We here at Quick Stop Entertainment are true lovers of music, in all its forms. We’re also quite keen on the spirit of competition, and of spurring creativity through said competition.
To that end, we launched a brand new form of creative combat here at the Stop.
In this age of manufactured and painfully earnest talent contests, we’ve decided to instead shine a light on the quirky, quixotic underworld of musicians that don’t get nearly the attention they deserve.
Ah, but I did mention that there was a competition involved…
We invited 28 challengers to pick up the thrown-down gauntlet (You know, some spares as well). 26 Responded in time.
Like a songwriting version of Iron Chef, these 26 competitors are presented with a very specific songwriting challenge. They’ll be given one week to complete their songs - however they see fit, within the parameters set forth - after which time the entries will be uploaded to Quick Stop to be voted on by you, the readers.
In past editions of Song Fu, we’ve used these votes to eliminate Challengers as we’ve progressed from Challenge to Challenge. For this cycle, however, we’ve decided that all of the Challengers will be able to compete in every Challenge, and the Challenger with the most cumulative votes after the 3 Challenges will be the one that takes on the Master in the Final Round. So what was the first Challenge?
ROUND 1 CHALLENGE
In light of all the doom and gloom of recent months, as financial markets crashed and winter closed in, we’re going to kick things off with a rather straightforward challenge. You can interpret this challenge however you’d like - how you do so will give people a sense of just what your songwriting personality and style is…
Your first challenge is to WRITE A HAPPY SONG.
That’s it. The only other directive is that your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 45 seconds.
You’ll find the Round 1 songs from each of our Masters below, as well as the results of the Round 1 voting. More importantly, though, you’ll also discover what the Round 2 Challenge is!
MASTERS OF SONG FU
For this edition of Song Fu, we’re bringing in 2 (well, 3, if you’re being technical) very special Masters who you’ll be going up against. Think of them as the iron chefs of Song Fu, and your ultimate challengers, as you’ll square off against one of them mano-a-mano in the Final Round:
NEIL INNES
If you’re a bit puzzled but there’s a little twinge of recognition niggling at your subconscious right now, it’s probably because you already know who Neil Innes is without even realizing it.
It was during the Jurassic period (the late 60s) that Neil was a member of the legendary Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Madcap purveyors of esoteric music (Who else would revive music hall standards in the age of rock? They did it, and it worked!), their biggest hit was the deceptively poignant “I’m the Urban Spaceman.”
While firmly ensconced within the Bonzos, Neil first became acquainted (and vice-versa) with Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones while working on DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET, a children’s show whose viewers tended to skew a bit older than the intended audience. Eric, Mike, and the two Terrys went on to form MONTY PYTHON with Graham Chapman and John Cleese. The Pythons called on Neil’s musical skills numerous times over the years, particularly when producing their best-selling albums. When John Cleese decided to move on to greener pastures prior to PYTHON’s fourth series, Neil stepped into the void as a contributing writer and performer.
Not able to escape the Pythons so easily, Neil was also tapped for MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL, contributing music and a memorable performance as the annoyingly truthful minstrel of Eric Idle’s cowardly Sir Robin. Still not willing to let him get away just yet, Neil was brought in again for their follow-up film, THE LIFE OF BRIAN (wherein he outruns certain death during the colosseum debate scene).
Even while working with the Pythons, Neil continued his solo career, releasing numerous albums on his own as well as with the groups The Grimms and The World. His BBC program, INNES BOOK OF RECORDS, ran for 3 series and featured 90 original tunes. From torch song and ballad to rock and parody, the show featured an exceedingly wide range of styles.
It was during the latter-half of the 70s, however, that Neil produced his most enduring work. While collaborating with Eric Idle on the post-Python TV series RUTLAND WEEKEND TELEVISION, the two devised a brief HARD DAY’S NIGHT parody with Idle portraying a boring filmmaker (so boring the camera ran from him) and Innes providing the Beatles-esque “I Must Be in Love.” During his next hosting gig on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Idle unleashed the short film on the American public. That led to SNL’s Lorne Michaels producing a mockumentary of the mock-band, named The Rutles, for NBC. ALL YOU NEED IS CASH aired on March 22, 1978, starring Eric and Neil as one half of the “Pre-Fab Four” and featuring songs by Innes. In 1996, Innes reunited with Rutles bandmates John Halsey and Ricki Fataar to release THE RUTLES: ARCHEOLOGY, which sported 16 brand new tracks “discovered in the vaults,” a la THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY.
He recently released a new solo album, WORKS IN PROGRESS, and a brand new reunion album with the Bonzos, POUR L’AMOUR DES CHIENS. Neil continues to write and perform, and is in the process of recording his next solo album.
