SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

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MicahSommer
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SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by MicahSommer »

Crossposted from here

So far in SpinTunes 17, we've given you two character-based challenges. As a group, you've knocked them out of the park, but now we're going in a different direction: backwards. Well, also forwards. It's all the same, actually.

Here's your Round 3 challenge:

Coming or Going?: Write a song that features palindromes - structures whose elements are ordered the same forwards and backwards.

Don't panic! For the purposes of this challenge, any of the following are acceptable forms of palindromes:
Letter-unit palindromes: Words or phrases whose letters are ordered the same forwards and backwards, e.g:
  • "Racecar"
  • "Able was I ere I saw Elba."
  • "A man, a plan, a canal – Panama!"
  • Various lyrics from "Bob" by Weird Al Yankovic, or "Kew. Rhone." by John Greaves and Peter Blegvad
Word-unit palindromes: Phrases whose words are ordered the same forwards and backwards, e.g:
  • "Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?"
  • The bridge (and title) of "I Palindrome I" by They Might Be Giants: "'Son, I am able', she said, 'though you scare me.' 'Watch', said I, "beloved,' I said, 'watch me scare you though.' Said she, 'Able am I, son.'"
Line-unit palindromes: Poems or songs in which the order of the entire lines is the same forwards and backwards. Sound palindromes: The sounds of the word or phrase, rather than the letters, are ordered the same forward and backward, e.g:
  • "Funny Scott talks enough."
  • "You're damn mad, Roy."
Musical palindromes: Some set of musical elements (pitches, chords, rhythms) is ordered the same forwards and backwards:
  • An ascending scale followed by a descending scale? Sure, that's a palindrome!
  • The Morse Code phrase "SOS" (dot-dot-dot dash-dash-dash dot-dot-dot) is a rhythmic palindrome.
Other kinds of palindromes? Maybe you'll come up with some form of palindrome we haven't thought of!

Note: We're not asking that your entire song be palindromic, just that it feature palindromes in some notable way. If you think your palindromes are not self-evident, please point them out in your song bio.

If you include an image to be used as cover art for your track, I'll include it on the Bandcamp album. Otherwise, I'll use the artist photo or logo you sent me when you signed up. Bandcamp album art must be 1400x1400 pixels or larger. I'll crop and re-size it as best I can. If you didn't send me anything, the album art will be displayed.

Submitting Entries:
Your entry must be received by Sunday, March 28th, 2020 @ 11:59 PM EDT. Otherwise it'll be posted as a shadow. Received means that it has to appear in my e-mail inbox (spintunescontest@gmail.com) by the given deadline. I will be going by the time stamp on the e-mail. One minute late is too late.

You are allowed and encouraged to submit a draft of your song early just in case something horrible happens and you miss the deadline. Then you can add polish to your song and send in a better version closer to the deadline. The last version received prior to the deadline is your official entry.

Lyrics are mandatory. No instrumentals. Having no lyrics will get you disqualified.

Name your file the your band name + the song's title, but without spaces & punctuation.

Subject of the e-mail should be the title of the Challenge & your band's name. (e.g. "What Were They Thinking? - All the Robots") (The title of your song is whatever you want it to be)

Include information on anyone that should be credited for collaboration. Remember, collaborations are OK, even among competitors. You must write your song, but if you want to use another vocalist or musicians, do so. Use the Facebook and SongFight forums!

If you have a BandCamp account, you can just send me a link to your song on BandCamp if you include all the info I mentioned above. Make sure you have it set as a free download. THIS IS THE BEST FILE SHARING OPTION!

Other file sharing options if you need them: Sound Cloud (set to download a format BandCamp is ok with) & Drop Box. Please send an e-mail as I already stated, but with the download link if you need one of these services.

If you're using something other than Bandcamp, It's best if you send your file in a format that Bandcamp accepts (.aiff, .wav or .flac, at least 16-bit/44.1kHz) You can find the specific requirements for Bandcamp files HERE.
If you send me an MP3, I will attempt to convert it for you. But be warned... I will be strapped for time, and I will post whatever Audacity spits out of the conversion. So if you picked the wrong sample rate, your dulcet tones may wind up sounding like termites or chipmunks or random static. And that is what will be judged. So please... save and submit your files in the right format.

Side Notes:
You are allowed to send in a little background about your song. We encourage and appreciate "song bios". You don't have to do it, but if you want to write a couple sentences about your song I'll post it on the BandCamp page for people to see. I'll even link to longer blog posts if you want to explain your song on your blog. Some judges will read this extra info, but they aren't required to.

