Nur Ein V Round Three "'97"

[Ross]

Aaaand, exhale.

[Caravan Ray]

Wait a minute - my clock is saying 11pm. Do I have another hour to go?

[Caravan Ray]

I assume everyone knows that the Kyoto Protocol was initially adopted in 1997. I didn't bother spelling it out in the song.

I was helped out by:
Wages
Fluffy
Caravan Harriet
Mark Colvin of ABC Radio's PM programme
The Honorable Kevin Rudd, Member for Griffith, Prime Minister of Australia
Senator the Honorable Penny Wong, Senator for South Australia, Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water and
The American Geological Institute's Directory of Geoscience Departments

[JonPorobil]

Mine's about Berkelium.

King Arthur with the assist.

[RangerDenni]

I sent mine in late. 10 minutes late.

Hopefully I'm in. I got something that I think was a confirmation email. Mailed back my NUR EIN and said that I would suck with myself (who in the end, was my own-ly guest ... yuck-yuck-yuck), because if not I would surely suck seperately.

Well I didn't SAY that, because I am no longer clever enough to subsist without a beverage. I'm going to go drink now.

Pending Reviews, Believe it when you see it, although at this point they've become almost obscene in their detail:

Denise

{UPDATE: one of my guests who I put through the ringer and was actually reliable and did things right when I asked her (last minute!!!) finally got through RIGHT after I'd sent my stuff in! Curses!!! Guess I know who to work with next time though ...}

[Caravan Ray]

Mine's about Berkelium.

The only element that has its own Social Scene.

[JonPorobil]

Guess I know who to work with next time though ...}

Yeah... someone who can get their stuff in on time.

Hope you made it through. Technicalities suck.

[MintyHandy]

So, uh, remember that scratch track I said I submitted, and how I walked away from this round yesterday with a clear conscience and a light heart?

Well, at about 7:30pm PST tonight, while I was dicking around on the piano and recording while Sam played his drums, my daughter walked up with princess dress on and told me about a dream she had. I started playing and singing a song around it, and the first verse I sung off the top of my head is the first verse you'll hear in the song I just submitted -- written and recorded (live piano + man take) and bounced and submitted in the short time from then to now.

Win or lose, or even disqualified for being a smidge late, I don't care -- I think I may have just written the best song of my life, because it's simple, it's sweet, and it made me tear up. The recording won't win any awards, but I don't fucking care. I am so happy right now I could pop. Who knew my daughter would end up being my muse?

For what it's worth, the first attempt at this round and my final attempt couldn't be more different. The first one had Back To The Future references, for fuck's sake. I think I'll just forget it ever existed -- although there's some value in knowing that "again" sort of rhymes with "DeLorean".

I yield. This song just ain't happening/gonna happen.

Dude, I know *exactly* how you feel, and if I hadn't had my daughter-induced epiphany a couple of hours ago, I would still feel that way. You have my sympathy, and I really dug your stuff so far.

I totally missed the apostrophe in the title and my song has nothing to do with the year. I think I'm disqualified, folks.

I saw the apostrophe, but I dropped it without hesitation in my second submission. So if you're out, I'm out, and then we're both in good company.

[inevitableguy]

Btw - I for one would appreciate if contestants would post who their guest was, it will help me with judging the completion of the challenge part, especially the "more interesting" piece. Maybe it could also be in your e-mail to niv so that he can post it with your entry on the website, as he has done in the past.

In case it doesn't make it to the website, my song features fluffy on cello.

A side note - all of my historical data was researched on Wikipedia. I hope it's accurate.

[Reist]

Btw - I for one would appreciate if contestants would post who their guest was, it will help me with judging the completion of the challenge part, especially the "more interesting" piece. Maybe it could also be in your e-mail to niv so that he can post it with your entry on the website, as he has done in the past.

My guests were -

Fraser Stott: Drums
Maggie Kanuka: Bass

Here's some video evidence for you judges to analyze - http://vimeo.com/11591473

To be honest, the point standings this round don't matter to me. This challenge opened me up to actually get a band together to record, which is something I've been holding off for years. It's weird, but I can hardly imagine going back to recording music by myself at this point - I had so much fun with this. I love Therman's entry this week, and I wish the best of luck to the other contestants. NUR EIN!!!

[MintyHandy]

I was so happy, in fact, that I forgot to say: NUR EIN!!!

