badlybent.ca

  I wanted to get these criteria out by last Friday, actually, but things around the Z Ranch right now are insane - the Realtor gave us a list of stuff she’d ‘like’ to see us do before we list the house for sale…but trust me, there’s enough fodder in that last sentence for about 4 blog posts and 2 podcasts, so I’ll deal with it there.  This is about the Sieve! Song Challenge criteria for October, 2008.  Fasten your seat belts…

Since the last couple of challenges were potentially “light-weight” with their subject matter (and face it, a punk rock song about Star Trek with the word ‘bowling’ in it pretty much rules out anyone writing the next “Blowin’ in the Wind“) I thought that we’d give people with a more serious bent to their writing a chance to show their stuff.  Also, now that people are pretty much finished with their summer vacations and are starting to settle down a little, it may be a chance to dig a little deeper into lyrical territory.

Bearing all that in mind, I present to you, The Sieve! Song Challenge Criteria for October, 2008:

1.  Genre -    Ballad
2.  Topic -    Grief and/or loss over a loved one
3.  Words -  Any 2 of the following elements - Earth, Fire, Air, Water

Details:

Ballad - I’ve tried to put a succinct definition of the word “ballad”, but I can’t really, which is one of the reasons that I chose it as a genre for a serious work.   Various online dictionaries and sources all seem to agree that they should be folk-ish or of folk origin, and be ‘romantic or sentimental’.  I don’t know if they include the Hair Metal Power Ballad in there or not, but it works for me.  I purposely left this category a little more open, because I don’t want to pin people down TOO much due to the potentially intimate nature of the subject.

Topic - Grief and/or loss over a loved one - Since August and September had the potential to be a little lighter, I’m curious to see what people will do with something that’s a little deeper and more meaningful.  I suppose that it could still be turned into something goofier, but that’s not necessarily what I’m aiming for here.  I’d personally prefer to see some entries that really tug at the emotions.  I have no doubt that you guys and gals will be able to do that.

Word(s) - Well, I didn’t want to pin anyone down to one particular word that they might have difficulty working in with their particular direction, so I thought that a selection of words might be easier, and at the same time, would provide a doorway for the song to take things to a different level, or include things that otherwise might be harder to work in.  Giving everyone the choice of any 2 of the 4 elements, I believe, works to that end, especially considering that they work either in pairs, or as opposites.

Well, there it is.  Sorry if I rambled a little this time - I’m still got a vicious migraine that I’ve had for the last 3 days, on top of everything else.  Oh well, could be worse!   You can check out a refresher of the rules here.

Good Luck again,  and I am really looking forward once again to hearing some incredible tunes!

Stevie Z

by Stevie Z

   Well, The Sieve! Monthly Song Challenge is about 6 weeks old, and I’m already blown away by a few things.  First of all, the quality of the music is amaz….err…..aweso….um….incredible.  I promised Michelle that I’d stop using those other 2 “A” words so much.   So far I’ve received 5 songs in total, and they are all simply fantastic. 

   One thing that surprised me was how many people have thanked me for kick-starting their creative processes.   I know so  many writers who haven’t written anything for quite a while, and all I wanted to do was encourage that talent and maybe help to provide that tiny spark that some people need.  That was one of the main reasons for starting this challenge in the first place.  I’m also greedy. I know a lot of people who have created some great music already, and I wanted to get them to create more, so I could hear it.   So far, my plan is going exactly according to….well….plan.   I didn’t really do anything, all I did was say “go and write something, dammit!” 

   Also, it helps create content for my show….cuz face it, anything that someone else sends in, is one thing less I have to personally create. 

   But I guess one of the main reasons is (and this is where I start getting deep) because you all can create this wonderful art, and can bring such joy, happiness and entertainment to people, you should.   All I’m doing is creating a conduit for it to happen.  Much the same what that Bob Goyetche and Mark Blevis with the Canadian Podcast Buffetcreated a space for Canadian podcasts to shine and be heard, that’s all I’m doing here - but with less wit and charm from the host(s)….

   Any time someone creates something fantastic, the overall worth of the human race notches up ever-so-slightly, and this is desperately needed at times such as this, when so many seemed determined to bring the Collective Unconscious down as far as possible.  I could have written a song every day for the next 1,000 years and I wouldn’t have written one like the ones that anyone has created so far.   And that’s what makes me smile to myself every so often over the last month or so - knowing that there are at least 5 more songs in the world so far that have helped make it a better place.

