2006 DSA SONG CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCEDat the AWARDS CEREMONY, SATURDAY, October 7, 2006
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Grand Prize Category Winners Other Awards Judges Prizes Compilation CD Sponsors Song CritiquesDSA Homepage
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GRAND PRIZE WINNERS
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1.
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Here’s To Love
| Michael George, Kingston, Ontario CAN |
2.
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I Hate It When I’m Right
| Liz Miller, Dan May, Conshohocken, PA |
3.
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PorpDog
| Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA |
HM
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When Did Hell Freeze Over?
| Liz Miller, Tom Stipe, Conshohocken, PA |
HM
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You Always Love Me Better When I’m Gone
| Patti Burt, Beau Burt, Hutchins, TX |
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CATEGORY WINNERS
* See critiques of the top 11 songs by Grand Prize Judge Roy Elkins
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313 W. Beltline Hwy, Suite #115 • Madison, WI 53713 • 608-271-3633 • fax: 608-273-3635 • www.broadjam.com
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Dallas Songwriters Association
2006 Song Contest Judging
I started with 28 songs this year and it was not hard to cut it to the Top 15. After a few more listens, I cut it to 11, and I’ve included my comments about each of them below. After extensive listening and evaluation, here are my picks:
The best song in the competition this year is “Here’s To Love,” a simple and inspired piece. Second place goes to “I Hate It When I’m Right”, a brilliantly written and crafted song. Third place was a little more difficult as I went back and forth between three or four songs. I finally picked the instrumental, “PorpDog,” a great and memorable jazz melody.
The other eight are listed below and any of them could have won. Normally I can cut the competition down to five or six songs quickly. This time I couldn’t get below 11 because the quality of the songwriting was so high. I felt each of these songs deserved extra time and listening. I listened to each song of the top 11 at least 10 times and maybe 15.
In all the years I have had the pleasure of judging this competition, I don’t believe we’ve had so many songs of this caliber. There was lots of good stuff and I must say I really enjoyed the process this year. I love great songwriters and there were plenty of them here.
Thanks for letting me be a part of this – the Dallas Songwriters Association is one of the most well-run and professional organizations of its type in the country. Broadjam and I are proud to be affiliated with it.
Roy
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Here’s To Love
After listening through the entire list (of 28 songs) the very first time, this song stood out. This is probably the simplest lyric I’ve ever heard with the most complex meaning. This song makes the listener ponder about many personal and social issues of our time and any other time for that matter, making it timeless… The marriage between the lyric and the melody is excellent as the melody is about perfect for this lyric. The second line in the song is a great example. “Easy to give and yet so hard to be deprived of.” While reading the lyric, one might think this is a forced rhyme. When you hear it in context with the melody it’s brilliant… The opening line of the song, “Here’s to love, are we naïve to think there’ll ever be enough” - This sucks you in and you listen intently to all the lyrics… Two other lines that I really liked were “You are never truly lost till you let go” and “And taking time to hear a different point of view”. My only criticism of this song is the intro. It’s too long. Overall, this is an excellent lyric with a melody that is almost a perfect match…This is not a sing-along, it’s a listen-along. This is the winner of the competition.
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I Hate It When I’m Right
This song puts a new twist on an old theme. “I Hate It When I’m Right” is a great country hook and its melody really sticks. After hearing this once, you remember all the words in the chorus. The opening line of the first verse, “Tick tock – the sound of the clock is taunting me again” is one that pulls the listener into the song right away. “She was a little too pretty for dinner with her friends” is another great line. The lyric is very true to the chorus. Every line in this song tells the same story except the last two lines of the second verse, “She really tried her best, I think you know the rest”. This is my second place song.
