I'm Confused - Please help!
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 8:44 am
Hi everyone,
I just got one of my submissions shot down. I was pretty happy with the song I submitted, and the screener seemed to like it as well. They shot it down because of the sounds I used in the main melody section. Here's the critique:
I like this tune, so many great elements. The place where it falls down is in the choice of sounds for the main theme line. This sound gives the track a more dated sound, more like a retro video game feel.
Now, here's the listing:
Y170831QM
COOL, QUIRKY, MODERN SOUNDING INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed for an (up-to) $10,000, Direct-to-Music Supervisor placement as the Theme Music for a new Cartoon Series on a Popular Cable Network. They’re looking for fresh, Mid-to-Up Tempo Instrumental Cues that would fall in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references: “Friday Night Funk” by Flying Lotus: https://youtu.be/Zh44ghgHAeA “When Irony Wears Thin” by Prefuse 73: https://youtu.be/xw3RRUxhZqc “Quibb” by Yalone: https://youtu.be/7LnGfP_iAd4 Quoting the source: “We’d like to hear The Jetsons theme song meets a more contemporary Top 40 sound.” Seriously??? We don’t think the references they gave us sound anything like “the Jetsons meets a more contemporary sound!” The Jetsons (Theme Song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTq6Tofmo7E Here’s how we’d interpret this request: Give them something that reflects the cool Jazzy swing in the Jetsons theme (but don’t copy it, obviously), but with a quirky, cool, modern-sounding beat. Break some quirky (but not silly or childish) new ground, while doing it in a way that sounds like what you’d expect emotionally upbeat, Up-Tempo theme music to sound like. The checklist: Cool, hip, trendy, quirky, forward-moving, and building to a climactic (tah-dah!) TV theme-style ending. Do that while somehow finding a way to give them the essence of what they like about the Jetsons’ theme is your mission! We THINK their reference to the “More contemporary top 40 sound,” means the sounds (literally) and not a top 40-style. When you think of it like that, it makes more sense. Getting clarification from the executive producer -- who probably made that comment -- would be impossible. Your submissions should be at least 90 Seconds long with a stinger ending that sounds like a TV theme ending. You know…. an ending that implies, “Here comes the show!” Please do NOT copy the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use it only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). The estimated license fee for this placement is (up-to) $10,000, depending on the ultimate use. This is a Direct-to-Music Supervisor pitch. This will likely be an Exclusive deal, with the final deal points being negotiated with the TV show’s production company. You must own or control the Master and Composition rights to pitch for this opportunity. Please submit as many Cues as you’d like online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis – Short critiques only. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Thursday, August 31st, 2017. TAXI #Y170831QM
Okay, so here's my confusion: If you listen to the example songs, they seem to have a whole bunch of "retro video game" sounds in them. The Flying Lotus song seems like it's almost entirely made up of old video game sounds. One of the comments under the Prefuse 73 song tells you to listen to the sound at 3:00 minutes, and says that it's from "Sonic (The Hedgehog)." The link cuts out before you get to the 3-minute mark, however.
Anyway, I understand that this is a subjective thing. I'm just trying to understand how I misinterpreted the listing. Here's a link to my song on Soundcloud:
"Future Tense" https://soundcloud.com/makintunes/future-tense
Thanks in advance!!!
Tim
I just got one of my submissions shot down. I was pretty happy with the song I submitted, and the screener seemed to like it as well. They shot it down because of the sounds I used in the main melody section. Here's the critique:
I like this tune, so many great elements. The place where it falls down is in the choice of sounds for the main theme line. This sound gives the track a more dated sound, more like a retro video game feel.
Now, here's the listing:
Y170831QM
COOL, QUIRKY, MODERN SOUNDING INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed for an (up-to) $10,000, Direct-to-Music Supervisor placement as the Theme Music for a new Cartoon Series on a Popular Cable Network. They’re looking for fresh, Mid-to-Up Tempo Instrumental Cues that would fall in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references: “Friday Night Funk” by Flying Lotus: https://youtu.be/Zh44ghgHAeA “When Irony Wears Thin” by Prefuse 73: https://youtu.be/xw3RRUxhZqc “Quibb” by Yalone: https://youtu.be/7LnGfP_iAd4 Quoting the source: “We’d like to hear The Jetsons theme song meets a more contemporary Top 40 sound.” Seriously??? We don’t think the references they gave us sound anything like “the Jetsons meets a more contemporary sound!” The Jetsons (Theme Song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTq6Tofmo7E Here’s how we’d interpret this request: Give them something that reflects the cool Jazzy swing in the Jetsons theme (but don’t copy it, obviously), but with a quirky, cool, modern-sounding beat. Break some quirky (but not silly or childish) new ground, while doing it in a way that sounds like what you’d expect emotionally upbeat, Up-Tempo theme music to sound like. The checklist: Cool, hip, trendy, quirky, forward-moving, and building to a climactic (tah-dah!) TV theme-style ending. Do that while somehow finding a way to give them the essence of what they like about the Jetsons’ theme is your mission! We THINK their reference to the “More contemporary top 40 sound,” means the sounds (literally) and not a top 40-style. When you think of it like that, it makes more sense. Getting clarification from the executive producer -- who probably made that comment -- would be impossible. Your submissions should be at least 90 Seconds long with a stinger ending that sounds like a TV theme ending. You know…. an ending that implies, “Here comes the show!” Please do NOT copy the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use it only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). The estimated license fee for this placement is (up-to) $10,000, depending on the ultimate use. This is a Direct-to-Music Supervisor pitch. This will likely be an Exclusive deal, with the final deal points being negotiated with the TV show’s production company. You must own or control the Master and Composition rights to pitch for this opportunity. Please submit as many Cues as you’d like online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis – Short critiques only. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Thursday, August 31st, 2017. TAXI #Y170831QM
Okay, so here's my confusion: If you listen to the example songs, they seem to have a whole bunch of "retro video game" sounds in them. The Flying Lotus song seems like it's almost entirely made up of old video game sounds. One of the comments under the Prefuse 73 song tells you to listen to the sound at 3:00 minutes, and says that it's from "Sonic (The Hedgehog)." The link cuts out before you get to the 3-minute mark, however.
Anyway, I understand that this is a subjective thing. I'm just trying to understand how I misinterpreted the listing. Here's a link to my song on Soundcloud:
"Future Tense" https://soundcloud.com/makintunes/future-tense
Thanks in advance!!!
Tim
