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 unique 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…
Like a songwriting version of Iron Chef, the competitors will be 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 audience.
Oh, and what do we call this competition?
MASTERS OF SONG FU
Let us not forget the very special Masters of MASTERS OF SONG FU. Think of them as the iron chefs of Song Fu – one of which will be revealed as your ultimate challenger in THE FINAL CHALLENGE. Past Masters have included Jonathan Coulton, Paul & Storm, Neil Innes, The RiffTones, and Garfunkel & Oates. Any one of them could be your final Challenge – or perhaps it could be a brand new Master. Only the Challenger who garners the most cumulative votes in all 3 Challenges will move on to the Final and face that Master, mano a mano.
In a moment, you’ll discover the details of the first challenge. First, though, here is the list of challengers:
THE CHALLENGERS
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. Molly defeated Masters Paul & Storm in Masters of Song Fu #3.
Official Website: www.sweetafton23.com/primer/
Twitter: twitter.com/Molly23
JASON MORRIS
I suppose I am what you could call a “Multi-Instrumentalist”. That is a nice way of saying “Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none”. I began playing drums as a teenager and spent a great deal of energy during my 20’s trying to “make it” in the music biz. As a drummer, I have had the opportunity to play with some pretty incredible musicians, garnering literally DOZENS of fans over the years. In 2004 I joined the band Celestial Static, and spent several years melting some face with good friends Jeremy and Julie Elzerman. Once that ran its course, I decided to spend more time locked away in my studio, writing my own songs and learning to play guitar, bass and sing. It doesn’t pay the bills, but I have a good time doing it.
Official Website: www.jason-morris.com
Twitter: twitter.com/JasonLMorris
EDRIC HALEEN
Edric has been writing music (off and on) since the early nineties. 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. He is also happy to finally return his Happiness Board to the Internet. Check out the link on his web pages.
Official Website: happinessboard.com/Edric_Haleen.html
“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
MIKE LOMBARDO
Mike Lombardo is a piano-playing pop-rock singer-songwriter who likes to use hyphens when describing his occupation. A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, he spends most of his time banging on pianos, teaching children how to bang on pianos, or playing shows 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
GöDZ PööDLZ
Legendz foretell of a mighty duo, born in the frozen North. Two neighborz and friendz will unite to form “Gödz Pöödlz” and battle the Mazterz or Song Fu for glory and bragging rightz! Gödz Pöödlz are Rüss Rögers and Röd Dürre. Rüss Rögers was once a member of “Kit and Kaboodle” (still available on iTunes) and currently performs in “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree!” Röd Dürre wrote and performed with the Goth Rock Godz “Sear”, and last year Röd won the Coor’s Light “Take the 4:53 to Happy Hour” songwriting contest! Remember, the heaviest of metals are soft!
Official Website: www.rockingjamboree.com
BRAM TANT
Bram Tant is a 19 year old Belgian student with a distinct love for music. Ever since going to music school as a kid, he’s enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, and has been writing songs for some years now. While he’s still learning to play the guitar, sing and write songs better, he improves with each attempt, and he makes up for it (and the lack of proper recording equipment) with his passion and enthusiasm. He would like to become a professional musician someday, but for now he’s satisfied with writing and performing for friends, family, and strangers on the internet.
Official Website: studwww.ugent.be/~btant/
Twitter: twitter.com/dantesxx
STEVE CHATTERTON
Hi, my name is Steve Chatterton, the quintessential one-man-band singer/songwriter net-based recording project. Mom always said I marched to the sound of a different drummer, but she never mentioned which one. Dad had a fondness for bagpipes. Fortunately, neither of them have any direct influence on my music. Specializing in quirky little guitar-oriented pop songs about bugs, the Scooby gang, pirates, palindromes, superheroes, old movies, infectious diseases, imaginary friends and sideshow freaks, I guess you could say I pretty much write love songs. I’m a cheesy bastard at heart. I’m a stay-at-home dad who’s looking to find more time in the studio when my youngest starts school in September. I have an ever-expanding back catalog (at least 3 albums worth & counting) I’m dying to share with the world one download at a time.
