The One Minute Challenge

[Lew Bear]

Hi All

The Challenges seemed to die a bit of an early death, but I loved the idea of them and the ones we did were fantastic

My idea for a new challenge is for everyone to write and record a song that is less than 60 seconds long!

Can you do it? Its harder than it first sounds

Deadline of the end of April, attach the files to this thread or send them to [e-mail]

I'll set up all the ones we get and use them as a radio show for AFC (Or part of one, depending how many we get)

Ok.......go!

[Michael Heath (aka Fledderjohn)]

This is a very good challenge. If I get a chance I'll give it a bash.

You can however also use "the man the devil" by Zarbo. It's actually 24 seconds too long but it follows in the spirit of the challenge in that we deliberately edited the song down to the bare minimum. Most people say that it ends too soon. I kind of think that the reason people take notice of it is because it is so short. Leave 'em wanting more! I'll email it to you.

If I remember right there was an album back in the late 80's of various people doing exactly this. I think Elvis Costello was on it. Elvis also recorded a whole album where most of the songs clocked in at around 2 minutes (Get Happy).

I can also think of loads of great 1 or 2 minute songs if you want some ideas for the show.

[Lew Bear]

Cool - thanks for that Michael

I've got the track, but I like your thinking on adding short songs from others to make up the rest of the show (at less than 60 seconds each we'd need a lot of participation to make a whole show after all)

What I will do is start the show with the challenge pieces and after that add tracks that dont quite meet the criteria (like the one you sent) afterwards to fill up the show.

After having a quick look I already have about 15 suitable ones, but if anyone would like to send some along it would be appreciated

[Michael Heath (aka Fledderjohn)]

I'll try sending a lovely tom waits song called Johnsburg, Illinois. It's 1.24. It's one of the most perfect love songs I've ever heard. The shortness and simplicity of it is an intrinsic part of what makes it so touching. He still plays it in his live shows (it was my personal highlight of that Paris gig I went to).

There are also a couple of handsome family songs (actually the same song with slightly different lyrics) called If The World Should End In Ice and If The World Should End In Fire at 1.09. Then of course there's Chives by Dave The Spanner.

Oh and there are a few more. I'll try sending them but I suspect they won't work because they're official legal versions

[GayleMyrna]

Hi Lew:
Okay...I took up your challenge right after I got off LOOM and got to work. Here is the result, it's called "Welcome To My World". I believe it times in at 59 seconds and was recorded with just my vocal, my very simple guitar and a tad of reverb.
Thanks,
GayleMyrna
P.S. Could you notifiy me that you got this!!! Cheers...

[Bill Wardley-Smith]

Lew Bear
I take up your challenge, does it have to have lyrics? Is it exactly 60 seconds? Does it need to be about an event or tell a story?
I'll get on to it right away.
Bill

[Lew Bear]

Bill Wardley-Smith said:

Lew Bear
I take up your challenge, does it have to have lyrics? Is it exactly 60 seconds? Does it need to be about an event or tell a story?
I'll get on to it right away.
Bill

Excellent Bill!

No, doesnt have to have lyrics, just it might be more of a challenge to put them in, but it can be about absolutely anything from there - too many rules are stifling

It just has to be less than 60 seconds, not bang on the mark

Look forward to hearing your contribution

[Sammon]

I fancy this too........nice idea.

[Sammon]

I think the Brakes do a number of short songs; I recall seeing them and they did the same song 5 times; it's about 10 seconds long. They asked different members of the audience to count them in.

Lew Bear said:

Cool - thanks for that Michael

I've got the track, but I like your thinking on adding short songs from others to make up the rest of the show (at less than 60 seconds each we'd need a lot of participation to make a whole show after all)

What I will do is start the show with the challenge pieces and after that add tracks that dont quite meet the criteria (like the one you sent) afterwards to fill up the show.

After having a quick look I already have about 15 suitable ones, but if anyone would like to send some along it would be appreciated

[Djay Buddha]

60 secs left on the clock
59 secs left
58 secs
57
46
55
54
53
52
51
oh 50 secs left on the clock
now just have to find the music to fit the lyrics :)

[Brawth]

sounds cool lew. im sure drawler you squeeze a few tunes into a minute!

ps if yer lookin for filler thers a great album of (largely punky) stuff called shrot music for short people. 101 bands playing songs of less than 30 secs. some reallly good name s on it and a lot of good songs.

[Martin Giles]

This is a bit of a cheat, because we (Stryngs) already wrote and recorded it. And also because I think it comes in at 61 seconds. BUT APART FROM THAT .... I have a soft spot for this little song called Two Shiny Buckets.

[Lew Bear]

Thanks Martin - cool track

Sammon, Brawth - be great to hear you give it a go!

12 days to go!