The Music Challenges are simple: each month you can pick one idea, or incorporate more than one of the following ideas into a single composition. Be sure to tag your submissions "mefimusicchallenge" so listeners can easily follow along. Got a suggestion? Send it to flapjax at midnite. The player shown next on each challenge contains all the submissions for that month.
MeFi Music Challenge 30
Submission deadline: March 31
This month's challenge suggested by Mhead:
"I think a great idea for the music challenge would be to sing the multiplication table. There are high-priced multiplication table songs out there but they are overpriced garbage. You guys could do so much better! Think of all the kids you could help. Many kids, particularly learning disabled, learn the times table by listening to the multiplication table sung to music.
A few suggestions would be to maybe make it fun with a few rhymes here and there ( like three times three is nine… a mighty fine design… three times three is nine), repetition repetition repetition and go slow. You could even have one person do the twos, another the threes and so on."
Be sure to tag your submission "multiplication" in addition to the usual "mefimusicchallenge".
MeFi Music Challenge 29
Submission deadline: February 28
Cover a "traditional" song. Can be from anywhere, but should meet the following criteria: (a) the origin of the words and/or music is lost in time, and/or (b) that it's at least 100 years old, give or take a year or two. In addition to the usual "mefimusicchallenge" tag, please add the "traditional" tag to your submission. (Hat tip to MajorDundee!)
MeFi Music Challenge 28
Submission deadline: January 31
You may know (or not), but radio announcer Carl Kassel is a score keeper and judge on an NPR show. The winners of various segments can get his voice on their answering machine.
You also may know (or not), but Carl Kassel is retiring from newscasting.
So, the January 2010 Mefi Music Challenge is: make up jingles and such for Carl Kassel's answering machine. It might be fun to make up a CD of these and send it to him!
Let's open the idea up a bit more for those not interested in the Carl Kassel angle: make an outgoing message for anyone's answering machine: yours, some favorite Mefite's, some other public figure's, God's... the sky's the limit. But speaking of limits, let's keep in mind, we're going for brevity and punch here. Something you could really imagine as an outgoing message.
(Hat tip to cjorgensen and flapjax at midnite for the challenge suggestions.)
MeFi Music Challenge 27
Submission deadline: December 31
This month's Challenge: submit a holiday song. As if you couldn't have guessed! But that's it, really, just a SEASONAL HOLIDAY SONG. Cover or rendition of a well-known or little-known Christmas song? Sure! Your own original holiday-related number? Whatever you like! We're going to take things nice and easy this month, without a lot of pesky and demanding details or requirements. Consider it your [insert holiday of choice] present, friends!
Extra points, though, if you cover a standard Christmas or Hanukkah song or carol in a different time signature. That'll be cool.
Be sure to tag it "holidaymusic", along with the standard "mefimusicchallenge".
MeFi Music Challenge 26
Submission deadline: November 30
Planet Kyoto suggests: "The Ballad of Balloon Boy". Sounds good, but let's open it up a bit more... other likely candidates: "The TSA Took My Baby Blues", or "The Scientology Shuffle". Something topical, kids. Have at it! Be sure to add the standard "mefimusicchallenge" tag as well as "topicalsong".
MeFi Music Challenge 25
Submission deadline: October 31
It went like gangbusters last year, so, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? This October, again, is SCARY SONG MONTH. Submit something appropriate for Halloween! In addition to the usual "mefimusicchallenge" tag, please tag your submission "scary".
MeFi Music Challenge 24
Submission deadline: September 30
Cover another Mefi musician's LYRICS ONLY. Use the lyrics from another users song posted to Metafilter Music, but not anything else. Your submission should feature an entirely different melody and arrangement from the original. Lyrics should remain intact, faithful to the original. In addition to the usual "mefimusicchallenge" tag, please tag your song "mefilyricscover". (Thanks to mediocre for the suggestion.)
MeFi Music Challenge 23
Submission deadline: August 31
Compose a MetaFilter Music jingle, ring tone or sound logo. One simple rule: your submission must be 30 seconds long or less. Be sure to tag it with "underthirtyseconds".
MeFi Music Challenge 22
Submission deadline: July 31
This month, Mefi musicians are covering songs from what's been called (among other things) one of the most prophetic albums of the 1960s. Or of all time. Or something. Anyway, the record is The Velvet Underground & Nico, and songs have been (and are being) assigned. There are 30-plus participants already on board as of now (July 1), and if you'd like to join the list, please go to the Music Talk thread and let us know you'd like to join. A song will be assigned you.
MeFi Music Challenge 21
Submission deadline: June 30
Cover Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". Even if you're not the first on your block!