Official Website: www.stevechatterton.com
Twitter: twitter.com/SteveChatterton
JUTZE SCHULT
Johannes “Jutze” Schult (from Germany) likes to live in a dream world where there has been no Grunge and where he is a talented singer. Sometimes his little folky pop songs find their way into the real world. Here they suffer from his hoarse voice and the do-it-yourself home recording production, struggling to appeal off and on beaten musical paths.
Official Website: www.jutze.com
Twitter: twitter.com/schult
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
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
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
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
Twitter: twitter.com/TimmyVendetta
THE SCRIBBLES
The Scribbles are one of the most popular ukulele-based trios in their entire 6th grade class. Oh sure, there is the rumor that Peter Choi hates them. Meh. He’s a hater. Ha ha. The Scribbles formed last November when they all agreed on the name. After that they bought some instruments and started writing songs and stuff. So far, they’ve played a handful of shows around their hometown of Springfield, MO. Everyone’s favorite song seems to be “The Robot Song”. Maybe it’s because robots really are taking over the world, or maybe because Connor wears the robot suit during that song and that’s pretty funny. Thanks to MySpace, they are now friends with really cool people like The Beatles and Weezer and Tom. They’ve said some really nice things like “iloveyouguys:D” and “thanx for the add:).” Oh, and by the way, Peter Choi, The Scribbles still luv u.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/thescribbles1
GORBZILLA
Gorbzilla is a musician/band teacher in Mid-Michigan. He has been in a few bands over the years, most notably as the bass player/vocalist for the band “Satin Jones” and the guitarist/vocalist for the band “Jimmy Likes Pie”. The proud father of two future rock maniacs, Gorbzilla has been writing music for the past twenty years, and is currently working on his first musical Beer – Finally a Musical for Men based on the Haiku by Patrick “Horkmeister” Sweet entitled, “I Think I Threw Up”. He has been happily married for eight years, and is looking forward to this competition.
Official Website: gorbzilla.blogspot.com
DARRELL MACLAINE
Darrell Maclaine has been devouring comedy songs and interesting music ever since he was old enough to know better, and is taking part in this competition essentially as penance for the amount of free music he has obtained via the previous rounds. He plays piano and keyboard bass as one fifth of oddball UK pop group The Directors (another fifth of the group, Mathew Cornah, possesses both more instrumental expertise and a much better home studio than him and will inevitably be press-ganged into contributing to his entries), and has decided to exercise his rusty songwriting muscles in the most embarrassingly public way possible.
Official Website: directors.mashedbins.com
BERG AND JERRY
Berg and Jerry are a small suburban acoustic group comprised of Andrew Berg (Lead Vocals, Melodica and, maybe, eventually the Ukulele) and Jerry Geleff (Guitar and Backup Vocals). Mid-summer ’08, Berg and Jerry began writing songs together and since then… well, basically nothing. As rookies to this competition, these guys hope to at least make one good song, and entertain at least one person (*fingers crossed*). Berg and Jerry have a fun ska/indie/punk acoustic sound and often try to write clever witty lyrics. So listen, laugh, and something else that starts with an “L”, because Berg and Jerry are ready to slightly attempt to be THE MASTERS OF SONG FU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Official Website: www.myspace.com/bergandjerry
ANDY RUMSCHLAG
Andy’s interest in music really began in high school, when he was under the false impression that it could get him laid. He started playing drums and guitar, while dabbling in songwriting. After attending Berklee College of Music, he gained a distinct interest in songwriting. He is currently working on a solo release, while drumming as part of the (Song Fu competitor) Mike Lombardo Trio. He intends to take full advantage of Mike’s coattails.
Official Website: www.andyrumschlag.com
DERREK J. THOMPSON
Derrek J. Thompson is an irresponsible and unimportant song-writer and all-around creative type that lives in the middle of nowhere. His hobbies include sleeping and performing Bach at old-folks homes. He plays keyboards in a band called Anthropophobia but they don’t seem to be going anywhere. He hopes to become more disciplined with his creative endeavors as a result of Song Fu.
Official Website: www.derrekswords.com/
THE MYSTICBUZZ BAND
The Mysticbuzz Band is from Washington, IL. We are currently working on our first album, and may have a real song released soon. We are a little off in our lyrics and sound… and that’s a good thing.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/mysticbuzzband
JEREMY PIERSON
Jeremy’s turn-ons include big eyes, belly laughter, and long walks on the beach. Turn-offs include bad breath, knobby knees, and fungal growth. Huh? This isn’t my post for eHarmony.com? Oh. It’s for what? “Song Fu”? What’s that? I voluntarily submitted to participate? I’ve participated before? Oh. That. I didn’t get any votes last time? Oh, only a few? How many is “a few”? Eight? Why am I participating again? The challenge of it all and the friendly competition? Just to be considered, however briefly, a peer of Jonathan Coulton? Sweet.