Official Website: www.innesbookofrecords.com
Twitter: twitter.com/NeilInnes
ROUND 1 SONG: “Imitation Song (Ron Nasty’s Last Song)“
PAUL & STORM
Paul and Storm are a comedy music duo, and they have been performing as a duo since 2004. Before that, they were one half of a cappella band Da Vinci’s Notebook for about 12 years. A Paul and Storm show is part music concert and part standup/improv comedy–just enough of both to fit neatly in neither category. They like to engage the audience, and are known to award snack cakes and/or other prizes for good (and sometimes bad) behavior. Their show would be PERFECT as a cable special, and would make lots of money for whichever brave channel decides to air them first.
Official Website: www.paulandstorm.com
Twitter: twitter.com/paulandstorm
ROUND 1 SONG: “Hippie with a Djembe“
GARFUNKEL & OATES
Riki “Garfunkel” Lindhome and Kate “Oates” Micucci make up this band, which is a mixture of acoustic folk, comedy and pure sugar. Riki has been seen in The Changeling, My Best Friend’s Girl, Pushing Daisies, Gilmore Girls and Million Dollar Baby. You can catch Kate in Scrubs, When in Rome, Four Kings, How I Met Your Mother, or in her one-woman show “Playing with Micucci” at the Steve Allen Theater.
Official Website: www.garfunkelandoates.com
Twitter: twitter.com/KateMicucci
ROUND 1 SONG: “The Happy Song“
In a moment, you’ll discover the details of the first challenge. First, though, here is the list of challengers:
THE CHALLENGERS
JEFF MacDOUGALL
Jeff’s stint of reigning challenger in MoSF#1 (yet ultimately losing to Master Jonathan Coulton) has won him critical acclaim from around the world. Or is it criticism from around his house? Either way, he’s back for more and hoping to balance bringing the Fu with taking out the trash.
Official Website: www.jeffmacdougall.com
Twitter: twitter.com/jeffmacdougall
ROUND 1 SONG: “The Bop Bop Song“
EDRIC HALEEN
Edric has been writing music (off and on) for the past fifteen years. He wrote and directed a musical, The Pushcart War, based on Jean Merrill’s wonderful novel. He has written and/or arranged a number of songs for various friends - some commissioned, some as surprises. He loves acting in community theatre, and is inspired by the music of Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty - and yes, Jonathan Coulton, who in addition to writing wonderful songs, also served as a portal to finding out about the Song Fu competition.
Official Website: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2arBC7f-6FY
ROUND 1 SONG: “(Happiness)“
“BUCKETHAT” BOBBY MATHESON
I’m “BucketHat” Bobby Matheson. I used to make cartoons for the internet, and sometimes still do, but mostly focus on my music right now. Lately, I’ve been getting more into recording other singer/songwriters in my little, make-shift studio than I have been recording myself. I want Masters Of Song Fu to change that. I don’t really know what genre my music would fall under. Influences range from Klezmer to folk, to punk and back, which ends up sounding more like Zydeco than anything else (who’d have guessed?). I’ve been thinking of dropping the “BucketHat” from my stagename, but fear change.
Official Website: www.buckethatbobby.randomsociety.com
Twitter: twitter.com/BucketHatBobby
ROUND 1 SONG: “You Gotta Smile“
INSANE IAN
Insane Ian is a comedian and writer from Baltimore, Maryland who specializes in all things nerdy, both in parody and original compositions. From Sci-fi TV shows and films, to video games, to comic books - no nerdy topic escapes his sardonic (and satiric) wit. Among his peers - such as Sudden Death, the great Luke Ski, Jonathan Coulton and, of course, “Weird Al” Yankovic - he is the only artist to have written this bio, and remains at the top of that list. Currently, his song “Guitar Hero” (from his upcoming album n3rds0ngs) was the 11th most requested song on the Dr. Demento radio show in 2008. Usually for a song, I.I. surrounds himself with talented people to make himself look better… and now is no exception, as friend and producer Benjamin Stahl helps on instrumental duties.
Official Website: www.insaneian.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “Happy“
JOE “COVENANT” LAMB
My name is Joe Lamb, I’ve been known online as JoeCovenant, or JoeCov, Or just Cov for the last decade or so. I’m 45 and have been performing for 40 of those years. Up until 2005 I was solely a professional actor/singer, but I am now also a Civil Servant and work for Her Majesty. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 10, but still think Bar Chords are things played in pubs. (I can’t do ‘em!) I’m not too bad on the Bhodran and can pick out a tune on a keyboard when pushed… really hard. I’ve always been frustrated that my ideas outdistance my abilities, so my output is always rather simplistic… But I like to think that, occasionally, synergy does its job well! This contest will be my first use of my new recording equipment… hope it doesn’t throw my limitations to the fore!
