TAXI.com

Hello!

Going through a rough patch of returns at the moment. This is the second in the last week that has really perplexed as I thought both were totally on target. I submitted my song 'Sunshine' for this listing:

Y120213UP

Top-Notch Music Placement/Licensing Company needs BRIGHT, CATCHY UPBEAT POP or INDIE POP for a national TV commercial. From the company, "The song must be uptempo, fun (bouncy or a little playful) and it must beam out happiness and joy. Some possible musical directions: ÊThe Polyphonic Spree - Hold Me Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7PD4cAQypIÊWorld Party - Put The Message In The Box - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDQeXpIaPpEÊSweet - Love is Like Oxygen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc1sgCT7X2c (from :30)ÊQuoting the company again, "Lyrically, the chorus needs to be very catchy and include themes about colors, rainbows, making something old seem new, making something look pretty again, home sweet home, or making a work of art." Songs must be at least two minutes long. As always, do not copy or rip off the referenced artists or their songs in any way, shape, or form. MALE or FEMALE vocals are OK for this pitch... PLEASE INCLUDE LYRICS! All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS by a person Hand-Picked by the listing company. ALL submissions must be received no later than 5:00 PM (PST) Monday February 20th, 2012.

As soon as I saw this listing I thought... "my song is a perfect fit!" Apparently I was wrong... The tempo/texture/lyrics I thought were right in the same area as the World Party song referenced. My song was returned with nothing checked but the 'return' box.

Anyone able to hear anything I'm not hearing?

Thanks!

Mark

Hi Mark,

I can certainly empathize. I'm no expert in interpreting Taxi listings (not by a long shot) but I think the line you should pay the most attention to is this one:

"All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS by a person Hand-Picked by the listing company."

I don't know if that means a hand picked current Taxi screener, or somebody from the company itself? If it's the latter, it's very likely they just didn't feel it fit into their project for whatever reason(s). And possibly even if it was a Taxi screener, but I would think they would have at least checked off a box or made some type of comment for you then.

Style-wise etc. it sounds right on to me. I think you just ran into a "it's not quite right for what we have in mind" kind of thing.

Just my two cents as always. - Roger

hey Mark,

I can't say why it wasn't forwarded after listening to 2 of the 3... (2nd link is down, deleted on youtube)... a la's and your song. I have also received some returns with nothing explaining why not forwarded. Maybe the screener just can't put their finger on why, they just know it shouldn't go.

If you read the other print, on the Y/N critique, the term "gut feeling" is used. Perhaps his/her gut feeling is, it's not right for this listing. /shrug

If you really feel it was wrong, you can contact the head screener and get your submission checked again. Never know, they might decide to forward it.

Good Luck in all ya do!!

Rob

Thanks Roger and Rob! Yeah... I know... Just a bit of a bruised ego as usual.

I know you can't win 'em all...

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment. Much appreciated.

Mark

I can see why you'd be bummed.
A return's a return.

This track is so good that I'd try to jam it
into a placement wherever I could.

I have no wisdom nor insight on this one.

It's a shit-kicking, awesome track.

Sometimes, you're the shiniest Cadillac on
the lot, but they want an Oldsmobile.

(even if they said the wanted a Cadillac...)

Mark, first of all I loved your song! Excellent production also!

It was probably a forward, but since it was hand-picked by someone from the listing company, whom probably knew what the commercial was, you might say all were forwards and they chose what they might could have used.

I don't know how you would know that it was a perfect match? Let's say the commercial was for a laundry detergent. And using the description for what they want in the lyrics, " include themes about colors, rainbows, making something old seem new, making something look pretty again, home sweet home, or making a work of art." Sunshine is the enemy, it fades colors, makes fabrics age very quickly and look old real fast. They was probably looking more for something about making colors more vibrant and protecting them with uv shield, making your old shirts look new again, etc. Stop being so hard on yourself!!!!

*Can you imagine if a voiceover was saying, "Have your clothes suffered the harmful effects of the sun's uv radiation, the faded colors, the rotting cottons, now bring them back to life with "Oxy Magic Rainbow Restore Detergent". Have your clothes looking new again in just 16 washes!

top tune, Mark!

You fell into the 'hopes up' trap, so you post here wondering why.

It's all your fault : P

Keep it uncertain, it sharpens the edge . Edge makes for real grit. Grit makes geetars sound wikid

hehe ( hugs)

Thanks for all the feedback folks! I appreciate it as always. Yep, you're right Len... How could I know it was 'perfect' when I didn't know what the end product was... I guess I just meant I thought, based on the listing description that I was on target... I hope I didn't come across sounding arrogant! I don't have quite that much self-belief.

Thanks again.

Mark

I received, on one of my return critiques, that the production could have been better, but was not told which aspects thereof needed "improvement." There was some helpful or informative, more specific, personal comments, which I appreciated that someone took the time to write - as it meant that they cared enough about (or liked) my entry to do so. It's hard not to take subjective assessments personally, right? My attitude is, "Here ya go - if you don't want it, your loss." That preserves my sanity and my creativity. I can't knock myself out trying to meet vague standards, and what I do is what I do, how I do it. I'll settle for "yes/no" responses. We're all trying to fit down the same narrow gullet of a funnel, here, aren't we?

Mark I didn't read anything at all in what you wrote as being arrogant. I was trying to say that you shouldn't beat yourself up so much, and illustrate the point that as long as there are unknowns, it's impossible to say with certainty that you were on or off target necessarily.
It's always been for me that if there is a chance for error, I always make it,lol!
I once got directions from a man at a warehouse in Nashville, that give me directions to the other warehouse, I wrote them down, "Exit on the 2nd 1st street exit..." I passed the "2nd Ave. 1ST Street exit" and lo and behold there was another 1ST Street exit, so I exited and I ended up in a residential neighborhood in a big truck looking for the warehouse with the rest of the directions,lol! If the man had included the word avenue, or if there hadn't of been another 1st Street exit I would have done things correctly the first time.