The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat

Songwriter Forum => The Bar => Topic started by: andy5544 on March 28, 2012, 01:22:14 AM

Title: popular song review
Post by: andy5544 on March 28, 2012, 01:22:14 AM
Following the topic "just wondering" people seemed to think it a groovy idea to review a popular commercial song , which we'll change weekly .
If it's ok with y'all i'll put the first one up and get the ball rolling.
somehow we should organise a list of people wanting to put a song up which can be on a first come first serve basis.
message me if you like and i'll make the list,unless anyone else has a better idea?
here goes,

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

 
&feature=branded

I love this song , can't fault it ..... apart from it could do with some nice lead guitar going on. ( yes i always say that  ;D)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 09:27:57 AM
 I like it also, but when you pull it apart,it`s not that complex...the lyrics are nothing special...but i wish i`d of wrote it.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: estreet on March 28, 2012, 09:40:18 AM
The trouble with reviewing songs like this is that we've all heard them dozens of times: when you review a member's tune, it's the first time you've heard it and that makes it a very different experience. Maybe it would be better if people chose their more obscure favourites. Anyway ...

Unfortunately this lyric falls into a category I absolutely loathe and which I'll call 'accusational songs' ie: 'you're a bastard/bitch (delete as necessary) because you did this, this this and this.' It turns me right off and I think it's a pointless energy to put out into the world. Nice tune and all but there you go.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: domj on March 28, 2012, 10:22:01 AM
Never heard it before, don't really listen to popular music nor the radio.
Very simple song with basic easy to understand run of the mill lyrics. This song seems to rely more on production.
If one of us wrote this song and put it up for review... i'd say nice song... but i wouldn't listen to it again... 2 dimensional.
But then these songs have to be to catch a wider audience i spose.
Heard better songs here already.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: hofnerite on March 28, 2012, 11:29:45 AM
A really good commercial song. I agree with the above comments that it relies on production and the singer to create something more special than the sum of it's parts. the verse builds well into a memorable yet fairly common chorus melody.

Instead of elongating the chorus as the outro, I think I would have put in a middle 8 which soared a little more with it coming back to the last line of the chorus. The writing reminds me of Diane Warren with those open piano chords and simple melodies. Unlike her songs though, the lyrics here don't stand out as being timeless or particularly unique. Do I feel the singer is putting he heart into the lyrics, not really. Is it a timeless classic, no. but it is a good modern generic pop ballad. If I had written this I wouldn't be particularly happy with it until the royalties start rolling in. Then I'd appreciate it a little more. It's throwaway pop but the writing is competent and the delivery is good.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 11:35:47 AM
A really good commercial song. I agree with the above comments that it relies on production and the singer to create something more special than the sum of it's parts. the verse builds well into a memorable yet fairly common chorus melody.

Instead of elongating the chorus as the outro, I think I would have put in a middle 8 which soared a little more with it coming back to the last line of the chorus. The writing reminds me of Diane Warren with those open piano chords and simple melodies. Unlike her songs though, the lyrics here don't stand out as being timeless or particularly unique. Do I feel the singer is putting he heart into the lyrics, not really. Is it a timeless classic, no. but it is a good modern generic pop ballad. If I had written this I wouldn't be particularly happy with it until the royalties start rolling in. Then I'd appreciate it a little more. It's throwaway pop but the writing is competent and the delivery is good.

I agree with a lot of what you said...."commercial success"..seems to be a dirty word around here?....it`s not easy to come up with catchy tunes...
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: hofnerite on March 28, 2012, 12:08:54 PM
A really good commercial song. I agree with the above comments that it relies on production and the singer to create something more special than the sum of it's parts. the verse builds well into a memorable yet fairly common chorus melody.

Instead of elongating the chorus as the outro, I think I would have put in a middle 8 which soared a little more with it coming back to the last line of the chorus. The writing reminds me of Diane Warren with those open piano chords and simple melodies. Unlike her songs though, the lyrics here don't stand out as being timeless or particularly unique. Do I feel the singer is putting he heart into the lyrics, not really. Is it a timeless classic, no. but it is a good modern generic pop ballad. If I had written this I wouldn't be particularly happy with it until the royalties start rolling in. Then I'd appreciate it a little more. It's throwaway pop but the writing is competent and the delivery is good.

I agree with a lot of what you said...."commercial success"..seems to be a dirty word around here?....it`s not easy to come up with catchy tunes...


I agree. It feels wrong to say that I want to create songs like this because I feel a lot on here feel these kind of songs are worthless. It's still being creative, just in a different way. I'd rather put energy into creating something that will sell rather than putting energy into creating something unique that no-one will ever hear.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: mihkay on March 28, 2012, 12:14:05 PM
Firstly. I listened to this without watching the video. So no distraction there.
Secondly I'm reviewing this as the professional release it is.

Plodding Piano.
Limited vocal range until near the end with minimal expression.
Next to no development of a pretty basic progression.

So in a song with just piano vocal and a string pad......not really much to get hooked by. :(

So as a result I didn't even listen to the lyrics.

