Posted on - January 14, 2004 [at] 7:34 pm by Brad
Tagged in - songwriting
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So I have the opportunity to go to Songposium 2003/04 which is described as “An intensive one-day workshop for songwriters presented by the Songwriters Association of Canada.” Sounds intensive! And Canadian!
I’ve been told that a) you can bring one song with four lyric sheets and some Canadian songwriting experts will tell you what stinks about your song and b) the guy who wrote “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, recorded by Pat Benetar will be on the panel. Meaning I could potentially get one of my songs dissed by the guy who wrote “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, recorded by Pat Benetar, which would be quite the notch in the belt. I wonder if he finds it funny when people yell “Fire awaAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAYYYYYY” at him. I bet he does.
So the big question I guess is what song I should take to potentially get dissed. I have until Saturday to decide. Any suggestions?
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24 Comments on this post
jb on Songposium 2003/04
January 14, 2004 at 9:04 pm
It’s free, right? If it’s not free, don’t go.
If it is free, take “Dirtbag”. That a catchy tune right there.
And be prepared for people to yell “Set shit on FIIIIIIIIYEEERRRR” at you.
Or “Making Me Nervous”. That would be just as good. But if anybody tells you there’s a problem with that song, they’re full of shit. Flaming shit.
Brad on Songposium 2003/04
January 14, 2004 at 9:21 pm
It’s $60 but someone may be footing some of that bill for me.
I can’t imagine much coming out of it, but it’s right nearby and I’ve never gone to one of these things before so I can dismiss them and knowingly mouth off about them as stupid as hell.
Right now I’m kinda leaning towards Making Me Nervous because people seem to tend to pick that as their favorite off the album. I’m assuming it’s mostly going to be a folk crowd so I guess that would horrify everyone out of their jeans.
jb on Songposium 2003/04
January 14, 2004 at 10:13 pm
Those seminars smack of desperation to me. Like stand-up comics who buy jokes.
You don’t need them. I think you’re gonna rule the roost. And you know how I love to criticize!
I understand your motivation and desire to see what they might have to offer, but I’m afraid you’re going to find that they’re a lot like those songwriting books you’ve been buying.
Just remember that the people giving you a critique are probably under some pressure to find something to critique. And if they have to stand there, listen to your song, and critique it right away, they’re going to be finding surface things. They’re not going to have any kind of real insight into your lyrics.
They’ll probably tell you to get to the chorus sooner. Forget that, man. Forget it.
I hope I have built up enough anti-karma for you so that this seminar turns out to be the most awesomely informative seminar of all time, and you come back and say “jb you are so wack shut up already jerko”.
aniki_21 on Songposium 2003/04
January 14, 2004 at 10:18 pm
I love songposia!
(Sorry for the bad Futurama joke)
My favourite from IDKWID (and overall) has always been Overreacting, although There’s Something Wrong and You’re Not Going Anywhere are tied for a close second.
I don’t know which of your songs would be the best to get “dissed”… Making Me Nervous would be a good one to take because it’s fairly different from the rest of your stuff. So if they diss it too badly, at least it would only be that one that stinks.
Alternatively, if it’s well-recieved, it just goes to show – if you’re that good at something you don’t do often, then imagine how good you other stuff must be!
otto on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 12:58 am
I’m sorry about this but Pat Benetar is a woman, but you probably found that out already.
Have fun,
otto
Reivec on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 1:37 am
I personally think “I think I started a trend” and “You’re not going anywhere” are your two most well done and well written songs. They may not be the most popular, but usually the most popular songs are not really the best ones ;). I would put a big vote against “Making me nervous” myself.
Reivec on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 1:44 am
And actually while on the topic of dissing songs… what is up with fading out on “Time to take out the trash” right when you start the guitar solo… the song is just getting really good and you kill it :-P. You need to lengthen that song and finish the solo :)
ken on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 2:22 am
My vote is for “Borderline.” Thank you.
