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Post by Rob W on Jan 11, 2015 13:48:56 GMT
I had a discussion with Phil and Tim at the Ipswich Cross Country race today (I can't be sure, but I think I finished 40 places ahead of Phil, but I digress!) and we discussed the pros and cons of multiple entries and whether they should be outlawed unless specific 'permissions/agreements' are made beforehand.
On the 'pros' side, it's great that we have a full board of songs even when some of our songwriters are absent. And it's great that the songwriters seem to be so overflowing with creativity that they just have share their multiple creations with the world.
On the 'cons' side, it could be argued that having multiple entries can, on occasion, dilute the voting. It also means that we have a lot of songs to listen to and critique, and there's also an argument to be made, perhaps, about pouring all of one's creativity into one song to make it the best it can be.
I don't have an opinion, I'm just the moderator but I'd be interested to hear other people's views and I've put a Poll up to gauge the response. It's not binding and I'm sure there will be plenty of occasions in the future when special dispensation can be made even if we WERE largely unanimous in our view that multiple entries are banned.
The poll closes at the end of January.
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Post by Rob W on Jan 12, 2015 8:21:55 GMT
To those who have already voted, I removed the Poll and replaced it with a new one which included a third 'I don't care' option!
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Post by timwarner on Jan 12, 2015 9:35:03 GMT
First, thanks for not mentioning how many places you and Phil were in front on me yesterday (not that I really give a toss).
In the past I have entered more than one entry, though a second entry is usually a collaboration. I have usually done this to ensure Rob Good puts something in, for which he want's to give joint credit (or blame, depending on your stand point).
I think the problem this month is the variety and length of some of these songs. They are so varied they benefit from not being listened to in the same way. Normally I sit and carefully listen to them a few times, eventually taking notes and posting a review but, with some these symphonies, I don't feel that is the best approach. It could be the lack of lyrics (or 'normal' lyrics anyway) in many of them, I just don't know.
For the purposes of the SWC I think it's possibly more relevant to remember some of the rules that were initially published, for example: songs should be less than 5 minutes (it's possibly worth noting that short songs seem to do well in the voting).
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67 
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Post by tandg on Jan 18, 2015 12:44:04 GMT
Phil has provoked a lot of discussion in our household about the collective. On the one hand, we are used to the 4 minute song, the comforting structure and the familiarity that comes quickly as the music repeats. On the other hand, we both often listen to (and prefer) music that doesn’t really fit that mould, that demands multiple hearings and can be listened to over and over. Submitting one song that breaks the mould (and obviously the month with the ‘symphony’ theme was going to be the one to do it) makes it a challenge to listen and comment with the concentration it deserves, especially if it is quite long. Submitting three songs demands quite a commitment – I want to listen properly before commenting and heard each of the songs three times before setting out to note down our thoughts – that’s more than an hour for one person. I thought all three symphonies were wonderful pieces of music - I expect to continue to listen to them loing after the voting has closed. But....
I wondered if we should have (if its possible) a non-entry section where we can submit songs that are not intended to be judged, maybe old songs that we’d like ‘out there’ and ideas that we invite others to collaborate on. Meanwhile, we submit one song to be judged/commented as our monthly entry.
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Post by Rob W on Jan 18, 2015 18:28:46 GMT
I read and re-read Tim & Glyn's comment. I think that's quite a good idea (though ironically, judging from the votes cast so far, no one seems to mind multiple entries.) A 'non-entry' section would certainly be possible either tagged on to the bottom of the songs that ARE to be judged or I could upload them in a different area of the website. The collaboration idea is the next natural step to a thought that Mike had at the inception of this 'club' when he suggested a group 'get together' over a weekend somewhere.
Any other additions or comments are most welcome.
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Post by eddiecustard on Jan 18, 2015 20:15:58 GMT
I like T and G's idea of sometimes putting forward songs that are not to be judged - alongside a single one each month that will be. I think uploading these extra songs in a different area of the website would be a good idea, as Rob suggested. That way we can dip into the extra songs at our leisure and make comments. For this section we could also submit a fragment of a song we've never quite managed to finish (or simply an incomplete lyric), to see if others want to collaborate.
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Post by Rob W on Jan 18, 2015 21:27:30 GMT
There are some really interesting ideas developing here! Back in May, Swifty (he hasn't been on much lately) suggested a 'free-for-all' month which had a similar feel to what you appear to be suggesting. I'm not quite sure how it would work, but suppose I had a vocal line for a chorus or verse with no lyric. I could upload it to this new part of the website and others could then come in with lyrical ideas and extra melody and then post their versions and the song could grow as other members take what's been started and run with it. Complications come when the song becomes a big hit and we then squabble about who did what!
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Post by colinallcars on Jan 18, 2015 21:46:14 GMT
As a newbie I'm happy to go with the majority. I've only managed one song a month anyway. I like the idea of a songwriting collective weekend, but I could only contribute a bit of strumming on the uke and some singing - the iPad doesn't really cut it as a performance instrument.....
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Post by Colin Steward on Jan 19, 2015 9:39:03 GMT
I can't get logged on so take it from this that I'm in the not bothered category!
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Post by Colin Steward on Jan 19, 2015 10:03:03 GMT
Made my vote official now. Interestingly I can't get logged on using Apple devices but can with PC. Who'd have thunk it?
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Post by mikegosling on Jan 19, 2015 10:10:11 GMT
I like the idea of a single entry each month (to be critiqued and voted on)
and then any other songs or ideas people have which they'd like to share
should be gathered separately - for comments, collaboration etc.
From my own point of view, the discipline of finishing one song
properly each month is an important part of the collective. (I have
far too many unfinished ideas collecting dust on the shelf/shelves!).
Also, it does take a chunk of time to listen through the song entries
each month and doing a proper critical analysis is an important part
of the collective.
I'm very much in favour of a single entry with the 5 minute duration limit.
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Post by Rob W on Jan 24, 2015 13:09:53 GMT
Even though the Poll tells its own story, I think, given the comments we've seen on this part of the forum, that we should say this.
1. One can upload as many entries to the SWC as one likes, however...
2. Only one entry will go onto the voting page (and please make clear to the Administrator which song is to be submitted for voting.)
3. The second and/or third entry (nobody's written four!) will go into an 'overspill' area of the website and people will be able to comment on a separate page of the forum (but will not be obligated to) and there will be no voting.
Let me know if you have any strong feelings or opinions on this.
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Post by mikegosling on Jan 26, 2015 17:07:50 GMT
As long as that's not too much additional work for you Rob, that's a very acceptable solution.
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