This is a three week deadline. . .why? 

This round is

The Epic Round

Two eliminations in this one, here are the rules

Below is a list of 20 pre-approved songs (you'll notice each is either "Epic 40" or "Big 7")

If you choose a song from the list, it will be accepted.

If you want to do a song you feel is epic, submit it to the message board, and we must vote (2 of 3 of us must say 'yes') on whether or not it's epic.

Qualifying songs must also have a backing track available through one of our primary sources. . .these 20 have that, any other songs will be considered based on qualifying criteria.

Here are the pre approved songs

1. It's The End of the World As We Know It by REM
2. Curbside Prophet by Jason Mraz
3. Work It by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot
4. Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz
5. Lose My Breath by Destiny's Child
6. Stan by Eminem
7. The Bad Touch by The Bloodhound Gang
8. Fergalicious by Fergie
9. Wanna Startin' Something by Michael Jackson
10. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
11. Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann
12. Semi Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
13. O.P.P. by Naughty by Nature
14. Be Our Guest from Beauty & the Beast
15. Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day
16. One Week by The Barenaked Ladies
17. In the End by Linkin Park
18. Lady Marmalade from Moulin Rouge (MUST include Lil Kim's Part)
19. Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf
20. Dilemma by Nelly & Kelly Rowland


There are some songs we'd like to spare having to answer questions on

These songs here DO NOT QUALIFY: Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General, Frozen, Graduation, Candyman, Unwritten, any Beatles Song, Civil War, R U Ready, Marshall Mathers, Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See, & ABC are all out of consideration. Some don't have backing tracks because they aren't as big hits as others on the 20 chosen, some because they simply aren't in the same league as these. 

PLEASE: Epic is pretty self explanatory.  Chances are if it's a typical day-to-day pop song, it won't qualify, most 50s/60s ballads and soft rock N roll won't qualify, most disco won't qualify, techno songs with few if any words won't qualify, instrumentals won't qualify, do-wop probably won't qualify, most country won't qualify . . . note that outside of instrumental--no genre is automatically disqualified, but think about the challenge level of a song before asking if you can use it. . . If anyone asks me if they can parody "Toxic" by Britney Spears for this round, I won't bother replying that it's not epic. . .

There are some songs we'd like to save questions on the either direction

???

I would like to state upfront that "Epic" by Faith No More does not qualify either.  ;)

???


Fixed the wording

8)  What about "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" or "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel?

8)  What about "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" or "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel?


I vote YEA on either one...although Italian Restaurant has gotten 16 parody treatments on Amiright as of right now.
http://www.amiright.com/parody/search/search.php?inputSort=0&input00=scenes+from+an+italian&input01=&input02=&input03=&SearchTerms=4&Start=0
...and Guy DeRito's contribution would be very hard to outclass.

Billy The Kid Lyrics: http://www.lyrics007.com/Billy%20Joel%20Lyrics/Ballad%20Of%20Billy%20The%20Kid%20Lyrics.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZFkz5jjfuc

Italian Restaurant Lyrics: http://www.lyricsdepot.com/billy-joel/scenes-from-an-italian-restaurant.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YzZfVfuqLI&feature=related

no mention of american pie?

Thanks for the reply.  Here are some other songs that came to my mind:

"American Pie" by Don McLean (as mentioned above)
"Heart of the Sunrise", "Starship Trooper", "Roundabout", "All Good People/Your Move", and other songs by Yes
"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
"You Set the Scene" by Love

maybe "Love Lies Bleeding" by Elton John

"Soliloquy" from Carousel (and probably other musical theater songs)

Ethan: The formulation of this round was to try and avoid tunes that have already been done to death on the site (although I don't know why Dave included "Bohemian Rhapsody" ???). Dave should also have included "Stairway To Heaven" and "American Pie" in that "don't do" list, as well. Fellow judges, please chime in.

And keep in mind, Melanie, there has to be an easily available backing track. I'd be intrigued by a Broadway tune. "Gee Office Krupke" is a great epic one, but there are [url=http://www.amiright.com/parody/search/search.php?inputSort=0&input00=krupke&input01=&input02=&input03=&SearchTerms=4&Start=012 parodies on site already, with the best one probably by Johnny D.. Nobody seems to have done "Soliloquy".

