TAXI.com

Here’s one Eo, Billg and myself just finished up. It was written specifically for this listing:

Distinctive, Upbeat ROADTRIP-STYLE SONGS needed by a MAJOR LEAGUE GLOBAL
ADVERTISING AGENCY. Preferred genres include: COUNTRY, POP, INDIE
SINGER/SONGWRITER, AMERICANA and FUNKY BLUES. Your song would be used for a HIGH-PROFILE TV SPOT for a MAJOR CREDIT CARD COMPANY featuring celebrities on a road trip. ORIGINAL songs are preferred, but GREAT COVER songs will work as well. Songs need to evoke the feel and pulse of the open road. Lyrics should be optimistic and incorporate references to BEING ON THE ROAD, THE HIGHWAY, a JOURNEY, or a TRIP. MALE or FEMALE vocalists who can convey a charismatic, friendly, feel good vibe are what they need. This is an elegant advertiser known for savvy, warm-hearted spots, so please DO NOT send anything too edgy or even remotely sad. BROADCAST QUALITY OR EXCELLENT HOME RECORDINGS ONLY…

This one was a blast to put together, harp, ukulele, real drums!!! We’re pretty happy with the way it turned out but please let us know if you have any ideas on how to improve it.
All comments and suggestions welcome.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_6108186

Ethan: Voice, Acoustic Guitars and Background Vocals
Bill: Harp, Bass and Background Vocals
Marc: Ukulele, Acoustic Guitar, Coffee Pot and Background Vocals
Brent England: Drums/Percussion

Highway To Anywhere
© 2010 by Okamura/Gaunce/Blackwell

I'll be on the road all day long
Turn the radio up it's my favorite song

And I can't wait to feel the road, beneath my tires, sun on my skin
I got the top down radio up, I'm on the highway
To anywhere, and everywhere, and where I go I just don't care
I got the top down, radio up, I'm on the highway to anywhere

It's a heavenly day with the big blue skies (hello skies)
Wind in my hair, and the mountains high

And I can't wait to feel the road, beneath my tires, sun on my skin
I got the top down radio up, I'm on the highway
To anywhere, and everywhere, and where I go I just don't care
I got the top down, radio up, I'm on the highway to anywhere

And it's my favorite kind of day
when all my worries wash away

And I can't wait to feel the road, beneath my tires, sun on my skin
I got the top down radio up, I'm on the highway
To anywhere, and everywhere, and where I go I just don't care
I got the top down, radio up, I'm on the highway to anywhere

Hey guys... seems like a great fit for the listing. I couldn't help but think of when we were on road trips as kids singing in the car, we would always sing an old Australian song called "The Road To Anywhere". Anyway, I'm not sure where you would place this song outside of this listing, but I think you pretty much nailed what the listing was asking for.

Cam

Nice song, guys, well done. I know nothing at this stage about how you actually make a listing, but as a punter watching a credit card ad on TV, this doesn't feel quite right to me, despite it being a great song. I can't help thinking that if maybe it was more electric, slightly punkier (do I mean more indi?), it would fit the bill better. With a girl's voice it'd be great for something like feminine hygiene. Don't want to seem negative, though, it's still great work. And I'm still singing the chorus.

I love the overall vibe of this. The jump rhythm was a perfect choice to get a feel good mood shining through!
Great job in few days, guys. I'm sure you'll get a forward on this one!

I actually thought about calling you guys up for my own project, after I wrote one for this listing too. But thought the deadline was too short, and you were busy too, I see now You really have a strong team for these types of opportunities. Just fantastic!

Awesome performances all over, lyrics, arrangement, performances, mixing. Nop notch!

This one was a lot of fun to play with. The vibe seems right on for the listing, at least for the Americana mention, & the uke (Marc's great idea) helps nail it. Ethan's melodies and Marc's production work constantly blows my mind.

I'm betting that if this one doesn't fly for this listing it will certainly find a good home.

cameron wrote:Hey guys... seems like a great fit for the listing. I couldn't help but think of when we were on road trips as kids singing in the car, we would always sing an old Australian song called "The Road To Anywhere". Anyway, I'm not sure where you would place this song outside of this listing, but I think you pretty much nailed what the listing was asking for.

Cam

thanks Cam, I'll have to look that song up, glad you liked it and glad we could tap into your long term memory!

nick.moxsom wrote:Nice song, guys, well done. I know nothing at this stage about how you actually make a listing, but as a punter watching a credit card ad on TV, this doesn't feel quite right to me, despite it being a great song. I can't help thinking that if maybe it was more electric, slightly punkier (do I mean more indi?), it would fit the bill better. With a girl's voice it'd be great for something like feminine hygiene. Don't want to seem negative, though, it's still great work. And I'm still singing the chorus.

Hey Nick, glad to hear the chorus is sticking with you! We went more the breezier Indie Pop route as opposed to punkier, (maybe you mean Indie)
I went back and was watching the Taxi USTREAM that I missed (Getting More Forwards from TAXI) and they actually talked specifically about this listing and talked about a common trend with these types of commercials, including feminine hygiene, and said "the majority of them are using ukulele's right now, it's a very hot instrument", so I wanted to get the uke in there for this one, we have a uke free version that sounds great too!
I think Ethan's has a distinct and unique voice that any ad agency would love! To me, everything seems to fit the criteria nicely, I hope the screener feel the same We'll keep you posted.

thesongcabinet wrote:I love the overall vibe of this. The jump rhythm was a perfect choice to get a feel good mood shining through!
Great job in few days, guys. I'm sure you'll get a forward on this one!

I actually thought about calling you guys up for my own project, after I wrote one for this listing too. But thought the deadline was too short, and you were busy too, I see now You really have a strong team for these types of opportunities. Just fantastic!

Awesome performances all over, lyrics, arrangement, performances, mixing. Nop notch!

Thanks Magne! This one was definitely on short notice, it's sometimes fun and exciting to have such a close deadline, a little stressful! I was so happy my friend Brent was able to crank out some live drums for us on such short notice, he saved us a lot of time!

Love the uke and the harp...nice Americana vibe and sounds real...always a plus!
Also nice how you jump right to the chorus...pretty much a requirement for this type of pitch me thinks.
Everything is done well and works.
I imagine only small chunks of this would be upfront while the voice over would have most of the focus.
I think it hits all the marks, but these folks are picky and probably only know what they want when they hear it.
Good job and good luck!

Forgot to say how impressive it is that you guys wrote and recorded this for the listing in just a few days. Nice work!

Thanks everyone for the kind words, it's very encouraging and much appreciated! I gotta say that Marc and Bill do all the heavy lifting, I just kinda scratch together a little idea and it comes back sounding like a million bucks! And Brent is just like having a real drummer except without the bad attitude, I'm, still not sure he's real!

Cheers all!

eo

Sweet tune. Love the harp!