Nur Ein VII Round Two "The Best Place In Town Is Also The Darkest"

[JonPorobil]

Two of the judges have expressed a preference for seeing explanations of the songs, where appropriate. I normally side with Johnny Cashpoint, who said that if the song needs to be explained, then it's a failure, but I think this week I've turned in the rare exception.

I'm not sure how obvious it was before, but I've been adding extra challenges to my songs. For instance, my "Architect" also featured shouting and a genre hop in addition to the round challenge.

This time I took it a little farther. There are at least five previous Nur Ein challenges embodied in my entry this week.

• It expresses two sides of an argument ("Schadenfreude," Nur Ein 4).
• It is a duet with a guest ("State of Emergency," Nur Ein 2; "Unholy Alliance," Nur Ein 6; and depending on how interesting you think Samuel is, "'97," Nur Ein 5).
• It has three distinct tempo sections ("Ties of Blood and Water," Nur Ein 3).
• It is over six minutes long ("Last Hope," Nur Ein 2).
• I have plagiarized from one of the judges ("Like a Villain," Nur Ein 1).
• There is a "genre hop" ("Hit Record," Nur Ein 4).

As for the thematic and lyrical content of the song, I'll let that speak for itself, or possibly I'll share some thoughts about it after the judges have completed their assessment.

I'll be listening to the songs later today, and I look forward to hearing them all!

[Manhattan Glutton]

You do know that a challenge outside the context of an actual round is just... a song element... right?

[BoffoYux]

It has happened. I have laughed at a Boffo Yux Dudes song.

Maybe the Mayans were right :-p

Odds are it would happen eventually. We're pretty persistant. Glad you got a snicker out of it.

[JonPorobil]

You do know that a challenge outside the context of an actual round is just... a song element... right?

Sure, you could argue that point. And normally I'd have been content to let you guys either figure it out yourselves or not figure it out at all. But this time I felt it appropriate to explain, if only so that Mr. Cashpoint wouldn't have to wonder why I lifted a random lyric from one of his songs.

[Alvis]

It has happened. I have laughed at a Boffo Yux Dudes song.

Maybe the Mayans were right :-p

Odds are it would happen eventually.

Yeah, even my team the Chicago Cubs have won the World Ser...oh, wait, shit.

[roymond]

I've been adding extra challenges to my songs.

So, before you wrote and recorded these songs you explicitly stated (to yourself) that these are non-optional elements you need to incorporate?

[Manhattan Glutton]

Dubstep elements were a non-optional challenge for me last round. I went at it knowing that I wanted a dubstep song.

And a challenge for my round zero song was writing in 3/4 time.

And a challenge for me this round was sprechgesang.

And a challenge for me this morning was getting out of bed.

This is fun! I win all the challenges!

(Sorry Jon, I amuse myself way too much.)

[JonPorobil]

I've been adding extra challenges to my songs.

So, before you wrote and recorded these songs you explicitly stated (to yourself) that these are non-optional elements you need to incorporate?

I wrote a big long post explaining my process on this, but on second thought, seeing as my "side challenges" are completely voluntary on my part, I don't think it should be germane to the judging process. Please rate the song according to its own merits.

I just saved that reply as a Notepad document. Remind me to post that after the results come out.

Dubstep elements were a non-optional challenge for me last round. I went at it knowing that I wanted a dubstep song.

And a challenge for my round zero song was writing in 3/4 time.

And a challenge for me this round was sprechgesang.

And a challenge for me this morning was getting out of bed.

This is fun! I win all the challenges!

(Sorry Jon, I amuse myself way too much.)

I totally understand. I know it's not uncommon for Songfighters to give themselves additional "personal challenges," like the year BLT challenged himself not to include any of the titles in the lyrics to his songs, or the year he did the previous week's challenge in addition to the current week's for each round.

And yeah, if I had to work today, getting out of bed would be a challenge for me as well! (I didn't get my Monday off last week, and that made me very grumpy indeed.)

[roymond]

I just feel there's a real distinction between something you impose on yourself, and something imposed on you by the challenge. So, as far as "personal challenges" go, they won't influence my listening much at all, and in most cases I believe I'd be uninterested.

[Ross]

?.. if the song needs to be explained, then it's a failure, but I think this week I've turned in the rare exception.

I'm not sure how obvious it was before, but I've been adding extra challenges to my songs.

i don't know, kinda sounds like yer asking for extra credit.

Imho

Edit: however, as I recall, bantering and lobbying of judges is encouraged in this competition, so what the heck!

[chocolatechips]

I was doing a personal challenge of all acoustic recorded elements in my song (which is why there are fingersnaps and a generally acoustic sound to it) but I gave up on that late in the game and added some subtle drum samples, bit of bass guitar, an organ, and an electric piano (all of these elements aren't really big in the mix). ... still for me, mostly acoustic!