Obviously written for it's market. Not for me, I'm too old an cynical.  ;D

Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tina m on March 28, 2012, 01:00:16 PM
oh dear every cliche in modern pop recycled into one song...its music for people who cant feel & have no natural senses!
in a world of canned laughter cued emotions & X factor manipulation where we need to be told when to laugh & cry i think this cynical piece of marketing meets all the industry standards
but  worried thats not enuff this dead plastic white loaf of a song then gets a massive pretensious over the top emotion transplant from the totaly obese steroid pumped nonsense video!

ive wanted to rubbish a song on here for so long so this  was a perfect chance :)
 
hey why dont we have a thread where we review each others reviews ;D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 01:09:25 PM
oh dear every cliche in modern pop recycled into one song...its music for people who cant feel & have no natural senses!
in a world of canned laughter cued emotions & X factor manipulation where we need to be told when to laugh & cry i think this cynical piece of marketing meets all the industry standards
but  worried thats not enuff this dead plastic white loaf of a song then gets a massive pretensious over the top emotion transplant from the totaly obese steroid pumped nonsense video!

ive wanted to rubbish a song on here for so long so this  was a perfect chance :)
 
hey why dont we have a thread where we review each others reviews ;D

Yes, of course your right,but i applaud it for all that.....the music industry is just that, an industry, and this is a product, an Amstrad stereo system or a Ratners wedding ring......looks the part and it sells,it won`t last long but it`s chart material for a video generation...like i said , wish i`d wrote it.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: mihkay on March 28, 2012, 01:15:01 PM
Wish you'd wrote it?

If you just want to earn a living then fine, but artistically it seems to me that would be like saying

" I wish I'd grown those potatoes that these chips are made of"

or

"I wish I'd designed that new swing bin liner."

How long would you be happy for if you treated song-writing as just a job?

Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tone on March 28, 2012, 01:31:47 PM
It's funny this should be the first commercial song review. When I first heard this song it was someone else singing it, and I thought to myself "that's a good song".

But the more I listened to it, the less I liked it.

Here's what I think. It's a very strong melody and harmony. And some of the lyrics are pretty good. But it reeks of "professional songwriting". In other words I find it a bit contrived and slightly cynical. The space this song has for authentic emotional communication has been compromised slightly because one eye is firmly on the commercial appeal.

The mid 8 sticks out a bit too much for me - it doesn't necessarily sound like the same song, even though it "fits" technically.

If you are really picky, the chorus lyrics aren't really cutting it. Leaving scars, catch a cold. I can think of better punishments to be honest.

But like so much pop music, this one's all about the tune. And it's a good tune. Not strictly my cup of tea, but it's very singable. I don't like the middle 8 - and it reminds me of the mid 8 of "don't speak" by No doubt (a much better song than this in my opinion).

Keep the commercial song reviews coming - I think this is a really worthwhile exercise. :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 01:33:25 PM
Wish you'd wrote it?

If you just want to earn a living then fine, but artistically it seems to me that would be like saying

" I wish I'd grown those potatoes that these chips are made of"

or

"I wish I'd designed that new swing bin liner."

How long would you be happy for if you treated song-writing as just a job?



What makes you think i`m happy doing it as an amateur?

Write good songs with commercial appeal,isn`t that what most songwriters would like to achieve .

This isn`t such a bad song,i think your being a bit to purist,and it`s made her a lot of money,if she asked you to help her, on her next song, would you refuse, would i..doubt it,

And i agree Tone,,the lyrics are simplistic,,scars and cold, soul, ice...these are for teenagers ..65 + million veiws on Youtube,they got something right.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Ramshackles on March 28, 2012, 01:43:34 PM
oh dear every cliche in modern pop recycled into one song...its music for people who cant feel & have no natural senses!
in a world of canned laughter cued emotions & X factor manipulation where we need to be told when to laugh & cry i think this cynical piece of marketing meets all the industry standards
but  worried thats not enuff this dead plastic white loaf of a song then gets a massive pretensious over the top emotion transplant from the totaly obese steroid pumped nonsense video!

ive wanted to rubbish a song on here for so long so this  was a perfect chance :)
 
hey why dont we have a thread where we review each others reviews ;D
Yes! I havent posted as I thought I was the only one who thought this song was turd.
I heard it the first time today and it is unimaginative in every respect. The lyrics are forced and uninteresting and I guess that informed the melody which is just bland and boring.
The production is dull aswell. I dont think saying things like 'well produced/played/performed' etc applies here at all as it will have been done in a pro studio with a successful an engineer at considerable cost. For that, you would expect something more imaginative than some standard piano plonking and the usual string backing.
Ticks every box for cliched and formulaic popular songwriting.
The only thing I liked was the tinkling piano at around 2:15...but it sounds fairly lifted from 'hushabye mountain' which I prefer :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: hofnerite on March 28, 2012, 01:57:24 PM
Wish you'd wrote it?

If you just want to earn a living then fine, but artistically it seems to me that would be like saying

" I wish I'd grown those potatoes that these chips are made of"

or

"I wish I'd designed that new swing bin liner."

How long would you be happy for if you treated song-writing as just a job?

