FAWM: Let’s make an album together!

by Flo on January 12, 2009

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 01.12.09 at 11:08 am

Katy wants a song called Mittens and Magnets. Go.

Meg 01.12.09 at 1:12 pm

Come over for breakfast

-It’s a love song

(P.S. I’ll post a link from my blog.)

Josh 01.12.09 at 2:27 pm

My title: The Fall of Night

Karl 01.12.09 at 3:41 pm

Freebird! (Sorry…I couldn’t wait until March)

stina 01.12.09 at 4:05 pm

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 :)

stina 01.12.09 at 4:07 pm

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?…..

Brandon 01.12.09 at 6:27 pm

Tireman Dan

Flo 01.12.09 at 10:47 pm

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.

kathleen 01.12.09 at 11:08 pm

Title: Shades of Green Gables

Marlaina 01.13.09 at 12:36 pm

“What is to come?”

kelly 01.13.09 at 1:30 pm

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! :)

Brandon 01.13.09 at 10:03 pm

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.”

Flo 01.13.09 at 10:18 pm

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 ;)

Brandon 01.13.09 at 10:28 pm

What exactly are you saying? huh? huh? what do you mean by that?

Brandon 01.13.09 at 10:31 pm

“Sound it out”
“Say it out loud”

Ted 01.14.09 at 11:26 am

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…)

steve babb 01.14.09 at 1:41 pm

Hurry Down Sunshine
Sundown Shores
and last but not least
“Beowulf - The Musical”

Julie 01.14.09 at 3:55 pm

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?

Brandon 01.14.09 at 6:12 pm

The Terror of God.

I don’t want to box you in too much beyond that, except to say, I was in Job today.

Christina 01.14.09 at 6:45 pm

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.

Bret 01.14.09 at 7:45 pm

Here are a few off the top of my head:
–Irrational Fears
–A Springtime Waltz
–The Ballad of Tony Wonder

Andrew Ward 01.14.09 at 10:13 pm

I’ll try to think of as many as I can:

-Raindrop of Thunder
-Cancel My Reservation
-Final Time-Out

Andrew Ward 01.14.09 at 10:46 pm

-With Bells On
-Change For a Time
-Worse For Wear
-Lamented Brush Strokes

Andrew Ward 01.14.09 at 10:51 pm

I also must second “Beowulf - The Musical”
Now that’s something I would pay money to see!

Bill Crum 01.14.09 at 11:19 pm

Under the Dreaming Tree

Brian Nielsen 01.14.09 at 11:50 pm

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?)

Andrew Ward 01.16.09 at 6:56 pm

-Cheek of Despair
-Things That Make My Upper Lip Quiver
-Fancy Pillows
-Quilted Evening
-Suppressing a Smile

Meg 01.17.09 at 1:42 pm

It’s just like I said it would be

Andrew Ward 01.17.09 at 1:57 pm

-Looking Through Scratched Glasses
-Changing Reflections
-Would I Recognize Myself?
-Winter Tulips

Stonewolf 01.18.09 at 12:48 pm

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” :)

jill 01.18.09 at 3:33 pm

“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!!

Stonewolf 01.18.09 at 9:39 pm

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

skylana 01.19.09 at 1:09 am

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)

Terra Agueda 01.19.09 at 1:03 pm

Step Out Boldly

Daja 01.19.09 at 7:03 pm

How about “Chipeechawa.”

Remember Owen Wilson tells Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon that “Chipeechawa menas nobility.”

:-)

Ryan 01.19.09 at 10:59 pm

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.

Marty 01.20.09 at 4:33 pm

“Home”
“A Legacy of Life”
oh…and….”Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Raiders”

brandon 01.21.09 at 12:07 pm

If parodies are allowed, I think you should remake “Livin on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

“Naked on a Dare”

jeremy 01.21.09 at 11:21 pm

“the cats pajamas”

Flo 01.21.09 at 11:29 pm

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!

jeremy 01.21.09 at 11:29 pm

“i was right about the left”

jeremy 01.21.09 at 11:31 pm

by the way,,, “i was right about the left” is a political musical about the world ending in 2015.

Flo 01.21.09 at 11:31 pm

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;)

jeremy 01.21.09 at 11:37 pm

“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”

Lisa 01.22.09 at 8:46 am

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

J. Bartel 01.22.09 at 1:05 pm

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

Wendy T. 01.23.09 at 8:16 am

1.Your Side of the Bed
2. Growing up into my Shoes

Minda Bare 01.23.09 at 12:00 pm

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 =-)

Bret 01.24.09 at 7:08 pm

A few more…
–Discontent
–On The Big Screen
–Parlor Tricks
–1874
–Partly Cloudy

Erin 01.27.09 at 2:34 pm

Homesick

Minda Bare 01.28.09 at 12:01 am

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)

Lisa 01.28.09 at 1:46 am

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

Lisa 01.28.09 at 1:49 am

she turned away to save her life

Steven Boothe 01.28.09 at 3:41 am

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!

Adam Smitty Kovach 01.30.09 at 8:22 pm

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.

Chris 01.31.09 at 10:32 am

Fishsticks and Gravy

Chris 01.31.09 at 10:35 am

Fishstick Fisherman

Minda Bare 01.31.09 at 12:54 pm

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)

Joe Kirk 01.31.09 at 2:56 pm

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.

David 01.31.09 at 3:34 pm

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

Laura Willis-Carlyle 01.31.09 at 11:05 pm

Letting Go

Our Journeys Collide

Moment of Truth

I Can Feel Goodbye in Your Eyes

When Brave Ones Cry

Flo 02.01.09 at 10:53 am

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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