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PorpDog
It’s very hard to pick an instrumental in a songwriting contest as one of the best. In some ways there is an unfair advantage because there is no lyric. And one could also say it’s a disadvantage. As a judge, it’s difficult but doable... This is the one melody that stuck with me throughout this whole process. I have listened to this song numerous times and have simply concluded this is one of those jazz melodies like “Feels So Good,” “Rocket”, “Take Five”, “Spain”, etc. that could crossover into the pop lexicon. I love the melody and that’s what carried it for me. The opening groove pulls you in and the melody arrives at about 17 seconds. At 55 seconds, there is a slight change in the melody that is very tasteful and brings the structural intensity back to where it was at the intro. Again, a strong melody and structure… The down side. I realize this is a songwriting contest, but the performance of this song could have been tighter and the mix could use some work. If this song were edited for precision and mixed by a good engineer, it would improve the listener’s experience dramatically. Fortunately, it’s not a production or performance contest as it wouldn’t have made it this far. With that said, its strong and unforgettable melody makes “PorpDog” my third choice.
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When Did Hell Freeze Over?
This song is a lesson in how to write a hook. The chorus of this song is about as perfect as songwriting gets. The melody and lyric in the chorus are not only married and happy, but deeply in love with each other. Like the song “I Hate It When I’m Right”, this is a hook you can sing after the first time you hear it… I thought the verses were not as strong as the rest of the song. Conceptually they were, but lyrically they weren’t quite as married to the hook as they could have been. First verse was excellent. At the end, it sounds like “watch it on TV” was a forced lyric. Second verse was not as good the first.
With it said, I’m not sure I would change anything because I believe it would get placed immediately if the right person heard it. It reminded me a lot of Gretchen Wilson’s Redneck Woman. I would get this to her management ASAP as this is perfect for her.
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You Always Loved Me Better When I’m Gone
This song is simple, but kind of hypnotizing. I didn’t like it at first, but I thought the verse was good, not great. The melody in the verse was a little too monotone for me, but at the same time that’s what makes it hypnotizing. I thought the hook was great, “You always loved me better when I’m gone”. By itself, the hook really creates a personal story for the listener. Is it a cheatin’ spouse, a worn out marriage or something else. I think each of us might interpret it differently. With all this said, I did find myself singing along with it in the car. The hook is very easy to sing with. The writing style is similar to Hank Williams Sr
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Welcome To Holland
This song has one of those progressions that you want to pick up your guitar and learn as soon as you hear it. It’s so simple, but so effective. Like all of the songs, I listened to this many times and unlike some of them, this one continued to grow on me. I was thinking that there is more to this lyric than the listener knows. Not knowing what this is really about, it leaves you wanting more. Everything is good with this song, it just wasn’t the best.
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She’s Too Good For Me
This is a good song with a really strong concept. The hook is probably the strongest part of the song. Although I like the hook, it seems to lose strength in the “sweetest sensual…” line. The words are strong in the hook, but the melody starts sounding a little like an advertisement. As I mentioned, the concept is strong. The setup between the first verse and chorus “She says she loves…” isn’t as strong as the rest of the song. I feel the second verse could be a little truer to the hook. It is not nearly as strong as the first verse. Ex:“She doesn’t realize…”seems a little forced. Also in that verse, “There is nowhere in this world, I’d rather be” is not a strong line and also sounds forced and is not as true to the hook as the rest of the song. The song is strong as it is and I believe it would connect with every man who ever listens to it. We’ve all been there. A couple of simple tweaks could make it great.
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Rugby The Cat
This was the most original song of the bunch. To some, this could be a very annoying song. I believe it could bring the house down in a Broadway musical.. Obviously, the song was inspired by a curious feline. The originality of this song was great, everything else was good. Good words, good hook, etc. The
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Less Bombastic, A Little More Thoughtful
The first time I heard this, I knew it wasn’t going to make it to my next round. Then I heard it again and again. It started to grow on me. Certainly not the melody or the hook. To be quite honest, I’m not sure why I like it. The words are performed much differently than most rap songs and the hook is sung in spoken monotone. It’s an interesting song to listen to again and again. You pick up a little more each time you listen. The lyric wasn’t quite true enough to make it to the final three, but it made my cut.
