Musical Description

[Majyk]

Okay. So I got the idea for this from my writing class. Basically, you choose a song and write about it. Simple, yeah?

Rules:

1) Choose a song. It can be anything you want.

2) Describe the song in three or more sentences. Talk about the music, what the song is about, why people should listen to it, etc. (The point is to make someone want to listen to the song just by describing it.)

I had to do five similar writings for my class, so here are two example, changed slightly to fit this contest:

(Formatting:

Last name, first (unless it's a band or group). "Song Title." Album.)

Morricone, Ennio. “Vita Nostra.” The Mission.
From the movie soundtrack “The Mission”—which is based on the eighteenth-century Jesuit missionaries in Brazil—this song is an emotional piece played during one of the rare peaceful moments throughout the film. Vita Nostra translates to “our life”, and the song begins light and airy, native voices singing in the background, beautifully strengthening in intensity as the song continues to a climactic ending. It has happened numerous times in my experience that when people hear the song it captivates them. There is something about this piece of music that stirs people, even if they cannot figure out why or what the reason is.

Yello. “Move, Dance, Be Born.” Zebra.
With a strong, continuous beat throughout, this song—along with its lightning-fast lyrics—might make you want to get up and dance, as the title suggests. From the very beginning where a voice murmurs “move, dance, be born”, this song continues rapidly, breaking away from lyrics altogether as it trails into music. Finally, it comes back to repeat the song’s title before fading off. A different type of song than what is usually heard on the radio today, this piece of music is interesting and new sounding, even if it was actually recorded over fifteen years ago.

All I can offer the winner is a critique. (But if they want a good crit, they'll know not to ask me to do poetry.) So that's the prize.

Let's say you've got until April 19th. That's two weeks, which should be plenty. Submit your entry (by PM) to me any time that day or before. And I need at least three people to enter, please. I've seen enough competitions flop because people said they'd write something and then didn't. This is pretty simple and not very long, so you should be able to do it.

Participants:

Tsuki
Lykaios
Clarissa
Draxzar
Iridescence

Sign up!

[Tsuki]

Okay ^^

[Clarissa]

Okie dokie. I totally wasn't bribed into doing this :) I've not got a lot of time - I'm trying to cram 3 weeks of work into 5 days - but I'll give it a shot...

[Draxzar]

I'll have a crack at this.

[Iridescence]

As will I. ^^ Really good idea.

Edit: Is there a word limit? I drafted a submission and it's 170 words, including the artist's name, song title, album. Is that too much?

(I listened to the first song, by the way. It's pretty.)

[Majyk]

Neh, whatever word count you end up with is fine.
And yeah, I danced to that song for my solo last year.

[Majyk]

Just a heads up to those who haven't submitted yet: Entries are due this Monday.

[Majyk]

All right, so here are the results. It was hard to choose because you guys all did a really good job of describing the songs you chose (I also listened to the songs so I could see what you guys were talking about. And, by the way, I liked all of your song choices). If you want to see the other two entries (and the other two writers are all right with it), I can post them as well.

So, first and second place go to...


Second goes to Draxzar.


Bright Eyes. “We Are Nowhere And It’s Now”. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

Conor Oberst, front man of Bright Eyes and primary song writer, has a way with music and words like very few artists today. His quavering voice delivers the lines of We Are Nowhere And It’s Now with a fragility that stresses the profound meaning of every word. He shows and doesn’t tell, and it takes a few listens before the desperation in the lyrics truly dawn on you. The emotion in his voice gives me the feeling that he could probably be singing nonsense but it would still sound profound.

The music starts with a swirling riff of guitar twang and rolling drums that fades quietly beneath Oberst’s voice as he quietly delivers the first verse. Building up to the chorus, his voice is so volatile it sounds as though he could break down into tears any second until a beautiful string and piano arrangement lifts the song into the chorus. The chorus us short but incredibly sweet, as Conor’s female accomplice Emmylou Harris joins him in a harmonised chant of the title “We are nowhere and it’s now” and then a burst of music into “And like a ten minute dream in the passenger seat as the world was flying round, I haven’t been gone very long but it feels like a life time” The song immediately reverts to it’s solemn state and Conor’s voice to more volatile than ever as he sings the finishing verse atop the quiet chimes of sombre piano keys.

There is something about this song that gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it. Perhaps it’s the way the lyrics take on a different meaning with every listen, or maybe it’s Conor’s ability to give you a sudden wave of realization over either something right in front of you that you have never thought much of, or something that only he has seen fully.



And first goes to Clarrissa.


Iron & Wine (originally by The Postal Service) Such Great Heights, Such Great Heights – Single

Lose yourself in a sea of beautiful, calming and emotional guitar notes. Let yourself be lulled into a deep sense of safety by the rich, soft voice of Samuel Beam as he harmonises with himself, creating a choir, a symphony of rich sunlight. The lyrics are rhythmic and flow like a stream through the woods. Experience gentle highs and crackling lows, all the while accompanied by the lingering notes plucked from the heart of a guitar. This song will make you cry for no apparent reason, or curl up in a ball and fall asleep, enveloped in a cocoon of comforting melody. When it ends, the notes trailing into nothingness, you are wrenched from your calm, and immediately you feel alone and unprotected. So you play it again, listening to the voice telling you that it’s a sign that the freckles in your eyes are mirror images. Everyone is taken to their own heaven, their own sanctuary from the world of shill, blaring noises. I find myself sitting on a warm, flat rock by a clear, bubbling stream in the middle of a sun-dappled wood. It’s a song filled with greens, browns, and yellows, a song filled with earth itself.


Congratulations, you two! And Clarissa, as I said, your prize is a critique (on anything except poetry), so send me a message when you want to use your critique ticket! Thanks for participating everyone!

[Iridescence]

CONGRATULATIONS! Great job, Drax and Clarissa! :D

[Sofiel]

Both are great, :) (Love Iron & Wine, but have never heard of Bright Eyes. Now have a new artist to check out!) ..

Will we ever get to see yours, Iri?

[Lykaios]

I missed it?

Oh bother, bother, bother.

Anyway, well done and congratulations, Drax and Clar! :D