Waking Up (MySpace link, music starts automatically)
I submitted the song, via Sonicbids, to the DNC because they were looking for lots of different music to play during the upcoming convention. It was rejected, which depresses me enormously. It’s not like I expected it to be chosen as a campaign theme or anything (though I absolutely think it would deserve to be). I understood that most of the music chosen would never even be heard by the TV viewing audience because of commercial breaks and talking heads analyzing whatever was happening, had happened or about to happen. I understood that hardly anyone would hear or pay attention to it, it would just be one of several dozens (perhaps hundreds) of background songs played during the convention.
But, silly me, I really did have high hopes that whoever was picking the music would actually listen to it, would actually read the lyrics (which you submit along with the song) and think “Hey, this would be a good one to play at 10:00am on the 3rd day” or something. Not unrealistic expectations, honestly.
Are these lyrics perfect, or what? (Lyrics used with permission)
Ah well, sigh. I can think of the song as my own personal Obama theme song.
Although you claim to “understand”, it doesn’t really sound like you do. This is a convention, which means that people like music that energizes them, that they can hear well over the noise, and (preferably) that they’re familiar with. However, IMHO:
The song is too slow. I know it may have that cool R&B groove if you’re in your car or at your workstation, but as background music in a huge convention hall, it’s more like a dirge and a mood-killer. Since few people are going to listen to the words (because most people won’t be able to actually hear them), all they’ll know is that what they’re hearing sounds tired, lethargic, and overlong. The singer may be “waking up”, but it feels like just the opposite in the delivery.
The lyrics, as appropriate as you might think they are, don’t mean crap in this kind of environment. Of course, you don’t want to play something stunningly inappropriate, but I suspect there will be lots of apolitical songs, as well as message-oriented ones, that send people buzzing or tapping their feet or nestling them in an aura of nostalgic comfort as they absorb it ambiently. Hate to break it to you, but your song would do none of those things. As informed and noble as it might be, there’s not a strong verse/chorus arrangement and very little instrumentation (aside from a drum machine) which means that over a huge speaker system, none of its merits are going to be readily hearable. Just compare it to this similar song (which I’m sure will be used) to hear the difference.
I go to lots of industry-related conferences, and if they had a morning buffet that consisted of donuts, bagels, coffee, and boiled spinach, I know the one thing that would be the least popular even though it’s also the thing that’s most good for me. In other contexts, your song would be great. But the fact that your song would be situationally appropriate (“10:00 am on the 3rd day”? Are you kidding me?) shows how inappropriate it actually is. Other than a few cues that will be played for particular introductions, annoucements, transitions, etc., most of the music will probably be set on one big loop, which means it has to be suitable all of the time. It’s not a reflection of the quality of the song as a whole (I bet Stravinsky didn’t get worked up they didn’t play his music at Yankee Stadium). It’s just that for that particular venue, they need the music to accomplish multiple things simply and effortlessly. And your song simply wouldn’t do that as well as others would, which is why it didn’t get picked.
I didn’t listen to it, but I like the lyrics. I does seem like it fit the Obama campaign perfectly.
But are you honestly surprised it didn’t get picked? It’s a pretty generic “times they are a changin’” type song. There must 1000s of similar songs and it’s likely all of them were submitted. You seem almost personally offended that the DNS didn’t pick yours. How come?
ArchiveGuy, I understand everything you’re saying, I just didn’t think that every song picked had to be a high-energy rock’n’roll, get 'em up and dancing in the aisles song. And if you’re going to choose songs for the slower times (I don’t know what goes on at these conventions, but there have to be slower times) why not choose a song with perfect lyrics? But if there are no slower times, and/or they just pick a few songs and loop them, then that’s perfectly understandable.
Justin_Bailey, I’m not personally offended. Why would I be? It’s not my song. I know I said “depresses me enormously” but that was hyperbole. It not being picked isn’t going to make me slit my wrists or anything, and you notice I didn’t do something stupid like Pit the DNC. As I said, I’ll consider it my own personal Obama theme song no matter what anyone else thinks of it.
