Naming Songs

SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 26 2006 01:37 PM

So I'm curious about what some folks around here think of when they come up with names for their songs. I pull out everything from Shakespeare references to The Simpsons.

Do names just sort of pop into your head, or is there a method behind your madness????

~B~

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Jon

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
United States

Posted on Sep 26 2006 02:44 PM

The songs that I've been writing have just been getting names that describe them. Like, I wrote one song that sounds like a typical, basic surf song, so I titled it 'Generic'. I don't know if the names will stick, but that's how I do it for now.

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Klas

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2292
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden

Posted on Sep 27 2006 05:54 AM

I think song titles are quite important. Since the influences for our band are from the 1st wave, we always try to come up with titles that sounds like that era. For those who are not always familiar with expressions from that time, our upcoming debut album will include a "Song Related Glossary" with title explanations

—

T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11046
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 27 2006 08:01 AM

It's true that for instro music, song titles can be quite arbitrary though important. I've stick to titles that reflect the theme of my band, in my case time and time travel e.g. chronosurf. It helps narrow down an almost unlimited field of choices and helps define the band's character.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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krupanut

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
2 News Pins

Posted on Sep 27 2006 03:43 PM

I try to take inspiration for titles from things that happen around writing the song
I wrote "Buzzard Coupe" right after going to the races with my buddy Steve whose nick name is buzzard. His 31 ford coupe is of course called the buzzard coupe. The double picking makes me picture him spinning the cheaters through the gears on the way to a low 13 second pass at 105mph.

I had an idea running through my head for a week, an A part of a tune that I just couldn't come up with a good B part for.
Two of my friends from the killer rockabilly trio the Two Timing Three were hanging out at the house.
We picked up the guitars and wrote a nice bridge and fleshed out the tune. It's called "the Two Timing Surfer"

Been messing with a ballad that started running though my head driving home one day as I passed a street called Wandering Way.
So of course the song will be titled "Wandering Way"

—

The Thunderchiefs

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gusto

Joined: Sep 22, 2006
Posts: 234

Posted on Sep 27 2006 11:37 PM

Whatever weird thing comes to my head. Ive always like Brian Connelys naming of his songs.

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Fripperton

Joined: Aug 14, 2006
Posts: 270
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Sep 28 2006 09:17 AM

Actually the song we do called The Simpsons is an arrangment of the Simpsons theme I ripped off from Danny Gatton.

I tend to use puns in titles if I'm not naming them after a specific thing. I thought Port Vue sounded kind of Surfy so I used it for a title. In actuallity it's a city near where I grew up in Mckeesport that overlooks the Port. Both of my parents are buried there and the song is kind of a tribute to them. Beaches and Hodads was a bad attempt to make something sound "street" and we refer to it as Bitches and Hoes. Arkansas Wetsuit was from a name we got from a local cop at a beach. He told us that's what they call bluejeans when guys who are not from the beach community go surfing in their Levis and Wranglers. Surf's Upper was a play on words.

—

There is Surf east of Sepulveda.

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WaveOhhh

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 236
Plantation, FL
United States

Posted on Sep 29 2006 12:26 PM

Actually, I think of song titles first, and flesh out a melody to flesh out the "feel" that I want to explore.

Cliff Woodbeach

www.theFinDicators.com

—

What day is Surf Rock's birthday? Looks like Surf Rock and I was born the same year. Maybe we are both Libras?