People enjoy eating crisps and billions of pounds are spent each year on bin liners! I'd rather have invented the bin liner and sold it to every home in the world than invent a single iPod and only I get to use it.

hey, each to their own, I just detect a little snobbery on this forum at times.  :'(

BTW, I'd be very happy if I could make a living from songwriting, even if it was 9-5.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: domj on March 28, 2012, 02:07:03 PM
I'd be as happy as a factory owner manufacturing bullets for the army as i would writing songs like this. Sure, the money would be nice.... but could i live with my conscience?
Maybe a bit too dramatic... but still.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: flossie on March 28, 2012, 02:14:00 PM
Why do songs have to be obscure to be perceived as accomplished.  What is wrong with predictable?  Sometimes I want to watch a film that really stimulates my emotions and is thought provoking and other times I want to watch a romcom or an action movie where I don't have to think.  Both serve a purpose surely and I see this applying to music too.

I would be more than happy to have written this and I would definitely enjoy commercial success  :P
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: mihkay on March 28, 2012, 02:23:23 PM

What makes you think i`m happy doing it as an amateur?

Write good songs with commercial appeal,isn`t that what most songwriters would like to achieve .

This isn`t such a bad song,i think your being a bit to purist,and it`s made her a lot of money,if she asked you to help her, on her next song, would you refuse, would i..doubt it,

And i agree Tone,,the lyrics are simplistic,,scars and cold, soul, ice...these are for teenagers ..65 + million veiws on Youtube,they got something right.

I really don't know if you are happy doing it or not, but I would have though that doing something you don't like for money is just wage slave not artistic.

Commercial appeal would be nice. But commercial appeal is now and has always been what the Marketing guys think they can sell quickly for the most profit. Now and again something a bit more unusual pops its head up and gets popular. Quickly followed by numerous clones driven by the industry and fuelled by wannabes. This again is not new.

I think it not a bad song, I just think that the professional songwriters and musicians with the full extent of their full-time working, industry connections, equipment, studios and opportunities....they chose to send out another bland, by the numbers tin of beans. Industry is right and a lazy industry at that.
If she wanted to record one of my efforts, I'd say go for it and take the cash. I may not have that much talent but I use it trying to write stuff that I like. If other like it too then that's gravy but I'm not a jobbing songwriter so I don't have to compromise or customise my output for anyone. It's remarkably freeing.

Finally I'm not a teenager. As a teenager, everything is new. It's not a fault it's just the way it is. I have been listening to music (all genres) for over 40 years and have gone back and listened to stuff released and written long before I was born. I have had the time to do so, a luxury not available to a 17 year old. So as a result there is very little that I hear now that is new.

You asked for a review of the song, not how good is it at attracting you tube hits. Well I'm comparing it to all the music I have heard...... and it doesn't come in the top 10,000 and I think I've explained why without prejudice.
I also know that a song can appeal for reasons other than the music itself. It reminds you of a time or resonates with a feeling or a place of a friend or just it was playing that night something special happened, but those are personal reasons for liking it I've got dozens of those. They mean the world to me but maybe would get slagged to hell if I posted it here.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: mihkay on March 28, 2012, 02:34:26 PM

People enjoy eating crisps and billions of pounds are spent each year on bin liners! I'd rather have invented the bin liner and sold it to every home in the world than invent a single iPod and only I get to use it.

hey, each to their own, I just detect a little snobbery on this forum at times.  :'(

BTW, I'd be very happy if I could make a living from songwriting, even if it was 9-5.

I detect a bit of defensiveness on this forum at times.   ;D 8)

We were asked what we thought about a song, not about whether it would be commercially successful.  ::)

All I was asking was, in an supposedly creative medium, does everything have to be driven by money and popularity? Reducing the argument further. Is being famous for being famous worth it?
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tina m on March 28, 2012, 02:38:41 PM
i thought we were supposed to review the song .....not say its good becos it  made  a lot of money for the writer & singer?
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: hofnerite on March 28, 2012, 02:53:14 PM
i thought we were supposed to review the song .....not say its good becos it  made  a lot of money for the writer & singer?

Agreed but I think to give an objective review, you also need to know what market the song was intended for and judge it accordingly. Personally I hate listening to blues music as to me it's basic, contrived and simplistic but I can tell the difference between a "good" blues song and a "bad" one and can review a blues song objectively without resorting to a quick opinion because I dislike the genre.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 03:02:45 PM
i thought we were supposed to review the song .....not say its good becos it  made  a lot of money for the writer & singer?

I think the general agreement is, thats it`s good trash,don`t know what else too add.Some ar`n`t going to  say anything good,others thats it`s catchy and visual and commercial,a clever bit of merchandising...

Let`s do Katie Melua "the flood" next ::)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: andy5544 on March 28, 2012, 04:12:14 PM
Now i think there must be something seriously wrong with me for liking it  :-[ :-[

Katie Melua , cool stick it up STC
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 04:16:33 PM
Now i think there must be something seriously wrong with me for liking it  :-[ :-[

Katie Melua , cool stick it up STC

OK..The Flood


&ob=av2e





Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 28, 2012, 04:21:25 PM
hehe. I'm loving the discussion on this one :)

Here's my opinion for what it's worth. ;) THis is in reply to the first song posted.

It's shit.
It's not well produced at all because it is OVER produced. It's plain, boring and been done a million times before. But even that is ok
if you manage to pull it off by being an amazing singer.

Someone said... not sure who now, "Why does music have to be obscure to be good, why can't music be predictable."
Well of course the answer is it can and is.  The problem is that when you are a child you start off by reading "peter and Jane" books.
This is fine when you are a kid. Those books will keep your inerest and you'll enjoy them, but read them as an adult and it's very different.
Those simple story lines will not keep your attention anymore and you certainly wouldn't want to read a compendium of them.