   So thank you again to everyone that has created something wonderful and shared it with 7 billion other people.  Thank you for creating, and thank you for sharing.

  Of course, I’m just thankin’

  Stevie Z

By Stevie Z

    To censor or not to censor?  That is the question.

    Lemme explain:

   As most of my readers know I have a monthly song challenge called (appropriately enough) The Sieve! Monthly Song Challenge.    As I’ve always stated from day one, if anyone were to submit something that was outright racist, sexist, hurtful or hateful, whether in Guest Blog, Song Entry, or even comment form, I wouldn’t allow it, or I’d delete it.

  But…..

   What about something that may be construed as offensive to someone.  What about something that’s kinda funny, especially in the context, and especially considering the source and intention, but, as I said, could possibly be deemed as offensive? 

   Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to hop on the “Politically Correct Bandwagon”, and I oppose being on any sort of wagon at all - I much prefer to be off the wagons wherever possible, band or otherwise.  

   To get a little more specific:  a song was entered into the song challenge that had something in a line that in my opinion, was funny, and compeltely harmless, but some people might object to it.  As a knee-jerk reaction I asked the songwriter if they’d mind changing it, and they did without complaint or arguement.  Actually, I believe that the line is even funnier now, but that’s not the point. 

   Here’s what I’m asking people’s opinions on - did I have the right to even ask someone to change something they’d created?  Should I have just put a litle disclaimer at the beginning of that particular tune?   I could pull out the “it’s my challenge so I have every right to decide what goes in and what doesn’t” line, but that’s not how I feel about it.  Other then extreme examples that are meant only to hurt, should I allow anything and everything?  Should I reserve the right to go to someone and say “Um, that one line in there about (…..) kinda worries me, would you mind possibly changing it”?  What if they say “no, the line stays”? 

   The other reason I bring this up is because I’ve really gone out of my way to keep ‘flame wars’ from erupting.  Every time conversation degenerates into virtual shouting then pretty much all meaningful conversation comes to a hault.  This particular corner of the intertubes is mine, and I want to keep things as pleasant as possible, but should that include censorship from contributors because someone might take offense?

   Since I know that quite a few people that are much smarter then me read this, I would really appreciate your comments below.   And if I did go too far when I asked someone to change that line in their song, should I offer to play the original version instead if they wish ?

   Of course, I’m just askin’

   Stevie Z

  Listen to the show here.  You have to hear this one!

Well, might as well start off the show notes with a correction.  I said that Bob Goyetche lived in Ontario.  Knowing that people that live outside of Ontario consider this to be very insulting, I need to point out that Bob lives outside Montreal, which is, as he pointed out, not in Ontario.  Sorry Bob, and I’ll gladly pay all moving expenses to put Montreal back in Quebec.

I know.  I’m as surprised as you. I’ll get the excuses out of the way quickly - first of all, having not since recorded anything since March or May has sapped me of any ability I might have once had.  This episode was seriously the most painful thing I’ve probably ever recorded.  After a million retakes and outtakes it still took me 2 days to level balance the thing.  What kept me going was the super-cool tunes contained herein.  Also, The Luverly Michelle decided to start the process of buying a new home 2 days before I was to record this show.

In all seriousness, when I dreamed up this silly little song challenge I had no idea that I would be getting the level of songwriting I did, especially for the first month!

A quick refresher of the August rules is here.

The three submitters were (in order of receipt)  Bob Goyetche, John Meadows and Mark Blevis.   Special mention to Cletus the lead guitar player for Bob’s song, and Jay Moonah, harpist extraordinaire accompanying Mark Blevis.

A heartfelt thank you and kudos go out to the people who submitted and worked on these tunes, and I am sure that you all will enjoy them as much as I did.

September rules can be found here.

Thanks again everyone, and can’t wait to hear the September Challenge results!

Stevie Z

Oh, by the way, there’s a new Sieve! drinking game:  Any time I use the words “amazing” and/or “awesome” take a drink.  Unless you’re Earnest Hemmingway you’ll be passed out by the time the episode is over.  The Luverly Michelle has already had a listen to this episode, and she emailed me a link to an online Thesaurus.  Thanks hon.   I promise not to use those anymore, and to look up some new adjectives and stuff.

