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It was a little more challenging this year as I had forty songs to listen to and didn’t really have a definite leader until the last minute. It’s possible if I listened another week, that anyone of the Top 3 could have won. This was the toughest year yet and probably listened to every song close to 10 times. I’m honored to be part of this process for this great organization. Please find my picks below.
Roy
Simply a nice song that could be played on any instrument with vocal or as an instrumental. Very easy to listen to and everyone who hears this song can share the writer’s experience. The overall feel of the lyric and the marriage to the music is the best in this collection. I love the rhyme in the setups, however the actual lyrics are not as strong as phrasing and melody. An example might be "My heart holds the key, to those memories" could be a little more unique. "So many tears I've cried" sounds forced and if I was producing, I would ask the writer to say it a different and more natural way. The song is great except for a few forced and “pre-owned” lyrics. This is a very good songwriter and I would love to hear more from them as I would bet they have more like this in their arsenal. This is my choice as the DSA 2008 Song Contest winner.
My Devil DoesOne of the best concepts for a song I've ever heard. The lyric will hit home to anyone who ever listens to it, especially artistic types who judge songwriting contests. Every lyric in this song is strong and well written. "Struggle to juggle the darkness and the light" is a brilliant rhyme and lyric. In the verse, the rhythm of the music seems to compete at times with the lyric. I have thought that I might be hearing more production than songwriting when making this comment, so I have given the writer the benefit as I feel strongly about the raw components of this song. I believe with a more straightforward, audience friendly melodic structure in the verses, it's a hit. This lyric is so good that nothing rhythmically or melodically should get in its way. Even with an average score on melody and structure, it’s still very strong. After hearing this version, the writer will have a difficult time producing a new one without this influence. If I was the writer, I would give this lyric and chord progression to as many producers and see what they come up with. I think you have a great hook and a lyrical hit here. Although I have made some constructive comments, I am more excited about this song in its untreated form than any song here. This is definitely a hit with a few tweaks. This writer is definitely experienced and good. This is second place.
This song stands out more than any song in this competition. The lyrics are simply captivating and you can't wait to hear the next line. The line where the singer couldn't find a pen so she "keyed I love you muffington on the driver door" is as good as it gets. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with the phrasing, but it grew on me and after hearing this song 6 or 7 times, I still look forward to hearing it again. Definitely a strangely inspired song. The melody underneath "If you ask me to, I'd come for you" is very "hooky", but I'm not sure the rest of the song has quite as memorable melodically. With that said, it is by far the most entertaining song I've heard in this collection. My guess is that this is not a prolific writer, but one who creates interesting and unique songs on a regular. I’d like to hear more from them. This is third place.
This song was not in my original favorites, and if I had made my choice after the first or second listen, it wouldn't have made the top group. The opening line of the chorus has a very rhythmic melody line where you feel moved. The setup for the chorus is perfect. If you close your eyes and listen to the melody in the setup without the lyric, it sounds like it's saying "Oh no, you don't mean that". The marriage of lyric and melody in this song is as good as it. It sounds to me that the singer is the writer and has worked and played this song for awhile. The phrasing is absolutely polished. Some may think this is a production comment, but I think it's someone who perfected a lyric with the perfect rhythm and melody to match it, especially in the setup and the chorus. The more I listened, the more I wanted to listen. Another great writer that I would like to learn more about.
This is one of the most interesting lyrics I’ve heard in a long time. The social and political lines are only outdone by the sincerity of some of the others, like "still wondering why the good Lord, had to take the other one" when referring to Vernon’s son, Elvis’ brother. Melody could develop with the story as it gets a little repetitive by the fourth time around. The hook makes one ask what is this about? I think the story could resolve a little differently in end and conclude that it’s about Elvis’ dad. From a structure (not production) point, it might have been a bit too leisurely, but I still found myself singing "When Vernon moved......to Memphis, Tennessee" from the first time I heard it and every round thereafter. This is very good.
"Shut Up, Shut Up, before you say something that makes me want to care for you" is a great line that is kicked off by a very memorable hook at the front end of it. This is one of those hooks that also stuck with me throughout the listening sessions and that’s why it made in the top group. However, the words in the verse seemed like they could be from a different song as they really don't complement the hook. If I heard the hook first in the song, I would expect the verse to be reflective of somebody talking about their relationship with singer to the singer.
Appealing opening, "Wait".
When the vocal hits the chorus, the words hit double time and really
bring the song to life. It feels genuine and real at this point. Name
of the song should be "Butterflies" as this is the most memorable line
in the song. I felt overall it’s a good song, but the writing style
feels slightly dated. Pretty Young Girl, Nice song, very good melody and phrasing, good imagery "dancing on the pole 3 times a night, good storyline, very current & sellable pop song. I thought this was original, but without a persuasive and memorable hook. With that said, it’s a good tune. Really a nice tune that takes me to the Cahn, Porter and Gershwin days. I could listen to this song many times and not get tired of it. I thought some of the verse lyrics didn't match up to the rest of the song. "I'd love you like no other can and hold you in my arms, etc....These words have been said in song so many times. If I was the writer, I would explore a different way to say the same thing. With that said, I still love it.
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