Challenge #38 - A Celebration Of Summer

[john]

Hi Gang

We've been contacted by audiences everywhere who are desperate for a meaningful, feel-good summer song!

Sounds simple, no?

Well in the best traditions of our lyrics writing challenges, two representatives of audiences everywhere, Ivan Hookybit and Mustafah Backbeat, commented that:

It must be memorable

It should be easy to understand

It should be lo-fat, so go light on the cheese

It should be green aware, Ivan and Mustafah insisted it should work for every summer, not just this year

It should involve at least one common phrase or twist of a common phrase per song section (preference should be given to internationally known common phrases... Local ones won't get you far)

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to:

Write a summer song that meets the above criteria

During the next week you can post looking for critique within the group's board. You should title the topic "Challenge #38 Your Song Title".

Post the FINAL version next Friday in it's own topic within the lyrics critique board. You should title the topic "Challenge #38 Your Song Title".

You should request that reviewers rate your FINAL version between 0 and 10 where 10 is excellent and 0 is start again. Your aim is to get at least 10 people to vote. (Feel free to use the in-built topic poll feature or ask them to state their rating.

As this is a Summer Hit challenge, please link to this topic (so the members see context), to pass your song should get an average score of 6 or higher.

Lyrics with more than 10 voters achieving an average score of 7 or more will be featured in our community newsletter.

If you can provide a recording (either you or a collab) you will get a big tick and a gold star for effort!

Thus mission will self destruct at some point soon. Very soon. Honest.

Cheers

John

[jamestoffee]

^{Here is my submission for this challenge:}

 

^{http://forums.songstuff.com/topic/38405-challenge-38-summer-time/}

[john]

Thanks James. Will anyone else be posting a submission?

[halld1971]

working on something but think I am out of time - is the deadline today?

[john]

It is, but I am happy to extend it to Monday.

[louielouwhy]

Been meaning to get to this.  Only took a quick glance at the topic last week. Sorry I'm late.  Just read the rules today.  Thanks for extending!  Can only do lyrics without recording.  I'll post them on Collaboration.  The best I can do.

 

SUMMER ALL OF THE TIME

 

i GOT MY FAVORITE CHEVY AND I'M PUTT'N DOWN THE TOP

TURN'N ON THE RADIO TO A STATION THAT JUST PLAYS ROCK

I'M GOING TO LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

AND START IT OFF WITH A FRUIT JUICE POP

T'IS THE SEASON THAT I LOVE

CAUSE I SURE DO LIKE IT HOT

 

SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME OF THE TIME

iN THE SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER TIME

SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME OF THE TIME

 

THE EXCEPTION IS

WHEN THE NIGHT TIME COMES I SURE DO LIKE TO CHILL

IT'S NOT TO COLD

AND IF I'M AWAKE

I'LL STILL BE LISTENING TO THAT ROCK AND ROLL

YOU CAN BET I'LL BE JAMMING

FROM THE OCEAN STATE, RHODE ISLAND

TO THE SWEET LAKES IN MUSCLE SHOALS

AND THE ONLY TIME YOU'LL CATCH ME

IS ON THE GO

 

SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME OF THE TIME

IN THE SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER

SOME A, SOME A, SOME A, SOME OF THE TIME

 

IT ALL IS SWEET

T'IS THE SEASON FOR ME

AND IT CAN'T BE BEAT WHEN GRANTED THAT LIBERTY

 

IN THE SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER TIME

IN THE SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER TIME

ALL A, ALL A, ALL A, ALL OF THE TIME

iN THE SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER

SUMMER TIME

Edited July 27, 2014 by louielouwhy

[jamestoffee]

Hi louielouwhy,

 

If you are looking for a collaboration, I came up with a melody and chords that would fit (most of) your lyrics.  

 

Let me know if you want me to record and post it.  If I changed too much and you're not interested in the revisions, no worries.

 

Let me know.

 

James

 

 

UPDATE- ATTACHED IS THE MP3.  I'LL SET UP THE POLING POST AS WELL.

 

SUMMER ALL OF THE TIME

 

I GOT MY FAVORITE CHEVY AND I'M PUTT'N DOWN THE TOP

 

Crank’n up a STATION THAT only PLAYS ROCK

 

Gonna LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

 

START IT OFF with a SODA POP

 

T'IS THE SEASON THAT I LOVE

 

CAUSE I SURE LIKE IT HOT

 

 

 

Chorus

 

I’ve got SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER on my mind

 

I want SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER all the time

 

 

WHEN THE NIGHT TIME COMES 'round and the moon is low

 

I'LL STILL BE JAMMING TO THAT ROCK AND ROLL

 

FROM THE OCEAN STATE, RHODE ISLAND

 

TO THE LAKES IN MUSCLE SHOALS

 

THE ONLY TIME YOU'LL CATCH ME IS ON THE GO

 

 

 

chorus

 

 

 

IT’s ALL SWEET

 

T'IS THE SEASON FOR ME

 

Summer ring that bell of LIBERTY

 

 

 

chorus

 

 

 

LANDR-Y1W38 Summer All the Time .mp3

Edited July 28, 2014 by jamestoffee

[halld1971]

Hi kids,

 

Hope I'm in time.  I faffed around on this, something else was in my head but this came out.  Not sure I met any of the rules but wanted to put it out there to prove to myself I can meet a deadline (kinda, sorta).  I cant play an instrument but in my head, this had a bit of a latin beat  thingy going on...

