Musical feud! - 18/11/08 -- 02/12/08 - Threeway

[Phemar]

This contest I couldn't make up my mind so I'm going to give a a choice between three topics, so choose the one that appeals to you the most!

First topic:

Pop rock - a blemish and commercialisation of rock, or just a few catchy tunes about angsty teenagers? You decide!

In this version of the tune contest you will be required to write a pop rock tune. Think of cheesy bands like Blink182, Sum41, Avril Lavigne etc.

Some examples of tunes I've written for fun:

• The freakshow is on - a silly song I wrote for fun: http://www.box.net/shared/g1du87kl4i
• Eeeeeeeek - unnamed pop rock ballad: http://www.box.net/shared/mmi4zgn1lb

Things to keep in mind:

• Switching bass notes - Pop rock tunes often use a form of pedalpoint to create their riffs, so playing the same riff with different bass notes often works.
• Breakdown - Often after the second chorus there will be a breakdown in which only the bass guitar plays. The quiet part of the song.
• Catchy chorus - Pop rock always has catchy choruses in order to sell the song.

Second Topic

Detective music! In this topic you will be required to write a detective theme song. Think either upbeat brass blasting an action packed tune, or sleazy backalley music with smoky saxophones blaring over some thick pads.

Examples:

• The theme from Sam and Max - http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/5729/snmcd.mid
• Some music from the new telltale games - http://files.telltalegames.com/samandmax/music/tvstudio.mp3

Things to keep in mind:

• It's all about atmosphere, so go for presenting a piece that makes the listener believe he is hearing a dark brooding tale of a man who's been tortured by the scum(m) of the city.
• Alternately, present a more upbeat piece, which shows the protagonist fighting crime. You can make it a bit more comical if you wish. (like the theme song from Sam and Max).
• Think swing! - Swing beats with jazz atmosphere!

Third topic:

Mexican folk music! Think of the sountrack to Grim Fandango, and other mariachi bands. The aim is to write a piece utilizing trumpets, trombones - Big band stuff!

Examples:

• Companeros - Festival music from Grim Fandango: http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/GRIM2-CD1/08%20-%20Companeros%20(Festival%20Music%201).mp3
• Ninth heaven - Also from Grim Fandango: http://www.scummbar.com/mi2/GRIM2-CD1/09%20-%20Ninth%20Heaven%20(Festival%20Music%202).mp3

Things to keep in mind:

• Trumpets, trombones, tubas - Whatever you wish. Think nice folk melodies on brass or woodwind with simple stringed or brass backing instruments.
• Flamenco guitar - You could use flamenco guitars to back up your melody with quick fills.

Competition rules:

• Entries must be at least 45 seconds long.
• Entries can be in .mp3 .ogg or .midi
• Entries must be in by the end of Tuesday 2nd December GMT.
• Participants must indicate which topic they have chosen.
• I will select a winner after that time. Entries will be judged on atmosphere, structure and choice of instruments.

Looking forward to some nice entries. Remember, have fun!

[Geratuza]

Good topic. I wanted to do the detective-theme, but noticed that my jazz-theory isn't good enough for that. so I guess I'll give the pop rock thing a try. [...]

edit: I failed with the singing part. Could not think of any interesting lyrics or melody, so I only have an unfinished file.
The song-structure was intended to be: [Intro-Riff (using harmonics of the lower frets)] [Chorus w/o singing] [verse] [Intro-Riff + Chorus] [verse] [Intro-Riff + Chorus] [first guitar first, then 2nd, then both together)] [Intro-Riff + chorus].

[Phemar]

Nope it can be just a backing track or an instrumental. Don't worry about the singing, I wouldn't expect everyone to do that!

[Dualnames]

Awesome ideas. I'll definetely give the second and third a try, I love the third most though..good job, mate.

[Phemar]

Nice! Can't wait to hear some entries

[Funkmast]

Second Topic: Detective!!!