[Niveous]

My guests were -

Fraser Stott: Drums
Maggie Kanuka: Bass

Here's some video evidence for you judges to analyze - http://vimeo.com/11591473

To be honest, the point standings this round don't matter to me. This challenge opened me up to actually get a band together to record, which is something I've been holding off for years. It's weird, but I can hardly imagine going back to recording music by myself at this point - I had so much fun with this. I love Therman's entry this week, and I wish the best of luck to the other contestants. NUR EIN!!!

Cool video. And the return of Maggie Kanuka. Nice.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I sent my email in with minutes to spare except one little problem, I didn't attach the song!
Luckily the Nur Ein master alerted me to that and I quickly sent it. Yikes!

edit: NUR EIN!!!

[phetal]

SONG IN.
Gueststarring Pots And Pans X and the Pearl House Players.
Sampling (briefly) Biggie's Hypnotize (1997)

I had a freakin' busy week. Horrible allergies. Horrible drama (i'm still a kid). Mudder's day <3. All in all I'm happy with my song, but the vocals, especially the sung vocals, were done under extremely uncomfortable circumstance and suffered thusly. Someone let me know exactly how I misused "thusly."

nurein!

edit: oooh and there is a 'band picture'. it's not really but that IS kinda often how I'd appear if you spied on me through my webcam while I was beating... I mean... making beats.

[MintyHandy]

I put this in the lyrics archive, but I'd better put it here too, I suppose. My guest, provider of dream narration and muse-like inspiration for this song less than two hours before it was due: my four-year-old daughter, Molly.

And considering all my pointless-drama posts this week, I'm gonna shut up for a while now.

[Niveous]

The songs are up at http://nurein.songfight.net/index.php?title=Main_Page

[RangerDenni]

Guess I know who to work with next time though ...}

Yeah... someone who can get their stuff in on time.

Hope you made it through. Technicalities suck.

Oh, I've had nothing but help and luvluv here and good advice and stuff I agree with about my songs. I LOVE it here!

By the time I got to Alyssa at the bitter end (who ended up on my track from a university someplace in New York, I think), she was prompt and ready and awesome. SO many other people brought the drama! Next time I'm going straight to her! This week has been a saga of drama!

I <3 NUR EIN!!! But I may be out this week. I'll ride out on a sea of reverb and hang out time, anyhow

[RangerDenni]

My guest is called Alyssa Day.

She is a singer and I met her at TMA thru the Song Fu and all that.

I needed more time with her track and that's my fault! I should have gone to her in the first place! I really wish I could record her in person. She's very echo-y on my track and I'm not real good with the engineering as you guys have probably guessed kinda ......

[MintyHandy]

The intro/first verse (and overlapping vocals throughout) make this one of the best things I've ever heard from Berkeley Social Scene -- Melvin + Frisbee sounds good on you, and holy shit, Erin. Billy's Little Trip + Steve Durand is an inspired matchup, I gotta say. Boop Boop is making me laugh out loud as I write this -- I would not be surprised to learn you wrote music for Wonder Showzen. Chris + John, super tight and super fun, and fantastic concept. Ranger Den, your piano destroys mine without even trying. Jon + King, I wanna drink with both of you now. Très Dundervilles are a talented, talented trio. Naked + Fluffy -- um, is that an image I really want in my head? -- your rapid doubled vocals are a terrific choice, well-executed against the lyric. Real + Zaz, well-played on the challenge and creeping me out with the opening narration. Harpoonery, that's audio clip magic, and I salute you (even if the opening clips are -- rightfully -- stressing me out.) Thermin et al: I am pleased to report your first chord succeeded in its mission to kick my ass, and I hope you keep this band going. Who Fly + many, I am pleased to report that you have succeeded in your mission to make a Neal Young song that kids would bump in their SUVs.

If I'm anything other than dead last in this group, it'll be a miracle. What a fantastic round. I am in awe.

I know I said I was gonna shut up, but praise for y'all doesn't count.

[glennny]

Wow people! Very good fight! I like Every song!

1st impressions (I'll properly review after soaking in some more listens)

BSS- Melvin comes out of retirement! Frisbee is back! This kind of collab has always been a dream. i still can't believe it really happened. I'm beyond stoked about this song.

BLT- Oh NOW you solo. WTF? You have Steve Durand and you're not giving him the solo or at lest trading 4's with him? This song is awesome! Nice groove! I'd like to hear you explore some new vocal harmonies, I'm hearing the same harmonies maybe too much, but that's partially because I always keep your tracks and listen to them much more often than the usual fighter. I like the guitar tone this time!