Additional links - Jonathan Coulton, Robbie Hancock, Creative Commons Canada

Okay, I know, it’s September Second already and people are just dying to find out the rules (specs?  parameters? criteria?) for the September Challenge.

Starting next month…that’ll be October for those keeping score, I’ll start releasing the following month’s criteria during the last few days of the previous month - IE expect October’s criteria to come out around Sept. 28 or so.  I guess it turns out some of you guys and gals have lives and stuff to do or something

I deliberately chose something for the first month (country) that I knew could be taken in a bunch of directions - it’s probably one of the most loosely-defined genres, and almost impossible to put a quantifier in front of or behind (country rock, country blues, country western, alt country etc.)

Since August was country, and I am blown away by the directions some of you took, I thought I’d choose a genre this month that is a complete opposite, and yet kind of similar.  The genre I had decided a month ago, the word to include I came up with last week, but the topic…..oh the topic….I just decided about 20 minutes ago.    Thank you television.

Introducing the Criteria for the September 2008 Sieve! Monthly Song Challenge:

1.  GENRE - Punk
2.  TOPIC -  Star Trek
3.  WORD -  Bowling

Details:

Punk - Sure, Punk can be classic punk like the Ramones, (this example has one of the best guitar solos and bridges EVER!)or the Sex Pistols, or Green Day, (on a personal note, not many people since John Lennon have put out a song that really makes you question authority as that Green Day song) but it can be more subtle such as Talking Heads or Blondie.  There is also an entire sub-genre known as Folk Punk for example.  It also doesn’t have to be loud screaming guitars…it’s fun when it IS, but it doesn’t have to be.  One of the best modern-era punk songs going (in my opinion, of course) is Time if Your Life by Green Day, and it’s acoustic.   Take a good listen to that one again, I mean seriously listen to it.  That violin break?  Substitute an overdriven Les Paul and play it note for note…it’s punk all right.  It’s all in the attitude.  It doesn’t have to be mean, or angry (again, it’s fun when it is) as long as it’s self-confident.  I think that out of all the genres, Punk is the most confident and has the most swagger…followed closely by Blues.  Hip Hop on the other hand is mostly bravado and posturing, but I digress.

Topic - I had another idea entirely for the topic for Sept. but I was flipping through the channels while eating dinner and came across Trekkies 2.  It’s a documentary about Star Trek fanatics, and it’s fascinating.  So, therefore and ergo, the tune can be about anything Star Trek - any one of the television series, the movies, individual characters (Spock, McCoy, Sulu, Captain Kirk, Captain Picard etc) any of the aliens, space ships, planets or whatever.  It can be about Star Trek fans, whatever you like….the universe awaits…pardon the pun.

Word - I can’t divulge the exact reason for the word “bowling” to be included, but there IS a reason, and I think it’s a good one, and I’ll give more info as to why in about a week or so.  Trust me.  Or don’t.  But you have to admit, using the word “bowling” in a Punk song about Star Trek will be fun.  It will be fun, won’t it ?

So, once again, there you go.  If anyone needs a refresher of the rules they can be found here.  A special thank you to Bob Goyetche, John Meadows and Mark Blevis for all submitting submissions for the August Challenge - show goes up tomorrow night (Weds. Sept. 3) and I can’t stress how amazed and delighted I was by the 3.  Of course, there’s my song too, but I won’t go into that.  That’ll make 4 for August - not bad for the maiden voyage.  I’m really pimping things out to the songwriting community now as well, so here’s hoping that we double the entries for September.

The deadline will be midnight (Eastern Standard Time), September  30, and please send all submissions, questions, etc. to badlybentpub@yahoo.ca

Good Luck to one and all!

Stevie Z

PS - Much maligned because of their bullshit antics, the Sex Pistols actually had some decent songs.  Here’s one of their classics redone in a way that kind of lets you appreciate the song itself.

Ummm, PPS - Speaking of Green Day and laying it all out, I just had to include this one….

PPSPPSP? - Speaking of John Lennon and Green Day, I believe that ole’ John himself would’ve approved this.