory element, and gives a crazy time limit. Then just to up the ante, there's the competition aspect which makes people bring the "A" game all the time. It's a volatile mixture that in the end brings out great music from the competitors. So many good songs. Is the Nur Ein about the game more than the music? Never. At least not in my eyes.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I think we have the Psychotics because of it.

See, this is true. BATP is a Nur Ein love child. And like Jon said, Nur Ein has pushed us to dig deep in ourselves to do things we never knew were there. As a result, win or lose, making some of our best music in our personal catalog.

So yes, Nur Ein brings out the warrior in all of us with positive rewards.

........but it's just sooooo hard! *wambulance* I'm the sunny beach kind of guy, with my toes in the sand and a margarita in my hand. The most stressful thing I want to deal with on the daily is what I want on my sangwhich.

[Manhattan Glutton]

I've become a disgruntled Nur Einer as of last year

Yeah, you got robbed last year. It should be better this year - the judge lineup doesn't seem quite as... imbalanced. You should reconsider.

Oh, and buck up you little pansy.

[Caravan Ray]

It should be better this year - the judge lineup doesn't seem quite as... imbalanced. .

Hey!!

...ohh..."imbalanced"...well, OK - just don't call me "unbalanced" or I'll be forced to do a crap in your letterbox.

[Manhattan Glutton]

I'll be forced to do a crap in your letterbox.

That's very generous of you, but really, you can just e-mail me your music.

[rone rivendale]

I have 'entered' 3 times but have yet to actually complete a song for round Zero.

[Ross]

If you have not been a disgruntled Nur Einer, you're not a true nur einer.

I have been involved in every one, and am near the top of the all time Ein submitters. Never won, probably never will.

I am in.

Nut up, chris. It has always been a game, a game about music, and who doesn't wanna win?

[Billy's Little Trip]

Oh, and buck up you little pansy.

Ok, I had that coming. I'll shut up about my personal gripes now.

NUR EIN!!!!!!!

[RangerDenni]

going without saying of course...since it's practically my reason for breathing (I am only moderately exaggerating!!!)....

NUR EIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RangerDenni]

I have 'entered' 3 times but have yet to actually complete a song for round Zero.

this can be the Year of Rone then!!!

[Billy's Little Trip]

going without saying of course...since it's practically my reason for breathing (I am only moderately exaggerating!!!)....

NUR EIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apperantly you think it's Nur Ein XVI.
...girls, cha.

[RangerDenni]

going without saying of course...since it's practically my reason for breathing (I am only moderately exaggerating!!!)....

NUR EIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apperantly you think it's Nur Ein XVI.
...girls, cha.

my old lady hair thinks its Nur Ein 16!!! And no time for my traditional Nur Ein hair dye beforehand. Perhaps 3 years in is too early to establish traditions or to think something is bad luck. But I am just that superstitious and just that crayzee!!! So I just I will just have to roll with the punches.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Yup, exactly. And this year, no eating the neighbors' rice krispie "treats".

[adamadamant]

Reading this makes me feel much better about my previous Nur Ein! behaviour

I have entered 3 now I think. I stopped doing SongFight! but I can't help coming back each year for more Nur Ein! My usual style is write some songs I'm really proud of and people like, then drop the ball and either write something bad, flake on the challenge, or submit songs previously released by professional musicians Then get mean and argumentative on the forums obviously and declare what a stupid competition it is.

I feel like this year I am more mature, I have better songwriting skills, my performance has improved. My one goal is to make sure the round I go out is the round I entered my best song of the competition in. Who am I kidding though, it's going to be all impossible challenges and tears before bedtime

Good luck everyone, your going down!

(Also, BLT, it won't be the same without you. Enjoy your sunny beach though.)