tournament Golden Hit: Season 4 📀 Congrats to Kylie Jenner! 🌸

[Jackson]

 

While the judging for Round 3 is ongoing, we bring you the new challenge which has long been an idea in mind and finally debuts this season!

 

Round 4: Absurdity

 

In this round, we want you to let your imagination run wild and create a song that celebrates the absurd. We're looking for lyrics that challenge conventional thinking, provoke laughter, or simply take your audience on a whimsical journey.

 

Your task is to write a song that defies expectations and embraces the unconventional. Break the rules, experiment with unexpected structures, and explore nonsensical or surreal themes. Think of absurdism as a source of inspiration and create something that will surprise and entertain us!

 

You have the creative freedom to decide how far you want to push the boundaries of absurdity. Whether it's crafting absurd scenarios, playing with surreal imagery, or inventing peculiar characters, let your imagination guide you. Your lyrics could be campy, surreal, or serious – how far you want to push the limits is up to you.

 

Don't be afraid to take risks and showcase your unique style in this round. We can't wait to see what extraordinary creations you come up with!

 

One song that springs to mind as a perfect example for this round is @Element's “Heaven in the Deep”. This song was a fantastic submission last season and certainly one of the most memorable and unique. Written as a musical number following a seedy talking shark and Jennifer Coolidge exploring her afterlife options under the sea, quite frankly it’s a modern day classic. If you need some inspiration and have no idea where to begin, take a look at the song here, or at the very least read it for the pure entertainment it provides:

 

 

Best of luck, and may your songs take us on a joyous journey through the wonderfully absurd!

 

Entries are due via Google Form submission by July 13th, midnight eastern time.

 

@PoKiTaurus @GentleDance @8thPrince @Hug@Gavin. @worldwide angel @OreGuy@Invisibility@vinster13@XO_Life @xBoySelenatorx@FireMotif16@Tropical@Julianna Calm Down @Better Mistakes@Courtney Love @Prisoner@Kylie Jenner @Aurora

 

If you have any questions, feel free to tag any of our judges (@Jackson, @JoeAg and @Legend E, and if you want any specific feedback on anything you have written or are in need of some more in depth advice, then feel free to message this season’s mentor (@fountain). 

 

As a reminder, sign-ups are open all season long and anybody is free to join – just submit your song to sign up!

 

🌸

 

[Element]

I had SO much fun creating Heaven In The Deep last season!! I hope you all have fun too and really push the boundaries of creativity!

[fountain]

2 hours ago, Jackson said:

R4 on the next page?

 

57 minutes ago, Jackson said:

nobody moving  

[fountain]

This challenge was a hard one to find the right concept for, @Aurora and I tossed this idea around for different seasons but couldn’t settle on how it would feel right, but now it’s finally here and I hope you can have fun with it… it’s sure to be a more unconventional round but I’m looking forward to seeing how you can embrace the oddities a bit

 

Also big shout out @Element and Jennifer Coolidge for the masterpiece Heaven in the Deep, definitely the perfect fitting song and being able to share it as an example made going for this challenge feel much more achievable. I hope that we get to see many more fun and absolutely uniquely absurd songs like this

[Galah]

Ooh, it lives! Yeah I completely see the vision for Element’s song being the catalyst for the Absurdity challenge’s eventuation.

 

I have an idea instantly but I fear I cannot write this week as I have far too much on my plate with the move. Maybe in another, greener life…

[poki]

I was about to get drunk today so this is perfect. 

[fountain]

Just now, PoKiTaurus said:

I was about to get drunk today so this is perfect. 

Oh wow here for this, serve us a drunk inspired bop. 2010 Kesha teas I love it 

[Jackson]

43 minutes ago, fountain said:

Oh wow here for this, serve us a drunk inspired bop. 2010 Kesha teas I love it 

Blow music video definitely serves absurdity 

[Legend E]

As always, a good job everyone! Let me know if I got anything wrong or if you want anything deleted!

