Month: July 2016

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: I Can't Help It

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tirk Wilder (Songwriter, Performer)

Pro General Comments: Can't Help It - Matt Taylor 062815When a song critique artist (and it IS an art) runs into someone on your (rare) level, the line between critique and co-write is stretched thin. I DO have suggestions to make, but only as examples.I love the groove. Comfortable and relaxing 1-4. It helps when you have Nashville level monster sidemen, too. Bass player flat out blows the walls down in your video. Killer dobro man. Hey, ALL these guys should have been expensive. Sweet, sweet licks.Your unique and very good vocal styles are outstanding, as usual. On key backup singers. Costly. Very cool, though.Now, down to business.If you go to BMI.com and do a "repertoire" search for that title ("Can't Help It"), you will see there are already 59 songs with identical title that are published and registered at BMI. Some of them are already cut, some are vanity cuts, but the point is that there are a LOT of them. You, having decided that's your HOOK, have to out write them all to get attention. I'm not saying that's by any means impossible, especially not for YOU.But it doesn't matter how hot your backup is (and all those guys are hot!), you have to have something that INVOLVES the casual listener. That HAS to be the song, lyric and all. But you are going to have to have EVERY LINE SPARKLE, in some way. It has to perk up the ears of even the most jaded listener. The lyric of the hook, "Can't Help It", has not been a huge hit for the other 59 versions of the title, so it probably has to come from the rest of the lyric.If it doesn't tell me a story, paint me a picture, or hit my funny bone, find something better."My credit cards have gone into shock, but I love you, I can't help itThe last time you left I almost changed the locks, but I love you, Can't help it,"Just a suggestion/example..."Hard to believe the way I'm feeling now" should probably be the template for the couplets you need to write to replace it. You might want to try brainstorming couplets like that. Sit there for five minutes, or a half an hour with a blank piece of paper and come up with every one of those couplets you can think of, whether they're ridiculous or not. Write them down. Don't quit till you've got 20 of them. Don't edit yourself, just write what comes into your head. There you will find the gems. You need about five really great ones. That's where the meat of the groove is.But they have to be WAY better than what is here right now."I want to up and leave but I don't see how..." C'mon, man. I can tell when a line has the "I Need To Fill Something In Here" feel from a MILE AWAY, and so can your average listener.(Continued in the Artist's Submitted Question box)

Quote From Pro: Matt Taylor is the real deal.

Broadjam Artist: PYSONGS
Song: SKYLIGHTS

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Weiss (Music Supervisor, A&R)

Pro General Comments: This song has some well put together, yet familiar sounding chord changes. At some points it sounds like the changes could be something like an early Sheryl Crow song, with horn and synth arrangements that sounds like its from the 70s. Overall the song and production sounds very retro to me. That's not always necessarily a negative thing, however in this case, I felt the chordal structure was inventive and something you don't hear a lot of these days in contemporary pop music. Structurally, the song took quite a while to develop. To kick off the song, it sounded like a stripped down rhythm section and evenutally at 0:51 a full horn and background vocal arrangement came in. It wasn't until after 1 minute in, that the full rhythm section came in. This is a long time to develop for a pop song. In order to grab the listener's attention right off the bat, I would have come in right at the top with a full compliment of the arrangement and instruments, then have the breakdown come in the middle of the song. Pretty inventive background vocal arrangements throughout and a full sounding wall of sound type arrangement once the song gets going. Perhaps with a bit of a restructure, the sectional contrast of the song would work better and have more potential commercially.

Quote From Pro: An inventive retro wall of sound type sound that is reminiscent of an early Sheryl Crow arrangement.

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: Like A Mountain

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tom Bocci (Music Supervisor, Producer, and Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Greetings Matt,Appreciate having you submit two more songs for review.Your signature high lonesome vocal performance does the heavy lifting on this "bare bones" singer-songwriter demo.It interprets the heartfelt sentiment and imagery in the lyrics to offer a balance of questioning life's mysteries with the comfort of knowing a loving relationship as the ultimate truth. In the songs I've heard so far, your unique intimacy in delivery and presentation sets you apart, so having someone else belting it out theatrically seems counter-productive, especially in "Like A Mountain". You might consider changing the lyric in the B section of the first verse to, 'beats faster when you're near, like pure fresh water need to drink you in'. My production advice would be to repair the pitchy vocal, add some string pads and BG harmony to the hook, and end on a dominant chord that resolves and reflects completion of your good mind moment.

