Song Titles-- not to be ignored

[niallyboy]

Hello All,

I want to share with you an observation about song titles. When an end user is combing through hundreds of choices to perfectly fit their specific needs, the first thing that will attract them is a song title that may somehow relate to the scene at hand. A song of mine in a library, entitled Mickey Slim, was eventually placed on a Showtime episode, whose main character goes by the name of .. . . . . . . . . . Mickey. I don't think that was a coincidence. Bob Mete, frequent forum and Taxi passenger, has a sultry jazz tune by the name of My Chardonnay. This tune has been placed a good handful of times, and I can't help but attribute part of those placements to a great name for a tune which conjures up what the music evokes. Of course, the music has to be great, but there's a lot of great competition out there. Getting the attention of a music supervisor with a hooky title may get that supe to click the play button.

Thoughts, anyone?

Niall

[superkons]

Well put! I often struggle at finding titles for my tracks that not only describe the music, but also spark interest in prospective users, but I think I have been getting better at that

[ResonantTone]

I think this is 100% on the money. Figuring out great names for your music is tough, but totally worth putting the extra time and effort into!

Andrew

[funsongs]

Hello All,

I want to share with you an observation about song titles. When an end user is combing through hundreds of choices to perfectly fit their specific needs, the first thing that will attract them is a song title that may somehow relate to the scene at hand. A song of mine in a library, entitled Mickey Slim, was eventually placed on a Showtime episode, whose main character goes by the name of .. . . . . . . . . . Mickey. I don't think that was a coincidence. Bob Mete, frequent forum and Taxi passenger, has a sultry jazz tune by the name of My Chardonnay. This tune has been placed a good handful of times, and I can't help but attribute part of those placements to a great name for a tune which conjures up what the music evokes. Of course, the music has to be great, but there's a lot of great competition out there. Getting the attention of a music supervisor with a hooky title may get that supe to click the play button.

Thoughts, anyone?

Niall

... us color-blind/color-challenged type can't read that.
But, yes - in agreement - Titles Matter Much.

[Pianosongs]

I need to improve my song titles, especially for my solo piano compositions. Does anyone have suggestions for where I might best browse what others have done with success? Kind of tied between really direct and unpoetic SEM strategy - i.e. "Beautiful melancholic solo piano song" or "Slow, reflective, minimalist piano song" versus more abstract, evocative type stuff like "Sad clown panhandling on the causeway" ... (ok, that one was tongue-in-cheek but you get what I mean).

[funsongs]

I need to improve my song titles, especially for my solo piano compositions. Does anyone have suggestions for where I might best browse what others have done with success? Kind of tied between really direct and unpoetic SEM strategy - i.e. "Beautiful melancholic solo piano song" or "Slow, reflective, minimalist piano song" versus more abstract, evocative type stuff like "Sad clown panhandling on the causeway" ... (ok, that one was tongue-in-cheek but you get what I mean).

May I boldly suggest that you post a track for which you are seeking a title that fits THE MOOD of it... in the General Hangout/Lyric Lovers/or Peer-To-Peer (probably best of those 3),
and consider working from the images your music stirs in others. In a small sort of way, it's akin to putting lyrics and a story to someone else's music.

Are you writing a piece to fit what a listing is asking for? Seems you can't really force-fit music... often the music has to tell you what it's feeling.
Or - make the title fit how it makes you feel... what's the mood of it do for you?

Example - this lock-down stuff. A simple title like "Caged".
What would you compose that would resonate with the listener, for whom that word completely describes how they are feeling?

Food for thought, or nought.
Cheers,
Peter

[Pianosongs]

Ok, thanks for the suggestion. Here are a few examples of songs I'm mulling titles for:

#1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7MnLJpPjyw
I originally just called this solo piano song "G Minor Waltz", then recently added a bunch of SEM words to the title, having seen others do so ... Is this the right way to go? What vibe do others get from this piece?

#2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6DyRFetNww
Have never known what to call this, so am calling it "melodrama" with a bunch of tagged-on descriptors to indicate it's solo piano etc.

