What would you submit for this listing?

[matto]

Quote:Rob: I completely agree. I've had this discussion with a composer friend, who thinks it is funny when reviews for TV/film listings come back with criticisms that the verse and feeling of the song are great, but it doesn't develop the way a reviewer might like. As you say, for some purposes, the right vibe is far more important than a hook, and many songs don't get more than 30 to 45 seconds of air play in film/TV, so you might never get to the hook/chorus anyway. This is an interesting topic actually. I believe from my personal experience that the notion that a song submitted to a library listing should only make good background music, set a mood, and doesn't need to be catchy, to be a flawed one...and the same goes for the idea that "if they'll only use 45s of it, why does it even need a chorus?".What you are forgetting is that initially, you music will in many cases NOT be auditioned to picture. The library owner deciding which songs to sign will definitely keep a close eye on a song's useability for background applications, but will also want the most engaging, captivating and catchy songs possible so they'll compete well against other songs submitted for a given placement and will do well in more prominent situations where the song may be featured.Similarly, muisc supervisors may go thru a catalog of potential songs for a scene on their drive to/from work where the song is NOT put up against picture.The bottom line is that library owners, music supervisors and especially directors and producers (all of which are "gate keepers" who decide if your music is gonna make it into a production) are often not musicians, and a song that sets a perfect mood but is otherwise bland or a bit boring is not going to get them as excited as a song that also sets a perfect mood but, on top of it, is catchy and tighly crafted and sounds like something that should be on the radio. In context of the final scene, where the song is in the background with dialog and sfx covering up half of it, it may well not make a real difference...but it can make a BIG difference on the way into that scene. The difference being whether the song gets used or not...matto

[rcase]

Thanks Matt. As usual, some valuable perspective there..I have to confess to something...(a TAXI Confessional?? ) In the past, I've allowed myself the luxury of going down this path: "The songs I'm pitching to film/tv listings don't have to be 'as good' as they would were I to pitch them to artist listings.." Or: "I don't have to spend so much time on the lyrics when the song is just going to end up in a film/tv situation.." It even feels good to think that. Hey, less hard work. Who wouldn't go for that, right? But I do see that's a dangerous line of thinking. I know that all of us want to be creating the best stuff we're able to, at any given time. It's just seductive- for me at least- to cling to the belief that there may be a place for the material I create that is very good, very well produced, but maybe not hit material.

[matto]

Quote:I don't have to spend so much time on the lyrics when the song is just going to end up in a film/tv situation.." I'll give you that one, lyrics don't have to be as well crafted as they would be for artist or song pitches, but they still have to be good. And yes I know that's a relative term... Quote:It's just seductive- for me at least- to cling to the belief that there may be a place for the material I create that is very good, very well produced, but maybe not hit material. There IS a place in libraries for material like this. I think again we're talking about levels of "good" here. To me, a "very good song" has a "memorable hook" of some sort, or it's not very good really. And it certainly has some kind of a hook and not just a nice mood and decent verse.So yes there is room for "very good" songs in music libraries, in fact that's what you'll find in most libraries. OTOH there's not much room for mediocre or so-so material anymore these days, the quality of production music has risen quite dramatically in the last 20 years or so.

[jameslimborg]

Quote:Listen to the Blues Heidi McCurdy is the singer Got 2 dispatch forwards for this song yesterday: this listing (D070914PO) as well as the one that started the thread, to the same company. Then the same day, I got this paragraph in a review of the same song:Quote:This song is really close. some fantastic things about it, but i don't think you have nailed it yet. You have some great ideas, but did not assemble them in a way to get the most out of them and the balance of the song as a whole suffers. I do think with a bit of reworking, this could be very good. I'm not confused, and certainly not ranting. After all, I just got 2 forwards. I'm just pointing out that different songs find homes, even when other reviewers think a tune still needs work. And I agree with what the reviewer said about the song.It's All GoodWow... I'm impressed with your song title 'Listen To The Blues'. Love the section in the middle where you play some blues... and at the end... adds to the story of the lyrics. Forget about that critique! If you feel you are 100% happy with this song... that's all that really matters... and 'I' am... great job!