The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => Feedback on Finished songs => Topic started by: MichaelA on October 01, 2019, 07:42:31 PM
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I may have completely lost the plot, but decided the word needed a song called Ugly Baby. So now the world has got such a song and I shall hide.
Not sure about the mix and the overall dynamics, but it's here for now...
https://soundcloud.com/michael-a-duffy/ugly-baby (https://soundcloud.com/michael-a-duffy/ugly-baby)
Lyrics:
Ugly Baby
All the stars they looked down
And blessed our coupling
With a precious bundle of joy
But all grimaces and frowns
The grumpy midwife
Curtly delivered our boy
She said
Oh what an ugly baby
Oh dear
He must have fallen from the Ugly Tree
But we
We loved our ugly baby endlessly
Though what pains would the future bring?
Oh ugly baby, you poor cursed thing
Then all the stars looked down
Explained they’d blessed us
With a golden opportunity
On YouTube and Instagram
Big bucks were waiting
For our most hideous baby
Oh yes
Oh what an ugly baby
So sweet
He must have fallen from the ugly tree
And we
We loved our ugly baby, celebrity
Viral sensation, kerching
Oh ugly baby, you beautiful thing
Then even the cruel trolls, they could not win
With all the brand endorsements rolling in
And all the readies in our savings tin
From Ugly Baby Clothes
And Ugly Baby Toys
We'll always love you
Our boy
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Excellent! The world really does need an Ugly Baby song. I loved the the way that this was put together and your sardonic vocal delivery against a slightly cheesy musical backdrop. I particularly liked your ca-ching. I admire your imagination for delving into subject matter seldom written about. Loved it @MichaelA (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=21274)
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Fabulous woozy instrumentation. The juxtaposition of the cynical lyrics with the romantic schmaltzy backdrop is great. I also muchly liked the double-tracked deeper voice in the M8, and the waterfall pianos right at the end deserve a special mention too. Clever, funny stuff mate.
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+1 with pompeyjazz - there just arent enough ugly baby songs, could do very well, as there are plenty of kids that were last in the beautiful queue.
Catchy melody.
Liked the 808, bass and cheesey Farfisa (or whatever the organ is), and to me that could have been enough, there is just a tad too much going in places, I think in chorus...I think there are some close mic pops on the B of Baby.
Loved it mind....very hooky, masterful keys, that slipped past the first listen.
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Haha - my dear Dad used to say - "It's an ugly baby but someone has to take it home" ;D ;D
Good song - liked the lyrics and the wavery musical track which gives it all a carnival type feel.
Vocals are good too - no nits this side of the planet.
Paul
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Sweet verse melody! Just one thing that bugged me there, on the "down" and "frowns" I think you sing an E and the bass plays a D. The lyrics are fabulous and I like that your accent is there.
Well balanced and great production!
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Hi, Interesting choice for lyrics lol. Enjoyed the idea, the instrumentation was different, and that made it stand out. Good melody and vocals. I thought somewhere there was a meandering bass note that got out of place :P ;).
Good listen!
Cheeers
Jamie
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Thanks for the encouraging comments guys, plus a couple of pointers which I have been grateful for and have attended to.
@pompeyjazz (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20269) , well actually I like how you yourself write about about contemporary issues, so could have imagined this lyric from your pen. Maybe a bit more subtle of course! Similarly @PaulyX (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=21034), maybe you could have done something with this lyric set. ::) Well maybe...
@cowparsleyman (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=21308) , that was useful thanks. I have taken one of the synths out of the chorus and it is all the better for it! :)
Many thanks @Paulski (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19241) , your Dad knew best of course. Glad you liked it!
Again, thanks @t.wretborn (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=22159), bass lines are my weakness I think. Anyhow I have edited that offending D note! ;)
Same point and thanks @Jamie (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19125) , plus yeah in your own thread I mucho empathise with you getting frustrated when your music doesn't reach a wider audience. But we're all addicts on here I guess, and can't help but keep producing songs, even if the timeframe between them is a bit variable! Keep taking the tablets mate! ;D
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Ha! A leaf from 'Grumpy Cat's book for sure!
You get 10 extra points for using the word 'coupling' in a song lyric! It make me imagine a couple of trains going at it! ;D
I'd love to hear a female vocal in the chorus,just to see if it works...
