You have to pretend to be the head of delegation of Moldova. You have seen the success felloe CIS country GEORGIA had with songs composed by Swedish composer Thomas Gson (Waterfall and Warior) and so your idea is to contact Thomas and ask him to compose a song for Moldova for 2016, seeing that Eurovision is in Stockholm. So you have to tell us what guidelines you are giving Thomas in terms of a song.
My first guideline to him will be, also a song with a one word title, easy to remember (afterall he composed Euphoria). Maybe something called TORPEDO would be quite a dramatic title.
I’d suggest that Thomas write a song about passion or pasiune in Romanian as Eurovision is a great passion to so many of us that I think it is something the crowd could behind in Stockholm.
I’d also like the song to have a slower start and build up like Euphoria, Beauty Never Lives, Invincible.
Upon calling Thomas, I hope he doesn’t tell me he’s busy writing songs for Paul McCartney…. Oops wrong country… Anyway the guidelines…
Thomas is a master of the pop anthem. He truly has a gift when it comes to making a song sound triumphant. His songs take you to a higher place. I’d tell him to go heavy on the anthem, and less so on the balkad. Waterfall was pretty, and had magic moments but came across a bit mushy. I’d go for more the ‘a moment like this’ style song. Solid structure, with a big kick ass chorus, that just builds until the final moments. Cut out the second of silence, aka pastora,waterfall and that Estonian cloud woman, it’s been done to death. A fresh new idea, maybe some cow bells?, they are always fun!
Seriously though, a strong mid tempo ballad that can also be danced to along with a good lyric that is easy to scream a long to. But a consistent build with the euphoric ending will most definately do very well for Moldova!
I loved Anmary’s song!!
I would ask G:Son to compose a simple, memorable song with a strong chorus and something very visual in the lyrics, since Moldova is known for strong stage presentations. One of his famous last-chorus keychanges would be appreciated, and a big, climactic ending.
My suggestion here for my new Best Friend Thomas would be to stay away from the over utilised trademark long note on dead air dramatic pause… That is one dead flogged horse. I would advise to keep it cutting edge, with a touch of dark but still accessible, and keep his exceptional talent for complete anthemic euphoria (pardon the pun). Simplify the title, produce the vocal with clarity and power, and maintain an air of dominance in a driving beat. Oh, and find a superior singer to pull it off.
My guidelines would be as follows:
1) Please only use real words in the song (e.g. no “oximated”)
2) Have a native speaker listen to the lyrics sung by the singer so that it all makes sense in the final version (e.g. we don’t have things that sound like “World’s gonna line up and pee” like in “Warrior”) before finalizing.
I would say the song needs to feature an orchestral accompaniment (especially cellos, violins, and drums) and build to a strong, powerful note somewhere about 2/3 of the way through. It needs to end on a strong beat and not fade out, so the audience feels exalted and knows when to applaud and cheer. The idea of a short title is good, but it needs to be something that we can feel personally or has an intimate feel to it, like Pleasure, Strength, or Revenge.
I think this is an opportunity for Thomas to create the ultimate singalong chorus.
If we’re looking for a winning song then English is the best choice, and it needs to make sense.
A strong beat, a fun melody and lyrics about overcoming adversity and triumphing over a challenge would make for an excellent Eurovision song. You want something that sounds good on radio as well as on stage, something which makes people tap their feet and sing.
It’s true Moldova haven’t done so well recently, even though I LOVED their 2015 entry and was devastated that it didn’t qualify.
I would ask Thomas to compose a song that could be described as an anthem, with flawless English and a strong drum beat. Something similar to Euphoria, in that you can dance to it and it could be played at clubs across Europe. The lyrics should be empowering, like Warrior or Rise Like a Phoenix, about finding strength from within.
I love Moldova. I might not like their songs every single year, but they bring out some great creativity and singers. Pasha Parfrey, Aliona Moon, Sunstroke Project, Zdob si Zdub.
Now I do love a good G:son song. A G:son is also nearly synonymous I would say with a cracker of a singer who can belt out a big note towards the end of the song.
So, a good dance track is required, a key change and belting out a note for the last 10 seconds of the song I think would be good ingredients (is Aliona still free to sing this?).
Thoms G:son has composed some magnificent work and is a great choice to use for a ESC covers game. Actually working with him to compose a winning song for Moldova would be a hoot. To get him started I would be suggesting that Thomas compose something that allows the Moldovan entrant to come out fighting. Packing a punch immediately with a chorus that is strongly underpinned by a solid drum beat finishing with a long loud powerful finish.
I love the quirk of Moldova’s entries in recent years. Sunstroke Project was one of my fav’s that year! Pasha was also fantastic. I would hate to see the contest rely heavily on a small group of successful songwriters. I would much prefer for countries to come out and show us their own style.
I like the fact that everyone is different and has different styles of music that clearly represents there country.
I would say to Thomas that the song has to be catchy, something that everyone will remember but most importantly to keep that Moldova spirit in the song.
Dear Thomas, The song should have words in English, Romanian, and Russian to maximize block voting potential. Attention should be paid to ease of pronunciation. Avoid cliches that are easy to rhyme but make no sense in the context of the song. I like the idea of a one word title. Perhaps “unicycle.” 😉 More relevant might be “independence” or “freedom.” There is no need for the song to contain any Moldovan cultural nod, we’ll do that with costumes, dancing, and drums. The song can’t be obviously American (e.g. country and western or ragtime jazz) but should sound like something you’d hear at an American dance club — you’re very good at this.
Mr. Gson,
These are the main parameters for the song that will be another victory for you:
– The song should not be about love. The world right now needs to remember the magic and the passion, but not as a product of love, more as a product of inner strength. Things don’t come from the outside, they come from within
– Lets change structure: Start with the chorus, then go into verses in a soothing low, and go again with the chorus, then a bridge, and a top conclusion
– Make it simple and intimate, but strong and witty
– It has to be a summer anthem (more than a clubish song -we will get that with a promotional remix- it has to be an anthem)
– With a strong ethnic character, but internationally digestible and with English lyrics
– It should last 2:50 so that we can use those 10ss for a production introduction
Dear Thomas,
Moldova requires your talent this year to help create us a dramatic song with heavy Schlager percussion and a climatic chorus. It needs a power title like Masquerade, Hurricane or Supernova.
Let me know what you think.
Many thanks,
Fred
I think his songs have a universal appeal and that’s what makes them successful at Eurovision. They are simple and easy to remember. But I feel they are sometimes too minimal in lyric and sound. And the performers are too wooden.
I would recommend adding more ‘real’ or live instruments. Research Moldovan folk music and use what inspires you.
Add more complex lyrics in both native and English languages. Ensure the English is grammatically correct and pronounced well.
Work with the chosen artist to create something more organic and less staged.
I agree, stick with the one or two word title as it is on trend with recent winning songs.
Just do what you do!
First off, I think Moldova’s entries in 2014 & 2013 are much better than what Gson did for Georgia. They had distinct personalities while Gson’s songs, while very very good, are too Eurovision-ish.
And so my suggestion to him is don’t create yet another Thomas Gson song (ie one everyone recognizes as his). Make it more of a ballad and absolutely bring elements of Moldavian culture to it so it is something uniquely Moldavian.
Dear Mr Gson,
I am the head of the Moldovan Eurovision delegation. We would like to retain your services to assist in writing a winning entry for our country. In composing our entry, please take note of the following factors:
– the song will be sung in both English and Romanian;
– Moldova prides itself on the individuality of its entries, so please no clichéd themes. Also, Moldova is a small country with many close neighbours, so please no political subject matter;
– a dance track is preferred to a ballad;
– please incorporate at least two verses, two choruses and a bridge;
– we would like the song to end dramatically, we think a key change around the 2:15 minute mark would help with this; and
– in order to maintain the Moldovan character, it would be good if the instrumentals referenced traditional Moldovan folk music, but in a cool way.
We look forward to hearing your song.
Kind regards,
Beth
Songwriters like G:son are perfect for the ESC, and Moldova could do well by asking G:son to write a song for them (and wouldn’t the contest be fun in Chisinau!).
I would ask G:son to do what he does best: write an upbeat song with a catchy hook. A song like this normally has a good bridge in which to stage some dancing by the performers and back-ups, which would resonate well on TV and in the show. I’m not sure about the title, but something simple and memorable is always a good idea.
I would like something that builds up to a dramatic conclusion, but would like to see some traditional instruments used in a very modern way. The song should be about life, not necessarily about love, lost or found, but the joys and rigours of life. There should be drama. Could start on a quieter note and build up to surprise.
Hmm, Thomas G:son is quite prolific. For Moldova, I would ask for something that goes for an updates ethnic feel. Something not unlike “Lautar” from 2012 but with a techno beat to it. Something that has a Moldovan sound (trumpets, in particular) but would sound right at home in the club. I’d also want it to be a strong song, about rising above, something called “Eagle” or “Truth.”
The songs by G:son tend to have a good story component. I would recommend he continue this for Moldova, which would allow them to incorporate a great stage presence. I like the idea of keeping the song upbeat – definitely not a ballad – but I might recommend adding some dark of somber notes at the beginning, which get resolved by the end. I think he would be a great choice for a country that has not traditionally been known for killer vocals that are widely accessible.
