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 }

Erin January 27, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Homesick

Bret January 24, 2009 at 7:08 pm

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

Minda Bare January 23, 2009 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 =-)

Wendy T. January 23, 2009 at 8:16 am

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

J. Bartel January 22, 2009 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

Lisa January 22, 2009 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

jeremy January 21, 2009 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”

Flo January 21, 2009 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 January 21, 2009 at 11:31 pm

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

jeremy January 21, 2009 at 11:29 pm

“i was right about the left”

Flo January 21, 2009 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 January 21, 2009 at 11:21 pm

“the cats pajamas”

brandon January 21, 2009 at 12:07 pm

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

“Naked on a Dare”

Marty January 20, 2009 at 4:33 pm

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

Ryan January 19, 2009 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.

Daja January 19, 2009 at 7:03 pm

How about “Chipeechawa.”

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

:-)

Terra Agueda January 19, 2009 at 1:03 pm

Step Out Boldly

skylana January 19, 2009 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)

Stonewolf January 18, 2009 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

jill January 18, 2009 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 January 18, 2009 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” :)

Andrew Ward January 17, 2009 at 1:57 pm

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

Meg January 17, 2009 at 1:42 pm

It’s just like I said it would be

Andrew Ward January 16, 2009 at 6:56 pm

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

Brian Nielsen January 14, 2009 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?)

Bill Crum January 14, 2009 at 11:19 pm

Under the Dreaming Tree

Andrew Ward January 14, 2009 at 10:51 pm

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

Andrew Ward January 14, 2009 at 10:46 pm

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

Andrew Ward January 14, 2009 at 10:13 pm

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

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

Bret January 14, 2009 at 7:45 pm

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

Christina January 14, 2009 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.

Brandon January 14, 2009 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.

Julie January 14, 2009 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?

steve babb January 14, 2009 at 1:41 pm

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

Ted January 14, 2009 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…)

Brandon January 13, 2009 at 10:31 pm

“Sound it out”
“Say it out loud”

Brandon January 13, 2009 at 10:28 pm

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

Flo January 13, 2009 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 January 13, 2009 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.”

kelly January 13, 2009 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! :)

Marlaina January 13, 2009 at 12:36 pm

“What is to come?”

kathleen January 12, 2009 at 11:08 pm

Title: Shades of Green Gables

Flo January 12, 2009 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.

Brandon January 12, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Tireman Dan

stina January 12, 2009 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?…..

stina January 12, 2009 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 :)

Karl January 12, 2009 at 3:41 pm

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

Josh January 12, 2009 at 2:27 pm

My title: The Fall of Night

Meg January 12, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Come over for breakfast

-It’s a love song

(P.S. I’ll post a link from my blog.)

Katy January 12, 2009 at 11:08 am

Katy wants a song called Mittens and Magnets. Go.

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