Funny and cool as ever Michael...oh and the song started with a sudden jerk,fix that please. ;)
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Maybe the sudden jerk made the Ugly Baby @Skub (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20061)
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I love the lyrics.....its got a baby bird sound to it.
Well done !
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Hi @Skub (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20061) (and @pompeyjazz (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20269)) I have fixed the big jerk. It is just a little jerk now. But the baby is still ugly sorry!
And ta @Sebandme (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=22491) , yeah I had forgotten about Baby Bird, but I will go and dig out some of their stuff again. 'You're Gorgeous' - top Brit Pop that!
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Maybe the sudden jerk made the Ugly Baby @Skub (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20061)
@pompeyjazz (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20269) Ha! Reminds me of the old taxi driver joke. He swerved to avoid a child and fell off the couch!
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I never know what to expect from you @MichaelA (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=21274) , well except the unexpected.. How on earth do you come up with the themes of your songs!?!? Another cracker.. your wonderful wit on display.. Very clever as always.. great arrangement..
You've gone and done it again! :)
K
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Well I hoped the title delivered what I thought it meant, and you didn't disappoint!
Loving this mix of deadpan delivery vocals and catchy tune.
Smart, sharp all executed carefully
Put a smile on my face.
Going on replay
:-)
neil
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Ha Ha!
They're all pretty ugly, I reckon....Winston Churchills...the lot of 'em.
Inspired stuff and brilliant lyrics...I've encountered more than a few grumpy midwives over the years...I always thought they were the stormtroopers of the NHS.
The "ker-ching" bit made me laugh in particular. You've a great imagination and genuine comic ability.
I do kind of wonder about the vocals, to be honest, though I know distinctive is a very handy thing to have up your sleeve. It'd only take one song to get noticed though...and then that's what people would probably want from you anyway.
Funnily enough, the 70's based "Stingray" thing John and I recently did was initially going to be something about "ugly pop stars" which seemed to be all the rage back then, before it all got airbrushed, photoshopped and sanitised...
Anyway...you're bang on form here once again.
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Thanks Karen @MonnoDB (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19820) , well yes I think 'expect the unexpected' is a good motto for me too, as I am never sure how to start whatever I am going to do next. But at the same time, although it can be frustrating as well, when an idea finally starts to germinate it can sometimes become fun. But like a lot of us, I bet, I have lots of abandoned seeds of ideas left incomplete on my DAW!
But thanks for the support! :)
Hey @Neil C (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=18856) , glad this put a smile on your face. That's all I can hope for a song like this! ;)
Thanks too @PaulAds (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20253)...well I have thought a lot about my vocal style, and I realise that it is distinctive and as such some people will love it or hate it. But I do think it is best to be bold and sod it after that. When I was a much younger guy in bands I got taking to this prominent gig promoter of the day after my then band had just done a slot in his club. He reeled off about five or six bands that we sounded like. Then he told me, in his experience, bands that really become famous sound unique. Soundalikes get nowhere. So I do realise that some folk won't take to my vocal style, or indeed my style of songs, but as we all know it is almost impossible to get some wider attention these days. I would personally love a wider audience, so this style is my gamble, might work, probably might not. Who knows if I am right, but anyway I'm so pleased the song brought a smile to your face in any case, thanks for the kind words...and I'll keep taking the tablets!
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Hey there - nice work indeed! Really like the twist in the plot and the lyrics get stronger and stronger all though.
I confess I've also pondered the vocal delivery a bit. Nothing half-hearted about it, which is the way it should be - especially with a lyric-heavy song. I think the vocals are mixed quite upfront which, again, is probably a good choice where the lyrics need to be heard. But I can't help thinking I'd like to hear you "croon" a little more - just in places to give a little light and shade. Just a thought. Anyhow, definitely not wanting you to change your style and obviously you've thought plenty about it so I'll get back in my box (especially given my own unique stylings).
But I did like it! Very original and a great novelette in a song.
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I listened to this more than a week ago, and thought I'd posted. It's definitely memorable, including the chorus and melody. Lots of fun. I really like your style. Your songs are always a treat, and this was too. Great observation on pop culture.
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Thanks Adam and Lynn for this encouragement, all very positive! Ta!
I might start an ugly baby social media campaign and see if it catches on :)
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this is so clever and funny! I guess everything that can be said about this one, is already said :)
Brilliant song!