Country Songwriters, Gulf Coast Need Your Ideas
I just read about this songwriting contest this morning and I already know who the winner's going to be -- someone who writes a country song. That's because even though they are inviting all kinds of tunesmiths from all kinds of genres, nobody writes songs of devastation and despair like country artists. Alan Jackson's been the king of that, like after 9/11 when he wrote "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," or when a family friend died and he wrote "Sissy's Song."
Darryl Worley's not bad either. He had "Have You Forgotten?" on the radio about 18 months after 9/11. And while it was not a big radio hit, Keith Urban had a hopeful, we-can-rebuild anthem after Hurricane Katrina called "Raise the Barn." Martina McBride has also had songs about tragedies, albeit more personal ones like domestic violence, with "A Broken Wing," "Concrete Angel" and "Independence Day."
So now it's time to pen one about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. USA Today is calling on readers to capture "the mood of the moment in an original song." They want you to watch their slide show and write a song to go with it. Singer-songwriter Craig Bickhardt will narrow the entries to five, then readers will choose a winner. Deadline for MP3s is Aug. 1, so start writing. I can already think of a lot of words that rhyme with "oil" (toil, recoil, spoil) and "spill" (will, kill, thrill, still). I'm no songwriter, but anything we can do to keep shining a light on this disaster is all good.
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stephanie la fortune says:
Toby Keith gets the winner from me……..with 61 long years under my belt, with a written song performed in San Francisco, published writer and poet, singer including on the stage…………….a father killed, a mother also, and so much more….. I know what I know. Lots of good songs out there…. but nobody writes as much or as good as Toby. “I’m Crying For Me” (oh my heart). With lots of love, respect and heartfulness to all of you and all your recommendations … and to all the other great artists/songwriters out there…..(especially Willie) … know)…….. I remain, Stephanie Doeren La Fortune. Amen.
elizabeth says:
The one and only Toby Keith for writing and singing Cryin’ For Me.
Peacock Queen says:
Alison,
Thanks for letting us know about this! I wrote my song last night, and I am off to try and work out a tune on the piano. It’s “country,” so let’s hope you are right!!!!
Debra says:
The Gulf coast doesnt need a sad song they need someone that knows how to stop the GUSHING of oil out of the seafloor volcano ( get so tired of hearing it called a spill, you spill milk this is going to effect so many things for generations too come!!!
Denny Johnson says:
Just a quick note- the USA Today call-out for songs about the Gulf tragedy is intended to showcase the following (here’s an excerpt):- “2) We’re limiting this to talented amateurs and non-professionals, which means people who do not make their profession in the music business. (You know who you are!)”. Good call- ’cause there’s a lot of “everymen” average Joe’s out there who can string a word or two together and strum a guitar, and they deserve to be heard, too.