The Song Fight Bulletin Board

erin. wrote: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.

My apologies. Who would have thought I could get something wrong - my arguments are usually so well thought through

It is interesting though, now you explain it - I actually did lose my father quite suddenly too, some 5 years ago (he was diagnosed with cancer then died about 2 months later). Your song was obviously about a funeral, but reflecting on my own experience, "emergency" wasn't a word that sprang immediately to mind. That is why it seemed out of place to me. I just remember a sort of numbness. I guess it shows how personal songs can be, and how we can all have different reactions

Anyway apologies again - your explanation is entirely valid. Though an explanation was really not required, a simple "Shut up Caravan Ray, you are wrong" will usually suffice Good song.

Lunkhead wrote: Yes, Ray, we cheated. Our song was originally "State of Massachusetts".

Given the presence of a bark-shedding eucalypt (most likely a Tasmanian Blue Gum, Eucalyptus globulus), I thought it may have been "State of Tasmania".

jolly roger wrote:So - are there going to be some judge reviews for this one?

You mean, like mo's?

I'll get around to it eventually. In the meantime, please enjoy this brief excerpt from my forthcoming reviews:

bzl (in the future) wrote:jolly roger. Needs more bass.

If that don't whet your appetite, then I jus' don't know what will.

Now that the dust is settling, I just wanted to say thanks for the following compliments - they were very generous.

lunkhead wrote: Ross - Way to rock out with your c#$@ out.

paco wrote:Another of SF's bets[sic] and perhaps under-appreciated guitar players as well.

Those from two of the best guitarists out here.

Caravan Ray wrote:Probably the best song so far in Nur Ein II.

And also to Judge 5

So, thanks.

Now on to round 4 with fingers crossed.

Nur Ein!




Oh, and this.

Caravan Ray wrote:...I'm not Ross Durand.

Insult? Compliment? hmmmm

Ross, I'm in that group too, but I had a crazy week. I honestly thought your tune with STM was one of the top songs this week. Personally, I thought it ROCKED! You should be proud.

I took the liberty of reinterpreting this mix and found a whole load of twinkly stuff going on beneath the surface. Lookie!
Thank Glennny for the Frisbee (featuring Melvin & Pedro) - State of Emergency (campfire remix)

Wreckdom - Wow, this song immediately makes me tense. I'm always impressed by the density of your mixes.

Abominominous - This has some cute lines in the verses, but they don't really go anywhere. The cheerleader chorus is the best part of this song.

The BeWells - This song feels like a departure for you. It is a bit hard to make out the lyrics with all the layers of vocals. I really like the mood of this song.

Billy's Little Trip - This mix sounds really good. If anything, I would make the guitars a little louder. Kick drum could use a bit more impact. Oh right, this is the one with the dissonance on the chorus. Not a choice I would make. Was it intentional? Kick drum needs more impact. Try remixing starting with the kick and building from there.

Jim Tyrrell - This is so well done. I love the bass.

Jolly Roger - I like a lot of the riffs in this song. Interesting vocals in the breakdown. Really, this song has a lot of good parts.

Merisan- This starts off exactly as I want to hear Merisan. Nice use of the accordion late in the song. I think the only thing I would have liked to hear was the featuring of the guest vocals instead of just using them as a choir.

Paco Del Stinko - Not sure what to say about this. It has some good stuff, like the guitars and vocals.

Puce - Is you funky? Yes. Smart man to bring in a ringer like Brad. You must be playing to win.

Ross Durand - This is a good song. I like it. You have good lyrics and it rocks. I want to say something about how last year you collabed with Anja, and this is somehow inferior, but it isn't. It is good.

Steve Durand - What is with the odd autotune warble at the beginning? Why do I think this is Frankie Big Face? Sounds a bit like They Might Be Giants as well.

Tex Beaumont - Interesting changes. What's with all the empty space at the end?

Thank Glenny for the Frisbee - Good chorus on this song. I like the bass playing a lot too. I think you could've let the arrangement breathe a bit more. Lovely bass and slide breakdown.

Bovine Recyclery - Well done and upbeat. Good use of Bjam's vocals.

I took the liberty of reinterpreting this mix and found a whole load of twinkly stuff going on beneath the surface. Lookie!

Thanks for doing this Pedro, it sounds great. There's such a pallet of tracks to work with on that song. I'd love to hear your beats and my bass on it as well. And ten other mixes with more and less space.

I can't wait to work with you guys again!

thanks!

glennny

ken wrote: Steve Durand - What is with the odd autotune warble at the beginning? Why do I think this is Frankie Big Face? Sounds a bit like They Might Be Giants as well.

No autotune going on here. That's just Wes singing.


Steve

glennny wrote:

I took the liberty of reinterpreting this mix and found a whole load of twinkly stuff going on beneath the surface. Lookie!

Thanks for doing this Pedro, it sounds great. There's such a pallet of tracks to work with on that song. I'd love to hear your beats and my bass on it as well. And ten other mixes with more and less space.

I can't wait to work with you guys again!

thanks!

glennny

wow you guys have skills. i love both mixes. and though its the same basic song, both versions have such a different feel!
well done

ken wrote: Billy's Little Trip - This mix sounds really good. If anything, I would make the guitars a little louder. Kick drum could use a bit more impact. Oh right, this is the one with the dissonance on the chorus. Not a choice I would make. Was it intentional? Kick drum needs more impact. Try remixing starting with the kick and building from there.

Yes, it was intensional, but apparently not executed well. I wanted the chorus to create a certain amount of tension. I cut the lead vocal out that was originally in the chorus layered above the chorus vocals. The lead vocal was the glue that kept the tone comfortable, but after listening numerous times as I mixed, it was killing the tension that I was trying to push out front. I certainly could have presented that better if I had more time.

By the way, I don't have enough musical knowledge to set out by saying, "I think I'm going to do a dissonance chorus". I don't know terms like that. All I know is the mood I'm trying to create and then do my best to do it.

Oh, and yes, the kick could have used a bit more slap for sure.

You know what I just found? This is where Niveous got the name!!!!

Tom Green

jolly roger wrote:You know what I just found? This is where Niveous got the name!!!!

Tom Green

More so from here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMDU4nznIGs and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R9eTtKpzjU

I just played a guy-tar version of my "State of Emergency" song at the local pub (re-titled "Please Come Back Home Ghengis Khan, All Is Forgiven").

Interesting reaction. Far less of the universal adulation I have become used to (like when I sing songs about gay cowboys). But far more of the individual strangers approaching to say "hey mate - I loved that song".

Should I crave (a) universal adulation, or (b) genuine compliments?

(BTW: since there were no chicks in group (b) - I already know the answer)

Caravan Ray wrote:I just played a guy-tar version of my "State of Emergency" song at the local pub (re-titled "Please Come Back Home Ghengis Khan, All Is Forgiven").

Interesting reaction. Far less of the universal adulation I have become used to (like when I sing songs about gay cowboys). But far more of the individual strangers approaching to say "hey mate - I loved that song".

Should I crave (a) universal adulation, or (b) genuine compliments?

(BTW: since there were no chicks in group (b) - I already know the answer)

Funny that you mention Ghengis Khan. I made a silly pile of balls in the lyric section for city in fog as a mockery to...something I can't remember at this moment, and mentioned him. Kind of a rambling South Park spew. I spelled it Genghis Khan, though.