Quote From Pro: "Your musical intimacy in structure and presentation sets your songs and production apart from the pack".Tom Bocci

Broadjam Artist: Daniel
Song: Fall out of Love

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Weiss (Music Supervisor, A&R)

Pro General Comments: Solid pop song with a powerful chorus which is complimented by a full background vocal arrangement. Very good sectional contrast between verse, chorus and bridge sections. Think I would make the beginning synth drone a bit shorter and come with the vocal a bit sooner. Lyrically and chord change wise, the verse does a good job in setting up the powerful chorus. When the full chorus kicks in, the fuller sounding arrangement in this section masks a bit that the song to me sounds like its still in demo form. I'm listening to hear if it could be broadcast on TV and at this point, I think its close, but still needs an overall cleaner production sound that could probably be achieved by getting into a better studio and perhaps using a producer. Guitar and synth sounds specifically could be updated to glean a more contemporary sound. The good news is that the basic structure, vocals and lyrics are all in good shape, now its just coming down to enhancing the overall sound and making the arrangement at the beginning a bit more compact. Great use of the pre-chorus, which really sets up the full chorus. Great job in putting together the oohs and aahs of the background vocals during the chorus, really fills out the overall sound.

Quote From Pro: A solidly structured pop rock song that has a strong, identifiable lead vocal and memorable hook.

Broadjam Artist: Flava Hype
Song: A Soldier

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Serge Durand (A&R/Publisher/Manager)

Pro General Comments: I think this is an admirable song. It has a lot of potential to be an American anthem. I think you did a great job of writing this song. I also like your conviction. You sound very believable. You sound passionate about being a soldier and being an American. I believe what you are saying. You have good story telling skills. If I was a soldier, I would listen to this every day when i woke up. It's a good motivational song. It doesn't strike me as a huge radio hit, but it can be a fan favorite because of the subject matter and the message. One doesn't have to be in the army to appreciate this record. They can just be a soldier in their own right with waking up everyday and conquering their dreams. I also appreciated the adlibs and the sound effects. I really enjoyed the 2nd verse.

Quote From Pro: Flava Hype's "A Soldier" is a great motivational record. He did a good job of telling his story, expressing his feelings and what he stands for on this record.

Broadjam Artist: Nabii
Song: Infidel

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Diana Williamson (Songwriter, Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Dear Nabil:Please note I do not comment on technique- of instruments and vx- my expertise lies in overall presentation, lyrics and marketing.First off, you were right- the home recording is perfectly fine to showcase the song. You have one of the hardest parts down, you have a great vibe in this song and it comes across very clearly.And second you have a great message. It's a message that you're aware of - is a very very tricky one to put across. You've done a great job so far and there is probably some more tweaking you can do to make it realize it's full potential.So let's start with the great stuff first. Your voice and your use of bg vocals is very EASY ON THE EARS! Almost hypnotic- so that is a strength of yours in your arsenal.Most great songwriters have a strong message to impart and this fuels their songwriting, so it's a great topic to chose. And you are right, you have to be very careful with this type of subject matter- but it's an important one. With these types of songs its best to clothe them in an artistic story type way to take away some of the "preachiness" or to make the message more palatable.In Marvin Gaye's "What's Going on" he tackles the brutality of war and senseless violence by asking a question "Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrongOh, but who are they to judge us Simply because our hair is longOh, you know we've got to find a way To bring some understanding here today"Or John Lennon's song gets us involved by telling us to: "Imagine" Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the peopleLiving life in peace...They're two of the very best songs written on the subject of war, violence, religion. It would be good to study them to see how they can take such a "heavy" topic but make it something people want to hear. It may give you some ideas.

Quote From Pro: Artist has a wonderful simplicity and vibe in this track that presents a powerful message.

Broadjam Artist: Bill Zeffiro
Song: What The Hell It's Christmas

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Diana Williamson (Songwriter, Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Please note I don't rate individual instrumentation since my expertise lies more in marketability, lyric, melody, and overall performance.I apologize for being a few days late- I fell down like a dead soldier with the flu- but am now back in action.This song the way it is, would be perfect for theatre. It sounds tailor made for theatre. However there may not be that many appropriate plays. However one of the beauties of the season is there are new xmas movies out each year that are always looking for songs and original Christmas songs can be hard to come by.There is the one publisher Justin Wylde's company that specializes in placing Christmas songs in movies and you may want to see if he is interested. You'd have to google him to find his contact info. The demo the way it is would have to be given a fresh coat of paint. It sounds "theatre-ish" and would need a bit more finesse.Infact Justin may be able to give you a good review of how he sees it fitting into the marketplace- you may want to ask him in your email to get his thoughts since he knows the Christmas marketplace very well.It would have to be a Christmas comedy of course that would use such as song. Since it's very specific, it makes it a bit tougher to place because it is like a story song and not "universal" which are easier songs to place. However some of the most remote songs in my library have been some of the ones I've placed the easiest for some reasons. A song such as "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" is a bit easier to place since it's not so specific.It's great to write comedic Christmas songs which is why the one about a reindeer running over Grandma or whatever that title was- was such a hit. There hadn't been many out like that before. Woody Allen could probably have a field day finding all the funny things that go on at Christmas.You did a great job on the lyric. It sounds old school of course with the words like "frisky", etc. One way you could also use this version is to perhaps make a comedic video for youtube with a talented videographer. (doesn't have to be expensive these days). Have an older couple playing off each other in a comedic way. If done well, you could attract some attention to the song and use this as a marketing tool.Another clever thing you did is make it into a duet. There are a lack of duets around. Stars always want to find a way to work with their heroes such as David Bowie and Bing Crosby. So delivering a duet is a smart move in itself. Very good work. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Quote From Pro: Songwriter has a flair for writing a rare and tricky thing, a comedic Christmas song.

