First two submissions - first two returns...

[Restless]

Hi guys.

So I've submitted to the listing S110627RB - "CONTEMPORARY POP/R&B SONGS a la LEONA LEWIS needed by a top A&R Executive at a Major Label for very successful Female artist. They are only looking for UPTEMPOS and want to hear Dance/Pop/R&B HITS!!!! Your songs can even go so far as to incorporate the Electronic/Dubstep style that is so popular over in the U.K. clubs, but overall they mainly want to hear songs that will ultimately climb the charts and that immediately spell out S-M-A-S-H HIT upon first listen! Lyrics must be upbeat and melodies must be instantly memorable..."

The main reason for the return was that my tracks weren't R&B enough, but more pop. The melody wasn't R&B and so were the lyrics. However, while reading this listing you definitely see that they're looking for pop/dance/R&B songs, to the point where you can incorprate dubstep and electro elements. So, I figured the style is pretty flexible here and even poppier/dancier songs would fit the bill. Turns out I was wrong... (I wasn't really laughing in real life just so you know!)

I wanted to know how can I avoid this mistake from happening again? Cause this listing was pretty confusing and caused some unecessary pain.

You can listen to the songs I submitted here:
http://soundcloud.com/matan-hamish/the-boss-of-me
http://soundcloud.com/matan-hamish/youll-stay-in-love
Bear in mind that my mixing skills are bad, though the mix wasn't the reason I wasn't forwarded (it actually got me a 7/10, I expected a 2/10 tbh ).

Thank you very much, any help is appreciated.

[sedge]

Hi Restless! Some returns really are tough, and I can't say anything to help! .. there are so many factors in a listing no?

I think the only thing we can do is as soon as hit the submit button is a mind wipe!

Even to the point of not letting even a smidge of confidence creep in. I get down on some returns , but those are ones I have told myself, foolishly, are in with a good chance. Kinda set myself up! I got to stop doing that!

Nearly everytime the dust settles I see that there is a number 11 I could have turned up to.

If you got scores it was a full critique ?, did they not hint as to where to go next with it in order to be a fit?

Sorry if only made things worse!

Kind regards,
Sedge

[Restless]

Hi Sedge,

Thanks for the reply, any encouragement makes me feel better tbh.

Yeah, the review said that the songs do not fit the R&B sound the listing was talking about, but they could do really well on the Pop/Dance genre, so I guess I will never submit songs like those to listings under other genres even if it seems like they're pretty flexible. I'm fine with that review, I got over it

However, I got another return today. It was so frustrating! The reviewer commented on the great melodies in the verse and in the pre chorus, but said that my chorus isn't catchy enough, and advised me to change the melody to make it more catchy (he actually asked me to listen to Breathe by Faith Hill to see what he meant in making the chorus catchier). Thing is - I believed the chorus was perfect for the song (cause nothing is perfect, but it fit the song...), and I tried changing it - but it just won't fit! So now I can't submit it anymore - if the melody isn't good, the song will never be good without major changes to the melody, which I can't seem to think of.
( http://soundcloud.com/matan-hamish/about-a-broken-heart - This is what I submitted for the country listing. )

I guess I'll wait for some more listings to pop up in a couple of days (I believe new listings come up in the beginning of each month, isn't it?) and try to submit the other songs, hoping I will be forwarded finally!

Thanks again!

[sedge]

The reviewer commented on the great melodies in the verse and in the pre chorus, but said that my chorus isn't catchy enough, and advised me to change the melody to make it more catchy (he actually asked me to listen to Breathe by Faith Hill to see what he meant in making the chorus catchier). Thing is - I believed the chorus was perfect for the song (cause nothing is perfect, but it fit the song...), and I tried changing it - but it just won't fit! So now I can't submit it any more - if the melody isn't good, the song will never be good without major changes to the melody, which I can't seem to think of.

As you you know, something I have to remember when sending songs out too, is melody is perhaps the most subjective of all the elements, who can really say conclusively on behalf of the whole human race that a melody is or isn't "catchy enough" hey
? All we can say is it wasn't "catchy enough for me" and even "catchy enough for me at that time"

catchy (imo) is when the listener hears an energy, the fun.
Just like a guy who tells a really poor joke, but tells it in such a say we have to laugh, or the actor says the cheesiest sad line in a film but says it in such a way a tear is jerked.

A learnt Craft/ learnt technicality to song writing there is - sure! but what we can't learn in books is the love, the fun, the innocence, the magic of making sounds in the air, the energy. That's the stuff that makes things catchy/tight/dynamic. we shouldn't lose that, should pay huge attention to it, losing that over trying to get a song to fit anothers needs/idea means losing everything. Guard that, that's our ticket, our 'sound'

always working on new stuff is the way, keeping were the fun is - making new tunes.
Enjoying the challenge of trying to write for a listing too, most important to enjoy, it will shine through in the productions and make people smile, even if it is a sad song, enjoy to make it.

Hope I helped and didn't come off as mr guru knowall, im far from that! an I know we all know this, helped me to write it- I need this reminder too - daily ! Hourly ! : )

ttyl
Rob

[sedge]

The reviewer commented on the great melodies in the verse and in the pre chorus, but said that my chorus isn't catchy enough, and advised me to change the melody to make it more catchy

On the craft/techside - make a mix for yourself with the chorus muted and play that to yourself to try some harmonies / alternatives , its a fun way to come up with alternatives, start low go high and all that, have fun with it freely! These Screeners at Taxi really do offer some amazing advice.

[Restless]

Thanks Rob!

You sure know how to lift one's spirit up

After listening to more country songs I actually heard that the screener was right - the chorus melody should incorprate more syncopas and interesting phrasing if I want it to succeed in the Country charts. Still, I always thought that sending this song to a country listing is kind of a long shot - I thought this song could do well in the AC genre. So, I'll try re-writing the melody, but if it doesn't work - then I'll just keep it like that. Maybe it would fit the bill for another listing.

[tordenspyd]

I just had to listen to your submissions. As a listener I enjoyed your song for the country etc.listing very much. I think that was very much due to your vocals. To me its a fab voice for popular music genres. You have personality that makes it stand out, but not so much that it becomes odd. Very good singing too. I did not hear it as country music. I listen to very little country.

For me the chorus works because of your voice. That makes it interesting to listen to. I imagine that the chorus by itself is OK but not very musically interesting. ( to me) You suggest syncopations, that's one way. Counterpoint with the accompaniment, other simple ways to make it a little more interesting. As you suggest, you also risk destroying the song by forcing it to adhere more to country, but you may come up with another song by trying.

I like sedges' comments above. I read it as : make sure you have fun. !
-----------
http://www.taxi.com/xolv

[Restless]

Hi tordenspyd,

First of all thanks for the compliments on the song! The singer is indeed amazing - but it's not me. I couldn't sing to save my life. (and I'm also a guy) The singer is called Cassandra Kubinski, she's also a member of this site (she recommended me to join Taxi). Check out some of her music.

I always thought of this song to be more AC, that would suit a singer like Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Christina Aguilera... But a musician I'm in contact with heard it and said that this song could do really well in the country genre so I thought "why not?".
Like you said, I'll try to rewrite the melody to be more interesting, but if it won't fit the song - I won't force it.

Thanks again for your insight!