Official Website: www.jeremypierson.com
DENISE HUDSON
Denise lived in a grey house in the city of Austin. Her favorite pastimes were playing piano, polishing her guitar, and tormenting the geeky programmer boy who lived there. His name was Michael, but she never called him that… Isn’t that a wonderful bio???
Official Website: www.myspace.com/denisehudson
LEX VADER
Lex Vader was born to a single mother who worked as silicon tycoon’s personal assistant. When she died of poor hygiene, Lex was sent to an orphanage where he showed interest in organizing races and laser fencing. After being recruited into a religious order, he spent the next few years between several of their private schools. In his final year, Lex lost his hand in an argument with a professor over Kryptochlorians. Despite this, Lex was able to achieve a successful business career and even a knighthood. Tragedy struck, however, when a former classmate’s arctic home caught fire during a business lunch, scarring half of Lex’s face. At this point, Lex’s behavior became erratic. When he managed to buy SithCo, the cult that schooled him, he was shunned by the corporate world. No longer taken seriously, Lex started an evil empire and now moonlights with his evil emotronic alternapop band.
Official Website: lexvaderssecretjournal.wordpress.com
TOM MILSOM
Tom Milsom is a musician, writer, artist and videomaker who has had nearly 2,000,000 views of his YouTube videos and has released an album, Awkward Ballads for the Easily Pleased, to murmurs of critical success. Faced with this onslaught of vague acceptance, he plans to release his second album, Painfully Mainstream, later this year, and is thrilled to be a part of this frankly charming and delightful competition.
Official Website: www.tommilsom.com
CALEB HINES
Caleb became a software engineer instead of a musician because the type of music he likes best went out of style at the end of the 18th century. Self-taught in music theory, he is more comfortable writing a four-part instrumental fugue than he is writing a verse-chorus-bridge song. After discovering the likes of Weird Al, Dr. Horrible, and especially Jonathan Coulton, he realized that “modern music” can be fun too. Now he is on a quest to update, expand, and diversify his musical knowledge and experience. In addition to singing, he plays a whole family of recorders (not usually all at once) and baroque flute, pretends to play keyboard, and most recently, ukulele. He also uses virtual MIDI instruments because a real orchestra costs too much.
Official Website: NONE
MILES FROM NASHVILLE
Miles from Nashville was born in early 2009 when multi-instrumentalist Charlie Wolf and harmonica player Michael Ruhland ran into each-other one day at the Albertson’s supermarket in Hermosa Beach, CA. Miles from Nashville play an eclectic mix of country, folk, rock, blues, pop, indie rock, rap (just kidding), and polka that they like to call “guacamole rock”. They are currently working on their debut album, Songs about November, and have their very own website (though who doesn’t these days?). If you happen to have large sums of money and/or expensive guitars that you don’t need, they’ll be glad to put them to use for you. Miles from Nashville plays shows around Los Angeles, CA every so often, so be sure to check the website for gigs.
Official Website: www.milesfromnashville.com
ANDREW THOMSON
Hello. I am singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker, writer and activist Andrew Jon Thomson. I am honored to have played, collaborated, performed, and recorded with many outstanding musicians from many fantastic bands including the following current and past collaborators: The Memphis Horns, Dweezil Zappa, Anton Fig, Chuck Rainey, Tom Roady, Charlie Chalmers, Roades Chalmers Roades, Arthur Barrow, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Tommy Mars, Clayton Ivey, Charlie Morgan, Pablo Herrera (Cuba), Richard Nelson (Ireland), Mike Garson, Pat Mastellotto, Marc Muller, Rob Paporozzi, Sammy Merendino, Graham Maby, Paul Robinson (UK), Paul C. Robinson (US), Pete Lockett (UK),Victor Indrizzo, Fima Ephron, Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski, Bassy B Brockman, David Gilmore, Victor Damiani, Todd Roper, Greg Brown, and DJ Qbert.