Official Website: www.mikeoldfield.net/shadowland.html
ROUND 1 SONG: “What Makes You Feel Happy“
MICK BORDET
Mick Bordet steadfastly insists on bouncing between and across genres at every opportunity like a hummingbird with ADD, using an eclectic collection of instruments for his sonic palette, from guitar and ukulele to theremin, yobstick and electric harmonium. Mick is a founder member of “The Lunacy Board”, Scotland’s premier progressive avant-garde skiffle duo, and cites influences as diverse as Edgard Varèse, Ivor Cutler, Conlon Nancarrow, and Roy Harper, to name but four. The duo have recently released three debut albums, including one written, recorded, and mixed within a single day. Mick’s latest project is a year-long weekly podcast set in an alternative universe as it diverges from our reality.
Official Website: mickbordet.blogspot.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “Happy People“
RUSTY’S ROCKING JAMBOREE
“Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree” is a one-man, music and comedy show for family audiences, starring Russ Rogers. While in college, twenty-some years ago, Russ Rogers was in a band called, “Buc Blaster and His Ukulele Rangers.” There are several noteworthy alumni of “The Ukulele Rangers,” including Song Fu Master Michael J. Nelson. Later, Rogers and Andy LaCasse (also a Ukulele Ranger) partnered to form the almost near famous, children’s music and comedy duo, “Kit and Kaboodle.” After ten years and three albums (still available on iTunes and CDBaby.com), “Kit and Kaboodle” broke up over musical differences. LaCasse was musical … an d Rogers was just different. Now, “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree” has been entertaining family audiences around Minnesota for the past five years.
Official Website: www.rockingjamboree.com
Twitter: twitter.com/RockingJamboree
ROUND 1 SONG: “Happy Walking Song“
THE MASKED STRANGER
The Masked Stranger (a.k.a Neal John Mac Rae), is a self proclaimed noise/folk artist from Nova Scotia, Canada. Although his work has gone completely unnoticed on an official level, he has still managed to garner several fans from Australia and amoungst his close friends. The Masked Stranger project started in 2004 when Neal John recorded “The River Song”, a simple panflute tune he furiously augmented and destroyed on his computer. Since then he has created roughly 30 other distinctly more destroyed and demented tracks under the moniker of The Masked Stranger. His music has been described as “a total disregard for musical theory”, “aaaaaaaah!”, “raw and grating”, “annoying”, “Twisting is a word I want to use to describe it… Very natural and earthly”, and “disturbing and yet… strangely enjoyable”. His most well liked and most consistant piece “Rue The Red” was described by Cape Breton goregrind artist Devin Meaney as “a posessed man jigging out on the strings of his creator. Like a puppet, devouring the flesh of god. And this is exactly what it reminds me of, no joke.”. This awkward and soil laiden musician’s journeys into the abrassive and the tribal only threaten to continue.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/themaskedstranger777
ROUND 1 SONG: “My Personal Eccentric Happiness“
HEATHER HENDERSON
Heather Henderson has been entertaining America since she was seven years old. She got her start as a mini dancing superstar and co-host on Dance Party USA. Her career then made the natural progression towards Sesame Street and most recently a principal role in the Disney film Annapolis. Striving constantly to develop as an artist, The Big H sings with the bad-ass 60’s retro soul group SOULAMITE!, performs with the Revival Burlesque troupe in philadelphia, makes short films, writes funny songs, and is always looking for the next good audition. She hopes to have her own totally crappy and misquoted Wikipedia entry one day.
Official Website: www.HHenderson.com
Twitter: twitter.com/HeatherHenderso
ROUND 1 SONG: “Happy Song“
BRYCE JENSEN
Bryce Jensen has been writing songs off and on for well over twenty years, but he has rarely shared any of them beyond his friends and family. His styles range from a capella to heavy metal with a lot of wimpy finger picking stuff in between. Bryce took part in the recent Holiday Special edition of the Song Fu and found the constraints and deadline to be quite a rush. He also learned that sharing his work with the world can be very rewarding. Back for this competition because he is hooked and needs another fix, Bryce is looking forward to whatever crazy challenges lie ahead.
Official Website: www.brycejensen.com
Twitter: twitter.com/psychobman
ROUND 1 SONG: “As Happy As Me“
JEFF FARDINK
Jeff began playing guitar in 2003. He wrote his first comedy song in early 2004, and later that year, he wrote a song that was actually funny and in key, unlike his earlier works. He began playing shows after accidentally opening for a local band while passing through a bar. He continues to play because nobody has told him to stop.
