Songs rejected because the lyrics rhyme too well

[toddt]

CJ,Do you make these posts for every return you get?I don't think taxi screeners listen to a song, score it, then add up the scores to determine whether they'll forward it or not. I could be wrong, but I think that the taxi screeners determine whether a song is forwardable for a listing, then try to give you some feedback to help you in your songwriting.So probably he/she decided this song wasn't forwardable, and then tried to qualify why - and in part focused on the rhyming. Well, it's not riddled with unforgivably obvious rhymes, but I do see some weak and forced lines in order to hit those rhymes, eg:"In your bed – from silk it’s spunNow let's get stuck down to some fun".But considering they were after "sounds like", comparing the rhyming structure of your song to the rhyming structure of the a las is probably a little useless. After all, they were hit records for many reasons other than their rhyming, and no-one except idiots like us cares about details like that when a record is a hit.If you're upset your song wasn't forwarded, what Casey said about the high bar is bang on. He didn't judge, but respectfully and FWIW it's good but it doesn't shine - and the "afraid these needed further lyrical and melodic development" summary (which is significantly more important than the rhyming comment you focus on) seems accurate to me for a high bar listing.At the end of the day, and the biggest determinant, can you hear the referenced artists singing this one?

[euromantix]

You asked if I make these posts for every return I get. I don't blame you for not reading the whole thread, but I did say above, "I have had about 200 returns in my many years of membership, and have questioned, I think 5 of them = 0.25%".I'm not upset my song wasn't forwarded, I'm upset that the only criticism of that song was that it used obvious rhyming patterns. I know obviously it isn't a better song that a Madonna no. 1 hit, but that isn't what the reviewer said. My complaint is solely and squarely that the review criticised one factor and one factor alone for that particular song, when that same factor applies to the reference songs. In other words, if the reviewer felt that the song wasn't of a high enough bar, he/she should've said that, rather than contradicting the reference songs instead - which just misleads and confuses the entire purpose for reviews.Some people will agree with me that it is misleading, others will stand by Taxi no matter what. I suspect Robin has had a quiet word with the reviewer not to criticise submissions for doing what the reference songs do, and if so then that is a step in the right direction. For now however, partly due to the misleading review, and partly due to Taxi's unreasonable and harsh reply, my confidence in Taxi is severely dented. I have had a good number of forwards through Taxi, so I know it can work, although nothing ever came of any of the forwards... yet.I think, bigger than all of this, is my growing suspicion that the more members Taxi take on, they have to keep the same number of forwards for each listing, which means more and more returns for the majority of us. The above complaint is, I feel, a symptom of reviewers being told to me even more selective - to the extent they are returning songs and the only reason they can give is that the song rhymes too well. And if that isn't the only reason for returning that particular song, why not say so in the review of that particular song...

[toddt]

Apologies - I missed your earlier comment. But the posts of yours I have seen all appear quite bitter.I understand that you're upset with that one comment, and as an aside maybe a specific "reason this was or was not forwarded" might be helpful for each song (considering you pays your fiver for each song anyway, I'm surprised it's not there...).However, they picked on some rhyming for a song when they could've picked on more - that doesn't seem worthy of your reaction. Anyone would think that now that your song has been returned, it must be discarded, never to be reworked or submitted again. This is not the only review of your song you'll get, it's not the only listing you'll submit to. Take what you can from it, and move on.Sometimes you just have to accept you're wrong, or if not that, at least that some fights aren't worth the collateral damage.(I don't agree with your last para btw... the bar is the bar, and the business model is the business model. Taxi members are only competing against each other inasmuch as we're competing against all. If they could forward 50 utter hits for a listing, what possible damage could that do Taxi's reputation?)

[euromantix]

Thanks for the apology - no worries. (And by the way - I absolutely love your song 'Invincible' - great job!) You're right, I am growing bitter with Taxi. It's not that they picked on the song for rhyming, it's that the reference songs rhyme words like "key" and "key". I am only making that point repeatedly because I am not convinced it has been understood. And you're right, 'reason this was not forwarded' was not given for each of the 3 songs, only once that I can see.I know the song doesn't have to be discarded. It has been forwarded by Taxi before to high bar listings. Again, my only complaint is that the review contradicts the reference songs. This is the last time I'll make this point now Taxi shouldn't give us reference songs with obvious rhyming patterns, then return a song giving the reason that it uses obvious rhyming patterns!Until I am 'terminated', I'll keep submitting songs, and hope the reviews that come back will be a little clearer.

[toddt]

Jul 8, 2009, 1:48am, euromantix wrote:Thanks for the apology - no worries. And you're right, I am growing bitter with Taxi. It's not that they picked on the song for rhyming, it's that the reference songs rhyme words like "key" and "key". I am only making that point repeatedly because I am not convinced it has been understood. [snip]my only complaint is that the review contradicts the reference songs. This is the last time I'll make this point now Taxi shouldn't give us songs with obvious rhyming patterns, then return a song giving the sole reason that it uses obvious rhyming patterns!CJ, it's not hard to understand your point.But again, and also for the last time they didn't reject your song for the "sole" reason that it uses obvious rhyming patterns - that was just a suggestion. They rejected it because these needed further lyrical and melodic development.They didn't say "apart from In Your Web which was amazing but rhymed too badly" (or "too well", as per the title of this thread).You're obviously good at what you do, but you really need to give these people some more professional credit. They listen to songs all day, and it's in their commercial best interests to get it right as often as possible. Sure they're occasionally wrong, but luckily enough firstly you have the right of following it up (which you need to use sparingly or else it would seem to work against you) and secondly you can submit to more than one listing.Best of luck with it.

[euromantix]

I'd agree with your point for the sake of argument, with the exception of that - as I have the reviews to the other 2 songs here (which weren't posted as they weren't relevant) - I know the "melodic" reference was in relation to the review of the song 'Tonight', not this song in question.Anyway let's agree to disagree - I still feel it was misleading, but I understand your perspective. I still quietly hope the reviewer might be more accurate next time.Keep up the amazing work - I'd love to hear more of your stuff when you get it online.