I see the mostly garbage that's in the "pop" charts the same way. It's pretty much always "Peter and Jane" stuff. And as a more accomplished musician
that doesn't cut it for me anymore, I have grown up and moved on to more detailed books, so to speak.
The trouble is that it is an industry. And whenever there is a lot of money to be made out of something, it will get taken over by the business men.
They make sure that what mostly sits in the popular charts is what THEY think people want. The choice of hearing good accomplished musicians is taken away by an industry that
spoon feeds us like we are all imbeciles. This means that everybody gets used to hearing music that is very much the same and the business men have an easier job
of getting those songwriters without a soul to keep reproducing the same old shit.

Saying,"I wish I'd wrote it." to me is like standing next to someone who slaps "War and Peace" down on the table feeling proud that something of value and something
of beauty has been crafted and then you bang "Peter and Jane" down still feel you can compare yourself. There's nothing great about Peter and Jane. It's boring. Unless you are a child.
And let's face it, teenagers are mostly who the popular charts are aimed at, and all those people who never venture far from listening to nursary rhymes for adults.
The reason for this is that to teenagers all these songs and repeated simple chord patterns are new! They haven't heard them a million times before... So they can keep seeling the same old thing
to them. As an adult... Well if you haven't moved on then you obviously haven't invested enough time listening to other forms of music and haven't moved on from the kids stuff.

Someone said blues is simple... Yes it is. But it has feeling and that's the difference.

There are some good songs make it into the charts having said that, although as soon as a new trend starts, the business men and producers with clean it up and sterilise it
and turn it into a weaker shadow of what it began as.

If anyone is proud to write Peter and Jane, clean it up, over produce it, make it into something that has no soul whatsoever, then cool, but I'll not be listening to it.
As an artist, craftsman, I'm not happy putting things together from ikea... I want to be in the shed using a lathe to create something if not totally unique and original then at least
something heading in that direction.

This is why I asked could it NOT be ONLY popular music but maybe something that's not been in the charts but that has still sold albums or whatever.
Something different from blar blar black sheep.

There are certain parts of the melody that are ok but it's another nursary rhyme.

Sure I would like to make money out of my music but I draw the line at selling my soul and having it removed from what I write. Even the soulless songwriters who churn this stuff out
for "the market" probably think it's shit.

Don't forget that a different response would be had from none musician/songwriters. But when asking people who are talented themselves in the same field to review something like this
I think the reaction is how I would have exected it. Again I will compare it to asking serious book reviewers to review "Peter and Jane".

But I suppose if you are not bothered about being really creative in music and you don't wish to push yourself then it would be a good career. An empty one, but you'd probably make a lot of money.
Hope you succeed :)


Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: hofnerite on March 28, 2012, 04:41:24 PM
Schav.... that's a load of rubbish! you have a very opinionated a simplistic view of music!

I assume from that tirade, you consider yourself a better, more original songwriter than Lennon/McCartney and co and are obviously striving to create a song that melts the listener into some kind of aural orgasm whereupon the universe will explode.

The definition of success is all in the mind. If you want to be successful at writing music that you consider better then anything anyone else could ever produce then that's fine, keep it to yourself. Just don't berate people who produce other forms of music. You are basically saying that anyone with less musical experience than you don't deserve music and some how you start off in life not appreciating what music is. Total crap.

.. as for the career aspect, what do you do as a job? Astronaut? Lord Mayor? Pope?
I reckon you're the type who walks round art galleries loudly proclaiming "a kid could paint that!"
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 05:16:39 PM
Well for me it`s a song/vid with loads of impact, that i watched quite a few times when it came out, but it does`n`t entertain me now too much..........now
I don`t think she`s a good songwriter,but she does have some interesting ideas.
The vids a bit gay for me,but it`s different...it almost all belongs, in a westend show,,,
Theirs an artist i know(with a record deal),i used to send her lyrics to look at..an when i met her, i sort of  suggested she do a song like this..to get more noticed.....suffice to say i no longer send her anything..lol
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tina m on March 28, 2012, 06:28:54 PM
Well for me it`s a song/vid with loads of impact, that i watched quite a few times when it came out, but it does`n`t entertain me now too much..........now
I don`t think she`s a good songwriter,but she does have some interesting ideas.
The vids a bit gay for me,but it`s different...it almost all belongs, in a westend show,,,
Theirs an artist i know(with a record deal),i used to send her lyrics to look at..an when i met her, i sort of  suggested she do a song like this..to get more noticed.....suffice to say i no longer send her anything..lol

i think the katie melua song should have a new thread..... its getting a bit mixed up with the first one?
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 06:45:22 PM
Well for me it`s a song/vid with loads of impact, that i watched quite a few times when it came out, but it does`n`t entertain me now too much..........now
I don`t think she`s a good songwriter,but she does have some interesting ideas.
The vids a bit gay for me,but it`s different...it almost all belongs, in a westend show,,,
Theirs an artist i know(with a record deal),i used to send her lyrics to look at..an when i met her, i sort of  suggested she do a song like this..to get more noticed.....suffice to say i no longer send her anything..lol

i think the katie melua song should have a new thread..... its getting a bit mixed up with the first one?