Official Website: www.JeffFardink.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “Let The Happiness In“
TIMOTHY RUSH
On stage I am Timmy Vendetta. I’m 18 and I live with my mom and her wife. I hope to become famous and live vicariously through a hamster.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/tweed234
ROUND 1 SONG: “The Happy Song“
CRABBYDAD
Crabbydad is a writer/sound designer/musician who, four years ago, was forced to leave all of his bands and musical compatriots behind in Chicago when his Old Lady got herself a proffesorin’ gig at a giant university in a tiny mid-Michigan town that’s devoid of any sort of culture, musical or otherwise. So he started recording songs with his kids and posting them on his blog for his four or five readers to hear. When he’s not recording songs about spiders and/or poop, he creates comedy, sound effects, and music for a company called Jellyvision, Inc.
Official Website: crabbydad.blogspot.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “Happy (H.A.P.P.Y.)“
HANK GREEN
Hank Green never wrote a song until his eternal passion for Helen Hunt (both as an actress and a woman) started off a multi-year YouTube project in which he writes a song every other Wednesday. The songs are part of a larger project in which he and his brother discuss their lives, their world, and the community of which they are a part. Their videos have now been watched more than 20 million times. Hank’s first album, SO JOKES, was just released and is available at DFTBA.com.
Official Website: www.nerdfighters.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “The Deep Sea Anglerfish“
MIKE LOMBARDO
Mike Lombardo is a piano-playing pop-rock singer-songwriter who likes to use hyphens when describing his occupation. He has been known to write songs about just about anything, including rocks and SAW 4. When not banging on a piano, Mike spends most of his time playing way too many video games and fighting with his roomate. Currently finishing up his degree in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music, he will be touring the country this summer with his band, the Mike Lombardo Trio. Feel free to go to his website and send him lots of money. Or cookies.
Official Website: www.mikelombardomusic.com
Twitter: twitter.com/mikelombardo
ROUND 1 SONG: “Caroline“
HALLELUJAH APE
“Hallelujah Ape” is the working name for the personal musical projects of Paul Abbott. When he’s not playing bass guitar and shouting in such bands as Three Minute Margin, he’s usually fiddling with a ukulele or trying to write Manfred Mann inspired songs for films that don’t exist. Main influences are The Bonzo’s, The Beatles and Fugazi. He owns many comedy things and likes to rub his face up against them when no-one is looking. He also co-writes the British Foghorn Company blog.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/hallelujahape
Twitter: twitter.com/Pablovich
ROUND 1 SONG: “Do What You Want“
JALEPENO HABANEROS
In the far off land of Chandler, Arizona, where the rivers flow with sand and cacti, our leader and master, the Lord of Our Lady Gwynyth, guitar and microphone in hand, called for the greatest musicians in the land to assemble a rock and roll group like none other. Unfortunately, they were cut off on the road, and the Jalapeño Habañeros made it there first. With The Rogue Bohemian on saxophone and The Boxcar Bassist on bass and keyboards, the Lord was pleased. Now, they roam the streets of Chandler, playing epic songs and rocking faces, much like Bon Jovi. Unfortunately they are paid in change, and often get thrown into the street, also like Bon Jovi. Their lives have intertwined, and the era of the Jalapeño Habañeros has begun. Be prepared.
Official Website: None
ROUND 1 SONG: “The Pompadour Song“
HAZEN NESTER
Hazen Nester is a multi-platinum-selling*, award-winning**, and incredibly gifted† songwriter. His works have been described as “heavenly”, “complex”, and “thought-provoking” by his critics and fans.†† He has, to date, three full albums‡, two EPs‡‡, and is currently working on a new collection of work§. He holds a B.S. degree§§, an MFA║, and a PhD║║ and currently lives in Michigan, where he spends his days writing songs and working in the fulfilling and worthwhile sector of public-access television. Apart from songwriting, his hobbies include cinema, golf, and the occasional role in various stage and audio productions. 
[* - Lie, ** - Another lie, † - Bold-faced lie, †† - His mom. They're one and the same, really., ‡ - More lies, ‡‡ - Yet another lie, § - Another lie. No, wait, actually that one's true., §§ - In film. How appropriate., ? - Lie. What a surprise there., ?? - Do I really have to put this here?, - That's probably the most truthful statement in this entire document.]
Official Website: www.hazennester.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “Wide-Eyed Happy“
AUDIOMOHEL
Forged in the furnace of irony, molded with the hammer of satire, flattened on the anvil of righteousness, and cooled in the water of awesomeness, AudioMohel was thrust upon the world. Named from the lost audio transcripts of ‘09, AudioMohel serves as a public-service backlash against the anti-circumcision trend sweeping the so-called “enlightened parents” crowd, AudioMohel urges their more devoted and impressionable fans to undergo the snip two or even three times. AudioMohel enjoys experimenting with new breakthrough genres like speed blues and death classical even though most of AudioMohel’s tunes reside firmly in the ethereal realm of vapor-ware. Some of AudioMohel’s members admitted to being a bit intimidated by the professed experience and actual musical talent apparently possessed by the Song Fu Masters, but finally it was decided that if the need arose, sabotage would not be out of the question. To be used as a last resort, naturally, but not out of the question.
