Quoting:I also wish that how well-known a song is could somehow be a criteria there are far too many less well known songs getting lots of votes with parodies of actual current hits struggling no matter how good they are unless the author promotes it really well
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Ethan

I must respectfully disagree with your comments here.

Maybe this just shows that the average age of those who see fit to vote on the parodies isn't as young as one might think.

Your description of 'less well known songs' is the antithesis of how I would describe things!  Today's music is laregly unknown to me, and that is reflected in the sorts of songs that Merry and I parody.

That doesn't mean I think any less of it, I am just not familiar with it.

If you think about your statement, how would you feel if I sugested that nothing after the 70's should be given as strong a weighting as something produced earlier ?  You see what I am saying ?

PT  :)

Quoting:
Im not sure of why Im asking this and if its true, Im guilty of it as well. But it just seems as if the rules are being stretched and parodies that would not have been submitted a year ago are being submitted. Im not sure, I just want to know what you guys think.
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well, to be honest, I've gotten more picky about what I accept now for parodies.. if it's in all capital letters, it doesn't get reviewed at all, just deleted. If it doesn't have proper formatting, it also doesn't get submitted.  If it uses the dreaded f-word, and isn't starred out, f***, I delete it.  

Those used to be things I would fix for a new parody author. Now though, I have so little time to even review parodies, that spending five minutes to clean up one, isn't going to happen.

As for content, I've probably let some through racey stuff that in retrospec should have never gotten approved, but I've been starting to get tougher on that as well.

Quoting:
i know the average age at this site has shifted upwards quite a bit... but thats in part because some of the younger people have been discouraged by getting mediocre results to a good parody to a new hit song
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I've had at least one older member of the site ask me (for a second friggin' time) to remove all his parodies, because people didn't vote his parodies high enough.. the old "I'm going home and taking my ball with me" nonsense..  I understand the need most people have to get good scores and positive feedback, but setting unrealistic goals is something I just can't help people with.. I have no idea why some parodies score better than others.. and it certainly never discouraged people like Malcolm (who never scores that high compared to others).. comedy is such a hit and miss thing, that it's easy to write something no one likes, but you're sure is great

Quoting:
I think people get too hung up on the scoring and popularity.  I'm much more interested in the comments - it tells me if I've accomplished what I've set out to do.  Perhaps my approach is different - I don't really care about appealing to the masses and a low score may not necessarily mean a bad parody - and I never set out to do a parody for popularity purposes.
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Robert, that's fairly easy for you to say since you average about 50 votes per parody with an average vote in excess of 4.6.

Actually, your point makes sense.  The main thing is to try to say something in a humorous or otherwise compelling way and to get people to think.  And if Robert manages to achieve a high level of popularity when he is not specifically trying to, maybe there is a message there for the rest of us.

Quoting:
I personally know that when I submit a parody, I know its either going to do really well, or it will bomb, or just sit there and collect dust. But I'll tell ya what, anyone who focuses on appealing to a majority of voters is basically the same thing as selling out in the music business. Parodies are meant to be fun, and are meant to poke fun at the songs, foods,celebrities, and things that surround us in our everyday lives. And I say we keep the fun alive! Honestly though, Im cool with the moral imbalance, I think it adds more to the site and really allows more self expression.
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That's why I focus on writing parodies the majority of voters will hate.  ;)  

I'll offer some counterpoint by listing four good reasons to write something designed to attract as many voters as possible:

1.  To fish for a broader range of opinions and feedback.

2.  As an exercise in market research (for aspiring and already-perspiring professional writers.)

3.  Because you just want to see if you can.  (Same reason a rock musician might try composing a symphony or a dramatic actress might take a comedic role, etc.)  

4.  Because the majority of regular voters are parody authors and a lot of them are darned good ones (far better than I, that's for sure) and trying to write a crowd pleaser, for this particular crowd, means putting your best foot forward.  If someone submits a semi-literate, ill-conceived, poorly paced parody and it goes to the top of the weeklies with high marks and praise from the regulars, it only encourages that author to write more of the same instead of working to improve.  That's not exactly what I call doing that person a favor.  

My first two submissions to Amiright were tests -- the first was my best work, the second was not.  The first told me my particular voice/style was probably a good match for the market.  The second confirmed that by telling me the site wasn't just a mutual admiration society.  (I'd already read several parodies proving the bar had been set very high or I'd have had no interest in the site, at all.)  

I don't really "get" the whole spot-light seeking thing.  I assume it's what drives the competitive writing (author v. author, not author v. self)  I keep hearing about.  (Does it really exist or is it something of an inside joke?)  I know that seven or eight people (or even 7 or 8 hundred people) reading my stuff a couple of times a month doesn't exactly make me a household name. I wouldn't want to be one, anyway -- fame is the payment for success, not the payoff.  It takes the focus away from the person's work and puts it on the person.  