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90

Joined: May 16, 2006
Posts: 91
Florianopolis SC Brazil

Posted on Oct 05 2006 01:23 PM

ThatÂ´s a tough one. Famous brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal has a song named (my translation) "Songs are like children, you make them first and then you name Â´em". Goes a bit like that for me. Sometimes itÂ´s hard to come up with a good title. Any of you guys ever wrote a song in which the title came first? Only case that happened to me was with "The Lonely Bull Terrier"

—

http://www.myspace.com/cochabambas
http://gianninisupersonic.blogspot.com

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intellitard

Joined: Sep 26, 2006
Posts: 22

Posted on Oct 24 2006 02:37 PM

I got a good name from the preview channel the other day. I didn't catch the name of the movie as it scrolled past, but I saw the description that came after it:

"The killer left a trail of severed limbs"

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PolloGuitar

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5090
San Francisco
United States

Posted on Oct 29 2006 10:07 PM

Free tip... name a song on your next CD something like "Band of the Year" or "Best song Ever". Then, if you get a review in a magazine and they mention song titles, you can beef up your press package with some impressive quotes:
"...Amazing Melodies..."-_New Gandy Dancer_
"...Brilliant Musicians..."-_The Continental_
"...Band of the Year..." -_Rolling Stone_

--fd

—

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Oct 29 2006 10:52 PM

Very nice Ferenc. If I may suggest another idea. For your name put "Best Musician Ever"

"...Best Musician Ever on Guitar..."- Tiger Beat

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Ron-Rhoades

Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 958
Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii
United States

Posted on Oct 30 2006 02:59 AM

For my original surf tunes, i try to name 'em after a surf spot or a nice beach. I just try to think of something "surfy" that's not too stupid and goes with the song hopefully. I sure don't spend a lot of time coming up with a name cause i've already spent hours (if not minutes) writing that melody!

—

The TakeOffs
"Kauai's Only All-Instrumental Surf Band"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TakeOffs/312866840587

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Oct 30 2006 06:14 PM

I seem to stumble upon "found" titles a lot, like a small quote or something from a TV show, book, or even news article. I know that I found "A Phalanx of Terror" from an online explanation of David Lynch's "Mullholland Drive".

Occasionally, I have a title before a song... like my latest tune "Inside the Charnel House" - for some reason the term kept popping up in various forms, so I decided to go with it and make a creepy kinda tune that fits the name.

