Sat, 01/14/2012 - 05:57
So, I might try this for some good starting points - but I won't to hear you're opinions on how much its 'cheating' - not just with FAWMing, but writing a song in general...
How about writing an entirely new song with the title lifted from another? For example, write a song called "Born To Run"? (Though it would probably be better to write one with the same title as a more obscure song).
But do you think doing that would make the song less 'usable'?
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 08:57
#2
Almost all titles have been used before -- there is not much new under the sun. Don't worry about. Of course, picking a title called "Yesterday" or one that is the same as today's #1 hit, is not that good of an idea. I do title searches sometimes and if I find a song with the same title, I look at the contents of it to make sure I am not "ripping off" more than just the title (ha, ha).
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 08:52
#3
Basic philosophy: If it doesn't feel like cheating to you (and you suspect it wouldn't feel like cheating to a jury), then its all good. Billions of songs have been written. If the only thing you're accidentally stealing is the title, you're probably ahead of the game. 
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 09:34
#4
Titles aren't copyrighted anyway. So it's not illegal. I've a song I wrote called 'Careless Whisper' that the singer in the cover band I was in at the time used as fodder to make fun of for a loooooong time. I had no idea it was a popular song ven though my wife actually likes George Michael (and nearly worshiped him as a teenager) so I guess if it didn't offend her it is okay.
RC is doing an entire album of new songs by the title of the Beatles album 'Let It Be.' He started in November and I have to say I really like the songs that I've heard. Here is a link to "I've Got A Feeling"
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 10:34
#5
I've Got a Feeling is a pretty dang good tune. Sounds a bit like a Bare Naked ladies tune. Nice mixing, too. The bass looks light (on the windows media waveform), but it sounds just fine. I might have to mix one of my tunes to that "waveform". He ought to call his album "Let It Be, RC".
Maybe RC will chime in and say how he mixed that one on the bottom end.
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 11:03
#6
Thanks, TC. (And Kevin - you posted while I was writing this.)
I read a Neil Young interview back in the early 80s (I think) where he mentioned something about doing an album of songs titled after other songs. He didn't do it, I guess, but the idea always stuck with me. It's an interesting songwriting exercise, and I'm actually pretty fond of some of the tunes.
Some of them need remixes or better vocals... Oh, what the heck:
http://www.mindreels.com/IMeMine.mp3
http://www.mindreels.com/LetItBe.mp3
http://www.mindreels.com/AcrossTheUniverse.mp3
http://www.mindreels.com/RC-DigAPony.mp3
http://www.mindreels.com/MaggieMay.mp3
http://www.mindreels.com/DigIt.mp3
http://www.mindreels.com/RC-TwoOfUs.mp3
Bass on I've Got A Feeling... I think I'd bring up the bass a bit if I remix it. But generally, I use a LOT of compression an bass, which makes it so much easier to sit it in a mix (plus it evens out my poor technique )
Aw, who'm I kidding - I use a lot of compression on almost everything...
I did this unknowingly during 50/90 - wrote a song called "Dragonfly" and then found out Ziggy Marley has one, too. Doesn't make me like mine any less (I really like it!), and his is a great song.
Speaking of Springsteen, he wrote "Fire," which was a big hit for the Pointer Sisters in the late '70s. I know of at least one other song called "Fire" that came before, and I bet there are others. And with a title like that, Springsteen himself might have known that it had been used before.
Oh, and Springsteen's "Reason to Believe" is also the title of a Tim Hardin song. And he knew that - I've read some backstories Springsteen wrote about the making of the "Nebraska" album.
So I say go for it - anything Springsteen does as a songwriter is something worth trying!