 

 

 

 

 

StormPulse – Heart of the Ocean

Off to a good start, as expected from you! The entry fits well enough the theme and I am happy to see this approach for the challenge. I do like the sort of transition from the necklace as a symbol of love to how the diamonds are made. Thus, as a concept, I am definitely happy with it, but I feel some links could have been done better, namely “but the diamonds remain […] sleep well my love, you shall not suffer the same”. I understand the comparison to the erosion of the hills, but I think it could have benefitted from being a bit better explained. The same goes for the “ash as blackened as where rests my true love”. However, this is just nitpicking because the entry is as thrilling as most of your entries are and it was a pleasure to read as always.

 

@XO_Life – Burn (trigger warning for the lyrics)

I am glad to see an entry about this topic and I think your “other” information helped in revealing the true meaning of the song. There are definitely one-liners here that are great “I followed your guidance/I never second guessed your mind”. My only comment is that I wish there were ways in which you had conveyed the same message that were slightly more creative or had a stronger imagery to them. I am not asking you to describe what would have happened in that night, but I wish the feelings were displayed in more enticing ways. I think it does work though as a pop song, and there are plenty of songs like these that I get emotional listening to. I am glad you still wrote a song about such a sensitive topic, and it definitely seems like a stream of thoughts, which maybe is to be appreciated in this case. Overall, you did a good job!

 

@Hug – norepinephrinendorphins

Love this entry. First of all, my favourite part is actually the transition, which was rather unexpected. I am not sure if you meant it this way (don’t think so), but it seems to me like the narrator gives in completely to his abuser, a sort of Stockholm syndrome. Lyrically, I might prefer the first song. The entire stanza starting with “I moved to his whims” was such a great moment. I especially loved the ‘moved’/’danced’/’waltzed’ series of verbs there. The second part, I also like the second stanza of the verse the most. I have nothing bad to say, an absolutely lovely read.

 

@Julianna Calm Down – LEXAPRO

It’s definitely exciting to see your entries week by week. The entry you have submitted this time remains of the same high quality as your first two and I am glad you tackled the feelings one gets after losing someone dear. And here I have the main criticism of the entry; often it feels like you are jumping from topic to topic. You begin with how you’re feeling upon taking the Lexapro, and the transition to the second stanza suggests you are talking about a person you lost, without any seeming link between the two. I felt this was often a problem throughout the song. I understand it is, as you described it, a “roller-coaster”, but I felt lost at times. I love that the second part of the song reads more like a build-up, and it also contains my favourite lyric in the entire song “You went away as I remained hopeful and blindsided in the yellow of August”. The second verse of this part is also a great addition to the song. Overall, in spite of the minor criticisms, I do believe it is a very strong entry.

 

@OreGuy – Tensile Tungsten Ways

We love a well-documented entry   I think the verses are my favourite parts, where I like that you played with the physical properties of tungsten. While I do appreciate what you wanted to do with the bridge, to me it feels a bit too much, as the biological and chemical information does not form any imagery, nor does it evoke any emotions in my opinion. I do like the insertion of some of the more camp lines such as “I can **** you up good and your ***** on the side” and “I’m better than anyone who’s been on this table”. Overall, a very nice entry overall!

 

@worldwide angel – Ascension On Earth

I think this is a very interesting entry and I absolutely love how you played with the concepts of afterlife, sleepiness, and love. While it remains a somewhat vague entry, I liked how you kept it true to yourself with your characteristic style of writing. Here, I actually prefer the first part of the song, with the beautiful imagery you describe in your first verse. I love the “back into nothing-something” part in the second chorus, as well as wanting to leave it “before it turns red”, suggesting possibly the “appearance” of hell in your (after?)life. I think the key to the song is revealed in the “I’m frightened by forever” part. To me, this is definitely a stand out of this round, as I do love the uniqueness of your style of writing, as I do love the uniqueness of the imagery you have put into words. Well done!

