Submissions for the Contata 8 songbook are officially open! Got a song you want to contribute? Click here to find out where/how to submit it.
Also: this year at Contata we plan to have at least one jam session. Want to suggest a song to play? Watch this space for updates.
Please signal-boost this in your other fannish communities, or wherever else you think appropriate.The deadline for submitting to the Contata 8 songbook is April 30! Want to have one of your songs appear in our songbook? Now’s your chance.
“Um … what kind of song could I submit, if I wanted to do that?”
I’m glad you asked me that, random citizen! It’s pretty simple really: the only major requirement is that it needs to be a song you wrote. (Yes, you can submit on behalf of another songwriter, but only with their explicit permission and ideally only by their request.)
“What if it isn’t a new song?”
That’s totally fine; old songs are welcome.
“What if I only wrote the lyrics?”
That’s not only fine, that’s a fundamental filk subtype! Just put somewhere in your submission the name of the original tune that your lyrics are meant to be sung to, and credit the original writer. (If you mean that your song is a collaboration with somebody else, then you should submit it jointly with credit to both of you.)
“What if I wrote original music for it?”
If you want to include sheet music or chord notation of any kind, and/or a link to a sound file online, that’d be great!
“Does it have to be about something nerdy?”
For broad values of ‘nerdy’ and even broader values of ‘have to’, you could say that. If you’ve got any experience with filk, you may already know just how varied song topics get. (If you don’t, you may want to check out a link roundup and sampler here.)
“Do I get a copy of the songbook if my song is in it?”
Why yes, you do! All Contata attendees and all songbook contributors will get a digital copy of the songbook. (Contata attendees will also have the option to buy a printed copy for $5.)
Any questions? Our inbox is always open.The window for submitting to the Contata 2017 Songbook has been reopened!
The new deadline is May 31, 2017. Ten days left to submit a song!Last chance to submit is tomorrow!
Contata 2017 songbook: call for songs
Submissions for the Contata 8 songbook are officially open! Got a song you want to contribute? Click here to find out where/how to submit it.
Also: this year at Contata we plan to have at least one jam session. Want to suggest a song to play? Watch this space for updates.
Please signal-boost this in your other fannish communities, or wherever else you think appropriate.The deadline for submitting to the Contata 8 songbook is April 30! Want to have one of your songs appear in our songbook? Now’s your chance.
“Um … what kind of song could I submit, if I wanted to do that?”
I’m glad you asked me that, random citizen! It’s pretty simple really: the only major requirement is that it needs to be a song you wrote. (Yes, you can submit on behalf of another songwriter, but only with their explicit permission and ideally only by their request.)
“What if it isn’t a new song?”
That’s totally fine; old songs are welcome.
“What if I only wrote the lyrics?”
That’s not only fine, that’s a fundamental filk subtype! Just put somewhere in your submission the name of the original tune that your lyrics are meant to be sung to, and credit the original writer. (If you mean that your song is a collaboration with somebody else, then you should submit it jointly with credit to both of you.)
“What if I wrote original music for it?”
If you want to include sheet music or chord notation of any kind, and/or a link to a sound file online, that’d be great!
“Does it have to be about something nerdy?”
For broad values of ‘nerdy’ and even broader values of ‘have to’, you could say that. If you’ve got any experience with filk, you may already know just how varied song topics get. (If you don’t, you may want to check out a link roundup and sampler here.)
“Do I get a copy of the songbook if my song is in it?”
Why yes, you do! All Contata attendees and all songbook contributors will get a digital copy of the songbook. (Contata attendees will also have the option to buy a printed copy for $5.)
Any questions? Our inbox is always open.The window for submitting to the Contata 2017 Songbook has been reopened!
The new deadline is May 31, 2017. Ten days left to submit a song!
Last chance to submit is tomorrow!
I Ain’t A Martian Anymore – Araxie Haldane
animatedamerican:
What was the very first filk song you wrote about?oooh! I was writing songs since I was very small and they were all about fantasy things (exception: the time my fourth-grade class wrote and performed a musical about whales in which I played a marine biologist/detective) because everything in my life was about fantasy things.
