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Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:35 am
by AlpacaRoom
Snagged a return from screener #325 on the listing below for my cue "Great Curls"--the screener thought I referenced "Secret Agent Man" and "Walk Don't Run" a little too heavily. I hear it, for sure, but (of course) I wouldn't have submitted if I'd really thought I crossed the line. Figured I'd post about it since I've never seen a return comment like that before.

Oh well, chalk it up to experience, I suppose. I'd been riding a pretty good wave (ha?) of forwards for a while, guess it had to end sometime.


-Nick
Y140505SR wrote:SURF ROCK INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a fast-growing Production Music Library for placements in Film and TV. Give them MID-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals in the stylistic ballpark of Dick Dale, The Ventures, The Tornadoes, etc. Submit tracks with a spring reverb soaked sound that echoes the style of the referenced artists. Do NOT copy or rip off the referenced artists or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for feel, texture, tone, and vibe.

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:27 am
by cassmcentee
I get what the screener is saying, don't think that should have held your tune back though.
It's obvious it's not a rip-off
just sayin'
Till next time...

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:17 pm
by Casey H
Someone else told me they got a return on this one because the track sounded too similar to a famous surf pop song. It didn't sound at all like a rip off to me but had some similarities in places.

It could be that the screener had instructions to be extra careful in that area on this one.

Best,
:D Casey

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:53 pm
by 2lane
Hey Nick, I remember listening to this when you posted it up for review.
It's a great tune still I think!
Maybe if we had taken my melody, with your production, we might of had a winner? :D :D

Cheers,
Steve

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 3:07 pm
by uncbilly
they got a return on this one because the track sounded too similar
I thought that was the whole point of surf?
Love this track, great work!

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:01 pm
by AlpacaRoom
Casey H wrote:Someone else told me they got a return on this one because the track sounded too similar to a famous surf pop song. It didn't sound at all like a rip off to me but had some similarities in places.

It could be that the screener had instructions to be extra careful in that area on this one.

Best,
:D Casey
Aha, thanks for the note, Casey. Interesting!


-Nick

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:27 pm
by funsongs
uncbilly wrote: I thought that was the whole point of surf?
you mean sorta like:
"give us a Beatles tune, just don't make it sound too much like The Beatles." ?

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:21 pm
by 2lane
Thanks Nick...appreciate the comments over on my thread!!

Man, when I listened to yours, I thought it was a shoe in! Yes, one never does know.
Just the other night, forget which show it was, but they had a blatant rip off
of Iron Man on it. I mean, all the same notes, just mixed up a little, and the almost exact sound of the old BS album.....just updated.
So I wonder where the line is on "too close"? We know now where your screener thinks it is, but obviously, others have a broader scope
somewhere :?
The returns are not gonna stop either one of us, but it does get a little confusing at times!
BTW, if I may ask....where did AlpacaRoom come from? It's kinda interesting :D

Steve

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:29 pm
by funsongs
2lane wrote: where did AlpacaRoom come from?
:? ... pardon the butt-insky... I wondered the same thing...
on my own, only could come up with your live-show ambition:
"I'll Pack A Room!"...
making your venue owners very happy in the process. ;)

"may I have the envelope, please? ... and the winner is..."

Re: Evidently I'm a surfing plagiarist

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:07 am
by AlpacaRoom
2lane wrote:Just the other night, forget which show it was, but they had a blatant rip off
of Iron Man on it. I mean, all the same notes, just mixed up a little, and the almost exact sound of the old BS album.....just updated.
Have you heard the Burger King commercial with not-quite-Back-in-Black? Soundalikes are everywhere, but to be fair, those are very, very deliberate. Obviously this listing wasn't looking for those (not that I feel I delivered one, but still...).
2lane wrote:BTW, if I may ask....where did AlpacaRoom come from? It's kinda interesting :D
Ha! Well, the first apartment my wife and I moved into was in desperate need of a paintjob, and we were on a budget. It had a spare bedroom that I used as a studio that I could just about cover with one gallon of paint, so I picked up a can from the hardware store's "reject" pile--paints they'd mixed that people decided they didn't want--for $5. The name of the color was "Alpaca," which I thought was sort of funny, so the studio became known as the Alpaca Room. We're not in that apartment anymore, but I've still got a goofy picture of an alpaca hanging up in the studio.


-Nick