 

@Kylie Jenner – Farmer, Farmer

I fear this might be my favourite entry of yours this season. The originality of this entry is so stunning, as is how sad it is. Let me highlight the lines that struck me the most. “Lost in a maze of maize” was such a smart rhyme. “I’m well behaved but today, I didn’t feel like it/’Cause there’s no fun stuck playing behind picket fences” showing how the farmer kept the narrator as a sort of hostage, but also I think showcasing this sort of man led by instinct rather than by thought. The line “this trail of blood would lead the wolf right to the sheep” is probably the most emotional one in the entire song for me, as the narrator would not want to sacrifice the sheep just because they might die. Absolutely stunning entry.

 

@GentleDance – Carbon

I think this is a well-written entry, and it does fit what you intended to make it be, a study of our lives, our bodies, and our brains, I suppose. I loved the “We watched flesh and bone weaving/All slaves to these chains” couplet, assuming you meant here the carbon chains. I am wondering if the “sentence that makes no sense” is from the perspective of the higher life form, that they don’t understand it. Or just how we have to say so much meaningless stuff to others on a daily? I believe the “They made a whole circuit to spite him” part could also hint towards technology? I am a bit unsure what “If he grew a little taller he’d have so much more to say” should mean. While I do appreciate this entry a lot, I am suggesting providing some more information next time to help the reader navigate through the more vague lyrics. But overall, you did great!

 

@PoKiTaurus – Clive Vibes / Demon Talk

Is this again about that one game of yours? Initially, I read Clive Davis

 

It seems like the song is very personal to you and I think little things such as mentioning characters and movies that got you through your anxiety is very sweet. One thing I am missing is the transition between the two parts of the song. I think it is before “I found my place between imaginary friends” but I wish the demarcation was clearer. I liked the couplet “It’s easy to get rid of the stains on your rubber boots/But the ones on your heart you never seem to lose” a lot. I love how the song finished on a positive note, and especially I love the look back to the diary. I like the storytelling here, but I also wish you would explore a bit more with imagery. However, I think it is a strong entry from you!

 

@Aurora  – First Place / Second Wind

Some parts of the commentary and First Place are giving

 

 

 jk

Your commentary was very sweet, I am sorry to hear about the personal issues you had and I know how important GH and this ATRL songwriting world is important to you and I hope it remains a refuge for you whenever you feel down. Onto the songs, I do prefer First Place to Second Wind but I understand what you wanted to do with Second Wind and I am glad that you have that carefree writing added here as well. As I know you do like your extensive use of the vocabulary, I think you made a good use of it here, however my favourite couplet is the more simplistic “Like actors in a movie I’d pretend my heart was open/Now practising kintsugi all to mend what isn’t broken”. Are the “silhouettes” mentioned in the first stanza your fellow contestants from PH6? I also loved the “I failed before an audience with rows of covered faces” line a lot, suggesting how the anonymity of all of us on this clown website. In “Second Wind” my favourite part is probably the chorus. “Levitating near the stratosphere/Elevated fears won’t matter here” is my favourite part here. Overall, a great job as expected!

 

Also, I tried using Natural Reader but your text was longer than the 5 minutes that were allowed for free and they asked me to pay if I wanted to keep using it  

 

@fountain – The Most Unison Choir

 



 
 

 

I’ll read it tomorrow x

 

[poki]

Is this again about that one game of yours? Initially, I read Clive Davis 

 

Mom catching strays in Round 2 and now Dad in Round 3

Edited July 9, 2023 by PoKiTaurus

[Legend E]

1 minute ago, PoKiTaurus said:

Is this again about that one game of yours? Initially, I read Clive Davis 

 

Mom catching strays in Round 2 and now Dad in Round 3

i am sorry dsferv;fd

[poki]

3 minutes ago, Legend E said:

i am sorry dsferv;fd

Oh it's okay 

I actually laughed tbh 

[fountain]

24 minutes ago, Legend E said:

@fountain – The Most Unison Choir

 



 
 

 

  

[poki]

If anyone requires inspiration:

 

 

[fountain]

1 hour ago, PoKiTaurus said:

If anyone requires inspiration:

 

 

The guitar player is serving, honestly 

[fountain]

 

Round 3: Judge’s Choice

 

@XO_Life - Burn

Oh wow… it’s very hard to know what to say in regards to this. As you are aware it’s a really sensitive topic, so it’s somewhat hard to talk about. That said, writing can be looked at as beyond an art form and more specifically as a form of communication - and a song like this, with its message and its raw depiction and its

direct acknowledgement of the perpetrator and the act, is a very powerful and effecting form of communication. For victims to vocalise like this, such as the example you mentioned of Praying by Kesha, is incredibly emotional and makes for some of the most impactful songs you can seek out. I think this entry, with its uncomfortability and forthright statement, acts as an ambitious piece in the way you intended, and really does leave a mark after reading. This is another memorable and compelling song from you. 

 

@Hug - norepinephrinendorphins

norepinephrine is giving me BIG Ethel Cain vibes and I’m living for it. Despite being about a dark situation, I enjoyed that you still kept this part of the song eloquent instead of more on the graphic side, as I feel it keeps the concept execution more elevated. Maybe this will sound a bit ****** up, but I enjoy a dark concept that has a bit of romanticism to it, and your lyrics to me did a great job of delivering both ugliness and beauty, a fantastic juxtaposition. As for endorphins, I find it well written too. I am loving the snappiness of your lyrics this season - I don’t even know how to explain what I mean exactly I don’t think, but for example likes like “it really doesn’t need to have meaning, we both know the reason we’re meeting” just roll off the tongue and feel so… quotable? Idk, you’re just full of memorable snappy run on lines this season and I’m loving it. 

 

@Julianna Calm Down - LEXAPRO

I loved reading this when you sent it to me earlier in the week, but I’m kinda enjoying it even more now at second viewing. I feel like I’m appreciating and noticing the differences between the first part and second part in the song now, I really enjoy how the writing styles shifts and changes throughout the song. From the questioning beginning to the confessional-like second part, I find the contrast really great, and your writing overall is really strong throughout the whole entry. Like I already touched on privately, I also really enjoy the open to interpretation nature of the narrative, despite which the emotion in the song is still well developed and clear. You continue to deliver strong songs and keep me intrigued to see what is next, well done!

 

@OreGuy - Tensile Tungsten Ways

I love this song title so much, I find it so alluring! Definitely an enjoyable read, I like that you chose a more unique component to use as a metaphor, there are lots of songs where people compare themselves to all kinds of natural elements but I can’t think of  any in particular that focus on tungsten so I find that to be a great pick of inspiration. You did a great job of combining the unique aspects of tungsten to the relationship at play here and the experience of the narrator, which made for a fun take on the chemistry challenge for sure!

 

@worldwide angel - Ascension On Earth

This is another really lovely entry from you this season. I adore your use of imagery; it’s so bright, warm and enticing. You paint really beautiful scenes throughout your songs, and in particular this song is a great example of that. Your writing is dreamlike and kaleidoscopic, to me it bustles with energy, inspiration and colour, and this is something I experience from your writing frequently and consistently. You have a way with pulling me in into fantasy like scenarios, and your songs always make for refreshing and fun reads, this song no less than any other. A great showing from you again this season, and I’m very excited to see how you execute the Absurdity challenge, I feel like it will be very suited to you so I’m definitely looking forward to what’s next!

 

@Kylie Jenner - Farmer, Farmer

Oh you are really in your country ballad bag with this one! I really like the inspiration of writing about the unruly side of the countryside, because aspects of it do really seem lawless (particularly in certain countries…) and I find that very intriguing as the basis of a song. And well, you executed it very well! The narrative here is easy to follow and draws you in, and it has that classic dramatic country bridge where **** inevitably  goes awry, so it makes for an entertaining and inspired read. You’ve delivered all great songs so far and this is no exception, however does feel like a nice new step away from the Lost in the Rays/Cameo storyline and leaves me anticipating what we might get to see next!

