Keep It Simple Stupid

You gotta love dance music! I think its kind of easy to write a hot dance song. If you get a hot hook and a hot track, you're good. People just want to dance and sing the hook, and they don't pay as much attention to the verses in my opinion. Well, this is a songwriting competition so my opinion doesn't apply to this because we have to critique every single word they say.

Now the fact the Scotty has seven Top 10 dance records over seas seems like he should have the advantage. Is it even fair for him to compete? Hmmm. . .if he doesn't win that's going to make him look crazy.

I like Karen's hook "Make it Easy." I can hear Cher singing it. For whatever reason Jackie's hook "Unsinkable" didn't really do it for me. I thought it was cool, but Donna Summer liked it and she's the Queen of Dance so what do I know. . .

I absolutely hated Blessing's hook "Dance Romance." Even though I think Nick's attitude sucks most of the time I have to agree with what he said about Blessing. Nick said "We're not asking who's the best R&B cat, or who's the best blind guy with a dog that can sing, we're asking who's the best hitmaker. Who can write a hit in every different genre, that's me." Now what he said was harsh but true -- except the part about him being the best. . .the jury is still out on that one! LOL.

Nick's song "Moonwalk" was cool. I would have to hear it produced. Sometimes an idea sounds way better once it's recorded. I didn't like Amber's hook idea, "The Last Time," it was a little boring. I really liked Scotty's idea for "Paint The Club With Amazing," although I'm not surprised. This is his forte. Sonyae's idea was good. Melissa's hook "Hurricane" is cool, Johnny's idea "Push on You" was OK. Jes' idea "Sunlight" was pretty good, and I really liked Brian's hook "Ridiculous." I totally got where Brian was trying to go with it. Bringing back that whole "I'm Too Sexy" vibe that Right Said Fred did years ago with the low vocals.

Nick killed me with his attitude, when he didn't get picked. Now let me say that I think he's talented. Just from the two episodes I've watched, I see his talent, but he kinda ticked me off when he called Sonyae a "ghetto b---h." He was a real B---H for saying it. I understood what he meant about he wasn't there to make friends, because in the end there will only be one winner BUT you don't have to like someone to have a mutual respect for one another. OK moving on. . .

It's hard to write in groups sometimes. Brian's team didn't see his vision with the low vocal, and he had to be a team player, which hurt him in the end. I personally thought the song worked either way in the low octave or the high, but the low vocal would have kept it more interesting.

So Karen's lyrics are very "simple." Now a producer friend of mine has a saying "Keep It Simple Stupid." A lot of the biggest hits have some of the simplest, corniest lyrics. We writers can over think things. Listeners want songs that are relatable and easy to catch on to. Personally I feel Karen's lyrics are tooooooooo simple but I'm not saying she can't be a hitmaker because of it.

Nick, Sonyae, Scotty, and Melissa make a great team. Well, I don't know how much input Melissa had in it. When she questioned the hook I was like is she crazy? It's super hot! Scotty cracked me up when he said, "Why does this look like a club I always go to? Oh, cuz everybody is gay!" LOL. I love when people are comfortable with their sexuality. There are a lot of closet gay men in the industry. It's refreshing to see he's not that.

So I have to say that I liked all three songs but "Paint This Club with Amazing" was my favorite. I can hear an established artist for each song. I still liked "My Ridiculous," even though Jes sang it instead of Brian. I think it works in either vocal range --which also shows how good of a song it was.

I hate that Blessing went home. I would have loved to see more from him because vocally he's hot, and I just don't think dance music was his strength. Unfortunately for him it was an early category in the competition. I wish you luck and blessings Blessing! I guess that was corny for me to say that but I really do wish you the best!

Much love,

Kandi

PS: Follow me on Twitter @Kandi & check out my sites KandiOnline.com and Tagsatl.com.