2008 Woodie Awards
The Concept Album
John Roberts
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: Opinion
It seems today that bands are employing the idea of a concept album to either reinvent their careers (see Green Day's "American Idiot") or to prove that they are worthy of becoming a "worthwhile" band (see My Chemical Romance's upcoming album "The Black Parade"). Either way, I decided that I would jump on the bandwagon and create a concept album about this column, "Pop Culture Wasteland."
The opening track would obviously center around the column itself. Most likely entitled "The column," the song's lyrics would discuss the center idea or problem I am facing, i.e. needing to write a hip-funny column while running way past my deadline.
A perfect lyric would be "What to do, what to do, when I know my column is so overdoue." Also included would be a reoccurring set of chord progressions that I could use in several key points of the album itself.
The second track would be devoted to the art of column writing, titled "The Past, The Future, and the Here and Now" (especially since long song titles seem to be the way to get a song on the radio these days. Thanks Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco) I would give "shout outs "and "mad props" to Dear Abby and Steven King.
The third and fourth tracks would be dedicated to answering questions about my past while the fifth track would consist of telling why I am encountering the current problem. With another long title that would be self explanatory, "I Spent the Whole Weekend in San Jose and Had a Big Test to Take." I would spend three and a half
minutes first making excuses and then expounding upon why they would not work. This would not only confuse the listeners whose money is now in my pocket, but it would also be a sorry attempt in gaining sympathy where admiration is all I seek.
The sixth and seventh tracks would both cleverly and not-so-cleverly (respectively) reprise the aforementioned chord progressions with semi-meaningful lyrics that my listeners could memorize and recite back to me at the live performances.
The opening track would obviously center around the column itself. Most likely entitled "The column," the song's lyrics would discuss the center idea or problem I am facing, i.e. needing to write a hip-funny column while running way past my deadline.
A perfect lyric would be "What to do, what to do, when I know my column is so overdoue." Also included would be a reoccurring set of chord progressions that I could use in several key points of the album itself.
The second track would be devoted to the art of column writing, titled "The Past, The Future, and the Here and Now" (especially since long song titles seem to be the way to get a song on the radio these days. Thanks Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco) I would give "shout outs "and "mad props" to Dear Abby and Steven King.
The third and fourth tracks would be dedicated to answering questions about my past while the fifth track would consist of telling why I am encountering the current problem. With another long title that would be self explanatory, "I Spent the Whole Weekend in San Jose and Had a Big Test to Take." I would spend three and a half
minutes first making excuses and then expounding upon why they would not work. This would not only confuse the listeners whose money is now in my pocket, but it would also be a sorry attempt in gaining sympathy where admiration is all I seek.
The sixth and seventh tracks would both cleverly and not-so-cleverly (respectively) reprise the aforementioned chord progressions with semi-meaningful lyrics that my listeners could memorize and recite back to me at the live performances.
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