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Joe the banjo guy - Posted - 12/10/2011: 09:44:44
Hi folks,
I'm in a band, and we're about to go into the studio to record. We're hoping to get two albums worth of songs recorded.
What that means is that I need to start writing some more songs! In the past, I've had pretty good luck in terms of inspiring me to write by agreeing to a "songwriter's challenge" with an ex girlfriend of mine. We set a date in the future by which time we would have some number of new songs written.
I'm just wondering if anybody on the hangout would like to try this with me? Maybe something like we will agree to each write at least one new song by Feb. 1st? (As an academic, I have found that deadlines are fantastic motivators).
Anybody interested?
Joe
banjotom2 - Posted - 12/10/2011: 10:07:06
What kind of subject matter does your band normally cover?
We don't even know what kind of music you play... a rock band with a banjo? You never know these days...
If I were you, I might consider offering up some categories (or titles as in the following list), especially ones that people can relate to... such as:
* * *
1. The Old Barn and Grandpa's Still...
2. Old Dogs Make Better Friends...
3. Yer Favo'rite Pick- 'Em Up Truck...
4. My Future Ex-Wife...
5. The Dirtiest Job That I Ever Did Love...
6. Polly Ticians (She's from the Red, I'm from the Blue)...
7. Abraham and His Hot-Rod Lincoln...
8. George Washington Slept Here...
9. Grandpa's Old Banjo
10. The Susquehanna River Makes Me Quiver...
11. Whatever Happened To Good Old Country Music?
12. Why She Reminds Me of an Old Flat Tire
13. My Horse Gets Good Gas Mileage...
14. Riddle for a Fiddle...
15. Santa's Rocket Sled
16. Corn in the Fields, Hay in the Barn...
17. The Tractor Factor: Home On The Farm...
18. Bessie Was Our Milkin' Cow (She Picked The Banjo, But I Don't Know How)
19. Kermit The Frog Was The Name Of Our Dog...
20. How Ta Make Reckerds In Yer Back Yard...
* * *
Well, here's the titles...
Tom
banjotom2.com
Edited by - banjotom2 on 12/10/2011 10:08:21
Joe the banjo guy - Posted - 12/10/2011: 10:33:02
I'm not sure I'm following you, Tom. Nice titles, though!
It doesn't matter to me what kind of music people play. It's just a way to motivate each other to write songs. People can write them in whatever genre they wish.
Joe the banjo guy - Posted - 12/10/2011: 10:34:42
Oh, I see. You thought I was asking people to write songs that I could record?
No, that's not what I meant. More of a "songwriting support group" idea.
mike gregory - Posted - 12/10/2011: 12:45:03
I write when an idea strikes.
Truth IS stranger than fiction. I was asleep, dreamed that I was at an open stage, next in line, and could NOT remmeber any of the hundreds of songs I can usually play. Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul&Mary, Limelighters, H. Williams, Johnny$, nothiing!
So I dreamed that I made one up.
Woke up, wrote down the chorus, prety much the way it was in the dream.
A steady Irish sort of beat
================
Jesus Christ got angry,
Jesus Christ got sad.
Jesus Christ got murdered for
Opinions that He had.
A sermon soft and gentle:
"Let's EVERYone be NICE!"
But folks won't stand fr crap like that,
So we killed Jesus Christ!"
=================
It's on my Home Page under the title "IF and THEN"
Basically, the strange thing is that, when it comes to making up songs, sometimes I can "do it in my sleep"!
Joe the banjo guy - Posted - 12/10/2011: 12:57:21
That's awesome!
I usually like to wait for inspiration to strike as well, but sometimes inspiration needs a little shove.
MrNatch3L - Posted - 12/10/2011: 23:25:50
There have been a couple of songwriting challenge type things on the HO. The ones that I found most challenging were ones where there was one specific goal for the challenge. I remember Greg Connor's challenge to come up with a new banjo song about St. Patrick's Day. There was another that said either start with some line to either start the song or that should appear in the song. Or a title like banjotom2 suggests (well, he suggests a lot of them).
My latest song (see attachment) was partly sparked by a challenge on another site to write a winter-themed song. I was thinking about that when the geese flew south one day. Had I not had the challenge in mind, the song might not have happened.
I wish I was like Mike there. Read a post, write a song. My brain just isn't that creatively facile. It comes up with things but generally not on the spur of the moment.
My suggestion would be, toss out a theme or subject and yeah, a date.
Grumpy1 - Posted - 12/10/2011: 23:38:31
I carry a little recorder around with me to note any ideas I have. Usually when I play them back later I always wonder "What in the world was I thinking of? That doesn't make ANY sense at all", 
but I'll give the February time line a try anyhow. 
7M4 - Posted - 12/11/2011: 10:19:02
quote:
Originally posted by MrNatch3L
There have been a couple of songwriting challenge type things on the HO. The ones that I found most challenging were ones where there was one specific goal for the challenge. I remember Greg Connor's challenge to come up with a new banjo song about St. Patrick's Day. There was another that said either start with some line to either start the song or that should appear in the song. Or a title like banjotom2 suggests (well, he suggests a lot of them).
My latest song (see attachment) was partly sparked by a challenge on another site to write a winter-themed song. I was thinking about that when the geese flew south one day. Had I not had the challenge in mind, the song might not have happened.
I wish I was like Mike there. Read a post, write a song. My brain just isn't that creatively facile. It comes up with things but generally not on the spur of the moment.
My suggestion would be, toss out a theme or subject and yeah, a date.
Great song. Loved it.
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 01/30/2012: 18:17:22
I have a song written, "Take me back to Massachusetts" but can't quite play it up to snuff yet, so I don't think it'll make the Feb 1 target date unless posting it in notation with lyrics would count.
minstrelmike - Posted - 01/30/2012: 19:17:54
I have a country song in the works: the restraining order proves that she still cares.
but I'm philosophically opposed to deadlines.
doug.knecht - Posted - 01/30/2012: 19:54:18
I've got a song called Take Me Back Home Again I wrote some time ago.
Edited by - doug.knecht on 01/30/2012 19:54:56
mike gregory - Posted - 01/31/2012: 00:44:22
Partial quote:
"I wish I was like Mike there. Read a post, write a song. My brain just isn't that creatively facile. It comes up with things but generally not on the spur of the moment."
..........................................
Yeah, but when you DO write a song, it's a wonderful bit of lyric.
I can crank out a parody of an existing song, fitting silly lyrics about whatever the topic is, but my originals aren't all that common an event.
Your "Waiting Out The Winter" is a gem.
