FAWM stands for February Album Writing Month. Can you write 14 songs in 28 days? What are you waiting for…inspiration?
Every January, these guys tell me they’re participating in FAWM and try to convince me to do the same. This year, I’m going to, with your help! Here’s how we’ll do it:
You Make Up a Good Song Title
It can be anything, but keeping it under 10 words will probably help.
Post It In The Comments
If you want to include suggestions, elaboration, whatever that’s fine. If you want to “second” someone else’s title, that’s OK too. Comments will close on January 31st at midnight because…
February 1st I’ll Pick My Faves
And start writing and recording songs based on submitted titles, but I won’t tell which titles I picked until…
March 1st I’ll Post Songs Here
for free download. I’m going to do something nice for the folks whose brilliant song titles get picked, but I don’t know what yet. I’m open to ideas (comment below) for that too.
Update: FAWM has begun, so I’m writing and recording songs for 28 days. Thanks for the great titles, stay tuned for the songs!
{ 62 comments }
Katy wants a song called Mittens and Magnets. Go.
Come over for breakfast
-It’s a love song
(P.S. I’ll post a link from my blog.)
My title: The Fall of Night
Freebird! (Sorry…I couldn’t wait until March)
ideas to cover:
the winner takes it all [abba/meryl streep in mamma mia]
happiness [the weepies]
bothered [over the rhine. they have two versions you could look at]
for something original:
goodnight moon
roots
…i found your music a long time ago through lakes myspace
oh sorry i forgot one other idea for a cover song:
forever my friend by ray lamontagne
i think you’d sing a rachael yamagata song prettily but i don’t know what song to suggest…meet me by the water?…..
Tireman Dan
Wow! First night up and lots o’ comments.
LOVE it.
Thanks guys.
This is all good stuff to think about, and I can’t wait to hear ALL of your creative ideas to start making music out of it all!
The cover song contest doesn’t start until March, and remember, there will be a specific category of music to stick with each month…although…I can’t wait to start it!
I love connecting with people, and I love that we will be sharing in the music together.
Title: Shades of Green Gables
“What is to come?”
great idea flo!
ok, first off - when i saw mittens and magnets i just KNEW it was a katy hutson suggestion!
i’ve got two ideas:
1) leaded glass - our new house has loads of leaded glass that the sun pours through leaving lovely slanted bright marks on the hardwoods & rugs. it looks like peace to me. leaded glass is clear but if it’s vintage it also has a beautiful bubbly-type texture. causes beauty in a different way than a plain old window!
2) migration song - david and i named our blog this b/c we’ve been moving a lot and with each move there’s a song that comes from the heart. sometimes a song of sorrow, sometimes a song of joy…but always a song of depth and a cry to God. (the psalms are always an inspiration here!)
ps: if you’re wondering who in the world i am i met you at the smw shower!
So, an upbeat country-ish song from the perspective of someone who, whenever they drink too much, gets paranoid about the faithfulness of their significant other. The title/punchline is:
“I don’t need no evidence, when I’ve had too much proof.”
Kelly! Thanks for stopping by! I can definitely relate to the migration… this is our 10th dwelling in just under 8 years. Wild!
Brandon-Oh yes. If this one is chosen I have a sneaking suspicion it would be a collaboration
What exactly are you saying? huh? huh? what do you mean by that?
“Sound it out”
“Say it out loud”
Title options:
Sober - Not the un-drunk type of sober, but a soberness to the realities around us. incorporating the elements of all the needs around us.
Blithe - An extreme form of happiness.
Trader - from the RightNow movement, trading in the American dream and culture for something better.
For Now - theme around Ester, for such a time as this.
A Joe the Plumber Song - where did this guy ever come from? How much more personal will the next election be?
Friday Flapjacks - kinda Jack Johnson sounding - a song promoting enjoying the every day life, the simple things.
The Rainbow Connection - Has this been done before? A song about why are we all fascinated by rainbows??
Cyber Man - the whole social networking is changing the face of communications drastically. (other options include Spiderman, Iron Man…)
Hurry Down Sunshine
Sundown Shores
and last but not least
“Beowulf - The Musical”
I was going to suggest “Note to Self” until I put it in Google and found out it is already a song title. Maybe an album title then?
The Terror of God.
I don’t want to box you in too much beyond that, except to say, I was in Job today.
I’m still trying to think of something interesting, but Z says “ago-gago wabo babo” (translation: “avocado water bottle”) or “no, no”.
This is a very cool idea. I’m going to put a link on my blog.