"Master of the House" is the most epic showtune that I know of that's fairly likely to have a decent backing track. I thought Pie might be excluded because of popularity, but then I saw Bo Rhap.  The epicness is quite a few of these songs are questionable in my opinion, specifically in the end and bad touch and feel good, but they are certainly more difficult than most songs.

no mention of american pie?


I'm hoping (having had to sing that one once) no one picks that one :)  I would vote yes on that.

Melanie I'd have to check on those two songs backing track availability and listen to them, I will check tonight.

???

I would like to state upfront that "Epic" by Faith No More does not qualify either.  ;)


What about "We Care A Lot"?

While I think not allowing American Pie, Be Our Guest, Stairway to Heaven, Bohemian Rhapsody etc would be wrong because they are more challenging than the day to day songs we are trying to avoid, they are hard to pull off well because of the number of good parodies that have been done

I will vote yes to any song mentioned in the paragraph above but I DO NOT recommend any of the them as they are going to be tough to beat the recorded parodies already out there. . .

We Care A Lot I have to look up, I've not heard of that "Faith No More" song

Ethan, I'll look that one up to check on backing track--if it has one I'll vote yes on it  (as for In The End, Feel Good, Bad Touch--they are all more difficult than normal songs--I guess I should clarify that they don't necessarily have to be "WOAH-HOLY-CRAP" songs to qualify-but those levels songs such as Work It, Stan, OPP, End of the World As We Know It--may score a little higher if done as well as others that aren't as hard)

My theory when I proposed the list in the secret forum with the inclusion of songs like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Be Our Guest" was that yeah they are easier than some others on the list, BUT keep in mind how many parodies of them are out there--and not just written, both Bohemian Rhapsody and Be Our Guest have been recorded in the past, as has American Pie. . .which means by taking those on you are going to at the very least bring up memories of other parodies of those songs which could hurt if yours doesn't live up to them--songs like OPP, End of the World, Stan, etc that haven't been done as much or recorded much if at all leave less possibility of other recordings that pop up to mind and while I didn't include Jesus of Suburbia as a song not done much (it has been beaten quite a bit) I must add with JOS, it's not been done well to many times and a backing track is out there on it-so it certainly can be recorded though no one has done it.

Melanie. . .

In addition to the two Billy Joel ones I'll check on tonight, I'll check on
"Heart of the Sunrise", "Starship Trooper", "Roundabout", "All Good People/Your Move", and other songs by Yes
"You Set the Scene" by Love
"Love Lies Bleeding" by Elton John
"Soliloquy" from Carousel

I honestly though have never heard of "Yes" as a group, so I'd have to look them up all together and listen to those, or actually most of those, but I'll check. . .

For now I vote-neutral on all of those Melanie until I have a chance tonight to look them up
Ethan same-neutral-but if my primary sources have that-I do vote yes on that entry
Matthias-neutral, though I know Faith No More Backing tracks are not easy to come by ahead of time from past searches

That is one thing to keep in mind guys.  Songs pre 90s have to have been pretty big hits for a backing track creator, even ones who have done as many as my friends with KR, to have been done.  70s and 80s big hits have largely been covered, 60s and 50s are very hit and miss outside of the Beatles. . .

What about "We Care A Lot"?


We Care A Lot isn't epic (great song though). Now, "The Real Thing" is a monster of an OS, but probably lacks a backing track.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gna8GzfOa8I

Lyrics: http://www.fnm.com/lyrics/trt_lyrics.html#real

Ant

"Yes" is out. . ..Only Owner of a lonely Heart has backing tracks available, and that song obviously is not epic. . .unfortunately, the nine-20 minute power ballads Yes is known for were not their biggest hits making backing tracks scarce. . .

Faith No More has NO backing tracks available.

"Master of the House" does have a backing track and I vote YES on it's epic qualification, though it needs a yes from either Agri or Ant to be accepted . . .

You Set the Scene by Love does not have a backing track

Love Lies Bleeding doesn't have a backing track

Believe it or not "Soliloquy" from Carousel  DOES have a backing track, though wow that song reminds me of TWOTEF, I vote yes on this song on qualifying as epic.

What's the ruling on parodies that were mostly written a while back but were a bit of a pacing mess in parts and underwent massive revision after the theme was announced?

And on a side note, Stronger by Kanye west is epic, right?

What's the ruling on parodies that were mostly written a while back but were a bit of a pacing mess in parts and underwent massive revision after the theme was announced?

And on a side note, Stronger by Kanye west is epic, right?


