Anything less than 6 in a critique?

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote: Sniffle, don't feel bad....Steve forgot my critique too. I guess we're not worthy, hehe.Steve, you critique whore!! hee hee LMAO! Sorry, Steve, but that was funny.

[johnnydean1]

Quote:Quote:Following on from the 'has anyone had a 10' thread, I was wondering what was the lowest score anyone had had in a critique. Has anyone had a 1?! I had a 6 in my first critique and just wondered how much worse it could have scored realistically. It would be useful to know where both ends of the scale are in practice, basically... Interested to hear everyone's thoughts.I've never had lower than a 6 until last week. And when I get a six, it's mostly on one category or so....I get them very rarely....not bragging, but for the most part, I get mostly 8's, 9's and a few 7's....I'd say this all averages out to an 8. However, last week, I got a critique on "Old Lem Jones", and I got 4's and 5's on the song....I won't name the screener, but the critique was really lousy....really, I wondered if the screener could even speak English! The way they worded my critique was filled with bad grammar and so silly....I wondered if they even listened to the song....I didn't complain about it...no use in getting riled up....instead, I just laughed at the review....if the review had been a good one, one easy to understand, and I'd still gotten 4's and 5s, then I would have respected this, but this review looked like a highschool kid had written it! And to boot, they gave a professional demo service like Beaird Music, a very respected place a 5 on their music production! Across the board, no matter who listens to my music, they've always raved about Larry's productions. To make this story even funnier, I got ANOTHER critique on "Old Lem Jones" (the same song) this week from another screener, good 'ole screener 97 whose critiques I like for the most part....97 usually does a good job. Screener 97 gave me mostly 8's and 9's on "Old Lem Jones"....so here is the sAME song, with two dramatically different critiques. Now, because 97 gave me a good review and higher points, this is not why I preferred their critique....but I feel 97 actually listened to the song....you can tell by their wording that they knew what was going on. All that being said, I didn't get a foward on the song, but at least, I know it was better than a 4 or a 5 now....had me worried last week.Note: My grammar isn't perfect either sometimes, but then again, I'm not being paid oodles of money to critique songs.I don't think $30 an hour is oodles Chits.

[hummingbird]

Quote:I don't think $30 an hour is oodles Chits. I get about the same for teaching voice. However, I only have to listen to one voice per hour & my critiques are live & in the moment.

[johnnydean1]

Quote: Yes, some people get less than 6's. I'm sure I'm not alone. Perhaps we could start a thread about the lowest scoring critique we've been lucky enough to receive. This is from a critique I got for a song written using one of Couch Grouches excellent lyrics, called "Donuts." We were both proud of it, and still are. But when I got this critique back, it REALLY stung. Because the criticism was squarely centered around the melody, which was all my doing. On the other hand, I hardly ever sing my own songs, and the screener didn't rip the singing apart. I'm hesitating re-writing the melody, because I like it, and so does my co-writer. But I might re-write BECAUSE, I think the song would've gotten a forward had the melody been up to this particular screener's standards. I had also played the song for a few forum members before I submitted it. Got some suggestions, Hook, Jeffe, Grandmatarkin all had helpful ideas. But no one said the melody was a bad as the screener did. So this caught me by surprise. And of course, this listing was a very high-bar placement, I would assume, so the standards must be very high. Oh well. I'm not ranting, venting or anything like that. I know better than to bother doing that here anyway. This was a couple of weeks ago, so the sting has dissipated. I certainly learned a lot writing AND having this song critiqued. TAXI # S070503COAn Independent Nashville Publishing Co. with a bunch of major cuts is once again looking for UP-TEMPO, MAINSTREAM COUNTRY SONGS that would work for hit Country Groups a la the Dixie Chicks, Lonestar, Cowboy Crush, Hot Apple Pie, Rascal Flatts, etc. They want songs with strong melodic hooks and good story lines. No need to submit same songs forwarded for S060830CO. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD/cassette, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than May 3, 2007. TAXI # S070503CO Style On target for this listing Melody Verses could be stronger Choruses could be stronger Hook not obvious enoughI know what your hook is - In my opinion it can stand out even more. see comments.Structure Well-written structurewell constructed.Lyric First line makes me want to hear more Engaging Cohesive Good use of imagery Rhymes well Communicates emotion to listener Unique Vocal does help to sell song This is one of the freshest ideas I seen in a while. Very well written and thought through.Status: ReturnListener ID # 212 Title Good titleCreative titleOverall Comments:Hi Steve, what's up? I took the liberty of reading your lyrics before I loaded the song - and let me tell you....I was pretty surprised to hear the melody that went with those imaginative and humorous lyrics. Now, I noticed there are two writers so I hope I don't offend anyone and I hope you didn't write the melody only ;- }~. This story is so cleverly written. All the pieces fall together in your story progression so perfectly. To me - these lyrics so much overshadow your melodies. In my opinion this lyric needs an up-tempo, driving, verse melody and a catchy, melodic, memorable, chorus melody to make these words come alive. Not that it's such a bad melody - I'm not saying that - but It honestly sounds as if this melody doesn't know this lyric. I would wholeheartedly recommend that you try and alter this melody or if you know someone who is a killer up-tempo rockin' melody writer - give them a shot at these lyrics. And make it real country. Hope this is helpful.Overall Rating 5 Music9 Lyrics 4 Marketability7 Arrangement6 Production6 EngineeringThe main reason you were or were not forwarded for this listing is:Sorry, melodically not competitive enough for this listing.I think it fits Country's "broad church" up until bar 9 after vox start,at that point you seem to make a fix to get you to the hook.When I first heard it I thought the change was unusual for Country but I was too lazy to pick my guitar up or switch the keyboard on to figure it out.When I listened again,today,the change is a standard,if not a bit old fashioned but I wouldn't expect to hear it in that,slightly bluesy feel that you want to suggest.Also the vocal doesn't have the commitment and edge that you might expect for that style.Having said all that I said at the time,(another critique you missed!) that I liked it and I still do.