Here are a few off the top of my head:
–Irrational Fears
–A Springtime Waltz
–The Ballad of Tony Wonder
I’ll try to think of as many as I can:
-Raindrop of Thunder
-Cancel My Reservation
-Final Time-Out
-With Bells On
-Change For a Time
-Worse For Wear
-Lamented Brush Strokes
I also must second “Beowulf - The Musical”
Now that’s something I would pay money to see!
Under the Dreaming Tree
Chalk Dust (what happens to the writing that isn’t good enough to stay on the blackboard one more day?)
Extraordinary Grey (take something plain and make it special)
Promises Kept (what a perfect thought)
Introspective Spectator (or some kind of wordplay with Prospective, etc)
Warm Breath on a Winter Night (evokes a sense of comfort)
The Gift of Dreams (what if we didn’t dream?)
-Cheek of Despair
-Things That Make My Upper Lip Quiver
-Fancy Pillows
-Quilted Evening
-Suppressing a Smile
It’s just like I said it would be
-Looking Through Scratched Glasses
-Changing Reflections
-Would I Recognize Myself?
-Winter Tulips
Generally, I like to use titles named after counties and campsites:
-Table Rock (have lyrics for this)
-Twin Falls
-Eastatoe Creek
-The Girl From Pickens County (have lyrics for this one too, just need someone to sing it!))
-(when we get to) Morrow Mountain
*and I also must second “Beowulf - The Musical”
“remember when” this is something hollie petra and i always say we have alot of “remember whens” you are in some of them I remember the first time i played with you at your house you were so cute i would spin you around in the living room. tanya said “come on play with me and i told her i always get to play with you your my best friend.” (life is crazy)
you have always been the cutest girl i know!!! best wishes always cant wait to hear more music from you!!
Here’s a few more:
- those what if’s and why me’s
- packin’ the truck again
- her heart is still in heaven
- dust on my strings
- getting in tune with you
- give love to get love
barack and roll.
sexy skylana. (obviously a song for one of your closest friends)
big and tall, you’ve got it all (for josh, duh)
Step Out Boldly
How about “Chipeechawa.”
Remember Owen Wilson tells Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon that “Chipeechawa menas nobility.”
I’ll go funny/serious/funny/serious:
- Pity Not the Armadillo
- Maybe Tomorrow
- Practice Room II: Need More Practice
- Suffer Not
- Suffernaut
- It Isn’t Time
- Comin’ Around (Again)
- I Forget
- Somewhere South
… If I had to pick my favorite, it would be “Suffer Not,” mainly because the phrase could be taken a few different ways. The title suggestion reminds me of “The Least of These,” which is probably my favorite song of yours.
“Home”
“A Legacy of Life”
oh…and….”Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Raiders”
If parodies are allowed, I think you should remake “Livin on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.
“Naked on a Dare”
“the cats pajamas”
Keep up the good work folks. I love reading all of your ideas!
Man, I’m super excited to start picking and choosing and WRITING!
10 more days!
“i was right about the left”
by the way,,, “i was right about the left” is a political musical about the world ending in 2015.
Brandon…. oh maaaaaan, how could you tempt me with the idea of a parody? You know it’s nearly impossible for me to resist, being the Weird Al fanatic I am.
I’m not sure if it’s in the rules or not. I’ll check it out….if not for this year, then for next;)
“who wants cake?” “molehill” (somewhere in this song you have to utilize the phrase mountain out of a molehill) “wolfticket” “let her down easy” “youll know” “flo pow chang” “thanx for the burrito jesus” “you dont know me”
eating cake (in the grass makes me think of you)
looking over my shoulder
treasures
melting fire
there so much not right
(you are) one of my nicest thoughts
ok, I like this game. Here’s a couple of options:
1) Moonshine Honey
2) Cadillac Wedding
3) Brooklyn State Hospital
and, of course,
4) 18 And Legal
1.Your Side of the Bed
2. Growing up into my Shoes
hmmm… the possibilities are endless…uhh…
Nothing more than a Vagabond (so I related to the migration thing too)
Exit Alley (with a play on the word exactly)
Social Security (as in being socially secure)
Shepherds Purse (could look up the herb for song ideas)
Eerie Sunshine
Walled in Road
My Ground Zero
Legality of Life
Fair Tokens
Carousel in a Mall
Hallisey Road
Counsel of Many
Fair Market Value
Sea Born/Land Locked
Schematics (def: bring more clearness and insight, deeper understanding)
Flea Market Masquerade
Vintage Princess
Thrift Store
Lightning Bugs
Water Pump
All in the Bag
I got this
Flight Risk
Rustling of the Leaves
Spring Bloomin’
Boom Town
A Hippie, A Pirate, and a Preacher named Sam
Lost in my own House
Found by Singing
Free to Whisper
Plum Tree
Spot by the River
Nominal Independence
Nominal State of Mind
Power Outage
Blink-Blink
Anywhere but There
…..okay those are all my hokie thoughts for the morning =-)
A few more…
–Discontent
–On The Big Screen
–Parlor Tricks
–1874
–Partly Cloudy
Homesick
famous to a few
Sweet Tea
Times Up
Turn that on!