 

@GentleDance - Carbon

My great aim in life is to be smart enough to grasp a GentleDance song on first read idk if I will get there, but I’ll continue to enjoy your songs and strive for that intelligence. And I mean this in a good way! Your writing is so signature and unique, poetic and interpretive that it really does require thought and contemplation. It really becomes an art form that the subject has to fully engage with, and well I can’t stress enough how fantastic it is get to be one who has the opportunity to do this! Looking at this song in particular I love it’s view of human life on a chemical level, and the incorporation of the anxiety themes and and the POV of the higher life form. Another brilliant entry from you, and it’s great to see you back with a bang!

 

@PoKiTaurus - Clive Vibes / Demon Talk

Total side note but very cute message in the submission, hoping you are doing well too

Honestly… I completely adored this. As someone who struggles with anxiety a lot, I loved getting to read this song and it’s perspective. Well, not really because it’s not something I would wish anybody to go through… but it was highly relatable and I loved how raw and clear the sentiment was. This was a very diary like song, and I just loved reading it. It was like stepping into somebody’s mind, and I love when songs can make you feel that way, and your writing itself did a great job of facilitating that feeling. I also loved the split that the song eventually took into a more positive direction, because as much as the emotional stuff is touching and effecting, I find the optimistic viewpoint even more poignant. The way the song and it’s message developed through was just really well done and I loved each step of the way, through the pain and then toward a more hopeful ending. It was beautiful. And I have to say, the “is the gap enough to take me away” line is a stand out for me of the season so far… so impactful and such a striking image. A truly fantastic job. 

 

@Aurora - First Place • Second Wind

This is, to say the very least, an incredible statement piece. It does feel like the culmination of years of emotion and the result is a greatly special song. The call backs to life events, which are then carried through to the now, and the cross section of it all is really effective. It very much culminates as a rarity of a song, taking all of this emotion and experience and applying it like this creates nothing less than an exceptional piece. Its importance is clear as day itself, let alone with the accompanying commentary! Writing as a personal art form, an emotional release, and a tool for growth are all personified in this song and, well, its greatness speaks for itself more than I could. Very glad that you have written this, let alone submitted it, and even if it remains your only song this season I am sure it will be a stand out.

It looks like Lisa will be getting a new look. 

[fountain]

Also, this was the best round so far, and from what I heard I think @Jackson agrees! We love to see it, a very great job everybody and thank you for the effort and dedication  

 

edit:

post 666  stream The Most Unison Choir 

Edited July 9, 2023 by fountain

[fountain]

 

Could be an absurdity challenge #1 tbh

fingers crossed for more potato insp

[Galah]

Whew, today has been another productive day!  Got my car serviced and cleaned, booked a moving van for Friday, moved some clothes over to the new place, and bought a new fridge and washer (and the salesman wasn't just good at his job if you know what I mean ), he even waived the delivery service fee for me, so that's a win! Now that's all out of the way, lemme responding to these reviews.

 

On 7/9/2023 at 1:48 PM, Legend E said:

@Aurora  – First Place / Second Wind

Some parts of the commentary and First Place are giving

 

 jk

Your commentary was very sweet, I am sorry to hear about the personal issues you had and I know how important GH and this ATRL songwriting world is important to you and I hope it remains a refuge for you whenever you feel down. Onto the songs, I do prefer First Place to Second Wind but I understand what you wanted to do with Second Wind and I am glad that you have that carefree writing added here as well. As I know you do like your extensive use of the vocabulary, I think you made a good use of it here, however my favourite couplet is the more simplistic “Like actors in a movie I’d pretend my heart was open/Now practising kintsugi all to mend what isn’t broken”. Are the “silhouettes” mentioned in the first stanza your fellow contestants from PH6? I also loved the “I failed before an audience with rows of covered faces” line a lot, suggesting how the anonymity of all of us on this clown website. In “Second Wind” my favourite part is probably the chorus. “Levitating near the stratosphere/Elevated fears won’t matter here” is my favourite part here. Overall, a great job as expected!