Official Website: www.helloandrew.com
CALEB LEE
To Whom It May Concern: Caleb didn’t want to write his own bio (musicians, eh?) so I will do the honours. After peddling his wares leading the criminally unnoticed Yay For Squares (www.myspace.com/yayforsquares) and playing an inadvisable amount of shows alongside good friends The Tastydactyls, Caleb decided to go solo in the early parts of 2008. Since then he’s enjoyed the success of dozens of fans and casual mentions on low-brow podcasts. With a flair for heartfelt song-writing and a wildly erotic combover, he’s hoping to win your love in this competition and will be wildly neurotic about it until he does so. – His bud, Aaron.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/caleblee
Twitter: twitter.com/thecaleblee
RICHARD CLAYTON SPRING
Hailing from a small town in Southern Minnesota, Richard Clayton Spring has risen above the norm, blossoming into a beautiful butterfly of acoustic guitars, pianos, synths, electronic beats, and vocals ranging from the softest of whispers to the yelp of the Great Wolf. The only style of music Richard can’t write incredibly is generic pop music, or else he would be in a limousine drinking champagne with Lady GaGa. But he has acquired an auto-tuner, so he’s working his way there.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/richardclaytonspring
SARA PARSONS
Parsons is a 20-year-old student from California. She can leap small buildings in a few bounds. She fears large fish, but for some reason not sharks or whales. Parsons always makes the same New Year’s resolution: to survive to see the next year. So far, this has worked well for her. Parsons comes from an impressive songwriting pedigree: her older brother wrote the song “Blue Moon” in 1934, managing to overcome his crippling dyslexia and the fact that the song was written 51 years before his birth. Parsons’s songwriting influences include Beethoven, The Beatles, and Weird Al. Her sense of humor comes from The Simpsons, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and her frequent injections of concentrated doses of Vitamin K. Parsons hopes to go far in this competition. If she doesn’t emerge victorious, she will be forced to turn to Operation Omega. Nobody wants that to happen.
Official Website: www.youtube.com/user/sargeantketchup
AUSTIN & THE PUDAKS
With only two members, the name may be misleading, but that seems to be a theme here. Austin Morley and Jeremy Pudak have been playing music together for several years now, and have never really settled on a genre or a name. In their younger days they would draw on rock influences like Rancid or The Ramones. In recent years, they have settled into slightly quieter influences like She & Him and Bob Dylan. Jeremy has always had a talent for the guitar, but Austin was not so lucky and decided to stick with a bass guitar. Austin & The Pudaks will be rocking your face off, but may not actually be in a rock genre. Be careful, as exposure to this amount of awesome has unpredictable effects.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/nodirectionhome89
IAN & MELISSA
Melissa and Ian are two amateur musicians with a longtime love of composing and performing classical music. Whether this is useful or relevant for a songwriting competition remains to be seen. They are eagerly awaiting the “Write a song in the style of an obscure Baroque composer” round, ’cause somebody totally told them there would be such a round and why would someone lie like that?
Official Website: www.ianandmelissa.com
IN THE AUDIENCE
In the Audience is a band headed by 19-year-old Jordan Stowell. The band combines their love of Third Eye Blind-style pop hooks with the DIY ethics of the Microphones. The band will release Baritone Ukulele Classics in June and begin touring the same month.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/intheaudience
TRAVIS NORRIS
Over the twelve years since young-ish midwesterner Travis Norris first picked up a guitar, he has played and written music in a wide variety of genres ranging from rock that a-billies, metal of a medium or heavier weight, “outlaw” country (aka “the good kind”) and “frosty” jazz (not a real subgenre). Left to his own devices, something like “U2 meets Jonny Lang meets various two-to-three-hit-wonder bands of the ’90s indie/alternative scene” is what you’ll usually get. Travis’s instrumental talents range from lead guitar, 2nd lead guitar, rhythm guitar, auxiliary guitar, and bass (sorta). He can also drag and drop drum loops like you wouldn’t believe. He comes to this competition armed with three electric guitars, a neglected bass, an Ebow, and absolutely no fan base or public recognition. So be nice, eh? I hear he’s real sensitive when people that aren’t him make fun of him.
