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I thought it might be interesting to recap 2012's user showcase entries by creating a thread where people could analyze their favorites in terms of:
1) most original concept for a song
2) best lyrics
3) best accompanying performance on an instrument
4) best vocal performance
5) best overall composition
6) most commercially viable
7) best use of BIAB/RB
8) best mix
9) best approach to the CRAFT of song writing
10) best collaborative effort
if you can think of another criteria for judgement, just add it to your analysis.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go listen thru the past year's songs....
(edit: whoah! There really ARE a lot of them! Maybe that's why other industry awards tend to be won by recent submissions, since those are the ones the judges remember)
Last edited by Pat Marr; 12/16/12 11:26 AM.
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Hi, Pat, you're going to be listening a long time. And there's some great stuff there.
I feel bad that I just haven't had the time this past year to contribute to the user showcase (work and health issues have taken a lot of my time).
I'll have to work on contributing more next year.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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John, We are rowing in the same boat as other than the health issues, a few but not enough to keep me from music thank God, I just don't have the time to sit by a recording mic. I am fortunate enough to be playing 85 gigs a year besides the day job and a few fishing trips here and there. So as much as I would like to be writing and recording more, when it comes down to spending time with music I always choose to use that time arranging tunes I will be performing at upcoming gigs in lieu of studio time. Proof in the pudding is that the sample music on my website has not changed in the last 5 years. And did I mention I view recording as a chore.  Edited Portion: Also not saying any part of my game is as strong of many of our peers who post their work here almost on a weekly basis. Later,
Last edited by Danny C.; 12/16/12 10:41 AM.
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by the way, rather than turning this into a daunting task that requires weeks of re-listening... if you've spent any time at all listening to the user showcase, you already KNOW what has struck your fancy over the past year. You don't have to put a song to every category...
but if there is a song or user worthy of accolade in your mind, say so here in this thread. No prizes will be awarded or withheld.. it's more for the purpose of giving recognition for a job well done
What songs or artists caught YOUR attention in 2012?
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Quote:
I thought it might be interesting to recap 2012's user showcase entries by creating a thread where people could analyze their favorites in terms of:
1) most original concept for a song
my vote in this category goes to BO, by BOEHM
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=389701&an=0&page=0#Post389701
Quote:
2) best lyrics
I liked 90dbs "where there's a WILLS there's a way.
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=384214&an=0&page=3#Post384214
ANOTHER BREAKUP CLICHE by Austin51
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=386007&an=0&page=2#Post386007
IT COULD BE by Floyd Jane
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=389268&an=0&page=0#Post389268
will post more songs with excellent lyrics later... there are many!
Quote:
3) best accompanying performance on an instrument
I have several favorites in this category:
I really like the lap steel accompaniments by Mitch C
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=388538&an=0&page=0#Post388538
I also like the blues guitar accompaniments by TommyC
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=383639&an=0&page=2#Post383639
more later
Quote:
4) best vocal performance
need more time on this one
Quote:
5) best overall composition
this is subjective, because there are so many of the submissions that I think shine in every way. But one user whose posts consistently excel in arrangement, lyrics, vocals, mixing, etc etc is Steve Young. here's one example, but I could have picked ANY of his submissions
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=387778&an=0&page=1#Post387778
Quote:
6) most commercially viable
Again, there are LOTS of songs that could go here, and this is one of many subjective shots in the dark, but... I thought this song had commercial potential:
THE BEST CHRISTMAS by Guitar hacker
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=388261&an=0&page=1#Post388261
BO by BOEHM (already linked above)
more later
Quote:
7) best use of BIAB/RB
Again, there are many to choose from... but one user whose submissions consistently use the strengths of BIAB/RB to explore new territory and color outside the lines is MOOTSMAN
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=383751&an=0&page=4#Post383751
Quote:
8) best mix
The forum mixing GURU, of course, is RHARV
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=388797&an=0&page=1#Post388797
more later, there are lots of people here who are getting very proficient at mixing
Quote:
9) best approach to the CRAFT of song writing
Nobody on the forum pursues songwriting as a craft in quite the same way as Noel96. Who else has attended as many song writing seminars, and used that information to write one good song after another??
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=385116&an=0&page=1#Post385116
Quote:
10) best collaborative effort
I have a couple of favorites here.
in my opinion, best Long standing collaboration is between Josie and RSDean. One of many examples:
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=377220&an=0&page=9#Post377220
Best "reverse collaboration" (remake of another user's song) " Rog/ Jessie's remake of Eddie's song
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=389283&an=0&page=1#Post389283
Quote:
Most interesting personal style/musical presentation
Again, this my opinion, one of many:
HogTime's MAN I'M GONNA MISS MONTANA
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=388160&an=0&page=1#Post388160
This isn't a comprehensive declaration of excellence... only a very subjective and personal statement of what struck my fancy. There are more. I strongly encourage others to post their favorites too. Apologies that my choices are fairly recent... except for a few newcomers, they are fairly consistent with people who have impressed my musical sensibilities all year long.
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Quote:
I remember being hauled out on the carpet for suggesting this in the "User Showcase"
there's an old saying: "it's easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission"
Rule #1:
If you want something done, and its in YOUR power to do it... JUST DO IT!
If, on the other hand, you want SOMEBODY ELSE to do it, there will almost always be an argument and nothing will get done.
At least that's been my experience in life.
The difference is, I just did it, while you opened a discussion about it.
Whether anybody else chimes in with their favorites is anybody's guess, because that involves somebody else doing the thing *I* want. But that brings us to...
Rule #2
Once somebody makes the first move, the likelihood that others will join in increases.
Life is like a dance floor: Most people don't want to be the first person out there... but the likelihood of others dancing increases as soon as the first couple does
So... what are YOUR favorites?
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I'd get someone to video a performance of several of your favourite songs and post those an Youtube with a link.
Painless, and you can use a cover...usually. I'm always foggy on that issue.
And most others these days.
Back to freezing to death in the cold north.
Sam McGee a'int got nothin' on me,
I'm not headed to yon mountains to ski.
But I'll take a frozen cocktail under a wavin' palm,
And a blue warm beach vista, to linger on.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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