Official Website: www.AudioMohel.com
Twitter: twitter.com/AudioMohel
ROUND 1 SONG: “Parole Day“
MOLLY LEWIS
When she’s not bluffing her way through college courses or looking passably attractive from a distance, Molly Lewis enjoys playing ukulele, microwaving marshmallow Peeps, talking to cats, and Twittering. Early last year, she wrote two original songs, “MyHope” and “Road Trip”. “MyHope” is about the inevitable day when our children will learn how to navigate the interweb and how they will LOL at our old internet presences, namely MySpace; of “Road Trip”, Molly says it’s about “that astronaut lady who went crazy and wore the diapers, you remember that?” She has not written any songs since. Hopefully this competition will remedy that. When Molly was in middle school, she took up the guitar. That sank into the swamp. So she took up the mandolin. That sank into the swamp. So she took up the banjo. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the ukulele has stayed. And that’s what you’re going to get, Quick Stop Entertainment: the strongest ukulele in all of Tacoma, Washington.
Official Website: www.sweetafton23.com/primer/
Twitter: twitter.com/Molly23
ROUND 1 SONG: “I Pity The (Song) Fu“
JARRETT HEATHER
Although he has no formal training, Jarrett is an accomplished pianist who has been composing music for nearly twenty years. A relative newcomer to the world of online amateur competitive songwriting, he burst onto the scene earlier this year when he filled out an entry form just before the deadline. While earning his living as a graphic artist and website developer, Jarrett secretly dreams of leaving behind the glamor and prestige of internet publishing so he can focus on composing music for songwriting contests full-time. With no fanbase, loyal followers, obedient minions or friends, Jarrett will rely on his music-crafting skills alone to win over converts and earn votes.
Official Website: www.spaceparanoids.net
Twitter: twitter.com/SpaceParanoids
ROUND 1 SONG: “One Little Happy Thought“
JUTZE SCHULT
Johannes “Jutze” Schult (from Germany) likes to make songs about weird stories and situations. It’s all about creating a musical scenario that is somewhat original, yet believable by some stretch of imagination. Jutze used to play drums in a heavy metal band, and then founded his own pop band where he played guitar. These days he’s mainly doing solo work for the fun of it.
Official Website: www.jutze.com
ROUND 1 SONG: “A Mallful Of Brains“
ROUND 2 CHALLENGE
Write a song containing *exactly* 10 unique words (this includes words such as a, and, the, etc.). You can repeat the words you choose as few or as many times as you want, but the sum total of the unique words can not be less than or more than 10.. You can write on any topic and in any style. Your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 15 seconds.
Your song must be submitted in mp3 form (128-192kbps) either via e-mail (to songfu @ quickstopentertainment.com - remember to remove the spaces) or a file upload service (like RapidShare or YouSendIt). Deadline for submission is 11:59pm EST on Thursday, February 26th, 2009.
Voting on Round 2 submissions will commence on Friday, February 27th, 2009.
If you want some inspiration, here’s how some other artists tackled happy songs…
ROUND 1 VOTING RESULTS - THE CHALLENGERS
Which Song Fu Challengers brought the most fu to Round 1? (CHOOSE 5)
- Molly Lewis - "I Pity The (Song) Fu" (51.0%, 649 Votes)
- Crabbydad - "Happy (H.A.P.P.Y.)" (23.0%, 298 Votes)
- Hank Green - "The Deep Sea Anglerfish" (22.0%, 281 Votes)
- Mike Lombardo - "Caroline" (18.0%, 224 Votes)
- Joe "Covenant" Lamb - "What Makes You Feel Happy" (16.0%, 205 Votes)
- Jarrett Heather - "One Little Happy Thought" (12.0%, 152 Votes)
- Jeff MacDougall - "The Bop Bop Song" (12.0%, 147 Votes)
- Jutze Schult - "A Mallful Of Brains" (8.0%, 106 Votes)
- "BucketHat" Bobby Matheson - "You Gotta Smile" (8.0%, 106 Votes)
- Edric Haleen - "(Happiness)" (6.0%, 77 Votes)
- Hazen Nester - "Wide-Eyed Happy" (6.0%, 73 Votes)
- Hallelujah Ape - "Do What You Want" (5.0%, 69 Votes)
- Insane Ian - "Happy" (4.0%, 55 Votes)
- Heather Henderson - "Happy Song" (3.0%, 43 Votes)
- The Masked Stranger - "My Personal Eccentric Happiness" (3.0%, 43 Votes)
- Bryce Jensen - "As Happy As Me" (3.0%, 43 Votes)
- Rusty's Rocking Jamboree - "Happy Walking Song" (3.0%, 40 Votes)
- Audiomohel - "Parole Day" (3.0%, 36 Votes)
- Jeff Fardink - "Let The Happiness In" (3.0%, 36 Votes)
- Jalapeno Habaneros - "The Pompadour Song" (3.0%, 32 Votes)
- Timonth Rush - "The Happy Song" (3.0%, 32 Votes)
- Mick Bordet - "Happy People" (2.0%, 31 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,273
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ROUND 1 VOTING RESULTS - THE MASTERS
Which of the Song Fu Masters is the Master of Round 1?