MeFi Music Challenge 20
Submission deadline: May 31
1. 'cover,' so to speak, the very first song you ever wrote, or if you can't remember which one that was, one of your earliest songs. Take the song and update it with your current skills, sensibilities, instruments and recording capabilities. And if you just happen to have an older recording of it, post that in the same file, or on a consecutive day, so we can compare! Please tag your submission: "remake", as well as the usual "mefimusicchallenge". (suggested by ORthey, with some slight additions from flapjax)
2. make... chase scene music! Please tag your submission: "chasescene" and/or "chase", as well as the usual "mefimusicchallenge". (suggested by Hoopo)
MeFi Music Challenge 19
Submission deadline: April 30
1. Make a song using only two chords. (suggested by cortex)
2. Make a song for a very specific occasion, i.e. a song for chopping onions, or a song for putting on your socks, or a song for turning the ignition in your car.. that kinda thing. (suggested by abc123xyzinfinity)
MeFi Music Challenge 18
Submission deadline: March 31
March MeFiMu Challenge: "Amnesty Month" - submit songs based on any previous music challenge that you may have missed. suggested by AppleSeed
MeFi Music Challenge 17
Submission deadline: February 28
LYRIC Challenge: You must include this exact phrase somewhere in your song (either in LOL-speak or as the actual words the letters represent): OMG WTF BBQ. From this comment by Mister_A
MUSIC Challenge: Make choral music. Whether you pull together a genuine, full-blown choir, or use vocal or choir samples, or multitrack your own voice 20 times, it's gotta be choral music: voices only. Please tag your submission: "choral". Suggested by Galvatron.
WILDCARD Challenge: Your submission must consist of a single track (no overdubbing) in which you perform on an instrument in a way that the instrument is not "meant" to be played. Bang on your tuba. Drop ping pong balls on your acoustic guitar. Push your piano out a 2nd story window. That kind of thing. Please tag your submission: "wrong". Suggested by flapjax at midnite.
MeFi Music Challenge 16
Submission deadline: January 31
LYRIC Challenge: You must include this exact phrase somewhere in the lyrics to your song: "it's just banjo and booze for the rest of my life." From THIS comment by RussHy (and thanks to davejay for suggesting it!):
MUSIC Challenge: Use the lyrics from another user's song already posted to MeFiMu, but not anything else. The song shouldn't resemble the original in any way: melody, arrangement, anything. But it must have the same lyrics. Suggested by mediocre
WILDCARD Challenge: Record a song to be played simultaneously with another song on MetaFilter Music. Suggested by arcane crowbar.
MeFi Music Challenge 15
Submission deadline: December 31
This month's Challenge (only one this month) is a holiday theme: Make a "broken" Christmas song. For example, cover a typically cheerful tune like "Jingle Bells" or "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" in a minor key, or full of sludge-doom guitars and growling vocals. Or make your own original Christmas song, but make it ominous, or scary, or violent. Just somehow... inappropriate. Suggested by flapjax at midnite. Please tag your selections with "brokenchristmassong".
MeFi Music Challenge 14
Submission deadline: November 30
LYRIC Challenge: You must use this exact phrase in your submission: "I kept thinking of all those other words I know" from THIS COMMENT by Fuzzy Skinner
MUSIC Challenge: Spoiler tv series theme music.
In the early days of television, viewers were introduced to a show each week with a theme song that described the show's premise: "Mr. Ed" told us a horse would talk, "Gilligan's Island" let us know the cast had only planned on a three hour tour (a three hour tour), etc. Create a theme song for a television series (imaginary or real) using lyrics that explain the premise. Suggested by lothar (with slight modification by flapjax at midnite) Please tag your submission: TVseriesTheme
WILDCARD Challenge: Submit a song that is less than one minute long. suggested by ORthey - Please tag your submission: LessThanAMinute
MeFi Music Challenge 13
Submission deadline: October 31
This month's Challenge: A good HALLOWEEN song. Or something, you know, scary. Otherwise, there's a special one month extension on LAST MONTH'S Challenges. Yes, you still have a chance to work with one (or more) of those! So get to it!
MeFi Music Challenge 12
Submission deadline: September 30
LYRIC Challenge: You must use this exact phrase in your song: "I meant to say tweaked out freak." from this comment by MaryDellamorte.
MUSIC Challenge: Cover a song that is sung in a language you don't speak. suggested by: p3t3
WILDCARD Challenge: MeFiMu Mashup! Your submission must use ONLY samples grabbed from at least two or more MeFi Music songs. suggested by: PeterMcDermott
MeFi Music Challenge 11
Submission deadline: August 31
LYRIC Challenge: Include this exact phrase in your song: "If you're not at least a little scared, you're doing it wrong". [tag: "lyricchallenge"] From this comment by loquacious.
MUSIC Challenge: Make a children's song about a bug, or bugs in general. [tags: "musicchhallenge" , "childrenssong" and "bugs"] suggested by: Appleseed
WILDCARD Challenge: Click "Random" on the Mefi Menu and write a song incorporating the text and comments of the FPP you arrive upon (discretion of how MUCH text to use is up to the musician). [tags: "wildcardchallenge" and "randommefipost"] suggested by: Zephyrial
MeFi Music Challenge 10
Submission deadline: July 30
LYRIC Challenge: you must include this exact phrase in your submission: "I burned this song" -- from this comment by umbú
MUSIC Challenge: Make "Spy Music". Something that would be at home in an old-school James Bond movie or Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode. suggested by: stavrosthewonderchicken
WILDCARD Challenge: Do any song (your own or a cover) in a STYLE you despise. suggested by: not_on_display
MeFi Music Challenge 9
Submission deadline: June 30
LYRIC Challenge: you must include this exact phrase in your submission: "Life is all about conflicting desires" from this comment
MUSIC Challenge: cover a MeFiMu song by another MeFier. Please LINK to original when you submit your cover version! Suggested by: Several MeFiers. Thanks to all!
WILDCARD Challenge: submit music using only your body as a sound source (can include vocalizing), no instruments. Suggested by: bitterkitten