You can send in an entry to SpinTunes 17 without competing. Just tell me it's a "Shadow Song". It will be played at the listening party, but won't be ranked and you might not receive feedback from the judges. Check the FAQ if you don't know what that means. You can even complete past challenges from previous contests. It's a nice way of playing along if you can't commit to the schedule or you just want to get your feet wet.

The only other way to get your music played at the LP is to cover "Today's The Day" by Inverse T. Clown.

Feel free to leave any questions below.
"you did a skillful job pulling off the sexy" - RangerDenni
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Sober »

wtffffffff
🤠
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MicahSommer
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by MicahSommer »

Sober wrote:
Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:26 am
wtffffffff
I said don't panic!
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by vowlvom »

wtfffffffftw
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Toshiro »

Live evil!
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by crumpart »

Taco Cat!!
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Toshiro »

Well, we have an idea and I’m somehow channeling Bruce Springsteen AND Lana Del Ray in my vocals so let’s see how that goes...

edit: REAL FUCKING BADLY OH GOD HELP

second edit: ZOMG GOD HELPED HE REAL HURRAY
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by JonPorobil »

Aw man, after my rant about song length last week, now my Round 3 entry is gonna be about four minutes long. I brought this on myself.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Toshiro »

Submitted! But I think I need to redo all the vocals because they are a hot mess right now....
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by vowlvom »

Mine's close to four minutes too. I figure that's okay now that we're down to a smaller field of contestants!

Really enjoyed this challenge. Very much out of my comfort zone, in a good way.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by JonPorobil »

I have submitted a safety mix. It's 4:10. Dang narrative songs...

Big thanks to Mo for helping with guitar after I slammed my finger in a door Friday. :o
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito

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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by crumpart »

In with a shadow. 3:32. Aw yeah.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by glennny »

I have to use a 3 digit date code at work. Jan 1st = 001, Dec 31st = 365 (76 out of every 100 times)

I enjoyed the palindrome challenge was due on April 11th = 101
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by crumpart »

glennny wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:03 am
I have to use a 3 digit date code at work. Jan 1st = 001, Dec 31st = 365 (76 out of every 100 times)

I enjoyed the palindrome challenge was due on April 11th = 101
My song is 101 bpm.
Devil’s got me Lindt! Devil’s got me Lindt!
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Pigfarmer Jr »

I'm out. I did start a song but I've been spending a fair amount of time at the hospital with my Mom and didn't get anywhere near a submission. Good luck to everyone left in the contest.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Toshiro »

crumpart wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:08 am
glennny wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:03 am
I have to use a 3 digit date code at work. Jan 1st = 001, Dec 31st = 365 (76 out of every 100 times)

I enjoyed the palindrome challenge was due on April 11th = 101
My song is 101 bpm.
Ours is 111 which is 2 better. 8-)
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by seemanski »

crumpart wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:08 am
glennny wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:03 am
I have to use a 3 digit date code at work. Jan 1st = 001, Dec 31st = 365 (76 out of every 100 times)

I enjoyed the palindrome challenge was due on April 11th = 101
My song is 101 bpm.
What was I thinking. Mine is 102bpm. How did I miss that!
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by MicahSommer »

seemanski wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:03 am
crumpart wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:08 am
glennny wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:03 am
I have to use a 3 digit date code at work. Jan 1st = 001, Dec 31st = 365 (76 out of every 100 times)

I enjoyed the palindrome challenge was due on April 11th = 101
My song is 101 bpm.
What was I thinking. Mine is 102bpm. How did I miss that!
There were also entries with BPM 121 and 151. Y'all are a bunch of nerds.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by EmKayDeeBee »

MicahSommer wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:16 am

There were also entries with BPM 121 and 151. Y'all are a bunch of nerds.
Mine was 88bpm and I didn’t even think to mention that in my song bio 🤦🏼‍♀️ #nerdandproud
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by crumpart »

EmKayDeeBee wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:25 am
MicahSommer wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:16 am

There were also entries with BPM 121 and 151. Y'all are a bunch of nerds.
Mine was 88bpm and I didn’t even think to mention that in my song bio 🤦🏼‍♀️ #nerdandproud
88 miles per hour is one of my go to bpm choices when I don't have anything to start with. Because, as Micah has previously mentioned, I am a nerd.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by Toshiro »

MicahSommer wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:16 am
seemanski wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 11:03 am
crumpart wrote:
Mon Apr 12, 2021 7:08 am


My song is 101 bpm.
What was I thinking. Mine is 102bpm. How did I miss that!
There were also entries with BPM 121 and 151. Y'all are a bunch of nerds.
Just happened accidentally in our case, 104 was too slow when I put lyrics on it.
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Re: SpinTunes 17 Round 3 Challenge

Post by vowlvom »

Oh no I don't remember what bpm mine was, am I disqualified?
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