Writing From A Title

[Casey H]

Quote:SO, with that in mind, how about we post our best, undeveloped "title" idea. Don't post how you hear it produced in your head, just post the title. See if anybody likes the idea, and who knows where things could lead. Try to wow us or break our hearts or crack us up, but ONLY titles. What? And give away all these secret ideas that will make me millions one day? cAsEy

[ciskokidd]

I have two that have been in my book for months that I can't seem to get right."Indian Summer""Making Love with a Stranger"Cisco

[twilsbach]

So I suppose I should confess that's where my two titles came from. Thought that was my little secret stash of instant-inspiration.Quote:About six years ago, my songwriting partner and I found www.songfight.org,where each week the winner of the last week's contest posts a title idea out of the blue and anybody who wants to records a song with that title, e-mails it in and then anybody visiting the site can vote for it. We put ourselves through "boot camp" trying to write a song a week based solely on a random title. I saw it as a great exercise. The toughest one we did was "World of Screens."We won our first bout with a parody children's song and entered six or eight more before moving on to other projects. If you like a challenge and don't pay attention to the lovefest the regulars have for each other (they all think they're the next White Stripes), it's a good proving ground for new songs. Even if you don't enter the contest, using that week's title as a starting point may give you some focus and inspiration if you're in a dry spell. I wrote "Ain't Gettin' Any" (http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true) that way.Kathleen

[tedsingingfox]

Quote:About six years ago, my songwriting partner and I found www.songfight.org,where each week the winner of the last week's contest posts a title idea out of the blue and anybody who wants to records a song with that title, e-mails it in and then anybody visiting the site can vote for it. We put ourselves through "boot camp" trying to write a song a week based solely on a random title. I saw it as a great exercise. The toughest one we did was "World of Screens."We won our first bout with a parody children's song and entered six or eight more before moving on to other projects. If you like a challenge and don't pay attention to the lovefest the regulars have for each other (they all think they're the next White Stripes), it's a good proving ground for new songs. Even if you don't enter the contest, using that week's title as a starting point may give you some focus and inspiration if you're in a dry spell. I wrote "Ain't Gettin' Any" (http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true) that way.KathleenOK, I realize this is purely MY opinion, but just the name of that website turns me off. This ain't about fighting. This is about bouncing ideas off each other in the hopes of sparking something that might take an idea from title to finished product.(But I'm still going to go check out that site before the night's over. )Ted

[ncc1701]

Quote:OK, I realize this is purely MY opinion, but just the name of that website turns me off. This ain't about fighting. This is about bouncing ideas off each other in the hopes of sparking something that might take an idea from title to finished product.(But I'm still going to go check out that site before the night's over. )TedIt's more of a race than a fight, really. Think about it: A title gets posted and you have 7 days to write music and lyrics and do all the recording, editing and mixing (which may mean bringing in additional players). Many times I couldn't think of a hook until two days before the deadline.I suppose Dispatch listings are much the same, if you're writing new material for your submissions.I have to tell this story, though, about the WORST SONG I EVER WROTE. (on purpose!) I did it in a fit of nose-thumbing to the other "regulars," whom I felt were churning out nothing but self-indulgent emo ballads.I tried to only use 3 chords, but it just couldn't be done - had to go with 4. The lyrics were horrible. The title was "Bad Dreams." We needed an acoustic guitar, but neither of us played. My partner borrowed her dad's and had him show her the 4 chords, but she couldn't make the changes fast enough.So we both sat on the floor with the guitar on our laps. I used both hands to finger the chords; she held the mic over the strings and strummed!! It turned out EXACTLY how we wanted it.http://www.songfight.org/music/bad_drea ... eams.mp3By the way, we managed to also write a REAL entry for that week, and it's stayed one of my favorites:http://www.songfight.org/music/bad_drea ... ams.mp3P.S. For those of you who read this post before I came back and edited it, I apologize for slamming those other songfighters like I did. They had dreams and aspirations just like we all do and I was not very nice. Besides, some of them may have found their way to TAXI just like I did, and I would be appalled if another TAXI member was that harsh to a fellow musician. Kathleen

[tedsingingfox]

OK, so back to the original idea for this thread...I have no idea why this struck me as funny, but it did."(I Need You) DNA-ily"