Chris Burkhardt on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 3:28 am
I second “Borderline”. That’s my favorite Brad Sucks song, anyway, I’m not sure if that qualifies it for being dissed or not.
swashbuck on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 7:20 am
Hmm, tough question, but I would chose to go forward with “Look and feel years younger”, the beats are more aggressive, pushing, and yet there are passages of soft lyrics, it is a very diverse song, and the tune is catchy, so the crowd will be singing along in no time.
And i think the lyrics are right out of weverybodies life. Second best would be “Making me nervous”. :-)
Ryan Hillier on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 10:22 am
I agree with the ‘Borderline’ vote. It’s one of my favorite songs; like early Beck. People love early Beck stuff!
Regardless of the ‘advice’ you may get, just know that there are a lot of people out there who love your music as it is.
Jason on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 4:03 pm
“I Think I Started A Trend” is my personal favorite. It’s just plain catchy and great to sing along with, to me the mark of a great song.
Heck, I’ll even randomly start singing it in my head even if I haven’t heard it in awhile. And how can you beat the lyric “Dead clothes horses running crazy out of the gates.”?
Max Donkers on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 5:37 pm
I’m wavering between Making me Nervous and Borderline as well…
But if you really want my opinion, just start playing your whole album and don’t stop. They won’t stop you :)
Xkavar on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 6:43 pm
So a while back my mom was telling a story about Stevie Nicks releasing her newest album. She was afraid, afraid that the people would toss rotten tomatoes at her if she released a rotten album. So one day she decided to get her oh-so-good friend Tom Petty down to dinner and convince him to write the songs on her newest record.
Tom Petty did in fact come down to dinner, as it was Stevie Nicks he was dining with. So over spagetti he sat and listened as Stevie cried on his shoulder. Tom comforted Stevie as best he could, telling her that all she needed was to get back in the saddle again and she’d be fine.
And then Stevie asked if Tom would help her by writing the songs for her record. “Hell no,” said he. “Write your own songs.”
Thus she did. And ’twas a hit to boot.
Write your own songs, make your own damn decisions and don’t bother the Internet public again with your trifle crisis of spirit. If you can’t make an obvious choice as to which songs could impress the idiot who made “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, a song witch no one remembers, then you deserve to die like all other the little Corbain wannabes plugging city sewers with their filthy corpses and stained lyric sheets.
JB on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 7:22 pm
Wow you’re a dick. Of incredible size.
Jefff on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 7:46 pm
Corbain?
What a strange post.
bigevildan on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 7:47 pm
I’ve been looking for one of those.
Shannon on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 8:30 pm
I personally think “Dirtbag” is a good choice. Also, I sang “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” for the fourth grade talent show, so I CERTAINLY remember it.
Jakob on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 8:40 pm
Heh heh, “Corbain.”
ken on Songposium 2003/04
January 15, 2004 at 9:43 pm
While I agree with Xkavar’s moral that you should make your own decisions, I also agree with JB’s observation that Xkavar is a dick. And I definitely remember HMWYBS. Ah, the days when I wore half-tees and miniskirts…
Jack on Songposium 2003/04
January 16, 2004 at 12:25 am
No one mentioned this, and since you said something about it being a folk crowd, I vote for ‘Fixing My Brain.’
For some reason, that songs makes me want to direct a teen movie and use it for the end credits.
tim on Songposium 2003/04
January 16, 2004 at 11:40 am
I often play Brad Sucks for friends in my car, and I think “Look and feel years younger” has the most appeal to people on first listen.
lisa on Songposium 2003/04
January 16, 2004 at 3:06 pm
1. i’d use “you’re not going anywhere,” (it’s been stuck in my head all week) but it looks like i’m the only one. :)
2. you don’t need a songwriting workshop. if you go, go for the reason of getting more exposure.
3. don’t dis billy steinberg! he wrote a lot of huge hits for madonna (like a virgin) and cyndi lauper in the 80’s. that’s too bad if he’s known as the guy who wrote that crappy pat benetar song…poor guy!
Bart on Songposium 2003/04
January 16, 2004 at 4:41 pm
Damit man! You dun need no stenkin symposium! Take it from a megalomaniacal authority on the subject; that you have some real solid songwriting skills… period.