#3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j08JVSuxn4I
Like many of you, I'm sure, I'm giving the "Pandemic Projects" ambient electronic tension thing a shot.
Short title for this is "confusion", long title has a bunch of additional descriptive words (Ambient Electronic Instrumental | "Confusion" | COVID Pandemic Dark Tension).

Open to all suggestions re titles for all three. I'm new to the "music biz" side of things and soaking up as much input as I can get.
Thanks!

I need to improve my song titles, especially for my solo piano compositions. Does anyone have suggestions for where I might best browse what others have done with success? Kind of tied between really direct and unpoetic SEM strategy - i.e. "Beautiful melancholic solo piano song" or "Slow, reflective, minimalist piano song" versus more abstract, evocative type stuff like "Sad clown panhandling on the causeway" ... (ok, that one was tongue-in-cheek but you get what I mean).

May I boldly suggest that you post a track for which you are seeking a title that fits THE MOOD of it... in the General Hangout/Lyric Lovers/or Peer-To-Peer (probably best of those 3),
and consider working from the images your music stirs in others. In a small sort of way, it's akin to putting lyrics and a story to someone else's music.

Are you writing a piece to fit what a listing is asking for? Seems you can't really force-fit music... often the music has to tell you what it's feeling.
Or - make the title fit how it makes you feel... what's the mood of it do for you?

Example - this lock-down stuff. A simple title like "Caged".
What would you compose that would resonate with the listener, for whom that word completely describes how they are feeling?

Food for thought, or nought.
Cheers,
Peter

[Pianosongs]

Oh, wait ... were you suggesting I post this question in a different forum?

Ok, thanks for the suggestion. Here are a few examples of songs I'm mulling titles for:

#1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7MnLJpPjyw
I originally just called this solo piano song "G Minor Waltz", then recently added a bunch of SEM words to the title, having seen others do so ... Is this the right way to go? What vibe do others get from this piece?

#2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6DyRFetNww
Have never known what to call this, so am calling it "melodrama" with a bunch of tagged-on descriptors to indicate it's solo piano etc.

#3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j08JVSuxn4I
Like many of you, I'm sure, I'm giving the "Pandemic Projects" ambient electronic tension thing a shot.
Short title for this is "confusion", long title has a bunch of additional descriptive words (Ambient Electronic Instrumental | "Confusion" | COVID Pandemic Dark Tension).

Open to all suggestions re titles for all three. I'm new to the "music biz" side of things and soaking up as much input as I can get.
Thanks!

I need to improve my song titles, especially for my solo piano compositions. Does anyone have suggestions for where I might best browse what others have done with success? Kind of tied between really direct and unpoetic SEM strategy - i.e. "Beautiful melancholic solo piano song" or "Slow, reflective, minimalist piano song" versus more abstract, evocative type stuff like "Sad clown panhandling on the causeway" ... (ok, that one was tongue-in-cheek but you get what I mean).

May I boldly suggest that you post a track for which you are seeking a title that fits THE MOOD of it... in the General Hangout/Lyric Lovers/or Peer-To-Peer (probably best of those 3),
and consider working from the images your music stirs in others. In a small sort of way, it's akin to putting lyrics and a story to someone else's music.

Are you writing a piece to fit what a listing is asking for? Seems you can't really force-fit music... often the music has to tell you what it's feeling.
Or - make the title fit how it makes you feel... what's the mood of it do for you?

Example - this lock-down stuff. A simple title like "Caged".
What would you compose that would resonate with the listener, for whom that word completely describes how they are feeling?

Food for thought, or nought.
Cheers,
Peter

[melodymessiah]

max martin and those guys can probably get away with whatever song titles they want, the songs will still be listened to. for the rest of us the title could be what makes your song being listened to at all. when the gatekeepers go through piles of submissions, it doesn't matter if you've written a masterpiece if the title is so unimaginative that it won't be listened to.

[funsongs]

Oh, wait ... were you suggesting I post this question in a different forum?

Yeah - the Peer-To-Peer board on these Forums - for more 'artistic' feedback; just my opinion.
Your mileage may vary.