S.A.C. Challenge – Week 6 – Choice No. 1 – Issued by Cara Heath – Writing for Radio
Written by Shira Katz
For this challenge, I can’t say that it’s “radio-ready” but I definitely came up with a very original pop song!
I created a song with the help of Michael Paul Vella called:
“Escape Dragon”
© Lyrics & Vocal interpretation by Shira Katz, music by Michael Paul Vella
Posting below written by Shira Katz, followed by song lyrics, followed by a copy/paste of this week's song challenge
In order to attempt another Pop song, I worked in a very original way. Michael Paul Vella sent me a backbeat that was 22 seconds in length, and I basically looped it and edited it down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. For the lyrics, I went with the dragon theme. I decided that in 2015, the world could use another song like “Ziggy Stardust”, something totally original, like David Bowie. One may also think of Chris De Burgh’s song “Spanish Train,” as a musical influence. I recently wrote a facebook post to explain what it feels like to have laryngitis and other cold-related symptoms, making up some song words. I decided to use my ideas and make it into a song, since I am currently suffering from laryngitis. I didn’t really use a set song structure as a blueprint this time, I went instead with freestyle singing, just improvising a bunch of words related to two initial sentences that I had written as follows: “My nose is pouring fire like a dragon’s nostrils wiped by his paws…there isn’t even a pill to soothe his voice lost in a battle of claws”. The second sentence I used was “He took the dragon’s lemon drops, his poison soothed by honey’s crops.” Those are words that I wrote in response to a post by Todd Wandio, who encouraged me with his kind words related to my post. I made the song all about emotion, where there is anger and fear and fun and people should be able to dance to it all at the same time. The idea is about conquering fears, running with the dragons. It’s about wanting to escape when one doesn’t feel well (as in having laryngitis), versus embracing the moment (such that I did by making a song anyhow). I hope you will enjoy the song and not run away (with the dragons) because it scared you…ha ha ha Yaow LOL!
Escape
Dragon © lyrics by
Shira Katz, music by Michael Paul Vella
Escape,
yaow!
Escape,
Escape, Escape, yaow!
His nose
pours fire
The dragon
nostrils wiped by his claws
Escape!
Escape,
Escape, Escape, Yaow!
There isn’t
even a pill to soothe his voice.
Escape,
Escape, Escape,
Yaow!
Escape
dragon’s potions
The
dragon’s lemon’s drops
I’ll
take’em
His poison
soothed by honey’s sweet crops
Escape,
Escape, Escape, Yaow!
The dragon
frowned cause he’s gonna throw his rocks
I’ll take
his claws and shake him at heart
Yaow,
escape (4x), Yaow!
Let’s all
jump ha ha ha
I know the
best place….to be!
Is running
with the dragons
Through the
forest trees
Escape (5x)
Yaow (repeat 3 times)
Ah ha ha ha
Escape, Escape,
Escape, Yaow!
1,2,3,4
(repeat)
He’s got
claws, he’s got nails
Escape
1,2,3,4 (repeat)
I’m running
with the dragons
Escape,
Escape, Escape, Yaow! (repeat)
He’s got
fire
It lights
up the night!
Escape,
Escape, Escape, Yaow! (repeat)
Fire! and
his paws
We all have
lemon drops
Since I’m
pushing fun
Ha ha ha
He’ll take
you right where you want to go
The wings
on his back
Make you
stoop so low go low
Escape,
Escape, Escape, Yaow! (repeat)
S.A.C. Challenge – Week 6 – Choice No. 1 – Issued by Cara Heath – Writing for Radio
March 15, 2015
Cara Heath is the owner of
With A Bullet, a radio promotion company based in Canada that has proudly been
taking great music to radio since 2008. We have worked with The Pack A.D, The
Gaslight Anthem, Born Ruffians, Heart, Leonard Cohen, In-Flight Safety,
Fortunate Ones, and more…
Here is her challenge:
For this week’s challenge
I want you to get into the mindset of self-editing. This is all about the radio
edit. I want you to create a new song that would work currently at either Pop
(Hot AC or CHR) or Rock (Alternative or Active Rock) Radio formats – your pick
– but, I want you to write this song to be around 4 mins in length. Then I want
you to edit it down to no more than 3:30 mins while still retaining the
essence, dynamics, and structure of the song. If your original length is
shorter than 4 mins still cut 30 secs out somewhere and if it’s longer than 4
mins you still need to get it down to 3:30. Things to help in the editing
process: think about shortened intros, time to first vocals, time to first
chorus, shortening / removing instrumental parts, shortening outros, etc. Get
the point across quickly, grab your potential listener’s attention and have
them singing along by the end of it! **These aren’t hard and fast rules
when it comes to radio, but it’s always a great exercise for songwriters to
practice the art and discipline of self-editing **
