TAXI.com

So I've had 2 reviews from Listener ID # 300, both are exactly the same about the same song. Which is consistent! However, what if I think that it's just an opinion? The critique is that the song could use a bridge. However, I opted for a guitar solo instead. I thought long about adding a bridge, but didn't because the song didn't need it. There was nothing more to say. No more re-coloring of the chorus was possible and would not have made the song any stronger (imho - which is my opinion - isn't that just as valid)? There are thousands of songs new and old that don't have bridges. Why does mine absolutely need a bridge?? I feel this is one of my strongest songs, and I guess for the genre that I need to submit it to, the same Listener keeps rating it. So what to do?

Happy to have your opinions on it:
http://www.facebook.com/tinmanwalking?v=app_19935916616
(song is called "We Should Be Kissing)

Am I crazy?

-----
Damian Hagger
http://www.damianhagger.com
http://www.tinmanwalking.com
http://www.racecardband.com
http://www.happyhatters.net

Damian: you're not crazy. I listened to your tune, thought it very hot, very professional. Also noted that this was you first post. I have two valuable suggestions for you, both based on experience on this site. First of all, I doubt whether a screener will ever respond to you on this thread. They gave their opinion (flawed or not), and are on to other things.
If you want legitimate responses as to the quality (or lack thereof) of your music, you should b posting on the peer to peer thread. This is where members will listen to your music, respond to your questions -- all for free. Further, in the case of this song, they will agree or disagree about the need for a bridge. This thread is the most valuable on this site. People who have had success post on it often.
So, go to peer to peer, post your lyrics (a polite thing to do), and give them a link to your song. Don't forget to comment on other people's music, this is a place where listening (and feedback) goes both ways.
I wouldn't have usually bothered to reply to someone on this thread, but I thought your tune very sweet. Good luck to you, and welcome to the forums.
Ott

Hi ottlukk! Thanks for the reply - and the suggestion. I will do just that and get some feedback from the community. It just seems very frustrating to not be able to communicate with the listener. I guess the industry is made of of "no's" though. I just feel that the listener is completely wrong in this case and would like a second opinion.

Thanks again!

Hi Damien - Nice tune, good production, definitely broadcast quality. It's hard to know what the screeners are thinking and in my experience it has everything to do with the specific listing. That said, there isn't alot of difference musically between your verses and chorus's so the song kind of stays in one place the whole way so perhaps the screener wanted it to go somewhere else since the rest of it is so similar? That would be my guess. If you're pitching to artist listings you songs have to be better than the ones that are available to the listing party through other channels, it's become a cliche around here but the bar is high and getting higher. Personally, I think this tune would benefit from a bridge.

Hope this helps, good luck!

eo

Hi EO - thanks for the second opinion! LOL.

Cool song! Sounds great!

What types of listings were you submitting to? My opinion is for most film/TV listings, this song does not necessarily need a bridge. It has SO much going for it as far as production, performance, hook, etc.

If you were submitting to publishers looking for excellence in pure songwriting, staff writers, etc or possibly other extremely high bar listings, the lack of a bridge could be an issue.

So, please post the text of the listings for which you were rejected because of no bridge. Also, it would be best if you could post one of the critiques in it's entirety so we could see what else the screener had to say.

Great stuff! I really enjoyed!

Casey

Hey Casey!

Thanks for the feedback. I did submit for a publishing opp - here's the listing:

S101028AC

ADULT CONTEMPORARY SONGS in styles ranging from Rob Thomas to Lifehouse to Sara Bareilles wanted by busy Music Publisher servicing numerous TV and Film projects as well as environmental applications (retail spaces, restaurants, etc.). Production should be solid with the warmth and emotional presence that characterizes this genre. Drums, especially, need to sound like the real deal. Moods can range from bittersweet to celebratory so long as the lyrics speak to today's sophisticated fans between 25 and 54 (because we all know things change dramatically once you hit 55!). Vocalists, MALE or FEMALE, should be able to project strength, stay on pitch and employ phrasing that seeps under your skin and stays there. Music must be dynamic with well-defined hooks, rock-influenced arrangements and a propulsive energy whether fast or downtempo. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three songs online or via CD and include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received by Thursday, October 28, 2010. TAXI #S101028AC

Also - here's the full critique:
Melody: 7
Lyrics: 7
Marketability: 7
Song Structure: 7
Production: 7
Engineering: 7
Musicianship: 7
Lead Vocal: 8
The song is well performed, however I feel that structurally it could benefit from a bridge section rather than a solo. This would create a more solid point of transition.