Also, I tried using Natural Reader but your text was longer than the 5 minutes that were allowed for free and they asked me to pay if I wanted to keep using it  

*****, not you comparing me almost getting flattened by a truck to Taylor's Grammy snub.  Nah, I know what you mean about some elements tbh. 

 

I'm very intrigued to know you preferred "First Place" to "Second Wind", but I am glad that the different parts are resonating with different judges more! The actors lyric was almost cut in one draft (and ended up being reworked) so I am glad I persevered with it.  I like your interpretation of the "silhouettes" lyric, a lot actually! My intent was to depict a fading or softening of the raw emotions felt directly after the loss of PH6 prior to the beginning of PH7, with "silhouettes" not only representing distant figures, but also being the name of the "album" of material I wrote during PH7, so that was sort of fading into sight as well. Your interpretations of all of these lyrics here are refreshing, and it's lovely to see you thinking about the song on a deeper level than what is perhaps just given at face value, and for that I am so thankful.

 

Sorry Natural Reader didn't work out! I think I can listen to 20 mins of material per day before it cuts me off and I haven't paid for it.  Perhaps it's different for different regions?

 

On 7/9/2023 at 4:48 PM, fountain said:

@Aurora - First Place • Second Wind

This is, to say the very least, an incredible statement piece. It does feel like the culmination of years of emotion and the result is a greatly special song. The call backs to life events, which are then carried through to the now, and the cross section of it all is really effective. It very much culminates as a rarity of a song, taking all of this emotion and experience and applying it like this creates nothing less than an exceptional piece. Its importance is clear as day itself, let alone with the accompanying commentary! Writing as a personal art form, an emotional release, and a tool for growth are all personified in this song and, well, its greatness speaks for itself more than I could. Very glad that you have written this, let alone submitted it, and even if it remains your only song this season I am sure it will be a stand out.

It looks like Lisa will be getting a new look. 

"It very much culminates as a rarity of a song, taking all of this emotion and experience and applying it like this creates nothing less than an exceptional piece." 😭😭😭

 

Thank you so much, friend. A review like this from you means the world, even more so knowing that you reviewed purely out of love for this game and not out of necessity to assign a score. Honestly I loved writing this piece and never felt like I was struggling at any point, and if I had a gut feeling that a lyric was okay but not really good enough I just listened to my heart and revisited it at a later point and always found something better. So although a lot of care and refinement definitely went into this piece, particularly "First Place", it was in such a natural and organic way that I can't help but feel that this genuinely is my favourite work of mine. Perhaps it's recency bias, but I've been revisiting a lot of my older material lately too for my Fandom Wiki project and definitely feel like from a strictly personal level, this is definitely one of my best. While I'm not necessarily expecting its score to reflect that, I've enjoyed all of your reviews thus far and hope this song will stand out in its own way when looking back on my songwriting journey.

[poki]

not you comparing me almost getting flattened by a truck 

 

Wow that sounds horrifying. 

Trucks always scare me when I drive. I can FEEL in my blood that they are about to turn to my lane and crash into me. 

 

[Jackson]

planning for results today - will update with a time once all scores are in!

[poki]

I...actually think my drunk self has a good concept. Some of these lines actually rhyme. Apparently I named it Mommy & Daddy Issues but the second page is unreadable 

[Galah]

5 hours ago, PoKiTaurus said:

not you comparing me almost getting flattened by a truck 

 

Wow that sounds horrifying. 

Trucks always scare me when I drive. I can FEEL in my blood that they are about to turn to my lane and crash into me. 

 

It was one like this too. Maybe not quite as big, but still huge. I'm definitely more cautious whenever I drive next to one now.

[Jackson]

Scores are in! I need to finish work and put together rankings - results at 7:30PM EST?

 

@XO_Life @Hug @Julianna Calm Down @OreGuy @worldwide angel @Kylie Jenner @GentleDance @PoKiTaurus @Aurora @fountain @JoeAg @Legend E

[fountain]

Yasss