Maybe , but i don¬t think any ones going to say anything different than from..J of H`S .
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tina m on March 28, 2012, 07:03:13 PM
ok this is totally great becos its got loads of  fit young guys half naked & muscley all thru the video.....so its a brilliant song ok ;D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tone on March 28, 2012, 08:40:35 PM
Ok, the flood.

I don't like it very much. I'm listening without the video visible to get the least biased impression.

I don''t think it has a very catchy, interesting or singable melody. The chorus relies on the production more than the melody, and all told it's a pretty dull song. Lyrics are somewhat lacklustre. In fact, I can't really think of anything to recommend this song at all. The verse sounds a little bit like Abba melody-wise, only not nearly as good. The most interesting thing about this song is the way the melody changes rhythm in the verse. But I actually find that annoying - it doesn't draw me into the song at all.

I honestly can't see why anyone would like this. There are tons of better songs that sound roughly the same as this.

A polished turd. Ok, that's a bit harsh, but in terms of song-craft I think it's a bit mediocre.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 28, 2012, 09:06:39 PM
Ok, the flood.

I don't like it very much. I'm listening without the video visible to get the least biased impression.

I don''t think it has a very catchy, interesting or singable melody. The chorus relies on the production more than the melody, and all told it's a pretty dull song. Lyrics are somewhat lacklustre. In fact, I can't really think of anything to recommend this song at all. The verse sounds a little bit like Abba melody-wise, only not nearly as good. The most interesting thing about this song is the way the melody changes rhythm in the verse. But I actually find that annoying - it doesn't draw me into the song at all.

I honestly can't see why anyone would like this. There are tons of better songs that sound roughly the same as this.

A polished turd. Ok, that's a bit harsh, but in terms of song-craft I think it's a bit mediocre.

Does need the video , this one..i used to find the chorus uplifting.....
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tina m on March 28, 2012, 09:45:57 PM
definately needs the vid...turn the music off id say!
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 28, 2012, 10:41:44 PM
Just listened to The flood. I liked this one only slightly more than the first but again, over produced rubbish as far as I can hear.
Would have liked to hear some soul in it but alas it was soulless.

lol @ hofnerite
I do have a right to an opinion mate :) And did I say anything about me being better than anyone else?? I said it is what I STRIVE for in my music because I'm not prepared to settle for
writing Peter and Jane.
Lennon and McCartney?? What are you on? Probably the best example I could pick to support my own arguement. haha Probably considered by most to be THE best band ever
in the world. And did they stick to writing basic "Love me do, please please me" songs? NO. They experimented and pushed their music to new boundaries. Probably THE most unique
band ever. They went to india, they took drugs and they experimented like madmen. A great example of what I was talking about... Thank you  ;D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: mihkay on March 28, 2012, 11:29:50 PM
I think to give an objective review, you also need to know what market the song was intended for and judge it accordingly. Personally I hate listening to blues music as to me it's basic, contrived and simplistic but I can tell the difference between a "good" blues song and a "bad" one and can review a blues song objectively without resorting to a quick opinion because I dislike the genre.

Agreed, play you 100 blues tracks and variations on the theme and you may think they are all shit. I'd probably agree with you because it is a basically simple idea so everyone thinks they can do it. But there are tens of thousands of tracks that could be called "blues"
Same with pop.
But to use your example.
I'll bet eventually I could play you a blues based track you'd like. Just like there are some new pop songs that I like. But the wheat needs to be separated from the chaff. That takes time but I'm afraid that even within it's "GENRE", in my opinion, the first song was mediocre at best.

So onto the "GENRE" thing. I hate the term. Every time I try and put my stuff out on line, each site asks me which "genre" is it? I don't know! It's my style. I'm not writing for an audience I'm writing what I feel like and hoping there's an audience for it. There are good songs and bad songs and everything in between. Why you like them is personal and subjective.

But please do not ever try and defend mediocrity.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 28, 2012, 11:39:28 PM
Here here :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: andy5544 on March 29, 2012, 12:07:57 AM
back to the katie melua tune ,

i liked it , couldn't really sing along to it ,and i dont have one clue what it was about , not too fussed on all the muscle queens leaping around like demented ballet dancers ,but the tune was ok
first bit was like a bond theme , i liked it better when it speeded up, oh yea , needed more guitar!
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 12:28:00 AM
Got a really bad one here,,i won`t even defend it ,in any way.it`s got nothing.i mean zip....
.
In fact you might to have a listen to the YT vid below it after, just to readjust your ears,,

&feature=related

Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 12:36:42 AM
Hahaha. I almost severed my wrist with my lighter! I don't know which was more painful. The song or having to watch
the pre song video.  :D
I dare not get started  :P
I came to find this after just watching an amazing documentary on George Harrison  :D ;D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 12:46:04 AM
Might be good being played at a fairground.or at the dentist,you know when your getting teeth pulled ,without anesthetic and you need to something to take your mind off things. :D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 01:09:38 AM
Now that's just being sadistic! That would be double the pain!  :o :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Ramshackles on March 29, 2012, 05:51:29 AM
Ok, I'd like to offer up a 'popular' song for review that is a far cry from whats been put up so far...think we need a broader palette! So this is a song from an established, pretty successful band. But also one I dont think many people on here will know:



Artist: Midlake
Song: Head Home
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 09:22:54 AM
Ok, I'd like to offer up a 'popular' song for review that is a far cry from whats been put up so far...think we need a broader palette! So this is a song from an established, pretty successful band. But also one I dont think many people on here will know:



Artist: Midlake
Song: Head Home

Yeah ,i`ve not heard of them,i had a listen to a few tracks......good musicians.
Easy listening< sometimes bordering on monotone......i can`t really judge them on a few minutes listening time....but my first impression is they fail to excite me....Del Amitri ish ....
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 09:59:56 AM
At last. Never heard of them or this song before and although it didn't set my world on fire I would rather
listen to this over what's been previously posted any day of the week. At least they are a bunch of real musicians
and they probably (you can correct me if I'm wrong) wrote the song too.
This doesn't sound like a song written by soulless people in a song factory so it's worth a listen :)
Cheers Ram :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: flossie on March 29, 2012, 12:04:29 PM
Well I liked it! I am a big fan of Fleetwood Mac and this song has influences of them. i really love the harmonies.

Another song for consideration an oldy but a goody, somone mentioned John Farnham and The Voice, but i really liked this song by him, a classic 80s ballad. And if you don't appreciate the music you can always admire the mullet ahhh swoon! 



Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tina m on March 29, 2012, 12:11:33 PM
Ok, I'd like to offer up a 'popular' song for review that is a far cry from whats been put up so far...think we need a broader palette! So this is a song from an established, pretty successful band. But also one I dont think many people on here will know:



Artist: Midlake
Song: Head Home

i watched the vid with no sound to get some clues
hmmm lots of dourly dressed guys with beards in sensible warm shirts & bathed in the light of a aritificial log fire effect gas fire
im getting the picture ...its called head home so... obviously its a cold winter & the his shirts not warm enuff so hes heading home for  a coat!
yes that must be it ...& when i turned on the music it didnt tell me anything more

i thought the singers voice was weak... the best bit was the harmonies which promised a lot but for some weird reason they used all the best ones at the start & by the end had forgotten them & used boring ones & kept repeating them over a lacklustre chorus
it was pleasant & comfortable & warm but much to thin to keep out the cold
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: hofnerite on March 29, 2012, 04:31:45 PM

But please do not ever try and defend mediocrity.

Your mediocrity is another's inspiration.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 04:39:19 PM
I think that's the first time I have associated the word mullet with swoon. Where I live mullet=Chav haha.
Had a listen for about a minute and then had to turn it off. It was that sickly it felt like someone was making me eat
ten Caramac's in a row.
You could torture a person with this  :P
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: flossie on March 29, 2012, 04:56:35 PM
well my time was the late 80s early 90s, what do you expect!  How can you not like this song, you heartless brute  :o

You didn't even give it a chance, god, just as well we all don't review each others songs in the way we do on this thread, no one would post anything!!! ;D

i think the chords are lovely and the acoustic guitar undersatated and the way his voice soars towards the end is wonderful...! (so there)  :P
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 05:28:15 PM
Hahaha That's ok Floosie I mean flossie  :D :D
We can't all like the same stuff :) That's just my opinion lol. You don't have to agree or even like it  ;)
Heartless brute!  :D I like that. I might make it my new name on here...Brutus  :P
But yes... so back to the song. It's rubbish and gay sounding. Not that I have anything against gaydom either b.t.w.
some of my friends are gay and I have nothing against anyone because of thier sexual orientation (just before someone decides to jump on me for saying that)
but this is VERY gay hahaha. :D :D And it's about time you just accepted that rofl  :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 06:39:51 PM
Hahaha That's ok Floosie I mean flossie  :D :D
We can't all like the same stuff :) That's just my opinion lol. You don't have to agree or even like it  ;)
Heartless brute!  :D I like that. I might make it my new name on here...Brutus  :P
But yes... so back to the song. It's rubbish and gay sounding. Not that I have anything against gaydom either b.t.w.
some of my friends are gay and I have nothing against anyone because of thier sexual orientation (just before someone decides to jump on me for saying that)
but this is VERY gay hahaha. :D :D And it's about time you just accepted that rofl  :D :D :D :D

.

Floosie isn`t a nice play on words shove it, sorry Schavuitje. :D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 06:50:14 PM
Well then it's good that I wasn't speaking to you then isn't it  ;)
Tell me how long have you been here? And you know already so well everyone on the boards
and how they work and how they interact.
You must be really, really clever :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 06:56:59 PM
Well then it's good that I wasn't speaking to you then isn't it  ;)
Tell me how long have you been here? And you know already so well everyone on the boards
and how they work and how they interact.
You must be really, really clever :)