Massive revision sounds fine to me, especially if it's a parody I'm not familiar with. .

I say yes on that one-I'll check it's availability tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure a backing track exists for that too. . .

What about "We Care A Lot"?

I don't think that's really a qualifier. NAY from me.

"Master of the House" does have a backing track and I vote YES on it's epic qualification, though it needs a yes from either Agri or Ant to be accepted . . . Believe it or not "Soliloquy" from Carousel  DOES have a backing track, though wow that song reminds me of TWOTEF, I vote yes on this song on qualifying as epic.

2 YEAs from me. And if "Soliloquy" wins, good luck to whoever gets to sing it. :o

I say yes on that one-I'll check it's availability tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure a backing track exists for that too. . .

I think it's less epic than Kanye's "Jesus Walks." (and boy, I couldn't stand listening to it). I vote NAY.

"billy the kid" is more epic than "stronger"? Really? I don't get it.  And if billy the kid is epic then so are piano man, captain jack, the entertainer, we didn't start the fire, goodnight saigon, and probably a few other Billy Joel songs.  Maybe it would help if the criteria of epicdom was a bit more clearly defined.

And btw, "In the end" has 47 parodies on the site

"billy the kid" is more epic than "stronger"? Really? I don't get it.  And if billy the kid is epic then so are piano man, captain jack, the entertainer, we didn't start the fire, goodnight saigon, and probably a few other Billy Joel songs.  Maybe it would help if the criteria of epicdom was a bit more clearly defined.

I compared "Stronger" to the song structure of "Jesus Walks", and didn't think it was trying to grasp that same level of important artistic inspiration. But now I took a look at another lyric web site for "Stronger" that had more complete lyrics. I see where you are coming from now, with the additional repeats of choruses etc. I would be more than happy to let that one in, too.

I can see all of those Billy Joel songs you mentioned as potential "epics", too.

For me, "epic" would be a song that tries to do something different than the normal pop tune, a certain kind of heavy thought into its musicall arrangements and its lyrics. (I wouldn't have put "Feel Good Inc." into this category, but that was Dave's call.) It might be longer than 3 minutes or so, but not necessarily. With the heavy lyric content, it would extremely difficult to make a parody that can hold a strong idea throughout itself without resorting to randomness and surrealism (which is how I kind of cheated my way through many of the Big 7 Tunes--see elsewhere for those).

(Edit: Not that I don't enjoy surrealism, dont' get me wrong. )

Believe it or not "Soliloquy" from Carousel  DOES have a backing track, though wow that song reminds me of TWOTEF, I vote yes on this song on qualifying as epic.

"TWOTEF"?    ???

Anyway, I have ideas for "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"--in fact I've started already!--and "American Pie".  "AP" has been done at least 50 times here, but none of them, as far as I can see, cover my topic for the song.  Maybe I'll write that one, too, and submit it to Amiright.com but not here.

"TWOTEF"?    ???

Anyway, I have ideas for "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"--in fact I've started already!--and "American Pie".  "AP" has been done at least 50 times here, but none of them, as far as I can see, cover my topic for the song.  Maybe I'll write that one, too, and submit it to Amiright.com but not here.


Yeah, I'm not making any official submissions for at least a couple of weeks after than near-disaster last round, especially since 4th won't be good enough this time.

"TWOTEF"?    ???

The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald.  :)

I've made more progress on "Billy the Kid".  It may be ready in a day or two.  8)

What about these songs:

"Taxi" by Harry Chapin.
"The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel.
"Nights in White Satin" by Moody Blues--especially with the poem on the album.

I've made more progress on "Billy the Kid".  It may be ready in a day or two.   8)

What about these songs:

"Taxi" by Harry Chapin.
"The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel.
"Nights in White Satin" by Moody Blues--especially with the poem on the album.


i vote YEA..."Nights" has been done 40 times (and not always with the poem, which loses points with me). A great, great tune, but I hope we don't see it here.

:)  Okay, I've submitted to Amiright.com my parody of Billy Joel's "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", called "The Ballad of Sarah the Gov".  Look for it tomorrow, Thurs Sept 25 2008.

However, I won't submit it yet to this thread, being the deadline isn't for two weeks, and I might create another parody before then!

;D

:)  Okay, I've submitted to Amiright.com my parody of Billy Joel's "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", called "The Ballad of Sarah the Gov".  Look for it tomorrow, Thurs Sept 25 2008.

