A musically-inspired challenge with writing prompts posted twice a month. Prizes included! |
The One-Line Lyric Challenge has been updated -- please read below! Welcome to the One-Line Lyric Challenge! Every month, I will post two songs: One with a lyric prompt (start of the month) and one as a song prompt (middle of the month). Entries will be due at the end of the month for either prompt. Lyric Prompt: Write a poem or story and include the prompted lyric line somewhere in your work, word for word. It's up to you how you want to incorporate the line. Please bold the line to make it easier for me to find. It's OK if your work is loosely inspired by the song, but try not to make it too similar or copy the song. If you don't like the provided lyric prompt, you can pick a different line from the lyrics to incorporate (only one line). Song Prompt: Write a poem or story inspired by the song. You do not need to include any lyrics directly, and in some cases there may not be any lyrics. Just write whatever the music or lyrics inspires. Please link back to the challenge somewhere in your entry using {item:lyric} and post your entry as a link in the comments here. The Prizes: 5K GPs, a merit badge of my choosing, plus a guaranteed review of your entry. If you enter both prompts that month, you will get double the prizes! Feel free to listen and comment on the music or other people's entries, even if you don't plan to enter the challenge! There may be gift points in store for people who are active in the comments or share / promote the challenge. |
Stromae, who's real name is Paul van Haver, is a Belgian singer, rapper and songwriter, predominantly in French. He created the stage name by inverting the syllables in the word "Maestro", which is commonly done in French slang. The song title, Papaoutai is not actually a real word. It's a malapropism of "Papa où t'es", meaning "Papa where are you?". His own father died in the Rwandan genocide , leaving him to grow up without a father figure. In stark contrast to the inspiration and lyrics behind it, the music and video are quite fun and danceable. I included the English translation below. (If you speak French, feel free to correct it or give more context if needed.) You can also turn on English subtitles with the video, if you want to follow along in English. Song Prompt: "Papaoutai" by Stromae Lyrics (English translation): ▼ Happy writing, all! |
It's the first of September, and you know what that means. An entire week of birthday festivities! Celebrate with this funky tribute to the Talking Heads. But make sure to bring your fire extinguisher. "Burning Down the House" (cover) by Paramore Lyrics: ▼ Lyric Prompt: "strange but not a stranger" Include the above line somewhere in your entry. Remember that you can chose another line from the lyrics above if you don't like the given one. |
Today's song is by Mary Chapin Carpenter, an American country and folk music singer-songwriter. This is from her best selling album Come on, Come on. Now, I admit I'm not much of a fan of country music as a genre, but there are definitely exceptions. And most of those exceptions lean more on the folk or bluegrass side and less on the country. Don't worry if you aren't a country fan either; this song isn't particularly country. It is, however, very pretty in a haunting way. Mary Chapin is such a great songwriter and lyricist. Song Prompt: "I am a Town" by Mary Chapin Carpenter Lyrics: ▼ Similar to what Mary-Chapin did, you can pick something to personify, or write a story or poem around a single overarching metaphor. This is good practice if you struggle with figurative, non-literal writing. A good metaphor is a body builder training for a competition. It does a lot of heavy lifting. Or write about the town you grew up in. Or just write whatever the song inspires. Good luck! |
This month we're going all around the world with Paul Simon. The title itself is quite fitting, as Paul Simon is well known for getting musical influence from a wide variety of different cultures. You can clearly hear African influence in the rhythms and vocal background of many of his songs, including this one. I definitely hear some blues riffs and some possibly Latin-inspired syncopation / percussion too. Enjoy a trip around the world as you write. "All Around the World" Paul Simon Lyrics: ▼ Lyric Prompt: "The myth of fingerprints" Include the above line somewhere in your entry. This one might be a challenge, but you can chose another line from the lyrics above if you don't like the given one. Note: I believe the "myth of fingerprints" refers to the popular idea that no two fingerprints are the same. |
I don't have much to say about this one. Sometimes you just want a song that sounds the way you feel. This is what I've been listening to lately. And now it's what you're listening to. Song Prompt: "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd This is a song prompt, so there are no specific lyrics to incorporate. |
A cheeky all-American song by a cheeky all-American band. I think the lyrics speak for themselves. The timing is just coincidence, probably. "Ah, Mary" Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Lyrics: ▼ Lyric Prompt: "She waters the garden" Include the above line somewhere in your entry. If you don't like the given prompt, you can chose another line from the lyrics above. |
Today I have for you a masterpiece of harmonies, vocal composition, key changes and tempo changes. This is a rare live rehearsal recording of one of the Beach Boy's most underrated songs. It has quite a different feel from their other songs, and also a very different feel than the studio version. Don't get me wrong, their early surf bop is great, but songs like this really show off their compositional genius and depth. I highly recommend watching the music video of the song as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxwWt2JeGQ Very different than this live version. I'm not sure which I prefer, I like them both for different reasons. Song Prompt: "Heroes and Villains" by the Beach Boys By the way, this one was a specific request for the Beach Boys. As a native Californian, of course I couldn't say no. Now, go forth and write! |
I have to admit something... I'm a deadhead. That's right. I'm a fan of The Grateful Dead. This is their interpretation of the legend of John Luther “Casey” Jones a railroad engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad who was known for his speed. In 1900, he left Memphis' Central Station at a quarter to nine, going over 100 mph because the train was an hour and a half behind schedule. His train collided with another parked train, killing Casey Jones, fortunately everyone else on board survived. Enjoy the embellished story of "Casey" Jones. "Casey Jones" by The Grateful Dead Lyrics: ▼ Lyric Prompt: "Lady in red" Include the above line somewhere in your entry. If you don't like the given prompt, you can chose another line from the lyrics above. |
Here we have our first whole song prompt for the challenge! No need to include any lines, just write a story or poem inspired by the song. Deadline for this prompt is the end of the month, same as the lyric prompt. Feel free to do both prompts, if you are so inclined. Now I can include songs that are instrumental, like this one by Lindsey Stirling. For those who haven't heard of Lindsey, she's well known for her violin dancing. And, yes, I mean dancing whilst playing the violin. She has a unique musical style that ranges from classical to electronic and even dubstep. "Masquerade" is one of my favorites. I love the music in combination with the visual story telling and the choreography, all of which I'm sure are Lindsey's creation. This one may or may not have been influenced by the newest season of Bridgerton, which I may or may not have binge watched last night. Without any further to-do, enjoy the Masquerade. Song Prompt: "Masquerade" by Lindsey Stirling Happy writing! |
This is the first entry of the updated One-Line Lyric Challenge! If you aren't sure what's changed, please read the description. The biggest thing is that now you'll be getting posts twice a month. This one will be a lyric prompt, the next entry (in about 2 weeks) will be a whole song prompt. Entries (for either prompt) are due at the end of the month. But for this month only, I will allow catch-up entries for any previous prompts. And now, for something a little bit funky. Starts out a bit slow, but then builds. To be honest, I don't know anything else by this band, but I stumbled across this song and was hooked. "Still Feeling You" by Couch Lyrics: ▼ Lyric Prompt: "(I) melt away" Include the above line somewhere in your entry (words in parentheses are optional). Please bold the line so I can find it. I figured with temperatures rising, this prompt would be apt. If you don't like the given prompt, you can chose another line from the lyrics above. |