Style: On target for this listing

Overall Comments
Hey Damian-The bridge is sometimes overlooked but using it is actually a more modern approach to structure. It gives a song more dimension, overall momentum and it keeps the chorus melody and lyric from becoming too repetitious as the song cycles out.

Sound Quality: Well-recorded

The main reason(s) you were or were not forwarded for this listing is:
The song could be strengthened with a bridge section.

I'll start submitting to non-publishing opps. Seems like a crapshoot! Thanks again for your feedback!

Hi Damian,

I agree your song is cool, you have talent, good mix, production, etc... I like it a lot. Why not try to put a bridge into it and put the solo over it? Historically that is where solos go... IF you feel he/she is wrong don't use it. You only lost a little time, but I suspect if you do it, you'll keep it because you will agree once done, that the song is better for it now.

What I think the screener is telling you and what I THINK you need to read into is... The artists (a la's) listed have a lot of bridges in their songs, you don't, so you missed the bus because you forgot part of your ticket... you submitted it again and got the same screener on the second time? And you still didn't have the missing part of your ticket Since the screener is going by these a la's I would say it's less opinion and more fact that you need a bridge... for this submission. ALSO... his opinion is a paid opinion... so it carries a little more weight then yours or mine. After all, it's his/her opinion that will get you through the door.. not ours.

Another way of looking at it is... this is the PAID person standing between you and a possible PAID GIG. Are you really going to act like he/she don't know what he is talking about? When I played live... if a club owner/manager said to me... hey does your band play this song? You can bet your a+s we did after that if we didn't already.

Anything I said in this reply was in hopes of convincing you to put a bridge into the song so you can taste success. NOTHING else is to be inferred from my reply. I am just one musician to another trying to convince you to do the smart thing. IF you have a strong enough following OR you feel that passionate about the way the song is, that you still choose not too, that is fine and I liked your song... I do agree with the screener though. I would have liked to hear a bridge. hehe

Good Luck in the future and good song!!!

Rob

BTW, there have been times when I did not have much love for a screener or two. Some of my critiques have been a bit frustrating, but you have a solid critique here. My advice is to listen to it.

If you really believe in the song the way it is, then continue to submit it for other opportunities. If you continue to get similar critiques from other screeners, then that may be something to look at. If the song isn't right for this listing, it may very well be right for another. The screener is basing their critique on the listing, that's their job. Of course there is some opinion in there, but we're paying Taxi for educated opinions. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't, but don't let one opinion sway you if you really believe in the song. If it continues to get the same feedback, then it might be time to change it or write something even better that has a bridge.

Just my 2c based on my experience.

Mazz

Hi again Damian
Rob and Mazz make excellent points. Everything depends on the specific listing. Keep submitting to different opps and see what results you get. There is a wide variety of types of opps, especially in film/TV. The universal nature of your hook line here is a big plus. It's still in my head, BTW.

Random thoughts...

There are things I do when I write today that I didn't always do because now I know they are often expected in commercial songwriting. So I rarely write outside of the V C V C B C (or similar variant) form.

You could make an excellent song here even better with a bridge.

Sometimes in lieu of a bridge, an instrumental (like you have) followed by a breakdown chorus is effective. The key, as you probably know, is the release and build of the tension.

I think the few lines leading up to your hook line could benefit from melodic differentiation from the rest of the verse, giving it more of a chorus or pre-chorus feel. If the rest of the song had more melodic variation, the screener most likely would not have focused as much on the need for a bridge. The bridge comment was not totally in a "song structure vacuum".

Best of luck!
Casey