TAXI.com

This listing was for contemporary pop/dance songwriters a la Lady Gaga, Ke$sha, Black Eyed Peas.
My complaint is about the second tune I submitted for this listing, "I Want My Virginity Back!". The reviewer states: "Now this is a record that might be hard to pitch to somebody because of the blatant sexual reference. Most of today's young pop stars (i.e. Brtney Spears and Miley Cirus(sic) try to portray (at least for a while) a Virginal persona."
Here's my complaint: The listing asked for pop tunes appropriate for Lady Gaga, Ke$sha, Black Eyed Peas. None of these groups are known for their advocacy of virginity, to put it mildly. So why is this reviewer referencing Spears and "Cirus" (as he or she spelled the name in the critique)? I wasn't submitting to teen-pop idols, I thought I was submitting to "at the edge" artists.
And by the way, reviewer, Ms. Cyrus seems to be making a serious attempt to lose her "Virginal Persona".
And, as a parting shot: this lyric in my song, "I want my virginity back!!" is supposed to be ironical and humorous. There's nothing "blatantly sexual" about it.
Ott

The screener's comments made me laugh. Have they SEEN any Brittney Spears videos in the past 5 years? Miley's "Can't be Tamed" video got her a lot of heat from critics who thought she went too far. None of the referenced artists in the listing are purposely "Virginal". Ya gotta wonder...,

I realize that the volume of submissions in reply to pop and country listings must be daunting and the odds against forwards high, but you're entitled to better.

All you can really ask is that they judge your work by standards they laid out. If they are going to change the standards ex post facto, well, you can get that sort of arbitrary dismissal at American Idol.

I feel bait-and-switched sometimes. In fact, I did earlier this evening. I tried to relax, broaden my perspective, and remember this is only one person's opinion, right or wrong. But introducing in their critique a different brand of referenced artists than was in the listing? Booo!

OMG.... that is ALMOST as bad as when I submitted a instrumental to "COVERS OF CLASSIC ROCK SONGS - VOCALS AND INSTRUMENTALS" and a screener returned it with the "Other" check box checked and typed in the box next to it was "This listing is not looking for instrumentals".

I am telling you dude... I received and read that email detailing the screeners Taxi employs and it read like a who's who list... I can't imagine ANY of them saying something as ridiculous as that statement was. UNLESS I missed something... or it was some orchestral screener that hasn't watched any pop videos in the last 10 years... I don't know dude... I am lost too...

UNLESS it was to be pitched to a emerging "wannabe" pop star that is young and going to start their career off on the "I'm a innocent teeny be boppin' bubblegum chewin' sweetheart" foot, of course this is before someone hands her her first line of coke and then she goes nutz and starts smootching Madonna... I don't know.. I don't recall Lady Gaga EVER looking like anything other then someone who has been around the block. Not counting prior to being Lady Gaga that is... Black Eyed Peas, never struck me as virgin territory... and Ke$sha??? I didn't know much about her so I googled her... I click the FIRST LINK on You Tube which is "Tic Toc" and I see someone posted...

kriskoolkingCONCHUDA-1 week ago "I love how this song encourages whores to keep being whores."

I giggle... so I proceed to watch the video...

I heard her sing "got plenty of beer" among other things... and she is dressed so "virgin like" I can't barely imagine her naked... LOL

When the cop bends her over the car... THAT WAS definitely screaming virgin... for sure.. HAHAHA

I think someone is out of touch here, and it's not you Ott.

Rob

EDIT: Personally I don't think a song titled "I Want my Virginity Back" is a good title/hook because Virginity seems like a difficult, at best, word to sing in any hook. BUT... I didn't listen to your song so I am only going on lyrics alone. Something as stupid as "Tic Toc" is an awesome title and hook for pop. Writing for POP imho.. is only hard in the sense... you have to figure out a way to write DUMB and STUPID and pull it off. In other words, that sort of pop music never struck me as intelectual. You still need imagery though, like ANY genre, imagery works so well... Show me don't tell me in other words... A CRAPPY example would be, "I Want my Flower Back", or a better example although short on imagery, "Gimme what ya took from me".. JUST my opinion...

Edgy & Rob:
Thanks for the reponses. There's a couple more reasons I was so ticked. This reviewer gave me the worst numerical scores I've ever received for a submission, in almost every category. The song was professionally demoed in L.A. It won an honorable mention in the 2009 Great American Song Contest. Rob, it's the first tune on my site: www.myspace.com/suspendedspidersongs. Take a listen, and tell me if you still think the title doesn't work as a hook, or can't be sung properly. I'd appreciate it.
I'd mention how many returns I've got from TAXI screeners for this song, but don't want to embarass myself any further.
Ott

Hey Ott,

I gave your song a listen and the distorted guitars seem odd for that listing. I don't recall any songs from any of those 3 artists listed that have guitar so prominent... Also, once the song gets going it sounds fine but in the VERY beginning it seemed odd at the first listen.. like it was sloppy. Which was odd for a genre that can be "machine" tight.. no humanizing on the drums needed with that genre.

I still feel the same about "I want my virginity back" BUT that don't make me right... The singer did sing it well but it still strikes me as an odd hook. I just can't see a group of girls let alone guys singing along with it. BUT I used to be shocked about how many women would sing along with, "We want some pussy" when I was younger and hitting the dance clubs. SO.. I could be wrong.

I expected more of a computer sounding song for that genre and it sounded more like a pop rock to me.

IF I was the person screening I would have returned it for "not on target" for that listing....It still don't change how OUT OF TOUCH that statement was... I am just stunned. Unless I am missing something.. not getting the whole picture.

Good Luck in all you do Ott,

Rob

Rob:
Now THAT was some intelligent feedback. Thank you.
Ott