~B~

Top

SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Sep 26 2006 01:37 PM So I'm curious about what some folks around here think of when they come up with names for their songs. I pull out everything from Shakespeare references to The Simpsons. Do names just sort of pop into your head, or is there a method behind your madness???? ~B~ Top
Jon Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1076 Columbus, OH	Posted on Sep 26 2006 02:44 PM The songs that I've been writing have just been getting names that describe them. Like, I wrote one song that sounds like a typical, basic surf song, so I titled it 'Generic'. I don't know if the names will stick, but that's how I do it for now. Top
Klas Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 2292 Stockholm, Sweden	Posted on Sep 27 2006 05:54 AM I think song titles are quite important. Since the influences for our band are from the 1st wave, we always try to come up with titles that sounds like that era. For those who are not always familiar with expressions from that time, our upcoming debut album will include a "Song Related Glossary" with title explanations — T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11046 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Sep 27 2006 08:01 AM It's true that for instro music, song titles can be quite arbitrary though important. I've stick to titles that reflect the theme of my band, in my case time and time travel e.g. chronosurf. It helps narrow down an almost unlimited field of choices and helps define the band's character. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
krupanut Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 492 Austin Texas	Posted on Sep 27 2006 03:43 PM I try to take inspiration for titles from things that happen around writing the song I wrote "Buzzard Coupe" right after going to the races with my buddy Steve whose nick name is buzzard. His 31 ford coupe is of course called the buzzard coupe. The double picking makes me picture him spinning the cheaters through the gears on the way to a low 13 second pass at 105mph. I had an idea running through my head for a week, an A part of a tune that I just couldn't come up with a good B part for. Two of my friends from the killer rockabilly trio the Two Timing Three were hanging out at the house. We picked up the guitars and wrote a nice bridge and fleshed out the tune. It's called "the Two Timing Surfer" Been messing with a ballad that started running though my head driving home one day as I passed a street called Wandering Way. So of course the song will be titled "Wandering Way" — The Thunderchiefs Top
gusto Joined: Sep 22, 2006 Posts: 234	Posted on Sep 27 2006 11:37 PM Whatever weird thing comes to my head. Ive always like Brian Connelys naming of his songs. Top
Fripperton Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 270	Posted on Sep 28 2006 09:17 AM Actually the song we do called The Simpsons is an arrangment of the Simpsons theme I ripped off from Danny Gatton. I tend to use puns in titles if I'm not naming them after a specific thing. I thought Port Vue sounded kind of Surfy so I used it for a title. In actuallity it's a city near where I grew up in Mckeesport that overlooks the Port. Both of my parents are buried there and the song is kind of a tribute to them. Beaches and Hodads was a bad attempt to make something sound "street" and we refer to it as Bitches and Hoes. Arkansas Wetsuit was from a name we got from a local cop at a beach. He told us that's what they call bluejeans when guys who are not from the beach community go surfing in their Levis and Wranglers. Surf's Upper was a play on words. — There is Surf east of Sepulveda. Top
WaveOhhh Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 236 Plantation, FL	Posted on Sep 29 2006 12:26 PM Actually, I think of song titles first, and flesh out a melody to flesh out the "feel" that I want to explore. Cliff Woodbeach www.theFinDicators.com — What day is Surf Rock's birthday? Looks like Surf Rock and I was born the same year. Maybe we are both Libras? Top
90 Joined: May 16, 2006 Posts: 91 Florianopolis SC Brazil	Posted on Oct 05 2006 01:23 PM ThatÂ´s a tough one. Famous brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal has a song named (my translation) "Songs are like children, you make them first and then you name Â´em". Goes a bit like that for me. Sometimes itÂ´s hard to come up with a good title. Any of you guys ever wrote a song in which the title came first? Only case that happened to me was with "The Lonely Bull Terrier" — http://www.myspace.com/cochabambas http://gianninisupersonic.blogspot.com Top
intellitard Joined: Sep 26, 2006 Posts: 22	Posted on Oct 24 2006 02:37 PM I got a good name from the preview channel the other day. I didn't catch the name of the movie as it scrolled past, but I saw the description that came after it: "The killer left a trail of severed limbs" Top
PolloGuitar Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 5090 San Francisco	Posted on Oct 29 2006 10:07 PM Free tip... name a song on your next CD something like "Band of the Year" or "Best song Ever". Then, if you get a review in a magazine and they mention song titles, you can beef up your press package with some impressive quotes: "...Amazing Melodies..."-_New Gandy Dancer_ "...Brilliant Musicians..."-_The Continental_ "...Band of the Year..." -_Rolling Stone_ --fd — Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp My Blog- Euro Tour Blog Pool Boys on Spotify INSTAGRAM Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB Pollo Del Mar on FB DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Oct 29 2006 10:52 PM Very nice Ferenc. If I may suggest another idea. For your name put "Best Musician Ever" "...Best Musician Ever on Guitar..."- Tiger Beat Top
Ron-Rhoades Joined: Aug 19, 2006 Posts: 958 Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii	Posted on Oct 30 2006 02:59 AM For my original surf tunes, i try to name 'em after a surf spot or a nice beach. I just try to think of something "surfy" that's not too stupid and goes with the song hopefully. I sure don't spend a lot of time coming up with a name cause i've already spent hours (if not minutes) writing that melody! — The TakeOffs "Kauai's Only All-Instrumental Surf Band" http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TakeOffs/312866840587 Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Oct 30 2006 06:14 PM I seem to stumble upon "found" titles a lot, like a small quote or something from a TV show, book, or even news article. I know that I found "A Phalanx of Terror" from an online explanation of David Lynch's "Mullholland Drive". Occasionally, I have a title before a song... like my latest tune "Inside the Charnel House" - for some reason the term kept popping up in various forms, so I decided to go with it and make a creepy kinda tune that fits the name. ~B~ Top

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Naming Songs