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Nightbird
The writer creates a nice visual. The melody in this and the structure is strong. Lots of peaks and valleys in the melody, and it’s singable. Chorus is melodically strong, but not as good lyrically. Overall, I thought the marriage between the lyric and melody wasn’t strong. Although I liked the song and kept humming throughout this process, I felt that the melody deserves a better lyric. Even when I say that, I kind of question myself about the statement. I would encourage the writer to hand the melody to a fellow writer and ask them to come up with a lyric.
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Falling For You
This is a nice ballad about a woman falling for a guy. A strong melody with a good hook. Although the words work well with the melody, they aren’t quite as strong the melody. This is a tough concept for a song as it’s been done a million times and it’s very difficult to create any uniqueness. I think they’ve done a good job, but it’s not the best in the contest this year. It’s good and I enjoyed it, but not quite the best. One other note: While listening to these songs, I imagine others singing it. Other than the Title Hook, I think this would be difficult for an average singer. This performance made the song better.
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Americana / Folk / Bluegrass
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1.
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Above the Waterline
| Bill Honker, Dallas, TX |
2.
| My Old Favorite Song | Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA |
3.(tie)
| Falling For You * | Liz Miller, Anthony Newett, Conshohocken, PA |
3.(tie)
| February | Kimo Pokini, West Valley City, Utah |
Christian / Inspirational
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1.
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God Is Good To You
| Monique Andrade, Marina, CA |
2.
| A Friend In High Places | Louie Cate, Alexandria, VA |
3.
| Chosen | Kevin Chauvette, Bedford, NH |
Country
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1.
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When Did Hell Freeze Over? *
| Liz Miller, Tom Stipe, Conshohocken, PA |
2.
| Nightbird * | Liz Miller, Dan May, Jerry Guerra, Conshohocken, PA |
3.
| You Always Love Me Better When I'm Gone * | Patti Burt, Beau Burt, Hutchins, TX |
HM
| Sticks and Stones | Laura Lynn, Page Jackson, Beau Hendrich, Nashville, TN |
HM
| I Hate It When I'm Right * | Liz Miller, Dan May, Conshohocken, PA |
Instrumental / TV / Film / Classical / Jazz
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1.
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Extreme Sporting
| Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA |
2.
| Awakening | Gina Canali, New Haven, CN |
3.
| PorpDog * | Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA |
Love Songs / E-Z Listening
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1.
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Three Small Words
| Ed Williams, Dallas, TX |
2.
| A Moment Unexpectedly | Errol Chugg, Orono, MN |
3.
| Come Sundown | Andre Kerek, Miami, FL |
Novelty / Patriotic / Children's
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1.
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Rugby the Cat *
| Adam Donmoyer Austin, TX |
2.
| 1-800-U-GOT-ME | Liz Miller, Conshohocken, PA |
3.
| Hope in my Heart | Karen Javitch, Omaha, NE |
Pop / Rock /Alt / R&B / Urban
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1.
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She's Too Good For Me *
| Michael George, Kingston, Ontario CAN |
2.
| Drive Me Home | Timothy Tyran, Denton, TX |
3.
| Less Bombastic, More Thoughtful * | Josh Paladini, Jonny Peters, West Hempstead, NY |
Singer Songwriter
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1.
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Here's To Love *
| Michael George, Kingston, Ontario CAN |
2.
| Gramma's Purple Flowers | Larry Mangum, Jacksonville, FL |
3.