But the first actual filk I wrote was a collab with one of my best friends from college. It was written to the tune of “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” and was called “I Ain’t A Martian Anymore.” I should see if I can dig up the words.
I think that she came up with the title, and then I suggested the line “Take a look at what we’ve done with a laser-powered gun,” and then we wrote verses back and forth to each other over the summer and on each other’s whiteboards when we got back to school. It was a very fun process!
(bonus minor collaborators were my dad for insisting I find a way to rhyme “vortex” with “cerebral cortex” and @thebastardofgloucester for knowing board games they play in the Star Wars universe)… i have a MIGHTY NEED to see these lyrics
Okay, here we are. Turns out I still have the whole thing memorized even though I need to go look up that Star Wars board game every time.
I Ain’t A Martian Anymore
You’ve heard of those Ferengi with their acquisition rules
Their plotting and their scheming and their lore
They take all that they need, they have no law but greed
But I ain’t a Martian anymore!
And you’ve doubtless met those green men in their funny little ships
Drawing circles in your fields of corn
Every day is an occasion for an alien invasion
But I ain’t a Martian anymore!
For it’s red planet’s children that always go to war
Red planet’s children who fall
Take a look at what we’ve done with a laser-powered gun
And tell me was it worth it all?
I’ve had my share of combat now in every part of life
In games of dejarik as well as war
If a wookie has to win it then why bother to begin it?
And I ain’t a Martian anymore!
And I must have wiped the Daleks out at least a hundred times
But they keep on resurrecting by the score
When they next return I’m slated to be first exterminated
But I ain’t a Martian anymore!
For it’s red planet’s children that always go to war
Red planet’s children who fall
Take a look at what we’ve done with a laser-powered gun
And tell me was it worth it all?
I may have been a Martian but I’m sick of all this strife
I’m sick of spilling alien guts and gore
I’ll wind up like a Reaver smashing heads in with a cleaver
If I stay a Martian anymore!
Now the Cybermen are screaming that the universe is theirs
The Vogons threaten poetry galore
Let them toss me in a vortx, mess with my cerebral cortex
But I ain’t a Martian anymore!
No I ain’t a Martian anymore!
For it’s red planet’s children that always go to war
Red planet’s children who fall
Take a look at what we’ve done with a laser-powered gun
And tell me was it worth it all?
Programming announcement: Guest of Honor concert
This year, Contata continues its proud tradition (on the principle that anything you do three times in a row is a tradition) of non-vocal guests!
2005: Guest of Honor Carla Ulbrich came down with laryngitis, so the GoH concert featured “Carla-oke” – audience members requested songs for Carla to play on her guitar while they sang.
2008: Toastmaster Tom Smith injured his leg only weeks before the convention, so the Toastmaster concert became a “sing Tom Smith covers” benefit concert to raise money for his medical bills and recovery.
2011: Guest of Honor Judi Miller, sign interpreter extraordinaire, performed with all her usual non-vocal brilliance during everybody else’s concerts – and also sang during her own show. (No accidents or illness interfered. We thought we might be onto something.)
2014: Guest of Honor Amy McNally, phenomenal fiddler, also sang some during her concert – but mostly played to beat the devil. (We made notes. Definitely a trend worth pursuing.)
Which brings us to …
2017: Guest of Honor Bob Kanefsky, filk’s premiere parodist! … who very seldom sings in public. So our GoH concert this year will be a Kanefsky Cabaret, or Kabarefsky, in which other filkers will sing Bob’s parodies on stage.
Interested in being a Kabarefsky performer? Contact merav.hoffman(at)gmail(dot)com, or drop a note in our ask box!
Announcement: Song Contest Topic!
The topic for Contata 2017′s song contest will be: “Socially Transmitted Earworm (or, I Got It From …)”
Entries must be new songs written since the end of last year’s NEFilk convention (i.e., after July 3rd, 2016). Songs set to original tunes and parodies of existing tunes are both acceptable.