 

Here it is:

 

Summers in the air

 

It must be the summer

I'm frying in the street

Going down to the beach

where the sand burns my feet

 

It must be the summer

with strangers at your feet

dancing so close

you can feel their heat

 

And the boys just stare

at the girls nearly bare

Summers in the air

 

 

Chorus

Summers in the air tonight

I can feel it everywhere

from the ocean bars

to the midnight stars

Summers in the air tonight

I can feel it everywhere

from the salsa beat

to the sand between my feet

 

It must be the summer

when the nights are long

the boys feel pretty

and the girls feel strong

 

It must be summer

when the mood turns red

and the heat of the night

climbs inside your head

[john]

I see James has followed instructions and posted his lyrics in a topic with a poll.... Has anyone else done this?

[halld1971]

I admit I have not - I was too traumatised by the experience to do anything more. 

[john]

Note to self... Must make challenges more fun, less traumatising.

Lol

[louielouwhy]

All I got is lyrics materialized, and am not sure where else to post it for poll. 

[jamestoffee]

Hi louielouwhy, 

 

All I got is lyrics materialized, and am not sure where else to post it for poll. 

 

Check it out here

 

http://forums.songstuff.com/topic/38584-challenge-38-summer-all-the-time-listen-and-vote-participation/?p=246887

 

Cheers, 

 

James

[louielouwhy]

James Thanks!!!

     I think that you improved the lyrics too by cutting them short.  At first I thought it was going to be a Kinks version.  Then, I asked my self once you started to sing if you were Ric Ocasek > lead singer for the Cars.

I think your song was better all around, though.

 

Paul

[jamestoffee]

>James Thanks!!!  I think that you improved the lyrics too by cutting them short.

 

You're welcome.  I'm glad you liked it.

 

>At first I thought it was going to be a Kinks version.  Then, I asked my self once you started to sing if you were Ric Ocasek > lead singer for the Cars.

 

I hadn't thought of that, but I can definitely hear it after reading your post LOL

[jamestoffee]

Hi kids,

 

Hope I'm in time.  I faffed around on this, something else was in my head but this came out.  Not sure I met any of the rules but wanted to put it out there to prove to myself I can meet a deadline (kinda, sorta).  I cant play an instrument but in my head, this had a bit of a latin beat  thingy going on...

 

Here it is:

 

Summers in the air

 

It must be the summer

I'm frying in the street

Going down to the beach

where the sand burns my feet

 

It must be the summer

with strangers at your feet

dancing so close

you can feel their heat

 

And the boys just stare

at the girls nearly bare

Summers in the air

 

 

Chorus

Summers in the air tonight

I can feel it everywhere

from the ocean bars

to the midnight stars

Summers in the air tonight

I can feel it everywhere

from the salsa beat

to the sand between my feet

 

It must be the summer

when the nights are long

the boys feel pretty

and the girls feel strong

 

It must be summer

when the mood turns red

and the heat of the night

climbs inside your head

 

Hi halld1971,

 

Good start on this one.  I like how the focus is in one scene; around the beach setting.

 

I like this line:

And the boys just stare

at the girls nearly bare

Summers in the air

 

Suggestions:

 

It's possible some lines would need a lot of repetition as what is here as is would make for a very short salsa song; considering the speed and repetition of salsa lyrics.

 

"with strangers at your feet" could be a bit more conversational

 

also, I'm not following this line

"the boys feel pretty"

 

Regarding the music, I can try to give it a go, but I don't know/play salsa music.

Nevertheless, if you are interested in a listen, I can give it a go.....let me know.

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

James

[halld1971]

Hey James,

 

Thanks for taking the time to read the lyrics.  I did find it difficult to write upbeat lyrics about the summer, must be a result of living in NE UK lol.  It is very kind of you to try and put the lyrics to music and I would be absolutely delighted to hear it.  The latin beat was really just something I imagined that could be suitable for a summer song, other than that, I didn't really think about it further.

 

The boys feel pretty line was a bit of a throwback to Dylan, where he says the railroadman smoked his eyelids and punched his cigarettes, you know, just word playing around opposites.  I guess summer can have a big effect on folks and just wanted to show it through those lines.

 

Please feel free to play around with the lyrics to fit any music.  I am just really happy there are people like you that are really community focused/friendly.

 

Thanks again.  I will look at the lyrics again to see if I can improve things per your advice.

 

All the best,

 

David

[jamestoffee]

Hi David, 

 

I had a go at the song "salsa" style.  Here is a link to the voting post with the mp3 attached:

 

http://forums.songstuff.com/topic/38655-challenge-38-it-must-be-summer-listen-and-vote-participation/?p=247396

 

 

-James

Edited August 2, 2014 by jamestoffee

[halld1971]

James,

 

I wanted to say thank you.  i did post a reply before but not sure which board I'veposted to (doesnt take much to confuse me).  I absolutely love what you have done with the song and improvements to the lyrics.  Seems happy and playful to me, something I wasnt really feeling at the time of writing, so I'm glad you were lol.

Thank you so much.  This is the first time I've heard my lyrics to music, so I'm having a proud father moment...

 

 

Thanks again,

 

David

[jamestoffee]

Hi David, 

 

>Thank you so much. 

 

You're very welcome

 

 

>This is the first time I've heard my lyrics to music, so I'm having a proud father moment...

 

That's great!  I'm honored to have been able to help.

 

Cheers.

 

James