- Neil Innes - "Imitation Song" (45.0%, 343 Votes)
- Paul & Storm - "Hippie with a Djembe" (30.0%, 225 Votes)
- Garfunkel & Oates - "The Happy Song" (25.0%, 186 Votes)
Total Voters: 754
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View Results
If you triumph, not only will you win remarkable (and potentially off-putting) bragging rights and a clutch of fantastic mystery prizes, you will also become the proud owner of the magnificent, one-of-a-kind MASTER OF SONG FU TROPHY.
Good luck, and bring on the Fu.
Comments:
February 19th, 2009 at 1:55 am
What?
I’m confused…
So… the song can only contain 10 words?
Do little ones like “The”, “a”, and “And” count?
Or the song has to contain 10 words that are “Unique”?
Like, “phrenologist” or “totalitarianism”?
February 19th, 2009 at 1:58 am
oh boy…
February 19th, 2009 at 2:01 am
So just to be clear. The song must have only, and no more than, 10 words used. But you may repeat them?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:06 am
or Anglerfish? The challenge has been updated…and clarified…and I am feeling very…challenged.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:08 am
You can use any word, but there can only be 10 unique ones (ie - rat, the, butter, flake, happy, explain, not, too, there, okay). You can then repeat the ones you chose - but *only* the ones you chose - as many times as you want.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Whoa. When did Neil pull into first?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:24 am
wow… this is gonna be tough.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:09 am
im still lost we can use ten words only
February 19th, 2009 at 4:12 am
As far as I can tell, the closest a professional band has gotten to completing this challenge is Blink-182’s S**t Piss F**k, but their song was 11 words (and then it used a few more words….) and it was too short….but I suppose they don’t need Fu, they’re already successful. Of course, there’s always the one word songs (Rock & Roll Pt.2, Tequila), but those guys weren’t hardly even trying.
Just remember, folks: You don’t need more than two words and a sound to make a good chorus (Hey Jude, Kiss Him Goodbye, etc.), but every song has a limit to the number of times a chorus can be repeated before listeners’ ears start bleeding. Use good judgment, and may the Fu be with yu!
February 19th, 2009 at 5:26 am
Do homonyms count as separate words or the same word?
February 19th, 2009 at 6:05 am
My guess, based on the rules, one might find an analogy in “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk. Well, except that it has 20 words, so half that. And, as “Our” and “Hour” are homonyms, they would count as different words.
February 19th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Think “Green Eggs and Ham.” It uses only fifty unique words.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:07 am
I see the time for this one has been dropped to 1m 15 secs!
I have an idea for something…
Without giving too much away ( ;’ ) ) the use of small samples is alright isn’t it?
(Thinking back to Molly’s Mr T snippets…) ?
This one is certainly a challenge, huh !?
February 19th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I love this challenge.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:57 am
dificult
February 19th, 2009 at 11:39 am
[...] All. New Song Fu challenge is up, and it’s going to be a crazy week here at Lombardo Industries. Somehow [...]
February 19th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
This will certainly be a challenge. Brevity and economy of language have never been my strong suit. We are all looking for loopholes, ways of expanding the range of what we can communicate.
I lean towards counting homonyms as just one word. “Eye” and “I” and “Aye-Aye” would count as just ONE word in my book. But I enjoy puns. But, when you write the lyrics, you would have to use just one spelling of the words! So “I”,”RATE” and “IRATE” would be just two words. But you would have to spell “irate” as “I rate,” which might be confusing. So I think you could break up compound words and get three words for the price of two. (”Angler”, “Fish” and “Anglerfish.”) But I don’t think you get three words for the price of ONE.
I was wondering, can the Titles of our Songs contain words not used in the song or do those words count toward the total of 10? For example, the title: “The Evolution of Mankind in Only Ten Words.” A descriptive title might shed some light on what the song is about, even if none of the words in the title were used in the song’s lyrics!
Congratulations to Molly and Neil. Molly PWNED the challengers in Round ONE! I Pity the FUs who were up against her! Neil had a strong surge of votes that took “Imitation Song” up over the top. Do a poo poo, Ron Nasty!
