Would "Fire and Rain" be forwarded today?

[leesong23]

"Fire And Rain" is a perfect example of the notion that if you're a singer/songwriter with a fan base, your songs don't have to go through the gate keepers. They can break the rules and still be recorded. Songs written by singer/songwriters tend to reflect their personal experiences and angst. Yet a song like "Fire And Rain" has resonated with enough people to make it an all-time classic. Sure, the reviewers from Taxi would have passed on the song if it were submitted for say a country listing because it would be wrong for that listing. However, if JT submitted it for a listing for singer/songwriter artists it would, IMO, be forwarded today.So the rule is there are no rules, just guidelines which are dependent on genre and other factors. The bottom line is if your song can connect with a lot of people, you're going to have a hit no matter what a critique may say.

[horacejesse]

What's 248+1?

[horacejesse]

What's 249+1?

[dhaworth]

I agree. Imagine if Taxi reviewed Hey Jude: no intro, too long, hookcomes to late, cliche ridden, etc. You can probably think of severalother reasons they wouldnt forward what is the definitive monsterhit. It is about what you would expect from some group trying to judgesongs using a piece of paper with certain criteria on it. Most hits defythe formulae. as one producer said "I dont know what makes a hit, but I know when I hear it." that's why I got my membership fee refunded. so long Taxi.

[sgs4u]

Quote:Yer right Casey. I submitted Fire and Rain for a folk listing and that's exacty what they told me. I'm still waiting to hear back on Hard Rain's Gonna Fall.Do you mean to say you actually did this? ie: submitted a James Taylor tune to see how the system works? How long ago? Did you get reprimanded?

[edteja]

Twas a joke, amigo. (As Chet Atkins used to say: "J O K " joke. I didn't really do that. I wouldn't really do that. I only submitted cover tunes wihen they were asked for. But Casey's leg was too short that day and needed pulling.

[sgs4u]

that was a JOKe the size of a "Freightrain", and I can play basketball with the big boys now!DISCLAIMER- in my earlier post it might appear that I would approve of this kind of prank on the screeners. I would not condone it, or ever suggest it.

[hitwriter]

This is brilliant!Great work!

[arkjack]

It has certain elements in the melody and repetitions that make it memorable. But this is also an example of what Michael said in the Critique Anonymity reply....at the end of the day... its up to the record company to make it a hit....In the case of Fire and Rain, I distinctly remember when James Taylor first came out (literally) I was in 8th grade.... there were a lot of stories that were being heralded that gave us a lot of background info on James and the meaning behind the song.... I remember a teacher (in my "humanities" class..... how's that for liberal?) spending two classes on it....If anyone cares..... the story was that James was a junkie.... the teachers liked his example because he got cleaned up in rehab.... the song is actually about his stay in rehab.... and Suzanne was a girlfriend/ hospital roommate who committed suicide just before he was released.... the other references are to his struggle after being released and rise to stardom.... Anyway thats the story I heard.... and in that context the lyrics make sense....Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of having the meaning of our songs explained by the releasing label to make it rise.... Then again..... Confucius say.... if song need explaining..... song probably need rewrite....ArkJack