New To Taxi, Fairly New To Writing (POP SONG)

[evanmcgill]

First song ever! "Last (But Not Least)"

[allends]

Keith,

I listened to your recordings and read through your bio and your posts too. I picture you as someone full of enthusiasm for music making. Everything worth while in life starts with a dream followed by taking that first step. I admire you, my new friend. Way to go!

I am going to jump right in here and suggest to you that this particular song is going to have a hard time making a splash for you, but the good news is that it is opening a big new door for you: the door to your inner potential. Now that the doorway is open it's time to step in and do the work. The best process for developing your songwriting potential involves steps such as getting helpful feedback on your lyrics before submitting the song. Finding trusted people to share your lyrics is not easy and it isn't something that I do for my genre, but I can imagine this will be very important for you. But before all that, I would recommend Robin Frederick's book http://www.robinfrederick.com . If you believe in yourself and if you take Robin's book very seriously, her "Do It Now" assignments and helpful tips will give you a healthy new respect for the craft of songwriting. There is so much to know about what makes a great song tick and Robin has a real knack for helping get under the hood of popular songs. I predict you will be happier with your adventure as a Taxi member if you devour this book as if it was a ticket to the next level!

I hope this approach to helping you is welcome. You asked for feedback on this song of yours and I chose this response instead. I sense something really bright within you, but the craft of hit songwriting seems to be something that you need more exposure to before you will really shine. Never give up on the light!

All The Best,
Allen

[evanmcgill]

All of my songs? All 2 of them? All of my posts? All 10 of them introducing myself to people?I appreciate you trying to sell me a book of someone who just Happens to work for Taxi, but I was looking for more feedback on that song versus what my path should be. I write poppy songs for teen type of artists. If I'm in the wrong place to display that music, that's one thing, but I didn't join to get spam style messages telling me which Taxi employees books to buy. So, although you don't seem to play any pop music at all, if you have feedback with examples, that is why I'm here. By the way, my name isn't Keith. I think you forgot to change the name last time you posted this message.

[BobbySwift]

Welcome to TAXI from another newby. Evan, you got some cool pop songs writen. Hope you find TAXI to be a help to you. I have been looking around and reading posts and found alot of good info. The group here are very good to get to know and yes, there will be those whom are trying to sell their goods, but maybe the product they have is good if you need that kind of knowledge. I am here to futher my writing career and get my music in the hands of artists of publishing. I am also here to get educated from some of the pros here on TAXI forum. If you ever need any help I may assist you with, feel free to get intouch. My music is also posted on TAXI and myspace. If you got any time to hear my tunes, let me know what you think. Welcome again to TAXI.

Bobby.

http://www.myspace.com/bobbydswift

First song ever! "Last (But Not Least)"

[orest]

I listened to the song Last..
I think the song has potential but you really need to work on your production.
* The piano sounds MIDI and has too much sustain, it sounds like you press down the sustain pedal a lot, and not lifting it up when you should, it also off rhythmical in places.
* The drums also sound a little MIDI and dated, think you would benefit a lot from upgrading to a better sounding library overall, KONTAKT player is a good choice.

My advice if you're aiming for teen pop songs, make the songs stand out and keep it simple, maybe only piano/vocals. If you're pitching your songs to another singer, the production team will record all the instruments. Also, you might want a singer that sounds a little younger and not mature.

You clearly don't want any advice regarding books to read, so I would suggest that you listen to music in your genre. Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus and so on. The listings are pretty high on this type of songs, so you need to sound very contemporary with a similar sound. If a listing asks for music that sounds like these artists, than you have to write songs similar to the artists.

[evanmcgill]

Orest. That is the kind of feedback I needed. Thank you. I'll go back and work with the piano for sure. I'm surprised it sounds off. You must have a very trained ear! I have always thought the drums sound slightly dated but I needed to hear it from an expert first. I have no problem with books. Just that poster seem to only want to sell me a book. My production skills are decent at best. That's not where I have really any skill. Again, thank you for your feedback on the song and listings.

[allends]

... but I didn't join to get spam style messages telling me which Taxi employees books to buy.

I suppose I did sound like a commercial for this book, didn't I? I bought my copy of the book at the Taxi Rally in 2008. It just so happens that I've been reading this book lately and I have recommended it in a recent post to someone else too. I'm also very fond of Jason Blume's book "6 Steps to Songwriting Success". Both books have helped me to improve my poetry, of all things.

