I HAVE A THOUGHT

February 5, 2009 7:56 AM

Actually, Karlos the Jackal has a thought, that he sent me in some MeMail. I think it's a GREAT idea, and I thought I'd reprint it here for everyone to read and kick around. Here's his letter: What do you think about starting a thread in Music Talk about the current challenges at the beginnning of every month? People can share reactions to the new challenges, discuss what did and didn't work for them with the old ones, share ideas about possibilities for future challenges, etc. More good ideas might come up when people are kicking them around rather than trying to come up with stuff in a vacuum. Added benefits: MeFiMu Talk would be more "active," and the thread would call more attention to the challenges. Just thinkin'.
posted by flapjax at midnite (16 comments total)

That sounds great. It would make sense for it to stay visible for the month, rather than scroll off into oblivion.

Man, I really want to do more of these challenges. I still have a half-done 'snake challenge' from like a year ago.
posted by umbĂș at 8:36 AM on February 5, 2009


Yeah, I think that'd be a great idea.
posted by cortex at 11:06 AM on February 5, 2009


I'm surprised that's not what's being done already.
posted by flatluigi at 11:14 AM on February 5, 2009


So, is this that thread? Because February's challenges look pretty interesting...

Look alive, people!
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 12:42 PM on February 5, 2009


Yeah, I think that'd be a great idea.

Woo-hoo! Official Mod Endorsement!

I'm surprised that's not what's being done already.

We were all just waiting for you to suggest it, flatluigi. You let us down, man... ;-)

So, is this that thread?

YES! THIS IS THAT THREAD! HUZZAH!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:05 PM on February 5, 2009


Hip Hip HOORAY!!!!!

Man, I've been a lagger here, barely contributing, but this month's challenges look like some good, quick, clean FUN!
posted by snsranch at 5:09 PM on February 5, 2009


I still have a half-done 'snake challenge' from like a year ago.

Hey, when you finish it up, post it, baby. Getting something in by the deadline is great and all, but better late than never, you know? And as far as I'm concerned, anything that comes in as a MeFiMu Challenge submission should be tagged as such, I don't care if it's a day or a month or a year late... the ultimate goal is just getting some music made.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:42 PM on February 5, 2009


I think the "Wildcard" challenge is too restrictive this month, personally, if I'm reading it right. I think it should be enough for a submission to include an instrument played "wrong," rather than consist only of that. A single track of a wrongly played instrument sounds more like an experiment than songmaking. (I am biased in favor of songmaking, so apply salt as needed.)

(The "single track, no overdubbing" part could, actually, be a separate challenge, maybe? Easy for some of you here, I'm sure; I've never attempted it.)
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 5:05 AM on February 6, 2009


Easy for some of you here, I'm sure; I've never attempted it.

The Metafilter Music Challenge: it ain't about easy, kid. You gotta get in there and sweat blood! Work that instrument!

The "single track, no overdubbing" part could, actually, be a separate challenge, maybe?

Do it like you wanna, baby!

:-)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:31 AM on February 6, 2009


A single track of a wrongly played instrument sounds more like an experiment than songmaking.

That's true, and I guess when I thought of that for this month, I was thinking more along the lines of "experiment" than I was of "song". I thought that maybe there's room here in the Challenges for such an approach every now and again, especially since there are three categories each month, and they mostly always are built around the idea of a song. But more feedback on this point is welcomed.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:34 AM on February 6, 2009


I thought something very similar to what Karlos said when I read the challenge. That is, I thought that it would be extremely difficult for me to make something that would be pleasant to hear, using only my bad voice and one instrument, though I can see the truth in flapjax's point: since there are no posting limits, there is no harm in experimenting. If the result is not actually a proper song, one can always post a proper song to make up for it. The more stuff gets posted, the better.

And I too, think that opening a Talk thread with the month's challenge is a great idea. It will be very healthy to have an open thread to exchange questions and opinions around here.

I haven't had much time to even listen to what has been posted in a while, but I intend to catch up, and post again, so, while I haven't been very active lately, I think it would be very good to have that open thread.
posted by micayetoca at 6:11 AM on February 6, 2009


SongFight does this. When a new fight is announced, someone starts the thread (usually with a title related to the song title that's suggested) with a reminder of the deadline at the top, and then it goes from there.

So yeah, we should do that too. It works well.
posted by davejay at 6:38 PM on February 6, 2009


On a related note: I am going to try to really take the idea of "wrong" to heart.

since I still haven't covered Fortunate Son, much to my chagrin
posted by davejay at 6:39 PM on February 6, 2009


For the 'wrong' challenge, can we sing along, too? Or just the instrument?
posted by ORthey at 10:30 AM on February 11, 2009


ORthey, I think it'd be GREAT if folks sung along with their *wrong* playing. Whatever works! Or, hey, whatever doesn't, for that matter. The fun is in the trying, I think.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:23 PM on February 11, 2009


Hey ORthey, use your voice "wrong"!

I really love challenges like this, because I would never have thought of it on my own. It's also kind of like the music education that I never had.

The results of the "exercise" may be horrific, but I definitely come away having learned something. (Even more so when I hear what YOU folks do with them!)
posted by snsranch at 6:53 PM on February 11, 2009


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