Oh yeah i forgot you threaten  to knock people out don`t you..suppose you just breath on them i guess.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 07:06:55 PM
Hey I'm just a straight talking person who is honest and says what he feels. It seems a lot of people on
here only like honesty if it is watered down or to put it more bluntly, not honest.
And yes. I'm kind of old-fashioned in that way. You can say a lot of things to me if said in fun.
But if you call me a wanker for having an opinion you don't like or because you have misread it then I take it very personal.
And in my world, if someone stands in front of me and calls me a wanker, I will spark them out. You can like that or not. But again I'm just being honest.
What's the matter? Did I give you a bad review or something? Because I can see you a gunning for me in more than one topic on these forums.
And actually I didn't threaten to knock anyone out. I said that if he had said that to my face I would have.
You are picking a fight with the wrong person and for the wrong reasons.
Grow up.
Allow yourself to get settled in before you start looking for fights with the residents.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 07:24:08 PM
Hey I'm just a straight talking person who is honest and says what he feels. It seems a lot of people on
here only like honesty if it is watered down or to put it more bluntly, not honest.
And yes. I'm kind of old-fashioned in that way. You can say a lot of things to me if said in fun.
But if you call me a wanker for having an opinion you don't like or because you have misread it then I take it very personal.
And in my world, if someone stands in front of me and calls me a wanker, I will spark them out. You can like that or not. But again I'm just being honest.
What's the matter? Did I give you a bad review or something? Because I can see you a gunning for me in more than one topic on these forums.
And actually I didn't threaten to knock anyone out. I said that if he had said that to my face I would have.
You are picking a fight with the wrong person and for the wrong reasons.
Grow up.
Allow yourself to get settled in before you start looking for fights with the residents.

Firstly m8  i`m not picking a fight with anyone,what i said on the other post wasn`t intended to offend,it`s just that i found my chain of thought was broken when a sentence suddenly disappeared and i had to look for the rest of it.
Secondly , your language might be normal in your area, maybe it is in mine, but on an open forum ,,we have to watch what we say..i think thats a fair rule for all.
Thirdly, your not a resident,i`m on several forums for all sorts of things...it`s not your local pub,your in cyber space...a new member is the same as anyone....hope you can accept my reasoning and we can move on.

steve
 
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 29, 2012, 07:43:48 PM
Well that's where we will have to agree to disagree. This isn't any other forum and a lot of the members here have become like
family because they invest so much time into this place and building friendships... and all that counts because that's how you
earn respect. People come and go on this forum and some people stay. You have not been here long enough for anyone including yourself to know
whether you will be a stayer.
The people who have already proven themselves to be stayers and thus the most valued supporters of the forum deserve the most respect.
Maybe one day you will be too but it is too early to say yet.
So a little more respect for what many see here as a family to which you are a very new member would be just nice.
And no, I don't agree with censorship and I believe I should be free to say what I think, as long as I'm not calling anyone a wanker for no good reason.
If I think something is contrived, done a thousand times before, weak or just plain shit. I will give my opinion and my reasons for it because they are MY thoughts.
You don't have to like them.
And I'm a fair player too. If I give a review and think I have been harsh - because I was in a crap mood that day, or whatever - Ihave no problems in going back into that thread
and saying "Hey, I was wrong about that. This is a good song."
There's a difference between a strong opinion that people may not like and personal abuse.
So yes. I suggest we leave it at that.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: chrislong170273 on March 29, 2012, 09:24:29 PM
what a thread, I dare not join in  ;D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: andy5544 on March 29, 2012, 09:43:46 PM
Bitch fight !!  :D :D  ;D
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 09:57:28 PM
`there has been a cessation of hostilites ..for now  :-X

Don`t get me going..lol
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: domj on March 29, 2012, 10:01:25 PM
what a thread, I dare not join in  ;D

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u138/Xiphan/Emoticons/popcorn.gif)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 29, 2012, 10:25:49 PM
Enjoy your pop corn!

Lets have another song..

A couple of girls i like to champion,

The Smoke Fairies.



or , just found this band by complete accident,

&feature=related
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: domj on March 29, 2012, 10:28:42 PM
Ok, I'd like to offer up a 'popular' song for review that is a far cry from whats been put up so far...think we need a broader palette! So this is a song from an established, pretty successful band. But also one I dont think many people on here will know:



Artist: Midlake
Song: Head Home

Have to say i found this a bit of a grind. The lead vocalist sounded like he really couldn't be bothered... it made me feel the same.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: flossie on March 29, 2012, 10:31:24 PM
Ha Ha Domj,


Whose idea was this anyway!!!
(http://www.pic4ever.com/images/pillowfight.gif)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 30, 2012, 01:05:11 AM
lol :D @ Flossie. Where di you get those boxing little fella's from? hahaha.

The smoke Fairies.
At first I thought yes, this is cool. Nice atmosphere, nice guitars and I actually liked the vocals, but
then it didn't really have enough of interest in it to keep me from getting bored with it. I think at almost
5 minutes long it is too long.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: domj on March 30, 2012, 05:40:38 AM
lol :D @ Flossie. Where di you get those boxing little fella's from? hahaha.

The smoke Fairies.
At first I thought yes, this is cool. Nice atmosphere, nice guitars and I actually liked the vocals, but
then it didn't really have enough of interest in it to keep me from getting bored with it. I think at almost
5 minutes long it is too long.


Yup, i think it would have been better as a 3min song as after that it was floundering. Needed more balls as well in the performace(not saying that cause it's two women.), but the mix is kinda muddy and little dynamics.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 30, 2012, 09:45:50 AM
lol :D @ Flossie. Where di you get those boxing little fella's from? hahaha.

The smoke Fairies.
At first I thought yes, this is cool. Nice atmosphere, nice guitars and I actually liked the vocals, but
then it didn't really have enough of interest in it to keep me from getting bored with it. I think at almost
5 minutes long it is too long.