Boop Boop- You know when I heard the title '97 the 1st thing I thought of was Sleepytime Gorilla Museum song 1997. Then I thought about my favorite album in 1997 which was Ween- The Mollusk. This is as glorious as a Ween song. It reminds me of "Dancing in the Show". BRILLIANT!

Chris Cogott- Ummm Jon Eric? I suppose the "No Cross Pollination amongst active participants" rule was Nur Ein 2. I had assumed it still held true for Nur Ein 5. What is he doing? I assume it's piano. You're really embracing the Weird Al on this one. Polkas on '97. Anyway, this is catchy and fantastic!

DJ Ranger Den- This is gorgeous! I wish your guest wasn't such a hiss monster. That hiss is distracting and loud when it comes in. I don't get the structure to this song. It's just meandering pretty music, but oh so pretty!

Jon Eric & King Arthur- This is great! Although this sounds more like King Arthur featuring Jon Eric. Very tasty albeit normal song.

The Dundervilles- Everything sounds great! I suspect the drummer isn't a drummer. Sounds like a musician with rhythm, maybe I'm wrong, but it's the fills that sound forced and uncomfortable to me. great vocals and harmonies! hey you have immunity! Mad props for bringing it on the immune round! Were this to be ranked i wouldn't be surprised if it won. The horns are just great!

Minty Handy- I hate that we live so far apart, and I never go to Glendale anymore. We should totally hang out with wives and kids! This song is incredibly beautiful! I love it! This could win too! Check out Bella improvising with her dad for a Mother's Day gift- http://www.youtube.com/user/glenartrock

Naked Philosophy- This sounds great man! the acoustic sounds particularly good! You know JB plays cello right? I fear how the judges will take the sour notes. Cool song, maybe too long.

The Real Sign- There are some rockin riffs in this song. This is probably my least favorite of the lot. It's a genre bias. What genre is this? The drums bass and guitars work well for me in this song, the vocals don't.

Sid Denison- Groovy! Wages is great! You made excellent use of what wages does well, and reigned in where he might misstep. I don't care for the news clip stuff much, but this is a great song!

Therman- This sounds like the end of an album kind of song. We're only on track 4 man! This reminds me of Satchel with the huge guitars sustaining super fuzz forever, and the dinosaur feet drums. I love the sound of this song a lot more than i like the song writing. There's not much of a hook to be had. However it is great to hear the band jamming together. Very cool man!

Who Fly- bad ass grooves! minus points for rhyming Seven and Heaven. It was just an internal rhyme, but still. Weird song! Chorus, chorus, rap, chorus, chorus. Anyway, i loved listening to it!

I be listening all day Monday, and offer my "if i were a judge" rankings soon.

[Caravan Ray]

Sid Denison- Groovy! Wages is great! You made excellent use of what wages does well

Yes - I think I did. Phil's vocals are outstanding. It will be a strange sort of irony if the only reason I get through this round is because Wages got chucked out last round. Anyway - it is the second song I have done with Phil this year. Always a pleasure. He certainly make me aware of my limitations as a singer, after hearing what he does with the guide vocals I sent him. Thanks Phil!

Oh, and Fluffy - your contributions are there. It's just that the mixing means they are felt, rather than heard. Nevertheless, you were definitely pat of the team. Couldn't have done it without you. It's the stuff that ends up on the cutting room floor that contributes the most to the final product

[wages]

Sid Denison- Groovy! Wages is great! You made excellent use of what wages does well

Yes - I think I did. Phil's vocals are outstanding. It will be a strange sort of irony if the only reason I get through this round is because Wages got chucked out last round. Anyway - it is the second song I have done with Phil this year. Always a pleasure. He certainly make me aware of my limitations as a singer, after hearing what he does with the guide vocals I sent him. Thanks Phil!

Oh, and Fluffy - your contributions are there. It's just that the mixing means they are felt, rather than heard. Nevertheless, you were definitely pat of the team. Couldn't have done it without you. It's the stuff that ends up on the cutting room floor that contributes the most to the final product

Wow man, that did turn out pretty great! You seem to always make me sound bigger and more awesome than I thought was possible. I love what you did with the rest of the song: the groove, the mix, and even the news clips (I'm not normally big on these kinds of samples, but you did it well). Hey guys, when he sent me the track, it was about a minute and a half long... just the verse & chorus bits. And that layered outro? That's some freakin' creative use of the two tracks I sent you.

Is Caravan Harriet your daughter at the end? That's a perfect way to close the song. It works so well!

Now I've got to go post this track on FB....