Hank Green demurred on pointing his legions of Nerdfighteria onto the SONG FU Competition. But his “Deep Sea Anglerfish Song” has received 100,000+ views on YouTube and 3,500+ comments! (It’s a great video. Five Stars!) Imagine if he had put a link to Song Fu in the sidebar of that video! Imagine the traffic this competition would receive if Hank had begged for votes from his fans, friends and followers: like me! (And like I did for myself.) My guess is, he would have CRUSHED us all under his Giant Nerd Fighter Jackboots! What size are those things?
Hank probably feels that his hordes of fans would give him an unfair advantage and turn what might be a pure experiment in song craft into a popularity contest. That’s true. But, Song Fu has never been a pure experiment in song craft. So I say, “Go ahead, Hank! Unleash the hounds! The more the merrier!” For me, the joy of competing is in the challenge, camaraderie and exposure, not in the winning or losing. The more people who come to Song Fu, for whatever reason, potentially that many more people will hear MY songs! Yeah me!
But the final arbiter of what is fair or foul play, and what is kosher for songwriting in SONG FU must be Our Patron, Ken Plume.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
All I can think of is John Mayer’s “Say”. only 5 words, but they’re repeated as a phrase over 100 times. Think outside the box!
February 19th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Hmm… so it’s basically, “Tequila,” but with nine more words. Interesting…
February 19th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Yes, Molly dominated like nobody’s business in Round 1. Great job on your third songwriting endeavor, Molly!
How did you manage to get nearly twice the number of Neil’s votes?
Indeed, Hank should bring all his YouTube viewers here to listen and vote. Since every voter gets to vote for multiple challengers, the cream will surely rise to the top.
BTW, Blink-182 had another song (unreleased, but performed live) that fits this criteria a tiny bit better than ‘S.P.F.’: The Bl*wjob Song. It’s 11 words (10, if you contract “It would” down to “It’d” - is that cheating?), and about 30 seconds long. I would happily listen to each of their short songs twice in a row, if that’s an indicator of my tolerance.
Oh, and ‘Say’ is the only John Mayer song that I think should DIAF…. More accurately, it should Slow Dance in a Burning Room.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Spoke with Ken earlier today; my understanding (which must be corroborated by Ken to be considered truly official) is that words with the same spelling and pronunciation, but different meanings (e.g., cup: “I will cup the blue coffee cup in my hands”) will still be considered one word; but words with the same spelling but *different* pronunciation (e.g., read: “I read the book you told me to read”) and fake homophones–trying to use “to” to mean “two” or “too”; or Russ’ example above of combining “I” and “rate” to mean “irate”–will be considered separate words.
(I’d have described the above using “homonym,” “homophone,” etc., but different dictionaries define them differently)
Again, Ken must confirm this, but this is my understanding based on our conversation.
Good luck, everyone!
Paul.
February 19th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Personally I think homonyms would count as separate words. Aye, and eye and I are three *unique* words, regardless of their similar/exactly the same pronunciations.
(In the Dundonian dialect, the word “eh” - (think.. the “E” in ‘bed’ but slightly elongated.) - could be used as between 5 or 6 words depending on context!
Anglerfish, and angler and fish I would imagine, would be two words… cos angler and fish would be used, just together…(Mind you… would that mean bed and time and bedtime would only count as two words too?)
Personally, I’m going to play it safe rules-wise and just use 10 distinctly different words. It would be easier for the song to play *games* and twist meanings etc… but I think the spirit of “The Fu” would mock me !! ;’ )
(My first idea crashed and burned.. 13 words, and I couldn’t contract any more! I’m still gonna do it though just not for this !) ;’ )
February 19th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Well… My demo is done! and its about 2 mins, so I’m happy with that ! Now… I play the, “Why can’t I re-record this properly!!!!” game… (Bloody multi tracked vocals.. whose idea was *that* to do it in every bloody song he sings…)
;’ )
Again… all the best guys and gals!
February 20th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Thanks Russ! I appreciate the kind words, and that you wouldn’t mind if I unleashed the hounds as it were, and I did mention the contest briefly at nerdfighters.com. Maybe if I’m very explicit that they can’t vote without listening to all the songs :-). But, you’re right, I mostly just don’t want to win with a shitty song just because I can. That wouldn’t be any fun…
Secondly, I certainly didn’t expect Anglerfish to get 100,000 views either! It went over very well on youtube, even if Molly and Crabbydad pwnd me in Song Fu :-).
And thirdly, this challenge is going surprisingly well. I thought I was nearly done before I realized that I had, in fact, used 11 words. But I’ve managed to shave that down, and I’m getting there again. The word I cut out, if you’re curious, was “is.” Stupid is.