All entries must be performed at the convention. If you cannot attend (or prefer not to perform), someone else may present your entry.
A copy of the lyrics should be provided at the time of performance for the use of our judges. Songs are judged on the quality of the lyrics and appropriateness to the topic, not on the quality of the performance.
Call for Volunteers
The Contata Con Committee Needs YOU!
Any convention depends on a lot of hands to keep things running. This year at Contata, we’re calling for volunteers in advance so we can get a head start on scheduling, and so nobody has to spend too much time helping out before they get back to enjoying the con.
We need people to help out with:
- Registration Desk – putting together and handing out registration packets, tracking materials for pre-registered members and selling at-the-door memberships
- Ops – making and posting signage, going to places where people need help with things and helping them, hauling boxes and other items (but not at the cost of your back).
- Security – short shifts checking to make sure people are wearing badges, staying out of restricted or locked areas, and abiding by the convention’s Code of Conduct
- Con Suite – supervising the con suite so the staff can take much-needed down-time, preparing and arranging snacks, cleanup, assisting with a shopping run if needed.
- Circles – We need people to anchor circles. To be in the circle, moderating, and making sure people get a turn to perform. To draw out shy people, encourage people to take turns and be courteous, and to occasionally perform, or prompt others to do so.
Volunteers will get a shiny badge sticker and our undying gratitude. Volunteers who commit to assisting by June 14 will also receive an acknowledgment in the program book (unless you prefer otherwise) and a small care package.
If you’d like to help out, head over to our signup questionnaire form over here! If the form gives you any trouble or if you have any questions, please reply to this post or drop by our ask box.
Few Days – Araxie Haldane
Felt like doing a sad space filk cover!
Music and lyric by Leslie Fish
Pure of Heart – Araxie Haldane
It was only a matter of time before I wrote a filk inspired by The Last Mabelcorn. Don’t let the unicorns get you down.
Lyrics:
The unicorn smiled when she saw you approaching her fountain
“Just one little test” she demanded and shot you a grin
“Just prove that your heart is as pure as the dew on the snowdrops
You’ll foul my glade if you’re wicked and tainted with sin.”
CHORUS:
Don’t fall for the lies of those cruel unicorns
You’ve been messy and mortal since the day you were born
If you try to be perfect it’s just gonna tear you apart.
They want you to break yourself down till you shatter
They’ll say that you’re selfish for knowing you matter
So be brave and tenacious and loving and joyful and smart
But forget pure of heart.
“My lady,” you said, “I can’t claim that my spirit is blameless,
But I try to do good and to help in the ways I know how
My heart’s filled with love for myself and the people around me
And I’ll strive to do more and be better and stronger, I vow!”
CHORUS
The unicorn scoffed and she drew back her head with a shudder.
“I knew it! You arrogant mortals have never been pure!
Perhaps if you’re humble enough you may gain some forgiveness
But you’ll never be perfect. You’re sullied, and I have no cure!”
CHORUS
“Well, what have you done then?” you said as you stood up and faced her
“Just sit in this glade telling people the things they can’t do.
There isn’t a deed or a person who’s ever been perfect
And I may not be pure but I’ve damn well done more good than you!”
CHORUS
If you’re careful you’ll notice that unicorns live all around us
You can tell by the smugly superior look in their eyes.
They’ll enumerate each of your flaws with distain in their voices.
They’ll all tell you you have to be perfect; they’ll all tell you lies!
Don’t fall for the lies of those cruel unicorns
We’ve been messy and mortal since the day we were born
If we try to be perfect it’s just gonna tear us apart.
I won’t let the world break me down till I shatter
I’d rather be selfish than think I don’t matter!
I’m brave and tenacious and loving and joyful and smart
But I’m not pure of heart.
Will We Still Have Country Music Out in Space – Joe Bethancourt
“Will we still have honky tonks and bars
Will we still sing “’Mazing Grace”
Will we still have country music out in space?”
Joe Bethancourt asking the question that forms one of the central tenants of filk as a genre – “Will We Still Have Country Music Out In Space?”
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)