Rasberries
The Picture didn’t show…
Small Picture
Mini Blind (play on the word blind)
1. Sand and Stone - (look at what I posted tonight on my FB profile- a song about friendship and what that means… )
2. Boxed In
3. Nest
she turned away to save her life
Here are some titles options for a tribute song about the fire that ate the Oakridge Mobile Home Park:
2:00AM
Oakridge
Oakridge Mobile Home Park
84
Clothes, cash and her husband’s ashes…
The story I found so inspiring:
“…Ruth Kamke, 84, had noticed the glow in the sky late Friday night and immediately started gathering her belongings — clothes, cash and her husband’s ashes — and packing them into her 1973 mint-condition yellow-and-black Camaro. As she worked, the power flickered off and on. She used her cane to get around.
By 2 a.m., Kamke was ready to leave, but the electricity failed again and she couldn’t open her garage door. Outside, a rain of glowing embers ignited the bushes around her mobile home.
She grabbed a hose and was spraying down her yard when three firefighters appeared and took her by both arms, leading her across the street to a lawn in front of the community clubhouse.
“As I sat there, I watched each house on my block catch fire in turn,” Kamke said.
Desperate to save her car and belongings, she pleaded with firefighters, who eventually broke down the garage door and pulled the vehicle out. One police officer drove the Camaro out of the neighborhood to safety; another put Kamke in his patrol car and took her to the evacuation center. She peered out the rear window and watched the flames consume her home.
“Everything was fire,” Kamke said. “I kept telling them as they were breaking down the garage door, ‘You fight the fire. I’ll take care of myself.’ They said, ‘No, we’re gonna save your car, too.’ ”
Her eyes filled with tears as she recounted the firefighters’ heroism. “What part of my life is left, they saved for me,” she said…” (http://tinyurl.com/cp5fya)
Loves!
Hmmmm…. I’m late in the game on this, so I’d better come up with something great!
Here’s what I’ve got:
The song is called “Stupid Butterflies”, and it’s based on my recent experience of my boyfriend dumping me because he met a guy that gave him butterflies in his stomach, which made him realize I never gave him butterflies, and he’s now decided he needs butterflies in his life. Turns out “Butterfly Boy” didn’t return his calls after the second date, and Mr. Ex now wants to hang out with me all the time.
Here’s how the song would end:
He gave you butterflies
when he looked in your eyes,
but now he’s flown away
and I all I really have to say is… bye.
You thought I’d come back to your side.
Too bad I don’t take second prize.
For him you dumped the perfect guy.
So good luck… with those stupid butterflies.
Fishsticks and Gravy
Fishstick Fisherman
basket case
land of grace
budleah (a flower, maybe spelled wrong. we had patriot budleah in our yard in Savannah)
love me tomorrow
promise
promise divine
ghillies (name of irish dance soft shoe- my girls irish step dance)
normative estate
smile
red heads
When…
Sweet Spirit
Home sweet Home
Not of this world…but in it
Tax me
Ring Finger
It made me think…
You!
Capture
I am…. a daughter of the King
Friendship promise
A white sky
Toffee nut frappacino
Open Window
lovelace
proven effective
not so simple
24 hours
circles
I think i’ll keep you
Joshulove (one of many nicnames for my Joshua)
Adam and Eve
butter cups (could be peanutbutter and not the floer-hehe)
forget-me-nots
Bright
note worthy (could be a written note or a musical note)
Mighty Oakes - practically writes itself. Should be a cheesy ballad.
Our First House - Tell the story of buying your first house.
Two Thousand Miles (A Song About Leaving)
East Of The River - East Nashville snobbery, full of specific places. It will make you a local hit.
6 off the top of my head
Seasons of Change
Whispering Morning (Whispering Dawn?)
Embracing the Wind
Mirrored Souls
In the Eyes of a Child
Velvet Thoughts
Letting Go
Our Journeys Collide
Moment of Truth
I Can Feel Goodbye in Your Eyes
When Brave Ones Cry
WOW..you guys are AMAZING! 219 song titles!? I’m totally blown away.
Can’t wait to start writing today, and wishing I could tell you which titles I am working on first! Stay tuned!
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