Official Website: NONE
THE GREMLINS
When we’re not turning scrap metal into transportation and weaponry suited to post-apocalyptic life, studying the obsolete sociopolitical establishment of the twenty-first century under the guise of civil service, or scouting subterranean wilds for a suitable base of operations, The Gremlins are dedicated to sabotaging the destructive technological forces that have become your way of life through whatever mischief is at our disposal. Banjos are fun, too.
Official Website: NONE
THE GORGON’S GAZE
The Gorgon’s Gaze is the alias of Tim Wilkinson, recent resident of “the music capital of the world”, Austin, TX. Originally hailing from hard to pronounce Worcester, MA, he began his musical career as the drummer of metal band Tempus. His drumming proficiency led him to join infamous fun-core band Bison Bison, creators of the annual Molluskfest, and toured the US. Tim loves to talk about himself in the third-person and is joining MSF to rock out with “y’all”.
Official Website: www.thegorgonsgaze.com
MIKE FEDERALI
Mike Federali is a singer/songwriter from Virginia. He has two albums under his belt – The Great American Novel and Never Be Lonely. Mike wrote a song a day, everyday, in 2007 as part of a project called “365”. Mike has been called “The Beatles, Jayhawks and Pixies all rolled into one devilishly handsome dude” and “A One Man Music Army”. His songs can be heard on iTunes.
Official Website: www.mikefederali.com
THE PERFECT PLACE
When two musicians marry one another, it’s a wonderful thing. When a multi-instrumental songwriter marries an amazing vocalist, it’s even better. Bud (oldest of three, one insane sibling of each gender) was born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA – a drummer first, guitarist second, and just about everything you could imagine third through last. Christin Joy (youngest of four, with 3 older brothers) was born and raised in beautiful Annapolis, MD – with the voice of an angel and the compassion to match; she is quite a wonderful singer and writer. The Perfect Place is a Husband/Wife duo that enjoys writing and performing music in their spare time. While their main area of expertise is theologically minded, they have been known to get a little silly from time to time. Masters of Song Fu should prove to be an interesting challenge, one we await with eager anticipation. Woot!
Official Website: www.myspace.com/oneperfectplace
HIS NAME IS LEGS
His Name Is Legs is a newly-created rock band comprised of guitarist/vocalist/Song Fu veteran Hazen Nester and bassist Cameron Accola, who collaborated with Nester on two of his previous entries. Born out of a mutual love of Rush and talented musicians in general, His Name Is Legs pledges to provide listeners with an eclectic array of sounds designed to stimulate and elevate. What makes this band unique is that neither Accola nor Nester have ever met each other in person.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/hisnameislegs
ROUND 1 CHALLENGE
Write a song from the perspective of an inanimate object. This inanimate object must have no moving parts. Also no computers, no objects that look like living things, either human or animal (i.e. a statue, an action figure, etc.), and no celestial objects (i.e. the sun or the moon). Your song can be in any style you choose.
That’s it. The only other directive is that your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 45 seconds. Your song must be submitted in mp3 form (128-192kbps) either via e-mail (to songfu @ asitecalledfred.com – remember to remove the spaces) or a file upload service (like RapidShare or YouSendIt). Deadline for submission is 11:59pm EST on Friday, May 22nd, 2009.
Voting on Round 1 submissions will commence on Monday, May 25th, 2009.
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.
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Comments: 39 Comments
May 14th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Well… Thats a LOT of new names and faces!
Good luck to you all!!!
(I think Molly profile needs updating though!)
;’ )
May 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Lock and load.
Good luck all!
May 14th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Like Nickel Creek’s “Lighthouse’s Tale”? Interesting.
May 14th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Break a leg, folks.
May 14th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Game on and good luck everyone! 😀
May 14th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Oh crap! Molly is still challenging!?! She’s the reason I joined this! I’m honored!
Me and Jerry are pretty close to finished already….just needs some polish…good luck to everyone else!
May 14th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
(Didn’t Bram and I already do this in MoSF#2?)
🙂
http://happinessboard.com/Blue_Moon.html
http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/songfu/02song1/bram_tant-what_gives.mp3
May 14th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Seems I no longer have a monopoly on the name Caleb, so I shall include my last initial.
@Ian & Melissa – You guys got the “obscure Baroque composer round” memo too??? 🙂
Good luck everyone!
