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Hello,

I think understanding Format is part of the mechanics of get your music to the end result of what is taught in the books of the book we love section. However, when we read a lising is states Dance/Pop Instrumental composers needed. If you check on Billboard you have dance and you have pop. Are there any ideas on how to establish an understand of what the listings mean?

Thanks,

Alan

An artist that comes to mind is Lady GaGa. She seems to have incorporated a lot of the production elements of dance music into the pop song format. If you study dance music, it really doesn't follow a lot of the pop song formulas, at least in it's form. A dance song might have an intro that's 2 minutes long, for instance, and layers of sound peeling away and then building back up over long periods of time is another aesthetic of dance music that just wouldn't fly in the pop market of 3 minute songs. But there are elements of the production such as drum sounds and synth sounds, certain types of beats, etc., that have cross pollinated into pop music due to the rise of remixing and dance music DJs and producers crossing over into pop music production.

The best way to learn this stuff is to seek out the different artists and listen, listen, listen, and analyze what makes a style sound like it does, from the production to the writing.

Some of the listings put "a las" in the text and it's important to check those out closely. The listings that don't have a las will take a bit more research.

HTH,

Mazz

Mazz,

thanks for posting. I really have to check out that 2 minute intro thing. I do notice a lot of production. With Britney's Circus I noticed somewhat a build up before the main thing. With Lady Gaga I have to listen again to hear a long intro and in Ke$ha as well. I am sure you are right though. I do study the songs and artists given to decide how to cover what's required but I seem to go a little out on them. I remember when Rob spoke on a Taxi TV Live web cast he spoke about the submissions, and that some of them are returned because they are not the same vibe while stylistically they are correct. Going from vocals to instrumentals can be a real task in some cases; such as when a vocoder is used on a voice for a bang, such as in a Britney Spears tune. Do you use Logic as your DAW?

Take Care,

Alan

thanks for your advice. I am having trouble writing a selection for Y100819BP which is a Dance Pop instrumental listing. I agree there's a lot of production for this genre. I really don't think the sounds inside Logic are contemporary enough. For me it's hard to tell if I am moving into Techno. What aspects of contemporary pop do you think exist in this genre?