OldePhart
Well-known member
Okay - it's songwriting week. Something I've thought for a while now would be a cool theme. I've been away for a while so I'm not sure if it's been done. If so, we're doing it again.
First - basic rules apply. Ukulele front and center, don't post until Sunday, you've got until midnight Hawaii time next Sunday, mention that it's for week 124 of the seasons, don't be a jerk, etc.
Multiple entries okay, but you might be better off to polish one than try to write several songs...just sayin'
Keep it clean, please.
You can multi-track, green screen, etc. but if it doesn't really add to the lyrics and the match up between lyrics and tune you'll be wasting your time as that's what I'll be evaluating the entries on. This is one of those weeks where one of us croaking toads has an equal shot with the songbirds - it's all about the song, less about delivery.
I want to see original lyrics written this week - this can be an original parody of a song, an original song that borrows a tune from another song, or original lyrics and tune. Obviously, we're on the honor system for whether you wrote it this week or five years ago.
Languages other than English are fine - but please provide an English translation either as subtitles on the movie or in the post here on UU. Non-English lyrics won't hurt your chances if the meaning of the lyrics flow with the tune; I don't speak Navajo or Gaelic but love to listen to songs sung in those languages, for example.
I don't want to preclude anybody from having a whack at this so, if you never sing you can submit an original instrumental tune or arrangement, written this week. But, if you sing even occasionally in your videos please sharpen your pencil and give it a go.
There are some folks who participate in the Seasons who are very prolific songwriters. To level the playing field a bit I'm adding a couple of requirements for anyone who has submitted three or more original songs or original parodies in previous seasons or who considers themselves a reasonably prolific songwriter (again, honor system here, you know who you are).
For these folks there is the additional requirement that you must use one of the phrases below in your song, it has to be used in a way that "fits" the song - not just jammed in as an oddity - and the song must comply with the associated rule. The phrase must be used exactly. I.e. "...overloaded boxcar..." or "...overloaded boxcars..." - not "...some boxcars were overloaded..."
Obviously, anyone is welcome to impose this additional requirement on themselves.
Phrases you prolific writers can choose from:
1) overloaded boxcar(s) - but the song cannot be primarily about a train or trains or a train wreck, etc.
2) petrified petunia(s) - but the song cannot be primarily about a garden or gardening or flowers, etc.
3) writer's block - but the song cannot be primarily about writing
4) superb cheese(s) - but the song cannot be primarily about food, cooking, eating, making cheese, etc.
5) angry chipmunk - but the song can't be primarily about chipmunks, a specific chipmunk, animals in general, etc.
Finally, I may be slow to respond and comment. I was out sick from work a few days and that put me really behind, plus my oldest daughter and her family are down from Idaho this week and next, so I have to take the rare opportunity to be a bad influence on that set of grand kids.
I will view all the videos and comment on them, but it may not be until near the end of the week when the family goes back to Idaho and I have caught up a bit at work.
Judging will be pretty informal - I'll probably pick six that appeal to me the most for whatever reason and then let a roll of the dice decide the final winner.
Okay...you may turn over your answer sheets and open your test booklets...now!
EDIT:
Ginny PM'd me that I shouldn't have posted this so early. Sorry about that, I'm going to be out and about with family in from out of town so it was post it now or possibly not some time until tomorrow evening, depending on what the kids are planning. So, go back and put all your 'tention on Season 123 where it belongs.
EDIT: 6/30 5:16P Central - if you have songs that you have written in the past you can enter them as bonus tracks, just please let me know it's a bonus track. Thanks!
John
Last edited:
