City Songs: the new MetaFilter Music Challenge May 1, 2015 2:47 AM   Subscribe

Music-lovers of Metafilter, we would like to extend an invitation to you all to join us over at MeFiMusic for the latest challenge: record a song about a city.

It's been a little quiet over on the black recently, so we'd really enjoy seeing some new faces around. It keeps things interesting, and you can never have too much constructive feedback.

So come over and read about the new challenge trigger warning for earworm.

We'll be collecting up the results and posting them here in a couple of months' time. Possibly even a map showing the spread of cities, so the challenge is on, how far round the globe can we get?
posted by greenish to MetaFilter-Related at 2:47 AM (33 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite

You realize that by mentioning the map thing you've practically guaranteed that someone will cover I've Been Everywhere.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:27 AM on May 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Hmm. Maybe. I feel like I maybe want to try the Demics' New York City, but it's already sounding campy in my ear (but like in a not-good way). Maybe.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:35 AM on May 1, 2015


Looks like me and Capn Sue got a job to do.
posted by josher71 at 11:36 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


I just realized that I can't generate the required frustration to make it anything but bad, so that song's up for grabs if someone wants it.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:45 AM on May 1, 2015


me and josher71 are on it! we got baltimore. not sure yet if it shall be an original composition or a cover. i think this week should provide some material to work with
posted by capnsue at 12:13 PM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


Time to make a Dubstep remix of the Fraiser theme song
posted by hellojed at 12:39 PM on May 1, 2015 [10 favorites]


Been a while since I wrote a song about Portland. Maybe it's time to give it a shot.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:49 PM on May 1, 2015


The cream of the fried things is alive in Portland
The bacon maple bars never run out...
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:44 PM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


me and josher71 are on it! we got baltimore. not sure yet if it shall be an original composition or a cover. i think this week should provide some material to work with

If you want to go nostalgic, you can make something in the B-more club style. (Has it really been a decade since bmore was big? Sadly, yes.)
posted by filthy light thief at 1:58 PM on May 1, 2015


Maybe someone should revisit Saskatoon?
posted by Kabanos at 2:20 PM on May 1, 2015


the guess who did
posted by pyramid termite at 3:40 PM on May 1, 2015


pyramid termite: “the guess who did”

I'm not sure. Maybe the Grateful Dead? Am I even close?
posted by koeselitz at 3:44 PM on May 1, 2015


it was some canadian band - maybe this one

no ...
posted by pyramid termite at 4:03 PM on May 1, 2015


Please someone cover "Birmingham" by Shovels and Rope! I have no talent!!
posted by ersatzkat at 5:12 PM on May 1, 2015


hmm - that's a real good song, isn't it?
posted by pyramid termite at 5:41 PM on May 1, 2015


I would love it if someone covered 'Thrice All American' by Neko Case.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:55 PM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


pyramid termite - yes! A REAL good song!
posted by ersatzkat at 3:05 AM on May 2, 2015


There are four Sydney Mefites who play the ukelele. Any other Sydney Mefites got some inspiration and want some back up ukes? We're dead terrible but enthusiastic and redthoughts has a voice to die for. The rest of him is a bit ordinary, but corr blimey he sings lovely.
posted by taff at 4:55 AM on May 3, 2015 [8 favorites]


Has anyone ever written a song about Beaverton?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:46 AM on May 3, 2015


Someone should write a song about Toronto. Like the city, I'm sure it'll be lovely when it's finished.
posted by scruss at 1:41 PM on May 3, 2015 [2 favorites]


Coincidentally I was just listening to some Slim & Slam the other day and momentarily thought "Chinatown" would be a lovely number to revive, except for probably having to replace every single word of the lyrics because oof, that's raw.
posted by ardgedee at 3:50 PM on May 3, 2015


taff: I hope you're rehearsing Botany Bay (rather than the obvious choice).
posted by pompomtom at 9:15 PM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]


Wow, great idea. Choices choices! Should I go with Tragically Hip's "New Orleans is Sinking", or Hole'sKurdt's "Olympia", Midnight Oil's "Stars of Warburton", Michelle Shocked's "Anchored Down in Anchorage", or NWA's "Straight Outta Compton"? Wait, maybe Sinead O'Connor's "Jerusalem", or Tori Amos' "Don't Make Me Come To Vegas". There's always Counting Crows' "Perfect Blue Buildings" and, for me, Liz Phair's "Chopsticks" is the Chicago song. I just hope I don't dither so long that I end up disappointing myself by making a last-minute bowel-movement acapella version of U2's "New York" on my phone or something.
posted by riverlife at 12:26 AM on May 4, 2015


Oh wait, these aren't covers per se!! Ok, so I'm good to dither and then disappoint myself with acapella phone version of my own song as per usual. All clear now!! +:)
posted by riverlife at 12:35 AM on May 4, 2015


viva viva viva viva viva sea-tac
posted by nom de poop at 6:27 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]


Anyone want to make a parody of Highway 61 about Vault 101? I can't sing. Or write lyrics.
posted by demiurge at 9:11 PM on May 4, 2015


Oh God said to Pip Boy, build me a bomb
Pip says, man, you must be puttin’ me on
God say, No. Pip say, What?
God say, You can do what you want Pip, but
The Chinese Army shows up, you better run
Well Pip says, Where do you want this nuke job done?
God says, Right above Vault 101

Well the Vault Dweller he had a case of the rads
Vault Adminstrator told him that's just too bad
He hacked the computer, asked where can I go
Computer said there’s only one place I know
Dweller said tell me quick man I got radiation
Ol' computer just printed a line with a hum
That said get outta Vault 101


etc. etc.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:06 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]


Rules-bending fictional city entries sound awesome. Hobbiton, it's on!
posted by comealongpole at 10:51 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


Someone should write a song about Toronto.

Toronto. 4th song I ever posted on Music!
Granted, it's more of a mopey dirge than anything specifically about Toronto.
posted by chococat at 12:54 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


It'd be hard to beat I Hate Winnipeg.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:48 PM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]


Granted, it's more of a mopey dirge than anything specifically about Toronto.

That kinda sounds like most of what I hear about Toronto.
posted by maryr at 2:17 PM on May 6, 2015


Sheesh, it's only like that between late August and early May.
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:24 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]


Granted, it's more of a mopey dirge than anything specifically about Toronto.

That kinda sounds like most of what I hear about Toronto.


I live here and I think of it more as a high-pitched whine.

For the win, there's always the Arrogant Worms' Night in Dildo.

Where, you say? Why, Dildo, Newfoundland, of course.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:07 PM on May 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


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