Does "preferable" mean "only" ?

[devin]

When this listing says "Female vocals are preferable...", do you think it is just a polite way to say "female vocals only"?I've seen "female/male vocals only" listings before, so I'm wondering why the softer suggestion here.Does this warrant a call to Taxi in your opinion?I have 2 female vox songs...but a 3rd male that fits the listing too.Here's the listing:'50s/'60s TRADITIONAL COUNTRY SONGS a la Patsy Cline are needed by an established Music Publisher based in Los Angeles. This company has TONS of Film/TV placements and has signed several TAXI writers. All tempos will be considered and lyric content is open, though a traditional style in the tone of Patsy Cline is what's recommended here. Female vocals are preferable for this listing. Great performances are essential and the sound quality must be excellent (solid demo recordings are okay as long as the quality is there). They offer a non-exclusive, 50/50 split deal -- you keep your original copyrights. Broadcast quality needed. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY -- NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI -- and must be received no later than August 6, 2008.

[bigbluebarry]

I'm no expert, but that listing to me implies that a male vocal would be acceptable, however, they really want to hear female vocals, especially since the "a la" mentions only one female artist. It might be worth a call to TAXI to see if they could provide any further insight.- Big Blue

[sgs4u]

Devin, think about what Patsy Cline style songs are about. If you have a fabulous male vocalist, that can generate that (Patsy Cline's) kind of empathy, then maybe give it a shot. If there was a review involved, I'd say go for it, but without a review, I think you might be throwing $5 into the wind. Preferable means exactly what it means. Screeners preferences are always pretty clear. I would think they would not likely want to forward anything with a male vocal, unless it was PERFECT. Sending a male vocal into a female listing is like trying to build a house with no foundation. The sound of the voice - is the foundation. The other 2 songs you're submitting are right on the money style wise. Find yourself another "Patsy," because songs like this get requested often enough to warrant writing more! I might know somebody, but she'd likely want to get paid, unless she's a co-writer.

[squids]

I wouldn't blow the bucks on subbing a male vocal. I mean, you can certainly do it but you'd have a betta shot if the tune is seriously, seriously kick-azz to pass their muster and get over their annoyance about a male singer when they asked for a female.I've noticed it's tough to get them to say adamantly "I don't want guy vox so don't bother sending any in!" Maybe it's jes courtesy on their part to say they prefer something like this but it does make me wonder if they're almost wantin' us to skirt around the edge of what they're asking or what?

[horacejesse]

For song demos I always apply the power^ rule. If the listing asks for a female vocal but I send male, I square my chances. If I had 1/10 of a chance, I now have 1/100 of a chance. If the singing is, well, ummm...mediocre, and the song is good but not instant classic status, I like to cube my chances, giving me 1/1000 of a chance of getting through the first gatekeeper in the chain. If the listing says male or female vocals OK, and I interpret that to mean I can submit my parrot's rendition, I always like to raise my original chances to the 6th power, still retaining 1/1000000 of a chance on my original $5 investment.

[squids]

Wow!! I'd love to go gambling with you one day, horace. I've never thought about my odds submitting. It's interesting to see how you worked it out. Makes it kinda fun to submit, in a way.

[devin]

Awesome responses gang...thank you!Blue: I think you're right...I may give them a call (hmmm....$5 to submit...$3.78 to call long distance....decisions....decisions....)Steve: Thanks, as always. I have seen these listings before, so I'll keep searching for the perfect vox (the current one is getting better too on our two tunes...PM sent!). It's too bad there isn't a crit...having fun with this genre though.Squids: Seems I'm usually confused about topics that have the word "female" associated with it. But at least this time my liability is only $5?("That's a joke...I say, that's a joke son!" <-- Foghorn Leghorn)Horacejesse: That's a really cool way to look at it!!! So I need to write and submit 100 male songs, right?!? ("That's a joke...I say, that's a joke son!")

[aimusic]

Hey D,My take on it is if it's a publisher looking for tracks for film/t.v. placement and they say preferable female, then don't bother with the male vox...If it were a publisher looking for a patsy cline vibe to pitch to an artist, then I'd say submit.Take care my friendB