My only affiliation to Taxi is that I love the people I have met here as if they are my own family. You can't get more affiliated than that, eh? If you would be so kind as to re-read my advice in the spirit it was given I think you will find that what I was saying was meant to be kind. I don't have a cynical bone in my body so I didn't realize that my unfortunate choice of words and ideas could so easily be interpreted that way by a reasonable person. I'm the one who should apologize and I do.

I had faith that our other good Taxi friends would give the specific advice you asked for and deserve and I'm glad to see that they did.

By the way, my name isn't Keith. I think you forgot to change the name last time you posted this message.

Wow Evan, I honestly don't know where I got "Keith" from! LOL!! It must have been a long day for me. <sheesh> I'm truly sorry. I'm really bad with names. I deserve to be criticized.

All The Best,
Allen

[jefflaplante]

Evan,

I would like to sell you a book...just kidding! I do agree that Allends' post was kind of strange (especially using the incorrect name), but I think you were maybe a bit to harsh on him. He probably had the best intentions and was just trying to be nice. I don't think he is a spammer.

On to the music: I think you have potential as a songwriter. However, the bar is extremely high with TAXI, and you have a long way to go in many regards. I listened to both of your songs. Here are some specifics:

1. These songs sound nothing like the pop music you hear on the radio today. In order to submit to listings, you have to be familiar with the kind of music they are asking for. (I think Orest said the same thing)
2. The production is lacking in many aspects. The piano sounds like a $20 casio keyboard. You are in desperate need of some better sounds (sample libraries or another keyboard)and recording equipment. The microphone you are using is not very good. I hear some white noise here, as well as some digital clipping.
3. The male vocalist (assuming that it is you) is much better than the female vocalist that you used for the second song. Much better pitch control.
4. The lyrics are a bit cheesy IMO. Try to use more figurative language and more sensory words in your lyrics. Metaphors and similies and all that good stuff...the TAXI screeners are very very critical of lyrics. I have found that out the hard way.

I hope I wasn't too critical/harsh. I want to be honest with my opinions and not sugar-coat anything. You may hate me right now...but you will appreciate it in the long run. Best of luck!

[ottlukk]

Evan:
The first song presents to me a guy into himself. The second song presents a woman who is only alive when she is into a guy. Neither of these premises will work in today's songwriting market.
You owe Allen an apology. I've read Robin Frederick's book, and I thought it was fantastic. There was nothing "spam" about his post, and instead of slamming him for it, you should have thanked him for his advice. Me? I recoomend John Braheny's "The Craft & Business of Songwriting".
And no, John's not paying me to plug it.
Ott

[evanmcgill]

Evan,

I would like to sell you a book...just kidding! I do agree that Allends' post was kind of strange (especially using the incorrect name), but I think you were maybe a bit to harsh on him. He probably had the best intentions and was just trying to be nice. I don't think he is a spammer.

On to the music: I think you have potential as a songwriter. However, the bar is extremely high with TAXI, and you have a long way to go in many regards. I listened to both of your songs. Here are some specifics:

1. These songs sound nothing like the pop music you hear on the radio today. In order to submit to listings, you have to be familiar with the kind of music they are asking for. (I think Orest said the same thing)
2. The production is lacking in many aspects. The piano sounds like a $20 casio keyboard. You are in desperate need of some better sounds (sample libraries or another keyboard)and recording equipment. The microphone you are using is not very good. I hear some white noise here, as well as some digital clipping.
3. The male vocalist (assuming that it is you) is much better than the female vocalist that you used for the second song. Much better pitch control.
4. The lyrics are a bit cheesy IMO. Try to use more figurative language and more sensory words in your lyrics. Metaphors and similies and all that good stuff...the TAXI screeners are very very critical of lyrics. I have found that out the hard way.

I hope I wasn't too critical/harsh. I want to be honest with my opinions and not sugar-coat anything. You may hate me right now...but you will appreciate it in the long run. Best of luck!

I just can't believe you called me a good singer!!! LOL. Nope, I'm using cheap equipment and that is not a secret. Any suggestions that would match up well with a MAC computer? I need to do some research for some better stuff. Again, I'm not really focusing on radio pop. My goal is write songs for artists that would be on Radio Disney, or something as such. As far the vocalist goes, she was the only female I knew who sang, so I put her on the track. Good to know about the lyrics. I appreciate it. I'm totally open to critics. 100%. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. I have others and I hope to post 2 in next month or so. Thanks!