This project was put together by Edric Haleen. You can find out more about Edric by clicking the link:

happinessboard.com/Edric_Haleen.html

Well, first -- The Chocolate Chips challenged Graham Porter to write either (1) a song in any meter other than 4/4, or (2) a song that is composed in a minor key yet has “happy” or “uplifting” lyrics.

After that, Graham Porter challenged Kevin Savino-Riker to write either (1) a song whose lyric never repeats a single word throughout its entirety, or (2) a new song for an existing musical or opera.

In keeping with the spirit of things, Kevin Savino-Riker challenged The Offhand Band to write either (1) write a song inspired by another country you’ve visited (not a country in which you’ve ever resided), or (2) a song inspired by another country you’ve never visited! (Again -- not a country in which you’ve ever resided.)

Next, The Offhand Band challenged the BoffoYuxDudes to write either (1) a song whose lyric utilizes only incomplete sentences, or (2) “the kind of pop song that ‘real musicians’ would look down on the masses for liking,” but would, if pressed, admit that they really liked it, too. (If you pursue the second option, no parodies are allowed. Mark says, “Be earnest, going for quality on mainstream music’s own terms.”)

Just to keep things interesting, the BoffoYuxDudes challenged Caleb Hines to write either (1) a “sensual song about laundry” or (2) a “vibrant ditty that involves extensive use of yodeling, keening, or snorting like a pig.”

Upping the ante, Caleb Hines challenged Edric Haleen to either (1) use a movie, TV show, online program, or book that he has recently watched or read as inspiration for a song, or (2) select a rhetorical device and translate it into music. (If you pursue the second option, a couple of links that may help you choose can be found here and here. It is up to you to decide whether you use the selected rhetorical device in the lyric or not, but it must somehow be clearly portrayed in some aspect of the music. Caleb provided this example -- “Onomatopoeia is a rhetorical device featuring words that sound like what they describe [such as the word ‘tweet’]. A song about birds might incorporate onomatopoeia musically by using a flute trill to imitate a bird call.” Please submit the name of the device you chose along with your song if you choose this option.)

In retaliation, Edric Haleen challenged Ross Durand to write either (1) a song at cross-purposes to itself (one that by its very nature contradicts itself), or (2) an epic song about a mundane topic. (An example of the first option would be a loud, crashing, percussive, heavy-metal lullaby that exhorts a baby to “hush” and “go to sleep.” An example of the second option would be Tim Minchin’s Cheese. Another example might be Weird Al Yankovic’s Trapped In The Drive-Thru, except for the fact that your song must be original, not a parody or an adaptation . . .)

Then, Ross Durand challenged Dr. Lindyke to either (1) eat a fortune cookie and then write a song inspired by the fortune inside, or (2) read [either Dave or William’s] horoscope for October 26th, 2012 and then write a song based on it.

As if that weren’t enough, Dr. Lindyke challenged JoAnn Abbott to write either (1) a song with two or more distinct key signatures, or (2) a song describing a new County and Western dance. (Examples of the first options would include My Generation by The Who, Penny Lane by the Beatles, or I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash. Examples of the second option would include Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks & Dunn, Four on the Floor by Lee Brice, or Bomshel Stomp by Bomshel.)

In turn, JoAnn Abbott challenged Spencer Sokol to write either (1) a song that uses the words “always” and “never” as a jumping-off point (and includes those words in the lyric), or (2) a song based upon one of Aesop’s fables.

Not to be outdone, Spencer Sokol challenged Jutze Schult to write either (1) a song about directions (literal or metaphorical) to someplace (real or imaginary), or (2) a song about missing an important date or event.

Finally, Jutze Schult challenged The Chocolate Chips to write either (1) a song about a banjo, or (2) a song whose lyric contains either [A] three different words each repeated nine times in a row, or [B] nine different words each repeated three times in a row! (If you pursue the second option, Jutze stresses that you must repeat real words to meet this challenge. He says, “Stuff like ‘la la la’ or ‘oh oh oh’ does not count.” Additional lyrics can be added before and after each repetitive word chain, however.)