| If Only I Could | Donna Aylor, Brock Goodwin & Ande Rasmussen, San Angelo, TX |
HM
| Welcome To Holland * | Will Livingston, Coppell, TX |
Instrumental / New Age / Jazz
Amanecer Andaluz by Rafael Padilla Estepona, Spain
Awakening by Gina Canali, New Haven, CN
De l'Ombre à la Lumière 2 by Bernay Vincent, Angers, France
Extreme Sporting by Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA
Lost N Found- Hot Mix by Elizabeth Kirchgatter/Robert Couch, Green Valley, AZ
Moonsauce by Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA
Nobody Knows Me by Elizabeth Kirchgatter/Robert Couch, Green Valley, AZ
PorpDog by Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA
LOVE SONGS/EZ LISTENING
A Moment Unexpectedly by Errol Chugg, Orono, MN
A Yellow Rose From Texas by Doris DeArmon, Tulsa, OK
Always Be Your Girl by Louie Cate, Alexandria, VA
Come Sundown by Andre Kerek, Miami, FL
Everything To Me by Jan Seides, Austin, TX
Find Me There by Charles Moster, Austin, TX
Goodbye To You Love by Liz Miller, Conshohocken, PA
Hide Away by Ed Williams, Dallas, TX
Hotel Rooms, Parking Lots by Kimo Pokini, West Valley City, UT
How Do I Love You by Ann Patterson, Littleton, CO
I'll Never Understand by April Martin, New York, NY
Just Learning to Love You Now by Roger Courtney, Bangor, UK
Pictures In The Night by Michael Hart/Danny Everitt, Houston, TX
Three Small Words by Ed Williams, Dallas, TX
Unfair by Dori Ann Cobb, Fairfield, TX
You Believed In Me by Joel LaRiccia/Robison/Seifer, Bay Village, OH
POP/ROCK/ALT POP/R&B/URBAN
Conundrum by TJ Moss, Astoria, NY
Crazy by Kimo Pokini, West Valley City, UT
Devil's Dune by Fremont John Ashton, Sarasota, FL
Drive Me Home by Timothy Tyran, Denton, TX
I Need You More by Steve Ritter/Don Townsley/Mimi Balkey, Anna, Tx
If I Seem Jaded by Louie Cate, Alexandria, VA
Less Bombastic, More Thoughtful, by Josh Paladini/Johnny Peters, W. Hempstead, NY
Little Stevie by Rich Ellis, Carrollton, TX
Rain by Charles Moster, Austin, TX
Rhapsody by Jim Pepe (JP Velvet), Philadelphia, PA
Road-Ganged by Simon Leak/Ian Griffiths, Twickenham, UK
Self Righteous Son-of-a-Bitch by Beth Wimmer, Santa Monica, CA
She's Too Good For Me by Michael George, Kingston, Ontario CAN
Subtitle by Nate Smith, Irving, TX
We Don't Need the Answers Tonight by Stephen Spataro, Brooklyn, NY
NOVELTY/PATRIOTIC/SPECIAL OCCASSION / CHILDREN
1-800-U-GOT-ME by Liz Miller, Conshohocken, PA
All Must Be Free by Denice Rippentrop, Minneapolis, MN
Central Expressway by Richard Kirwan, Dallas, TX
Christmas Time In Texas by Elizabeth Kirchgatter/Doug Burandt, Green Valley, AZ
Elephant Wedding by Jan Seides, Austin, TX
Hope In My Heart by Karen Javitch, Omaha, NE
Johnny's Favorite Song by Becky Wright, Tahlequah, OK
Life Was Simple Then by Karen Javitch, Omaha, NE
Microphone In The Sky by Genell Kelso, Dallas, TX
Robin's Lullaby (You Are Beautiful To me) by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA
Rugby the Cat by Adam Donmoyer, Austin, TX
Target Demographic by Genell Kelso, Dallas, TX
The Life Of A Turtle by Gaylon Embrey, Quitman, TX
This is America's Moment by Karen Javitch, Omaha, NE
Three Pigs and a Wolf by Debbie Cavalier, Watertown, MA
When He Comes Home To Her by Stephen Desjardins/Lisa Firestone/Charles Harn, Orlando, FL
CHRISTIAN / INSPIRATIONAL
A Friend In High Places by Louie Cate, Alexandria, VA
Broken Bread by Elizabeth Kirchgatter/Robertson/R. Couch, Green Valley, AZ
Chances by Elizabeth Kirchgatter/Robertson/R. Couch, Green Valley, AZ