Lastly, I hope contractions are OK… my song relies heavily on the word “don’t.”
February 20th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Heteronyms should count as one word. It seems arbitrary to allow one loophole and not another. Why should one person get to “cheat” using multiple definitions while another is unable to “cheat” using multiple pronunciations? I for one want to hear what people come up with both ways, not hear songs that are simply repetitive.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Hank, I admire your nobility, but promoting your entry also promotes the whole contest. If it wasn’t for Rifftrax “unleashing the hounds,” I wouldn’t even know about Song Fu. Besides, everyone who votes for you can vote for four other people.
If you just want to do the challenges, you can do them without entering, and you’d still have an awesome YouTube song. But everybody else is going to get votes however they can. It’s decided by votes, not judges. To play it “fair” would be to play it how everyone else does. Personally, I wish it was judges, but I think the name of the game really is “traffic.” So bring the traffic. You didn’t buy it, you earned it. And your song deserved to be #1. It was a-freaking-mazing.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 am
I hope nobody hates me for this, but I submitted mine already. Hopefully, you all will like it for all its cliché glory.
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I am really digging this year’s challenges. Can’t wait to see who’s got the songwriting stones to pull this 10 word fiasco off.
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
[...] Fu competition, but last week a happy song just happened to come into my head, and this week, the challenge was irresistible, and also suited one of the cards. Write a song using only ten distinct words. [...]
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I’ve completely started again…
First version just… just…. lacking Fu !
;’ )
This version has Fu all over it! (And nine other words!)
Heh ! ;’ )
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:43 am
I would love to know how many drafts people went through when this is over. I loved the challenge at first, but… it’s really hard! That link above is right, it’s kind of like anagramming. John Green should do it.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:35 am
Covenant: Your version may lack Fu, but it could be worse… mine lacks Song! (But then, I’m not a musician, or a contestant, so that’s allowed. As is my ten-and-a-halfth word.)
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Angela…
DID lack Fu…. DID…. (past tense!)
;’ )
Now!? Fu-some !!!
(I hope !!)
February 25th, 2009 at 8:55 am
I may not bring the Fu this time, but I at least hope I brought the Funny!
(I did not quite fully understand the challenge this week)
-Insane Ian
February 26th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Just saw Hank’s song on youtube. So catchy! Love love love it.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:18 am
I’m getting slightly concerned. Has anyone else received confirmation of receipt of their entries or am I alone in that regard?
February 26th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
After three failed attempts the last week, I wrote, recorded and videotaped my unofficial song challenge… song… last night. Hank inspired me even though I couldn’t do anything remotely as clever as his.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Well great. The last one made me have Molly’s song in my head for ages and now after reading the specifics of round 2 I’ve got Weird Al’s “Six Words Long” stuck in my head.
February 27th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I’ve finally finished my entry and it has been submitted. This particular effort of mine is more abrasive than my past two song fu entries, but I think anyone (all 42 of you!) who liked my earlier stuff will enjoy it.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I *totally* had Weird Al’s song in my head when I started writing this one! had to abandon that idea tho…needed something a bit more…me. Tho, yes, instantly (well, once I realized what to do) that’s what I thought of…
February 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
When do the songs for round 2 get posted? I want to vote for Moll… I mean I want to listen to all of the entries and then vote for my favorites.
February 28th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I certainly hope that statement wasn’t as drenched in sarcasm as it seemed to be.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:33 am
As David Byrne once said, “I’m still waiting.”
March 1st, 2009 at 9:57 am
Why hasn’t voting started yet? Its now Sunday and it was supposed to start Friday and I want to hear what people have been able to come up with.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:23 am
Voting on Round 2 submissions will commence on Friday, February 27th, 2009.
Have I missed the voting? Or has it not started yet?
March 1st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
where are the second round songs!
March 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pm
yeah… wtf?
March 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
What, are we going to wait until next week?
March 1st, 2009 at 5:26 pm
It would be nice to at least get a message explaining why the songs haven’t been posted. I’d at least like to know when they will be here instead of constantly checking to find nothing.
I hope I don’t sound too impatient. Obviously they will be posted at some point but if it’s been postponed I’d prefer to know when they will be up.
March 1st, 2009 at 7:52 pm
So…when does voting begin, and where? I got confused on how to vote last time, and i don’t see how to vote this time….it said it would commence on the 27th…where is it?
March 1st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
It would be nice for the voting to start on time please. Why hasn’t it started yet? I understand that there may be delays for whatever reason, but could you at least notify us?
March 1st, 2009 at 10:37 pm
delaying posting the videos without giving notice as to why is a GREAT way to lose interest with casual observers like myself…
March 1st, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Round 2 Voting is live…
http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/2009/03/01/masters-of-song-fu-3-round-2-songs/