Instro Pop Cue attempt ...

[PeterD]

Hey guys!

I wrote this one https://soundcloud.com/moanakeiki/catwalkin-19952015
back in 1995, and tried to revamp it as best I could for this listing. I hope it's not too dated? :


SIMPLE, CONTEMPORARY POP INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by the CEO of a great, NON-Exclusive Hollywood Music Library for a variety of Reality TV Shows! He's actively searching for classy sounding, Mid-Tempo Pop Cues that could be heard on TV shows like Miss Universe, Project Runway, Top Model, etc., etc., etc. Listen to the following references to get yourself in the ballpark:

Miss Universe (Starting at 1:28:45):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBeoAw4-Soo

Project Runway (Up until :33):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4j6vIi2gPU

Top Model (Starting at 1:30):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ls9a3zRl-E

Quoting the Source: "Although we pitch to reality TV, we only accept high quality music. Nothing that is medium bar or below, only the best of the best! We want simple, straight-ahead music that grooves with a good beat and can fit some classy shows."

Give him cues that are slightly electronic, have some light percussive elements, and are simple. No need to go overboard with this opportunity. Repetitive motifs are recommended for this pitch. Don't submit music that has a melody line or complex chords; keep it simple and straightforward. Your music will be placed under dialogue, so nothing too harsh or frenetic. Just to reiterate: KEEP IT SIMPLE!!

Submit well-produced Instrumental Cues that are NOT stiff or MIDI-driven. Your submissions should be at least 60 seconds long. Faded endings are not recommended.

Not sure if it's gonna fly, but whatev ...
Your thoughts??
Thanks for listening!!

[cpricemusic]

Hi Peter,

Coming from one classic house/"retro"-inspired producer to another, I think the track is very good! As I mentioned in another thread here, IMO, I think this listing was kind of misleading in that the ref tracks were much more 90's/00's dance inspired than "contemporary pop", but who knows...I get confused about "what the kids are listening to nowadays". I too get nicked for using too many retro sounds in productions, but those are the sounds I like to hear in pop/dance (not modern "EDM" -- most of whose sounds I find terrible to my ears)...good for sticking to your roots, but not often good for winning Taxi submissions. Oh well!

All this being said, as I mentioned I do think what they ref'ed in the listing is more 90's/00's dance, which I think you certainly captured in your track. Good work.

I'm not a cue writer (though I did take my first cue stab at this listing, coincidentally) so take any minor critique I can offer with a grain of salt because I know next to nothing about cues other than what I've heard/read. The only thing that might work against you is that the track is pretty fully formed (which isn't a bad thing, to me). It sounds like an instrumental to an actual dance song as opposed to a "very simple" cue. It has a few lead motifs going on that may deter from it being placed below dialog. Along these same lines, it's pretty long. I know cues are usually short, but I'm not sure that's on purpose. I think it can go either way -- does a producer get overwhelmed by "too much" material to choose from within one cue, or is "too much" a good thing? I really don't know.

These are just minor suggestions. I personally think it works well and compares to the ref tracks nicely.

[johnlewitt]

This is an interesting listing. On one hand you've got the written description (which I didn't think you were that close to) and on the other you've got sample references (which I think you are bang on with yours). Having meet the guy who writes all the listings and talked to him about the process, I'd say submit.

John

[VanderBoegh]

Definitely worth a fiver!

That cool bass line gets kinda lost in that section that starts at :50 though, then again at 1:35. Maybe an extra 2-3 db's there? Heck, maybe throughout the entire track for a little extra beef?

~~Matt

[PeterD]

Thanks Gents!!!

Appreciate the listen and nice words! In my defense - As far as song length goes, I'm thinking they can use what they want and toss the rest. My guess is it'd be the 'intro chorus hook section' anyway.

I'm really torn with the dated sound, but if the verdict comes back that they DO want that that sort of stuff, at least I have a few more like it ..

Thanks again!

[cpricemusic]

yeah, it's tough to know. so much contemporary stuff nowadays references older stuff. just so you know you aren't alone in the "dated" department, I uploaded one of the two tracks I came up with. i kept it short and to the point, thinking they can loop any sections they might want to use.

again, i am not a cue writer but to me it certainly seemed like they were going for a 90s/00s catwalk/house vibe (which i personally have a fondness for anyway):

https://soundcloud.com/cpricemusic/danc ... -1/s-ikify

oh well, it gave me an excuse to compose something new and lose out on a lot of sleep last week. hey, it was fun !

[PeterD]

I hear ya, cprice ...

Say, your link isn't working? Maybe you're refreshing it as I'm trying to open it?

[cpricemusic]

oh shoot. it's private that must be why. here's a working link:

https://soundcloud.com/cpricemusic/danc ... -1/s-ikify

[PeterD]

Ah, there it is!

I like it, but 40 seconds to get to "the interesting part" is a REALLY long time. Getting to the point ASAP has always been a Taxi TV/Film music credo. We'll see if this type of listing offers some exemption though.

Do you think it's too late to edit the mix you sent them, adding a pad synth or something to give it a lil "more?"

[cpricemusic]

i thought about that intro as well. i do agree it takes a bit to get to the point, and as a totally inexperienced cue writer i didn't know if it would be better to have a few smaller sections of variation (including those first few of very stripped down measures) to provide options, or what. as far as an extra pad, i tried to keep it really simple as per the listing, but perhaps it's too sparse?

generally, i guess, reality show folks may not have a want/need for the drums-only part up to 0:10. perhaps maybe not even the next section which has drums and bass only.

assuming it's usable in any shape or form anyway, do you think the cut-to-the-chase part begins at 0:40 or potentially 0:25?

thanks for the suggestions, any advice to potentially make it a stronger pitch is, of course, always welcome !