"who's been tortured by the scum(m) of the city" - This sentence inspired me a lot
:o 

http://www.speedshare.org/download.php?id=C8EA3CEC11

it's a midi because my "good" computer is broken. And because midis rock!

[DoorKnobHandle]

Here's my entry for the second topic. Now, it isn't exactly upbeat brass and neither is it backalley/sleazy style but I hope it's still okay - after all you've given us three possible topics, where at least the first one is defined pretty blurry.

Here's the situation for the tune:

Our protagonist, a soon-to-be-retired detective, has just survived the grand finale of our adventure in which he single-handedly gunned down an entire gang of armed Columbian drug dealers in Tijuana. Their leader is lying over his desk, face down, with a bullet in his head.
The detective takes a deep breath as the adrenaline starts to fade away. Just seconds ago there was wild shooting, now there is silence. He throws his Magnum out of the window, lets himself fall against the wall behind him, sliding down. Tears are shooting in his eyes.

He couldn't save her.

[Phemar]

Only one week left to go!

Nice entries so far, hoping to hear some more. Your entry is fine, dkh, I just want to hear music, so anything is fine as long it's within the topic. The explanations I gave are just guidelines in case people get stuck.

[thomasregin]

Excellent categories! Would have wanted to participate in all of them, but since I had to choose, I had to go with the first one, Pop/Rock.

Take Me Home
Just a simple, bit cheesy, power-ballad about the journey home to someone you've been away from.

/Tom.

[Phemar]

Hi, sorry for the delay, kind of lost track of time.

Well, the winner for this week's tune competition is... dkh. I liked the emotion you portray through the brass section and it was a really nice tune. Good work.

Runner up in second place is Thomas Regin. I can hear you put a lot of effort into your entry and it sounds really professional.

In third place is Funkmast.  I really liked your entry, especially the second half. It had a lot of atmosphere and built to a nice climax.

It was a really hard decision :/ Sorry for the lack of trophies, I'm not so good when it comes to spriting.

[DoorKnobHandle]

Wow, this came totally unexpected!

I want to congratulate both others for excellent entries, though. When I first heard Funkmasts song, I thought "well, there go any chances", then when I heard thomas' entry I thought the same again...

Funkmast, your tune represented the perfect backalley feeling I think, really well done! The only thing that wasn't absolutely awesome was a lack of a melody, somehow. I know you did some chromatic stuff in the end but I was missing something memorable. So when I worked on my entry, that's where I started... :p

Thomas, your entry was just amazingly well produced, you are an awesome singer and sound extremely professional! I don't think I ever heard anything like this for a tune competition actually! The minor gripe I had with your entry was really just that I think it wasn't exactly what Phemar was looking for  (I feared the same for my song, though), I think he meant a more punk-emo-indie-like thing (such as the bands he listed, Blink 182 for example) and you delivered somewhat more of a country style.

Anyways, will start a new competition once I have an idea!

[Dualnames]

http://ags-ssh.blogspot.com/2008/11/dualnames-view-on-whats-new.html

See what I posted about Thomas posting here..that will make dkh more happy..

[thomasregin]

See what I posted about Thomas posting here..that will make dkh more happy..

Sure, my tune wasn't written specifically for this contest - just thought it might fit pretty well. Obviously it didn't!

Thomas, your entry was just amazingly well produced, you are an awesome singer and sound extremely professional! I don't think I ever heard anything like this for a tune competition actually!

Thanks a lot! As mentioned above, this tune wasn't written specifically for this contest. I should probably have mentioned this when I posted, but I didn't think it'd be a problem. I used to write original material for every contest I participated in and complained hard and long about anyone not doing the same - until the day I realized that I'd be spending my entire life writing original tunes for all the contests I participated in. So today I have to do what all my fellow participants did: Use material from the back-catalog.

Congrats on your tune! I enjoyed all the entries!

/Tom.