What would you do?

[deantaylor]

Is the song worth re-producing, as a film/tv song only (NOT for artist pitches), using the same singer? If so, what would you do for:1. GENRE: would you stay country or change to folk-acoustic or folk-pop?2. STRUCTURE: would you cut the last 1:30 and go vcvc(tag)?Any other thoughts are welcome.listen here: http://www.mp3unsigned.com/showmp3.asp?mp3id=43994 Click on lyric button to read lyricThanks so much for taking the time,Dean

[deantaylor]

Any opinions? Thanks.

[bc]

Hi Dean,Gave it a couple run thru's -- my 2cents: a (first person) personal lamentation delivered in folk style. Don't waste time and money pitching this particular song for high bar Nashville listings. It might work for film/tv if you give it more visual imagery.Everybody there got wet. -- We'd dove in with our clothes onEverybody water-skied. -- Banana skis sprayed rooster tails Everybody fished. -- The ocean fed our families.Stuff like that.best,bc

[deantaylor]

Thanks, bc. Appreciate you taking the time to give us your opinion. Note: we agree with you on artist pitches, we are only considering this song for film/tv, NOT for artist pitches.Dean

[matto]

Quote:1. GENRE: would you stay country or change to folk-acoustic or folk-pop?I think bc made the excellent comment that it's NOT really country now. Should you produce it as country? No, cause lyrically and thematically it doesn't seem to lend itself to that genre IMHO.Quote:2. STRUCTURE: would you cut the last 1:30 and go vcvc(tag)?I didn't pay close attention to the structure when listening, but it did feel long.Since you're thinking of pitching this to film/tv...do something for me. Think of 3 artists that this songs sounds like. They don't have to be current hit artists, just well known artists overall.Post your 3 "a la artists" here so we can discuss...the reason I'm asking you to do this is because this is how libraries, music supervisors, music editors...in other words, your "target audience"...are going to be thinking.matto

[elser]

I think this song could easily go 'New Grass'. Listen to Alisson Krauss or Nickel Creek. The main changes would be the instrumentation, there's alot of fiddle and mandolin in New Grass and the groove, mandolin playing backbeat is kind of a staple in that genre. It's definitely a niche genre but has quite a few passionate adherents, I wouldn't be surprised if a listing came up sometime for it. It does feel long though, you could break it up with a few solo's and cut out some verses. You might take it up a few ticks in tempo...I don't know, food for thought. elser

[deantaylor]

Elser, thanks so much for taking the time. I see where you are going. I think I can hear an Alisson Krauss thing here. Increasing the tempo is an interesting idea, too!Matto, thanks, thanks, thanks. You hit on two things. 1. Genre: The original composer version of this song did sound country .. his vocals were country. Then we got a new singer, same track .. now it sounds kinda folk-country to me. So I wondered: how should the track be changed to best take advantage of our singers style, but also still accommodate the song? (Note: I am just a lowly lyricist, not a producer and my production ideas are 'sporadic'. Only occasionally do a I get a strong feel for how a song should go, so I ask others for opinions.)2. I can't name any artists that this song sounds like. I am just not good at that. Although after Elser said Alisson Krauss, I think that might fit. So, if you or ANYONE ELSE can think of 3 or even 1, I'd love to hear them.3. One more thing: I thought film/tv was often more interested in the mood and feel of the song, and not as much interested in 'what famous artist the song sounds like'. Although, yes I have seem listings ask for the latter, too. Just wondering: what percentage of taxi film/tv listings specify a 'sounds-like ...'? Of course, I know you would be guessing, that's ok, I won't qoute you on it. lolDean

[hummingbird]

Re #3 - as Matt says, this is how the industry thinks. I as an artist have to define my sound by other artists (Enya meets Charlotte Church with a dash of Kate Bush) and I as a songwriter have to know the "a la's" for a piece of music, which is often difficult for me! For film/tv you will see listings for songs/instrumentals with 'a la's' because they like a certain piece of music or style of music for the scene, but can't afford to pay for the big artist's music, so they want something similar. Or it's included in the listing to give you more specific feel for what is being looked for. You do see listings without 'a la's' but I would say there are more with than without.

[hummingbird]

Feedback on the song...... What I find is the music is too slow - not in tempo, but in phrasing. There is a melodic pause at the end of each phrase which is one reason the song feels / is long.Now I live in the city (pause)a city with no sea (pause)Livin’ here has got its perks (pause)but there ain’t no sailin’ breeze (pause)Ain’t no porpoise fins (pause)no big spaces to roam (pause)(So) Anytime I see a wide sky (pause)oh, I wanna go home (pause)it should be sung with a flowing phrase without stoppingNow I live in the city, a city with no sea (pause)Livin’ here has got its perks, but there ain’t no sailin’ breeze (pause)Ain’t no porpoise fins, no big spaces to roam (pause)(So) Anytime I see a wide sky, oh, I wanna go home (pause)THe chorus is better phrasing wise & flows well. I agree the song has a bluegrass feel especially with the harmonies in the chorus, and Alison Krause is a good a la. Amy has a sweet voice.

[squidlips]

Yep, boxy phrasing. Not many can get away with it without dragging the song's speed down to the basement and beating it pretty bad. Vikki had some good points about phrasing. I also put the pause (for breath) in elsewhere, not the expected. Drag out the word 'but' in the middle of the line, take a breath, then carry on with the rest of the line. It keeps interest.