One for my favourite songs was Waterfall. I think the title needs to be short and memorable. However the song I think could be a power ballad – Start off slowly then it comes into a euphoric moment right at the end.
1 Power Ballad
2 Two people on stage
3 I think it could be in English
4 Must have dramatic fireworks
If I had to contact him, I’d tell him first of all to give the best out of him. He is a great composer and has proven that. He has to compose a powerful song, with a strong mesaage, which would stand out from the others. It has to be catchy, but not playful and childish. It has to be serious and with a deep meaning. Look at Undo (even though it is not composed by him). It’s a deep song, catchy, easy to remember because of the short title, with a powerful meaning, and it stands out with the proper staging. I’d also tell him to pick even a singer, which he likes, so to make an internal selection and try to compose more songs (eventually even more genres: power ballad, etc.) to match to the singer as well, beacuse even if the song is good and the singer isn’t then all is ruined.
I think my first suggestion would be to stick with the formulae that works: A simple duet with highs and lows and a dramatic key change. HOWEVER, to maybe try something slightly different by either having a male-male or female-female duet, rather than the traditional male-female.
Thomas G:son is responsible for some of the most memorable Eurovision hits of recent years. Very often they have the same G:Son sound, and I don’t mind that. What I would like is if the song was not sung in English though. If he worked with the right local partner, they could come up with a classic Swedish sound, but sung entirely in Romanian.
I think Gson should do something in the vein of Alexa’s A FLIGHT TO THE LIGHT. But bring back O-TOWN and call it REVIVE or LIFE. FYI … O-TOWN’s “Dragostea din tei” lasted longer on the Swedish charts top 10 position than butter in the fridge. Just saying.
A one word title is a good idea, anything not so complicated seems to do well. I would say to also have a song with a good beat that people could dance to, something that is ready to be played in disco’s as soon as it comes out and doesn’t need a lot of remixing. If you get the crowds in the stadium and at home dancing and the hook stuck in their heads then you will get the points.
I would have him write two different songs: one upbeat one ballad. Then take your sweet time waiting to decide which to use because you will want to gauge what people are in the mood for. The public has been rewarding less “dancy” songs the past couple years (Austria and Netherlands in 2014, Italy in 2015) but who knows what the taste will be in 2016. I would take my time to watch what other countries are doing and how other countries are voting in their internal selections and factor that into my decision.
I think he has to incorporate the Moldovan quirkiness and spirit. He has a successful formula but the song needs to identify with the country and the singer/singers. It needs to be catchy, upbeat and fun. Incorporating the sounds of Moldova is a must. As for name, a one word title, hmmm, we have had Warrior, Waterfall, maybe Sunshine, cheeses but if the song is fiery, fast and catchy could work.
I would tell him to listen to Molitva and try to write a song with the same structure. I would tell him to keep it in the Moldovan/Romanian language and have it starting off slow and dramatic before slowly building into an emotional and catchy chorus. The song title could be
Before he writes the song, I would tell him to listen to some Moldovan folk ballads for inspiration.
– Verses in Moldovan. This part of the song can be a bit more complex with influences from the local music style.
– Catchy chorus in English, perhaps with a Moldovan catchy phrase that is also the title. This part should be more mainstream with classic rhythms, in order to not lose the audience.
– Upbeat tempo
I would probably sit down with a bottle of wine with him to establish the paramaters. It will need a good beat will not need to make sense and catchy chorus.
Mr. Gson,
Moldova wants:
-an upbeat song, more techno -dancebeat. Something loud, that could be arranged with lots of fireworks in the background.
– mix of English and Moldovan. a MIX OF European song with Moldovan influence.
– Modern, that could be played in a dance club in the Mediterranean
What Moldova does not want:
-Something Disney-like, as most Georgian entries. No princesses or ballerinas
– Slow
-Too ethnic, that people won’t relate.
-Forgettable song
My suggestion would be:
1. Structure: ABACBB (A = verse, B = chorus, C = bridge or solo)
2. Lyrics: small amounts of words or words that are easy to remember.
3. Melody: Start with a simple melody, then progress to an unexpected upbeat rythm.
4. High production quality.
This would be my suggestion
1. A strong ballad , even he wrote Euphoria, his ballads are so buauty
2. With a dramatic ending which we can remember.
3. For sure has to be in english no language mixture
OOOOHHHH! Give me some Thomas G:son!
Moldova relies heavily on the shock value. While I am not surprised– this is Eurovision after all– I have yet to see a simple, toned down presentation from Moldova.
I would tell G:son to create an upbeat, dance song with a hint of techno. I prefer an English song but I hope he can add a Moldovan element to it.