The Dallas Songwriter Association Song of the Year was announced at the meeting this past Tuesday.
Brooke Malouf and Eric Roberts are the winning writers with their song "Till Love Comes Back". Andy Schrumpf came in second with "What You Got".
Brooke Malouf and Eric Roberts are the winning writers with their song "Till Love Comes Back". Andy Schrumpf came in second with "What You Got".
Roger Russell was presented with the Vern Dailey Songwriter of the Year Award. Congratulations, Roger...it's an honor well deserved since he was the songwriter who won the most monthly critiques last year.
Thanks to Pete Miller for taking on the task of judging the Song of the Year. Pete explained during the meeting that he evaluated the songs based on the same criteria that we use each month for the song critiques, scoring each piece on hook, melody, lyric, structure, originality, and truth. He also made clear that he did not use production value as part of his evaluation, but looked through that to the basic song itself.
Here are the top 5 songs and Pete's comments about each:
DSA 2013 Song of the Year
Judge Pete Miller's Critiques
Thanks to Pete Miller for taking on the task of judging the Song of the Year. Pete explained during the meeting that he evaluated the songs based on the same criteria that we use each month for the song critiques, scoring each piece on hook, melody, lyric, structure, originality, and truth. He also made clear that he did not use production value as part of his evaluation, but looked through that to the basic song itself.
Here are the top 5 songs and Pete's comments about each:
DSA 2013 Song of the Year
Judge Pete Miller's Critiques
TOP 5
1st Place Winner
'Til Love Comes Back by Brooke Malouf and Eric Roberts
This song just comes across like it didn’t take much effort – flowed honestly from a feeling and not forced or contrived. The lyric has emotional and visual elements. The form is near perfect – maybe it could be shortened just a bit without compromising anything.
Runner Up
What You Got by Andy Schrumpf
This is a very relevant contemporary country song. Really strong hook even though it repeats quite a bit, it still holds up. The lyrics, and how they tell the story are very clever – the perspective also allows for repeating. Musically, I especially like that the verses have some good fire in them. I do think there is room for a quick bridge in between the last two choruses – a couple of trick lines that could solidify the story even more.
3. Wait For Tomorrow by Barbe McMillen & Laurie Windham
I interpret this as an obvious musical theater piece. The form is appropriate for that genre. I visualize performers on the stage singing and dancing supporting the lead, but the song is also listenable without the stage presentation. I might suggest a change of the fifth line of the chorus to make it less repetitive of the second line, just to vary it some. The melody sits nicely on top of the rocking rhythm and chord changes. Very jubilant.
4. Here I Am by Mary Guthrie
This song has a great “prayerful” feeling with beautiful visuals to help create that feeling. The message is simple but very explicit. The form flows real well for this tune, though I might suggest the instrumental vary somewhat from the intro. The melody floats above the moving, well voiced, chord changes. The hook is not perceived as original but it is very fitting.
5. Sunset In September (Alex Gorodiscas, Roger Russell, Robin Willis, Kevin Moore)
Nice emotional and very visual song. Good lyrics and hook. The melody is also nice, supported by solid chord progressions. I would prefer a quick turnaround after the first chorus to set up the second verse. That said, with the running time a little long, I would suggest shortening the bridge. I think you could accomplish the reveal – message – of that bridge in three lines rather than six, and it could make it even more powerful.
1st Place Winner
'Til Love Comes Back by Brooke Malouf and Eric Roberts
This song just comes across like it didn’t take much effort – flowed honestly from a feeling and not forced or contrived. The lyric has emotional and visual elements. The form is near perfect – maybe it could be shortened just a bit without compromising anything.
Runner Up
What You Got by Andy Schrumpf
This is a very relevant contemporary country song. Really strong hook even though it repeats quite a bit, it still holds up. The lyrics, and how they tell the story are very clever – the perspective also allows for repeating. Musically, I especially like that the verses have some good fire in them. I do think there is room for a quick bridge in between the last two choruses – a couple of trick lines that could solidify the story even more.
3. Wait For Tomorrow by Barbe McMillen & Laurie Windham
I interpret this as an obvious musical theater piece. The form is appropriate for that genre. I visualize performers on the stage singing and dancing supporting the lead, but the song is also listenable without the stage presentation. I might suggest a change of the fifth line of the chorus to make it less repetitive of the second line, just to vary it some. The melody sits nicely on top of the rocking rhythm and chord changes. Very jubilant.
4. Here I Am by Mary Guthrie
This song has a great “prayerful” feeling with beautiful visuals to help create that feeling. The message is simple but very explicit. The form flows real well for this tune, though I might suggest the instrumental vary somewhat from the intro. The melody floats above the moving, well voiced, chord changes. The hook is not perceived as original but it is very fitting.
5. Sunset In September (Alex Gorodiscas, Roger Russell, Robin Willis, Kevin Moore)
Nice emotional and very visual song. Good lyrics and hook. The melody is also nice, supported by solid chord progressions. I would prefer a quick turnaround after the first chorus to set up the second verse. That said, with the running time a little long, I would suggest shortening the bridge. I think you could accomplish the reveal – message – of that bridge in three lines rather than six, and it could make it even more powerful.
Other monthly winners in no particular order:
You Gotta Go Home by Roger Russell and Alex Gorodiscas
The lyrics for this song are very appropriate for the genre and the rhyming scheme is clever. Even though it’s a rap tune, the chord progression and melody are, again, appropriate. Understanding that rap is generally repetitive, I do believe there could be some type of diversion technique used to break it up in this case. A quasi bridge maybe, with more of a melodic idea.
Giving Up On Memories by Morri Hartgraves
Such a classic style, scoring high on the melody and chord progression. I also really like the hook of the lyric. The verses are beautiful but I would like to hear two additional, different lines in the chorus instead of repeating two lines. And though I’m not judging performance, I have to say what a beautiful vocal on this track.
I’ll Be Your Someone by Gigi Gostas and Abbey Cones
Very pretty, heartfelt ballad scoring high on melody. I really like how the pre chorus works. I also think the structure comfortably flows well – the short instrumental into the PC again and the modulation all work nicely. In writing lyrics, obviously we tend to bend the rules of grammar, but the second line of the hook, for me, seems too awkward. It’s too distracting and it may feel better to me to have the title as the last line of the chorus.
Something About You by Gigi Gostas
Nice hook and lyric – good visuals with the verses and chorus. I do believe any version should have a short intro so it doesn’t start so abruptly. Harmonically, I would like to see the verses and chorus have different chord structures to distinguish more between them. And since it is upbeat, with a seemingly happy lyric, it could take on less of a minor feel.
If I See You Again by Michael Brandenberger
A nice classic bossa scoring high on structure – very suitable for the style. The chord changes and melody are also very nice. The lyrics just seemed a little forced to me. It would be nice to have more romantic or deeper visuals, especially in the bridge.
In Your Eyes by Barbara McMillen and Laurie Windham
Very nice chord changes and pretty melody, bringing out a true feeling of the hook of the song. Lyrically the hook is strong to me, and the rest of the lyrics support it well. The challenging part for me was the structure. I feel that the second verse (1/2 vs) should come after a quick turn around, instead of the longer instrumental. And after the second chorus is where I would put the instrumental along with a quick bridge before the last chorus and tag.
Wish You Were Here by Lisa Byrn
This song has a very truthful sentiment, and the lyrics are very visual supporting that feeling. However, I think they may be overstated – a bit redundant maybe. And I think this makes the song a tad too long as well. The melody and chord progressions are simple - in a good way, but I think this adds even more reason to shorten the form.