[roymond]

Edit: however, as I recall, bantering and lobbying of judges is encouraged in this competition, so what the heck!

And said bantering and lobbying will be rewarded. Oh, wait, that's just for bribes.

[Manhattan Glutton]

I listened to each song exactly once (1 time) and wrote some stuff. According to fluffy, I'm a "huge raging asshole" so don't be too worried what I think.

adamantium - Everything's a bit thin - could use some layers and harmonies. The stop isn't entirely convincing. Kudos for the unorthodox percussion, despite not being the challenge.

add - Cool grove! The lyrics feel and/or delivery feels a little lacking. The real drum changeup is sweet - I would have beefed them up more with backbeats and such, but I suppose you want a delicate feel. The drums are such a cocktease - would have been a good opportunity to climax this plodding song. Anyway, it's a nice chill song, but I still want to keep my pants on. You must have done the starts/stops so well that I didn't notice.

bgm - Another chill song. I like this delivery better than some of your others. The low voice really makes it. The triangles (or xylophone) are a nice a touch, too. Not a whole lot of climax. Some of the stops/starts are a little awkwardish, but mostly good.

Boffo - I have not a whole lot of interest in this, but if you made a judge laugh you probably have a chance.

Chocolate - Quaint oldies-style. Kind of sweet.

Chris - I like the harmonies! I hear the song building up! Oooooooohs! Still, it's kind of building up kind of slowly.

DJ - Creeeeeepy! The instrumentation is very unique and awesome. Your vocals are very good as well. I think if you'd had a couple more hours, the first half's vocals could be more convincing.

Frankie - Did you write TWO songs? You are crazy. You're going to make my TV effect sound cheap, too. Did you find yours online, or do you actually have a CRT laying around? (EDIT: I now know this is a radio. I cannot tell the difference between such primitive technologies.) The drums are amazing and draw me in immediately. I appreciate the awkward time sig. I'm with you on the verse, great stuff there. A little out of my comfort zone with the chorus thing. Plenty of stops! Shredding solo!

Genevieve - Hand in hand... with your own hand. Oh, I see, it's about burglary. Not sure where the stops are, not going to look for them.

Gooey - Vocal performance needs some help, maybe some harmonies. I dig the idea - very 90s emotional rock type of thing.

Jon Eric - I did not know this was a Jon Eric song when I started it. Hate to say it, but some of the timing is a little incredibly painful - when so much stuff is going on at the same time, it's really important that it grooves together. Moving on, is this song about hobos? The change-up is interesting.

ME! - Aside from my sore throat causing some delivery problems, I'm pretty happy with this. The lyrics could have been a little better at points. The drums could use some love.

Merisan - This reminds me of one of your songs from last year... was it First Blood? (Edit: Confirmed. First Blood.) Well, I liked that one too. Is this one also about vampires? It could be. Sam, you're a lucky guy. Erin's voice is incredible here. Oh my gosh I just realized Merisan is an anagram.

Oystercatcher - Hahaha. Awesome. There's not much else to say. Mastering could make it pop more, but then it loses its 'vintage' feel and might come across as too sterile for what it is. Err, the urine is sterile enough?

Ross - You and denny should collab on some sort of blues jazz thing! Thanks for actually making an effort despite being immune. I like the song - the stops don't feel like they need to be so long.

Sassage - You need some harmonies on these vocals, boy. I was expecting a slower, sweet section that "really ties the song together" after the first stop, but got more fast crazy stuff. And it's not after the second stop either. Cool soloing and craziness, though. A little too much of section A is my verdict, though.

Snappy - I SCARED. Ok, now I'm laughing. You have a good narrator voice. The first rapper needs some help, and it actually does sound like a laptop microphone across the room in someone's bedroom that doesn't have any curtains. Second rapper much better - should have started with that one for best impact after all that build-up. I like the premise of the story and it's interesting. The verses need to groove more and the vocals need to pop more, because I'm not even paying attention to the words now and I think the words are probably funny. I'm now at 4:00 and feel like there's not a whole lot of direction with this song.

WSA - Oh no, it's BSS with some guest noodlers!!! And so the rivalry with Glenny continues this year. It kind of turns into a song at 1:30, briefly.

Wreckdom - Huh, a lot of people did the blues type thing this round. I like the distorted guitar. The rest isn't doing a whole lot for me. The second verse is a little more captivating and amusing. The chorus kicks in at 2:00 which is a little late for me, but it's a good change. Some of these noises make me nautious. The end.

[JonPorobil]

Jon Eric - I did not know this was a Jon Eric song when I started it. Hate to say it, but some of the timing is a little incredibly painful - when so much stuff is going on at the same time, it's really important that it grooves together. Moving on, is this song about hobos? The change-up is interesting.