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote:I've never had lower than a 6 until last week. And when I get a six, it's mostly on one category or so....I get them very rarely....not bragging, but for the most part, I get mostly 8's, 9's and a few 7's....I'd say this all averages out to an 8. However, last week, I got a critique on "Old Lem Jones", and I got 4's and 5's on the song....I won't name the screener, but the critique was really lousy....really, I wondered if the screener could even speak English! The way they worded my critique was filled with bad grammar and so silly....I wondered if they even listened to the song....I didn't complain about it...no use in getting riled up....instead, I just laughed at the review....if the review had been a good one, one easy to understand, and I'd still gotten 4's and 5s, then I would have respected this, but this review looked like a highschool kid had written it! And to boot, they gave a professional demo service like Beaird Music, a very respected place a 5 on their music production! Across the board, no matter who listens to my music, they've always raved about Larry's productions. To make this story even funnier, I got ANOTHER critique on "Old Lem Jones" (the same song) this week from another screener, good 'ole screener 97 whose critiques I like for the most part....97 usually does a good job. Screener 97 gave me mostly 8's and 9's on "Old Lem Jones"....so here is the sAME song, with two dramatically different critiques. Now, because 97 gave me a good review and higher points, this is not why I preferred their critique....but I feel 97 actually listened to the song....you can tell by their wording that they knew what was going on. All that being said, I didn't get a foward on the song, but at least, I know it was better than a 4 or a 5 now....had me worried last week.Note: My grammar isn't perfect either sometimes, but then again, I'm not being paid oodles of money to critique songs.I don't think $30 an hour is oodles Chits. Only $30 an hour, eh? Maybe that's why the critique sucked! No, really, you might just be teasing, JD....$30.00 an hour isn't bad money, but I thought these folks were paid a lot more.

[allends]

I never got less than a 6 until last week. It was on a song that scored only 5s for Music Marketability and Arrangement. Ouch! The funny thing is, earlier I had submitted the same song to a different listing and it got two 8s and a 7 on the same categories. Go figure!

[triviul]

Thanks for all the useful replies everyone. It looks to me as if 5-9 is the mark range in practice, and that's a really good reality check for me -- a 6 has to be something of a cause for concern, certainly if it's repeated between different screeners.

[johnnydean1]

Quote:Quote:I don't think $30 an hour is oodles Chits. Only $30 an hour, eh? Maybe that's why the critique sucked! No, really, you might just be teasing, JD....$30.00 an hour isn't bad money, but I thought these folks were paid a lot more.I think Jime mentioned it Chits,some time ago and if she said it that's good enough for me.

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote:Only $30 an hour, eh? Maybe that's why the critique sucked! No, really, you might just be teasing, JD....$30.00 an hour isn't bad money, but I thought these folks were paid a lot more.I think Jime mentioned it Chits,some time ago and if she said it that's good enough for me. I believe you, JD. Now I just gotta figure out the average number of critiques those guys do and how much money they make.

[Casey H]

Quote: call me an opinion gathering slut, i'm not a critque whore at all. it seems you all are more interested in the fact that I might have not listed your names as having listened to the the song, instead of the fact i 'm feeling like i got kicked squarely in the cajones. Oh well. I love you all, but it's my party, and i'll cry if i want to...OK, just a slut... not a whore... Sorry about your cajones... I know it hurts... We've all been there... cAsEy