There have been many hundreds of original songs entered in the Play It Strange variety of songwriting competitions. From the original Lion Foundation National Songwriting Competition in 2004 to the Peace Song Competition which emerged, then the Youthtown Junior Songwriting Competition, the Matariki Song Competition and more that will step up to the plate. It is very clear that the demand for proactive songwriting competitions is buoyant in increasing patterns.
To keep the ‘voice of this’ alive I have been focusing now and then by shining my writing so that songs passing through time are kept such that many interested parties can hear many of them. And I have excerpts from the Lyrics attached. Today I want to maintain this with a number of songs from the 2014 National Songwriting Competition spread out in front of you. Here they are. Let’s begin by starting with Sophie Mashlan from Auckland’s North Shore and her song - “The Bird”
Sophie Mashlan
“He was standing face to face with the tiger that roared his name
The fear he had of losing face eventually numbed the pain
The tears he cried, they burned his cheeks like paper in acid rain
He choked a cry and he said ‘goodbye’ for nobody else was to blame"
Sophie Bekhor
Sophie Bekhor was at Rangi Ruru College in Christchurch when she entered the 2014 songwriting competition with her song “Last Goodbye”.
“Your pretty pale face - your bright blue eyes Your shining face shines through the sky
Something’s missing; somethings gone.. please come home; please come home …..
Why’d you have to go away from here; away from your soul; wasn’t meant to be
Please come home
We need to say our last goodbye"
Jessica Adams
Jessica took the Peace Song Prize that found her flying to Japan for a wonderful time in Tokyo & Kyoto. The principal there was intent on instilling a creative thread in his school and it caught on. Jessica’s song was “Under The Same Sky”
“We can change a heart of stone
We can bring a city home
I haven’t seen a lot - I’m just a child But when I look around
This world is wild
Let’s give our things away Let’s dance on the same ground “
Josh Zhong
Josh from Auckland Grammar School had solid experience in writing with a brass band as an important constituent of the his arrangements. That is certainly the case with ’The Calling’. His songwriting experience proved to be sought after in live settings.
“I remember days ; stuck in your eyes
tied to the table wondering when - I’d be home with you
You seemed like a dream Fade like a photograph Ghost I can see you
I’m losing my mind”
Troy Scott & Katie Miller
Troy & Katie came from schooling at Lincoln High School in Canterbury. with a cool musical emphasis and they co-wrote with a creative spin. Their song “Turn To Me’ was a judge’s favourite.
A judge’s favourite when it came down to the writing. Troy has maintained his songwriting which has carved broadcasting skills over a successful career in the radio industry.
“Hello
Can you help me with this little thing
Can you come and take a ride on my wings, ‘cos I can’t do this on my own.
Hello
I can’t find what I was s’posed to do
Could you try and help me through ’cos I can’t do this alone
Can we try; can we try; can we try
It’s been way too long - I’m stuck in the abyss of someone else’s song
Trying to make it perfect
But you know that its not worth it"
James Donaldson
A Christchurch lad, James produced a great recording of his finalist song - “Try” Check it out
“At the top of the mountain we will climb
And only you can show your limits
If you’ve been told that it’s not worth it
Then that’s all right
So come on and try - Come fly with me Come fly with me"
Grace Brebner
Grace attended Auckland Diocesan School for Girls and was successful in the Play It Strange competitions more then once. Scotty was a finalist with cool backing from a three piece band drawn from regular rock players. It was very successful.
“Scotty was a sweet boy. He never saw me coming.
His car so far from home
The summer come like thunder
Strong and loud and wonderful.”
Run Like The Shadows Are Chasing
Grace Wood
Grace attended St Kentigerns College in Auckland and her lyric to this song reflected her national success in cross country running. In fact I believe her whole family were cross country runners.
“Now you’re gone there’s a face on my wall, It looks down on my carpet
And it’s judging me, and I judge myself Like I did and I won’t face the demons that you tied to the ceiling
…. I go out to the park All the people run past Are they judging me ; Are they happy or not Is this all life has got
An empty old box of society…. We live by the motto “beg steal or borrow…take what you’re offered and
Always say “please”
Set me free like I want to be and set me free like I want to be and
I run like the shadows are chasing me
I run like the shadows are chasing me"
Taylor Terekia
Taylor emerged from Gisborne Girls High School as an accomplished songwriter, Bounce is one such song. A winner as such. Excellent.
“Every hour’s creeping; every minute ticks away
Do you get my feelings or do you throw them all away?”
Talia Dalton
Talia came from the United States with songs in her ears and entered the Play It Strange competitions with a flourishing creative spirit. She stormed the finalist chart and won. Excellent.
The “Ice Cube In A Coffee” song was the one and it wasn’t her last place as a finalist.
“Some Hearts wither -
Like an apple in the last minute of a cave
Or a flower in the winter - some just melt away
Or maybe just a sliver like something nodding at the back of your brain
Or a story that is waiting to be told even, its not the day"
The Lost and the Broken and Lonely
Cam Dawson
Cam Dawson flourished as a songwriter in Christchurch and stormed onto the Play It Strange song competition with the moving song “The Lost and the Lonely and Broken”
“Of all the bad things in the world you could be. How does that sell one of these things
All of these people telling you what they expect….. we are forgotten
We are alone We live our lives hoping one day"
Teia attended Napier Girls High School in a creative and imaginative flourish. Her song Armani’s Song is a powerful tribute work. And the recording was a triumphant work.
"You might not remember the first time you opened your little eyes
You might not remember
So I’ll tell you what that day was like
Birds were singing but just for you
The wind was blowing and blossoms falling down to meet you
The sun was shining and flowers growing everywhere"
Keziah White
"I don’t want to think that you on one day will be gone
The smile you left will be no more
And all I can think about are your eyes.
I always wanted you by my side
Every day I’d wonder why you’d say
“’Cos I’m not even strong myself “
Your silence is killing me"
Campbell McKenzie
Campbell from Auckland Grammar is a stage musical champion and It shows
"So it has been a long time coming
Waiting for the light to shine through the clouds
So there was nothing to ever stand in our way
The unstoppable duo
Carrying on - like we do
I’ll meet you on the corner of a random street
And talk things over like we always do"
Rebekah Walton
Rebekah, who attended Long Bay College on Auckland’s North Shore - recorded this song at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios with string players from the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. The arrangement was by Ryan Youens and Peter Thomas conducted.
"Can’t clear my head of the world
Can’t take my peace around the dead
Won’t look to space any longer
It never gave me any answer
Back to the stage we were created
Back to the mind that we have left behind
Don’t ask me any more what has gone
A second chance to fix the dance ……
Don’t ask me any more what has gone
Just sing me to sleep and tell me you’re the one"