May 14th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Wow…sorry i have to miss this Fu…getting married in a few weeks…but good luck all, and I’ll hopefully be competing with you (and against you! ^_^) next time!
May 15th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Congrats, Ian. Best wishes on your marriage.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:46 am
This competition looks like fun. Good luck to all the challengers.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:54 am
!!! Congratulations, Ian!
May 15th, 2009 at 3:19 am
molly – kudos, lighthouse tale was the first thing i thought of when i saw the challenge.
this one should be interesting… got our idea down and it’s lyric time.
May 15th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Are we changing the name of this thing to “Master of Song Fu Who Shall Not Be Named”?
May 15th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Always forty there are: a master, and thirty-nine challengers.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Could we combine all of the entries for each challenge into one big album (file folder)? It’s somewhat a burden having to download 30 songs individually.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Sweet.
Oh, sorry to the other Caleb.. but hell at least this way there is a much better chance of a “Caleb” winning a challenge, and that’s all that matters. ALL that matters…. ALLLLLLLL.
Right. No. Good luck everyone!
May 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
It would take me a week just to go to all the challenger’s myspaces.
May 16th, 2009 at 2:04 am
39 entrants? Is this a Jack Benny reference?
But seriously, I’m not sure how well this will work without any elimination.
May 16th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
The band and i just finished our song. Can’t wait to here all of the others.
I agree with Kouban. Who is going to listen to 39 songs and then determine which one of them is good enough to earn there vote?
May 17th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I hope they at least make a zip file available for convenient downloading.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
39 challengers? Awesome! This should be a great competition, and this round should bring us some really creative songs!
@Insane Ian: Congratulations! Have a great wedding!
See you in MoSF5!
@Kouban & The Scribbles: Fortunately there are 5 votes per voter, or else this would be REALLY difficult.
Who’s gonna listen to all 39 songs? Hopefully everybody, but you can be assured that I will hear every song at least 10 times before my review is complete (closer to 20 for the good ones). MY challenge is to make a review that will be less than 10 minutes long…
@Molly: Lots of ukulele players this time around! Looks like you’re bringing the instrument back in a way that Tiny Tim wished he could’ve!
May 19th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Our song is pretty much finalized, we just need to record. Looking forward to listening to everything.
May 19th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
go berg and jerry yay
May 20th, 2009 at 2:03 am
I sure hope somebody wrote about being a sandwich.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Whoa. That is a LONG list of people. Excited to see the new faces.
@_@
May 20th, 2009 at 11:12 am
My song has been submitted. It is not about a sandwich. While it mentions sand in passing, there are no wiches.
May 20th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
@sevinPackage You mean that Molly’s bringing back the ukulele from the horrible atrocities that Tiny Tim committed upon it. Man, I still have nightmares about his cover of Stairway.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
@photosinensis: Erm, yeah, that is a more correct statement. Tiny Tim is the only signed artist I’m familiar with that played the uke, and I have to say he set the instrument’s credibility back about 30 years. Molly changed my perception of the ukulele, and that’s better then tiptoeing through tulips.
May 21st, 2009 at 12:06 am
Lest we not forget that Tom has an ELECTRIC ukelele. It has, like, electricity in it or something.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:26 am
@sevinPackage: Ex-Beatle George Harrison did wonderful stuff with the uke as well, especially on his posthumous release “Brainwashed.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:58 pm
@ukers: Per Gessle (Roxette) has a uke with Motörhead-airbrush on it. No uke in my entry this time around, just acoustic guitar and vocals. Submitted it earlier this week. It turned out doormatty…
May 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Hmm, well, I’ve got lyrics and music and I’ve got to record my song tomorrow and I just realized that I’m sort of breaking the rules because I missed one of the requirements before I started writing. Eek. Well, rules were meant to be lightly bent to just before breaking right? *Darn it..*
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
And we just finished our entry. Break a leg, everybody.
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
finished writing. Commence the recordination.
Late starts are always my flops.
MosF #3 was all late starts.
I need to get on top of crap.
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Another first timer here – entry submitted!
Good luck everyone!
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 am
Woah, Molly Lewis AND Tom Milsom?!?!?
I’m so glad I can vote for more than one person…
May 24th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
CalebLee’s song…Whoa! great rhythm, great lyric’s, heart felt!…This song means something to I’m sure tons of people! I love it!
May 31st, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Arg.