Yup, i think it would have been better as a 3min song as after that it was floundering. Needed more balls as well in the performace(not saying that cause it's two women.), but the mix is kinda muddy and little dynamics.

They spent a year around the Mississippi learning their craft,that is the bluesy guitar sound,,for me the length is fine,i find it hypnotic ....
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Ramshackles on March 30, 2012, 09:58:58 AM
I think this thread is in danger of just becoming a place where people post their favourite songs and then get upset when other people don't like them.....
Theres already a 'favourite music' thread...
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: S.T.C on March 30, 2012, 10:12:59 AM
I think this thread is in danger of just becoming a place where people post their favourite songs and then get upset when other people don't like them.....
Theres already a 'favourite music' thread...

This thread veered off course ,very early on...but i think it`s interesting non the less...think it`s a chance to view songs that some might not have seen,myself included,,,
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: andy5544 on March 30, 2012, 10:31:22 AM
I think this thread is in danger of just becoming a place where people post their favourite songs and then get upset when other people don't like them.....
Theres already a 'favourite music' thread...

maybe , it's certainly not going how thought it would , basically to many opinions on other peoples opinions , maybe the idea someone came up with early on was to take one number from a music chart and use that every week to pick a song. The point of it for me was to show that no matter who makes a song and no matter how successful it becomes , you are never going to find everyone says they like it . anyhow what about that idea?
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Ramshackles on March 30, 2012, 11:30:49 AM
I think this thread is in danger of just becoming a place where people post their favourite songs and then get upset when other people don't like them.....
Theres already a 'favourite music' thread...

maybe , it's certainly not going how thought it would , basically to many opinions on other peoples opinions , maybe the idea someone came up with early on was to take one number from a music chart and use that every week to pick a song. The point of it for me was to show that no matter who makes a song and no matter how successful it becomes , you are never going to find everyone says they like it . anyhow what about that idea?

I think the single charts are fairly dull and full of the same kind of music....many many many bands do not even particularly release singles anymore. Especially as the definition of releasing a single is now fuzzy (all songs can be bought individually online). The charts are an exercise in marketing for record companies :P
Ok, thats just an opinion, but I do think a better way to do it would be to have some kind of administrator who you send your song suggestions to and they space out the review threads so that each song has an equal amount of time to be reviewed (maybe one a week is a bit much) and to prevent us from being inundated with new songs.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: flossie on March 30, 2012, 08:18:51 PM
I think it's particularly difficult and noticeable during competition time.  I would be really  reluctant to start placing more rules within a relaxed forum such as this. 

However, perhaps there should be a separate section for 'forum competition songs' (which most regular members are likely to look at/be involved in anyway)

On the main review thread we can just continue to ask (when the need arises) that people are polite and considerate about posting too many songs for review. I think newbies can get carried away because finally they've found there's somewhere where other people are excited about creating songs too and they can get unbiased critique, most people probably don't do it to annoy! (http://www.pic4ever.com/images/2mo5pow.gif)

Normally it doesn't take long for a new member to realise bombarding the reviews thread with songs does not lead to more reviews!

I would like to add that I also love that we all have such different tastes in music I don't find disagreeing with someone offensive but rather interesting instead!


(http://www.pic4ever.com/images/2uge4p4.gif)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Mr.Chainsaw on March 31, 2012, 12:03:48 AM
However, perhaps there should be a separate section for 'forum competition songs' (which most regular members are likely to look at/be involved in anyway)

A damn fine suggestion. We could have a sticky thread in there where people post competition ideas. The polling stations, etc all end up there, plus it tidys up the board a bit (i like tidy!). I'm not gonna say comp.songs aren't as important, but if its all for a bit of fun it makes sense to seperate them from the normal "serious" review posts. Plus it'll stop normal song reviews disappearing so quickly. Awesome idea flossie!  ;D

What do we think? Tone?
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: tone on March 31, 2012, 01:06:46 AM
I've also been thinking along the same lines. Despite being a notorious de-classifier, having a separate board or sub-board for competition threads seems to make sense.

Everyone in favour, say I :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 31, 2012, 01:57:48 AM
Aye captain :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on March 31, 2012, 02:02:03 AM
Ooh @ Flossie. Me too :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: domj on March 31, 2012, 09:42:33 AM
Aye  8)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on April 01, 2012, 02:56:29 AM
Thought I'd throw this in for review.

Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: madferit on April 02, 2012, 11:28:03 AM
Thought I'd throw this in for review.



Hahaha are you having a laugh,i thought this thread is about POPULAR songs  8)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on April 02, 2012, 01:04:03 PM
No... I think we decided early on in th thread that we wouldn't only stick to popular
music because most of us don't like popular music. It makes it more interesting to review
music from different genre's. Not just what the sheep find popular.
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: The Corsair on April 29, 2012, 07:23:21 AM
I think it might be a nice time to kick this thread back in to action...

These guys are a new Aussie band and are perhaps the manliest new music act out...
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: Schavuitje on April 30, 2012, 01:23:08 AM
That was bloody great. Loved it :)
Title: Re: popular song review
Post by: andy5544 on May 01, 2012, 01:58:34 AM
Excellent , wierd but good !!!