Chosen by Kevin Chauvette, Bedford, NH
God Is Good To You by Monique Andrade, Marina, CA
God's Eyes by Bonnie Warren, Plymouth Meeting, PA
No Compromise by Becky Wright, Tahlequah, OK
One People, One Destiny by Karen Javitch, Omaha, NE
The Throne Room by Tony Burroughs/Stephen Ford, Baltimore, MA
When All Is Lost by Timothy Tyran, Denton, TX
Country
Cross That Line by Laura Lynn, Nashville, TN
Dangerous Country by Steve Ritter/Don Townsley/ Mimi Balkey, Anna, TX
Darlin', This Is Real by Steve Ritter/Don Townsley/Mimi Balkey, Anna, TX
Dear John The John Deere's Gone by Steve Ritter/ Townsley/ Balkey, Anna, TX
Hard Times by Liz Miller/Dan May, Conshohocken, PA
Heroes by Randy Borgeson, Ravenna, TX
I Didn't Stand A Chance by Ed Williams, Dallas TX
I Hate It When I'm Right by Liz Miller, Conshohocken, PA
I Wish You Enough by Patricia Felker, Durham, NC
It's Alright! by Charles Moster, Austin, TX
Let's Never Miss a Moment by Bonnie Warren/A. Newett, Plymouth Meeting, PA
Look Into My Eyes by Stephen Desjardins/Lisa Firestone, Orlando, FL
Nightbird by Liz Miller/Dan May/Jerry Guerra, Conshohocken, PA
Real Lady’s Man by Troy Thompson/Craig Harris/Kathy Brown, Irving, TX
Simple Is Best by Bonnie Warren, Plymouth Meeting, PA
Somebody's Romeo by Rebecca Peaden/Keith & Mark Marchetti, Sunny Hills, FL
Sticks and Stones by Laura Lynn/Page Jackson/Beau Hendrich,Nashville, TN
Sunday Mornin Times by Randy Borgeson, Ravenna, TX
These Four Walls by Tom Stipe/Liz Miller, Tuscaloosa, AL
Walk Away by Ed Williams, Dallas, TX
When Did Hell Freeze Over? by Liz Miller/Tom Stipe, Conshohocken, PA
You Always Love Me Better When I'm Gone by Patti & Beau Burt, Hutchins,TX
AMERICANA / FOLK / BLUEGRASS
Above the Waterline by Bill Honker, Dallas, Tx
Angels Sigh by Gregory Cline, Malibu, CA
Falling For You by Liz Miller/Anthony Newett, Conshohocken, PA
Familiar Faces by Ron Lindsay, Dundee, UK
February by Kimo Pokini, West Valley City, Utah
Gweedore by Roger Courtney, Bangor, UK
I Missed Texas by Jan Seides, Austin, TX
Move On by Kathy Davidson/Robb McMahon, Marshall, TX
My Beautiful Mistake by Louie Cate, Alexandria, VA
My Old Favorite Song by Jesse Green, Delaware Water Gap, PA
No Pity On Me by Fremont John Ashton, Sarasota, FL
Nothing Has Changed by Richard Charboneau, Lake Isabella, CA
The Girl from County Clare Roger Courtney, Bangor, UK
When My World Was Small by Charlie Rae Welch, David City, NE
Which Way You Runnin' by Elizabeth Kirchgatter/Couch/Robertson/Dean, Green Valley, AZ
SINGER / SONGWRITER
And She Says by Capers Simmons, Yemassee, SC
Gramma's Purple Flowers by Larry Mangum, Jacksonville, FL
Here's to Love by Michael George, Kingston, Ontario CAN
If Only I Could by Donna Aylor/Brock Goodwin/Ande Rasmussen, San Angelo, TX
Kings Of The Waves by Ron Lindsay, Dundee, UK
Lucky Man by Robert (Tiny) Heath, Wilmer, TX
Rise by Nicola Wright, Hartlepool, UK
River by Emily Elbert, Coppell, TX
Welcome To Holland by Will Livingston, Coppell, TX
Your Avenue by Colin O'Dwyer, Westwood, MA
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OTHER AWARDS
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THE PRIZES
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Finalists Compilation CD
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All winning songs are on a CD Compilation that was given out at the Awards Ceremony. To get YOUR copy of the CD (while they last), you can make a donation to DSA through our online store.
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