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Songwriter Contest help please

Posted by Letha Allen on July 7, 2012 at 11:06am

Hi everybody,

I am going to be in a songwriters contest at the ARK the end of this month. I decided to do a CBG song. We only do one song, and can win recording of a cd, Recording time, or a little money. Then the finalists play in a festival called The Riverfolks Festival. There are some good songwriters there, and most likely I won't place, but I wondered if I could ask for your help. Anyone who has time, who could listen to these three songs, Loving Arms, Cool Cool Water, and Broken Bird and let me know which you think has the most chance. They are very fast raw recordings, but, I just need to decide which one I will play so I can focus on it. Thanks for your time and any of you that can let me know which song you like best. I appreciate it, and have a good day.

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  • John Fitzgerald July 10, 2012 at 11:07am

    First let me say I am a big fan of your work and find myself looking for your next song. I heavily favor "Loving Arms" but like them all.     John

  • Letha Allen July 9, 2012 at 7:34pm

    Thanks for the advice Bug. I am working every day on all of them...if it happens that I were to get in the top 3, I would have to play again in 4 days for the finals, and I don't know if that means the same song or a different choice. I just want to be prepaired with back up. Winner gets a CD produced free, second gets 2 hours and a demo of the song, third is just 50. But. the venue where it is held is an honor to play at in its self.

    Just gonna do my best, have fun, and walk away happy win or lose.

    Thanks again

  • BUGGY (C) July 9, 2012 at 7:18pm

    They're all good, just put them out as a 3 track EP anyway?  :>)

     

    1) Cool Cool Water

    2) Loving Arms

    3) Broken Bird

     

    I tend to find what works best for me, is do all three first and complete them, then pick the best one afterwards.

    Then drop any you are not happy with later..

    ( I tend to do a lot of takes for my videos, then try and pick a good one afterwards...it kind a works and eventually I find one without mistakes)

    The Beetles used to say, they'd sleep on it and if they couldn't remember the tune/melody the next day, they would drop the tune. They never released a bad tune..

    Trust your feelings, as if the feeling is right, you will sing it best and away you go....

    (But who am I to speak)...we love all of yours.... "The Blues is a feeling"....and may the force be with you!

    Best of luck Bug

     

  • Letha Allen July 9, 2012 at 6:49pm

    Thanks RT, sometimes I just need a push. I have been playing the last two years as a trio, but I have played alone before, and I will be ok. Just get used to all that backup and extra music lol. I'll try to take your advice.

    Thank you...

  • RTZGUITARS July 9, 2012 at 12:44am

    First off Letha its just cool your going CBG, second it seem you have had success at contests so a more positive outlook is in order cause your a good songwriter and you can place. Third the Bird I listen on sonic and you can ring that song out. I bet if you work on all three one will stand out to you. Thanks for bringing you music to the CBN and GOOD LUCK.

  • Letha Allen July 8, 2012 at 11:43am

    Thanks Strat and JP,

    One thing is for sure, I will have a good time playing there, no matter the outcome....

  • JP Swenson July 8, 2012 at 11:25am

    Best of luck in the contest Letha!    Break a wing.....I mean a leg!

  • Ron "Oily" Sprague July 8, 2012 at 10:47am
    Letha,

    Listened to the version on sonic bids. That's more like it! Now that I've heard it like that, I think you've made a good decision with Broken Bird. Also, the background on your quiet recording makes sense. Good luck in the contest!
  • Letha Allen July 8, 2012 at 9:22am

    Hi Strat , Clock, JP,John and Bear,

    It's such a hard decision. Yes, Strat, they are the roughest of recordings. My grandson was sleeping, so I had to do it quietly, and couldnt sing like I normally do because of this. About 3 years ago I entered this same contest, but it was the first year and smaller then. I also played with my friends who played fiddle and upright bass, and we won with Cool cool water. The trouble is, I had tons of call and response backup harmony written in. and I am trying to pick a song that I can convert to CBG.

    The contest was based on the song, but I think the performance had a bearing on us winning too. They say the performance doesnt, but I feel it does. But, they had a score card that was based on the structure and melody of the song.

     

    I believe I am going to lean towards Broken Bird.  Although there is no key change, and what I call the bridge just changes the position of the phrasing, I feel like I could be comfortable on the CBG, and do it justice. So I guess I will just choose it. There were lots of different opinions and I sure appreciate you guys brainstorming it with me. I don't expect to win this one, the contest has grown larger, the musicians who play as a duo or trio have a little edge over the singles, and there are a lot of good songwriters and performers that will be in this one. The ARK is a very special place to hold it, and I will just sing it from my heart and do my best, and enjoy it whether I walk away a loser or a placer lol.  Here is Broken Bird, but how I wrote it, on my Gibson, in case you want to hear it without me being quiet.

     

    http://www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=142491

    Thanks again to you all!

  • Ron "Oily" Sprague July 8, 2012 at 4:15am

    Letha,

     

    On first listen, I would vote them:

     

    1) Loving Arms

    2) Broken Bird

    3) Cool Cool Water

     

    Here's why I voted this way (I assume you also want feedback). I understand these are rough recordings. I'll go in reverse order.

     

    Cool Cool Water sounds like it's unfinished. It needs a bridge or something. I also think that your vocal phrasing suggests a song at a faster tempo, but what you're playing behind it (I know, it's a rough cut) makes it drag. Also, the title kept reminding me of the Sons of The Pioneers' Cool, Clear Water, which I found distracting. Not your fault, you have a good lyric. But it's missing something.

     

    Broken Bird has the strongest lyrics of the three, in my opinion. If you are being judged purely as a lyricist-songwriter, then I would move this to Number One. However, it too needs something. I can hear harmonies and girl choruses that are just dying to be sung. It could be a really lush piece with the right instrumentation. The plunking is what kills it for me, but this song has good bones on which to build. This could be my Number One, but isn't right now.

     

    Loving Arms is the most complete piece, for me. It rocks slowly like an old time Gospel number. The lyrics scan well, and there are some lovely lyrical figures, especially near the end. I think this will benefit from robust instrumentation as well, and it begs for a choral treatment. However, I also think it may play too safe in performance. Depends on the judges, really. 

     

    Which brings me to another point: judging criteria

     

    Even though I sound definitive in my opinions about these, I'm unclear on the judging criteria. If the question was put to me, "What is the best performance out of these, as they are now," I would stick with my original assessment. If asked to judge purely on lyrical merit, I'd move Broken Bird to Number One. So, how are you gonna be judged at this contest?

     

    Does any of this help you?

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