Broadjam Artist: Mary Segato
Song: Don't Give Up On Me

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
John Anderson (Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Hey Mary, quality song all around, first thoughts of artists I can hear it for are Don Henley, John Mayer, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Seal, Ed Sheeran, or Sam Smith to name a few. Also reminds me of the Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel duet "Don't Give Up" (In theme only) which came out on 1985. Easily crosses the Rock, Pop, Country and R & B genres, incredibly universal. Works as a Duet or for a solo artist with prominent backing vocals, Male or Female leads. The demo recording and production quality is superior to what I typically hear. GREAT! I personally focus more on film/television/ad placement for artists then getting songs recorded. That said, it would certainly be an appropriate pitch for a wide range of artists crossing several genres. It does strike me as a song that would fit nicely into a film and really enhance the emotion of the scene as well. I'm sure there are song publishers out there that would be proud to submit "Don't Give Up On Me" for a major label or independent artist to record. Do be weary of getting too close to the John Mayer sound, it could turn some artists off. You're good to go with this one!

Quote From Pro: A beautiful heart felt ballad that tenderly pulls you into a damaged relationship with a plea for forgiveness. 1st class songwriting and a track that's ready for the charts.

Broadjam Artist: Christina Linda Lyons
Song: Carousel of the Critters -- a Medley for Children

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
David Weiss (Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Christina,Hi, thanks so much for submitting "Carousel of the Critters", and requesting my feedback. It's not easy to put together an extensive classical composition and arrangement, so congratulations for putting the time and effort in to make it happen!From a constructive criticism standpoint, I believe this song still needs a lot of work to take it to the next level. While the arrangement is exuberant and joyous, there seems to be far too much going on to make it suitable for extended listening by children or adults. It feels like the various instruments are "all over the place", and not doing their individual performances with any direct connection to each other. In fact, at many times it feels like there are two completely different songs playing at the same time! The way to correct this is to look at your arrangement, and see how each section can be vastly simplified. As it is now, the sections are "fighting" each other, making it difficult for the ear to lock in any one melody at any point. I'd suggest that the recording quality be improved, and the mix could have better balance and clarity as well.

Quote From Pro: I must defer at this time. Please feel free to send me an improved arrangement/recording, and I will be happy to make a quote that will be beneficial. I hope my input has been helpful to you! Making great classical music, for kids or adults, is not easy -- keep up the hard work and I'm sure you will realize the benefits. Best,David Weiss

Broadjam Artist: MoBack
Song: Because Of You - Studio Demo

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Shawn McKenzie (Producer, Artist)

Pro General Comments: Hi Monique, thanks for submitting your music to be reviewed. I only received 2 songs from you, not sure what happened there? I find the song to be a cool laid back song. If that was your goal then you have accomplished that. But if you were trying to establish a smash hit, this is not the song to do it with. I find the verses are tad bit long a bit too wordy. I can only go from these two songs, but in both those songs the choruses are right on the mark, they are catchy and simple which is what people are looking for now when submitting songs. Depending on the demographics that you are trying to hit, this may or may not work. If you are hitting the European market, it may work. But if you are trying to access the US market then you need to have a rewrite of the verse, and as good as a Producer as Andy Whitmore is the music will not cut it to for the US market. In Europe the vibe is more open to different styles and flavours of music. so you have a better shot with that market, not to say that it may be accepted but on the whole Europe is more open to all types of music. My recommendation is to shorten the verses by 4 bars. As writer, it would do you well to have a stronger vocalist to sing when you are pitching music. As a songwriter you want to hit them strong the first time, and not have the performance come out a little weak. As the saying goes, "first impressions, are lasting impressions". You want the person to get the vibe the first time instead of them trying to feel the vibe as you intended it to be. I am giving you this review to help encourage and not to discourage you, put it this way it took Pharrell 9 tries before Happy was accepted. Rework the song a little bit and you just might make everyone happy. Hope this makes you happy.

Quote From Pro: "Cool laid back song, short simple and sweet Chorus"