However, I won't submit it yet to this thread, being the deadline isn't for two weeks, and I might create another parody before then!

;D


I apologize, but Ballad of Billy the Kid does not have an available backing track (to be honest, I haven't heard that song either) but I'll keep looking. . .you know Melanie, you have interesting selections in music ;)

NiWS is okay provided the poem "Late Lament" is included.
The Boxer is epic enough that I'll go for it - keep in mind though the 3 trillion "lie-la-lie" need something good done with them.  ;D

Taxi qualifies as well.

Ant

I apologize, but Ballad of Billy the Kid does not have an available backing track (to be honest, I haven't heard that song either) but I'll keep looking. . .you know Melanie, you have interesting selections in music ;)


And I would also stress to you Melanie that political parodies don't age well.

I apologize, but Ballad of Billy the Kid does not have an available backing track (to be honest, I haven't heard that song either) but I'll keep looking. . .you know Melanie, you have interesting selections in music ;)


Oh well...I do have a fragment of an "American Pie" idea but that's been done at least 50 times...  Anyway, I'm glad to have done "Sarah the Gov" although you obviously wouldn't have chosen that as the winner.  (If you find the backing tracks, I might submit it anyway!) Here's the OS, "The Ballad of Billy the Kid":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY3xp4Qymi4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGVTodkpNA8

I also have a couple of vague ideas for "Taxi", but nothing's taken hold yet.  That OS runs through my mind sometimes.

BTW, if you're recording the winning song of each round within a few weeks--aren't you supposed to?--then why worry how the parody "ages"?  Are you guys planning an album?

A few weeks after the judging ends for this round the election will be over and hopefully Sarah Palin will be irrelevant.

I have 4 days off in the near future and hope to get something done in that timespan, because as of late my schedual has been pretty hectic.

Since people want to do musicals.... What about "No One Mourns The Wicked" from the musical Wicked?

http://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/wicked/noonemournsthewicked.htm

Since people want to do musicals.... What about "No One Mourns The Wicked" from the musical Wicked?

http://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/wicked/noonemournsthewicked.htm


For future reference, please link to an audio or video link, not a lyric link--I cannot and will not judge a song's acceptability on lyrics alone, searching for song now (a backing track DOES exist)

Matthias if you are referring to this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyxrTxVOdx4&feature=related  which seems to match at least closely to what you sent, I vote yes

One more question... What about "Master of Puppets" by Metallica... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z-hEyVQDRA

One more question... What about "Master of Puppets" by Metallica... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z-hEyVQDRA


That one is fine. . .but me singing that kind of heavy metal would be interesting to put it mildly. . .

Is the level of epic-ness likely to figure in the voting when both officially qualify but one song is considerably longer/more challenging than the other?

Is the level of epic-ness likely to figure in the voting when both officially qualify but one song is considerably longer/more challenging than the other?


It's going to be what you do with what you picked.  If it was accepted, at least on my vote--how epic will not really be a considering factor.  If you pick a really difficult song, but falter on it--it doesn't guarantee victory, but by the same token of you pick a relatively easy epic and don't rock it, that could be as damaging.  Picking a really difficult song such as "Stan" by Eminem or "Work It" by Missy Elliot may be too hard while "Feel Good Inc" and "In the End" may not be enough lyrics to blast your idea to the sky.  It will be more maximizing the humor or making what song you have chosen funny than how epic the song is.  Otherwise everyone will pick 9 to 20 minute songs which while I can appreciate having done a few, should also be somewhat rare in recordings as only amazing parodies of that length are going to keep a persons attention.

Attention Everyone: If you haven't noticed, I am not really recording or writing right now, I am moving on Tuesday so I can't record.  I am posting pre-recorded stuff as far as recordings of my own are concerned spread out so that I am not completely dead in my own section and on my broadcast, but things should return to normal by Mid-October and I will record Wolverine's Parody of "Stand" at that time.  Gianni, I'm sorry I never got back to you when you asked how to get involved, I was waiting on confirmation on moving--We'll talk when things are taken care of, I promise

Coming Monday...

1. "No One Dates A Chicken" (The ballad of the scaredy-cat)
2. "Hamster of Rodants" (OBEY YOUR HAMSTER! HAMSTER!!!)

AND

3. "Club Kid" (Kid Rock goes to the Club)