I was shooting for unrecognizability in the first ~33%, so mission accomplished!

I appreciate your efforts to be civil, because I know you and you know me and we're both pretty cool dudes. I also appreciate your honesty. Thank you for the review!

EDIT: Oh, and no, it's not about hobos.

[Jefff]

You must have done the starts/stops so well that I didn't notice.

Probably the same reason you didn't notice some of the other stuff too! Thanks for the review.

[glennny]

Frankie- I love the radio gag! Especially when Boop Boop did it for the "See you in Hell" fight

MG wrote:

WSA - Oh no, it's BSS with some guest noodlers!!! And so the rivalry with Glenny continues this year. It kind of turns into a song at 1:30, briefly.

I don't understand this statement. Thank you I guess? What Rivalry? Me against Rael? (that was for you Roymond)

[glennny]

I like every song! Early favorites are WSA (biased) Oyster, Merisan, Frankie, and Wreckdom!

I was expecting Pole Position samples and Car Crashes. Wreckdom came the closest.

This is a meaty fight to dig into!

[roymond]

Me against Rael? (that was for you Roymond)

Noted

[Manhattan Glutton]

I don't understand this statement. Thank you I guess? What Rivalry?

Or was it ken I was bickering with last year who accused me of loving eighth notes?

If only we had a forum that saved these threads so I could make my in-jokes funny.

Edit: It WAS you, glenny. And in round 2, nonetheless! Link

The 8th note down stroke is certainly your thing. It’s no wonder you are often bother by my music (I rarely do that). Anyway, this seems phoned in. It’s a back handed compliment, you can phone in some great stuff. I think you can do better. See you next round.

[frankie big face]

Frankie- I love the radio gag! Especially when Boop Boop did it for the "See you in Hell" fight

Listen man, you should know by now I don't listen to the other songs. Oh wait, I was a judge that year...

Frankie - Did you write TWO songs? You are crazy.

Every week, I have multiple ideas for songs and they fight each other for attention usually until Saturday when I am finally forced to sit down and write an actual song with, you know, lyrics and stuff. The song on the "radio" is still locked mostly in my head, but I decided to let out the chorus.

[JonPorobil]

Frankie - Did you write TWO songs? You are crazy.

Every week, I have multiple ideas for songs and they fight each other for attention usually until Saturday when I am finally forced to sit down and write an actual song with, you know, lyrics and stuff. The song on the "radio" is still locked mostly in my head, but I decided to let out the chorus.

This isn't the first time Frankie has done that in a Nur Ein entry. See also "Whale."

[WreckdoMelle]

I always appreciate when people take the time to write reviews, even if they aren't always the most flattering
Here's mine FWIW. Great stuff people!

Adam Adamant – I like the ukeleles. Kind of depressing song, but then I suppose that is the theme of it. The singing was kind of Bauhaus-sounding, which isn’t really my thing, but it works.

ADD – Decent guitars.

bgm – Very nice accordian and bells. Liking the stops and starts. ¾ time signature is a nice change from the usual.

BYD – Oh yeah, uh huh uh huh. Sounds like a couple of funky greeeasy dudes.

Chocolate Chips – Pretty song.

Chris Cogott – Your guitars have been consistently fantastic throughout the competition. Really nice chops! This song is also quite pretty.

DJ Ranger Den – Wow, this is great! Normally I am not a huge fan of the piano/jazz-singer style, but this one was splendid.

Frankie Big Face – Great beginning: I like how it is you playing on the radio. Rockin’ guitars. Kind of reminds me of Rush – that’s a good thing!

Genevieve Johnson and the Chiefs – Very quiet levels. Like the whoos though. Funny lyrics.

GCC – This one’s okay. I am not too sure about the singing though.

Jon Eric – Upbeat poppy beginning with nice rhymes. Takes a couple complete turns, but has some really catchy bits. Perhaps a bit too epic.

MG – Nice. Catchy and radio-friendly. I think the Cake comparisons are unavoidable, but just in the rhyme scheme and delivery.

Merisan – Pretty music and singing. Also nice use of squeezebox.

Oystercatcher – Yes!!! Some rock’n’fuckin’roll!!! This song appears to combine all the non-optional challenges of the past rounds as well. Creative use of pee.

Ross Durand – Another good one. Cool fuzzed-out guitar and subdued yet bad-ass trumpet.

Sausage – reminds me of 70’s rock. Pretty rockin’, but guitar tone is a bit thin, lacks the punch this song could bring with more low end. Rippin’ solo!

Snappy + Floyd – Glad to hear another S+F production. You are definitely flirting with danger with these crazy epic tunes…

WreckdoM – I think we can hang in with the rest of y’all

WSA – I liked this one. Beautiful harmonies, good guitars, catchy tune.