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My first two submissions to Amiright were tests -- the first was my best work, the second was not.  The first told me my particular voice/style was probably a good match for the market.  The second confirmed that by telling me the site wasn't just a mutual admiration society.  (I'd already read several parodies proving the bar had been set very high or I'd have had no interest in the site, at all.)  
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what were your first two?

Quoting:

I don't really "get" the whole spot-light seeking thing.  I assume it's what drives the competitive writing (author v. author, not author v. self)  I keep hearing about.  (Does it really exist or is it something of an inside joke?)
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well, I think that the William Tong v. Malcolm Higgins race was author to author...but I think with me, its author v self, because Ive had some dang good parodies in the past, and I keep on thinking Im never going to write another one that good (though a few have shocked me...Pork the other white meat anyone?)....after I finsih writing one, I look at it, and Im usually unhappy with its finished results....I guess none of my own work is good to me unless it matches up with my best material in my own head....and the ironic part is, the stuff that I think is up there with my best has never really hit the charts...(ie I always think that Santas watching me, Everyday A**holes, See Yoda fight, etc).......

Quoting:
 I know that seven or eight people (or even 7 or 8 hundred people) reading my stuff a couple of times a month doesn't exactly make me a household name. I wouldn't want to be one,
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youre a household name in the parody writers house.......I think that youre one of the best....you usually put out consistantly strong work everytime you write....Id rather be someone that takes Springsteen esk long times between writing songs (so far so good lol) but makes them all quality because of that time....quality over quantity....if you can do both, youre perfect

Quoting:


what were your first two?

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Bleaque Alley to Mamas n Papas Creeque Alley was the first and Plunder to NIN's Closer was the second.  

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well, I think that the William Tong v. Malcolm Higgins race was author to author...but I think with me, its author v self, because Ive had some dang good parodies in the past, and I keep on thinking Im never going to write another one that good

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Ooh, OK, the race to a thousand and such.  From the way I've seen it mentioned, I thought I'd missed some cut-throat undercurrent or something.  Glad it's not that.

You go through that, too?  If I write something (not just a parody) that's good enough I'm amazed that *I* wrote it, I always worry that it's my "Thriller," so to speak, and that I'll never be able to match it, much less top it.  Not that I want you to go through that, but it's nice to learn that I'm not the only one.  :)

Quoting:

I guess none of my own work is good to me unless it matches up with my best material in my own head....and the ironic part is, the stuff that I think is up there with my best has never really hit the charts...(ie I always think that Santas watching me, Everyday A**holes, See Yoda fight, etc).......

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I think it's the curse of a writer to see the vast majority of his or her work as works in progress that could be improved with "just one more edit."  

None of those hit the top tens?  I just assumed they had... hey, maybe they'll keep picking up votes and quietly work their way into the all time hot 100s.   Have you ever hit number one?   If so, which song(s?)  

Quoting:
youre a household name in the parody writers house.......I think that youre one of the best....you usually put out consistantly strong work everytime you write....Id rather be someone that takes Springsteen esk long times between writing songs (so far so good lol) but makes them all quality because of that time....quality over quantity....if you can do both, youre perfect
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Wow, thanks Billy and the same right back atcha, too.  I'm with you on the quality over quantity thing, too.  (There are days I'm lucky to accomplish either. I try not to submit on those days.  :D)  

Quoting:




None of those hit the top tens?  I just assumed they had... hey, maybe they'll keep picking up votes and quietly work their way into the all time hot 100s.   Have you ever hit number one?   If so, which song(s?)  



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Ive had a few number ones...um, off the top of my head, I remember:
WIlliam Tongs Story
A Barry Bonds parody
Pork the other white meat
R Kellys rationalization

hmmm..I cant think of any others, but I think Ive had at least one more......



yeah those songs never hit the top ten (as well as a bunch of others I didnt mention like A day at mcdonalds, senioritis trying to fit in my jeans, etc) ...those though are some of my all time favorites of mine.....I dont really care if my stuff hits the top ten, I care more about comments and praise from cohorts......

I might also add here, that rock legends like Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed and the Grateful dead, only had ONE charted hit in the USA.....yet they are legends...think about that lol

Quoting:


Ive had a few number ones...um, off the top of my head, I remember:
WIlliam Tongs Story
A Barry Bonds parody
Pork the other white meat
R Kellys rationalization

hmmm..I cant think of any others, but I think Ive had at least one more......
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according to your enhanced author info page there weren't any others.. but maybe some of the parodies are missing?

http://www.amiright.com/parody/authors/billyflorio_wide.shtml