S.A.C. Challenge – Week 2 – Issued by Rob Wells – Write an explosive pop hit!

On By Lily CIn Challenge 2015
Rob Wells has a challenge for you!
Rob Wells has a challenge for you!

Rob Wells is a multi-platinum, award-winning producer/songwriter based in Toronto & Los Angeles. He has worked with numerous multi-platinum selling artists, with songs landing on millions of award winning records. His work has appeared in major release films, network TV shows and video games worldwide.  Awards include first place in numerous songwriting competitions, SOCAN #1 awards, gold, platinum & multi-platinum certifications.

Our week 2 challenge is as follows:

I’m looking for strong female based Pop/Top 40 songs.  Think Selena Gomez.  Think Demi Lovato.  Think big.  Think hits.  Think target audience of 13-18 years old.  If you’re writing a global, universal, and (a little bit) quirky smash song with an interesting title, I’m interested.  If you can sing your explosive chorus a thousand times and not be sick of it, I’m interested.  Trim the fat.  No unnecessary sections or long intros.  Take me on a journey.  Make every lyric count and funnel towards a great chorus payoff.  Maximum 3:30 in length.  Good luck!

Your song is due February 23 by midnight. Share a link to your song and a link to your blog post in the comments below.

169 thoughts on “S.A.C. Challenge – Week 2 – Issued by Rob Wells – Write an explosive pop hit!”

  2. Pingback: SAC Challenge Week 2: “Choose Me” | superpapa67

  5. Pingback: Warning ! Explosive pop hit! – S.A.C. Songwriting & Blogging Challenge – Week 2 | Meori Music

    2. Heather, Thank You for providing a link to your song at the end of your blog, as well as a separate link. This makes it convenient to review your material. Thank you too, for posting both your blog and your sound file links here together in the right spot. This is great practice for the real world as you vie for the attention of the industry pros. I hope everyone takes note!

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  7. Pingback: SAC Challenge 2015: “Choose” now at demo stage! | superpapa67

    1. Hi superpapa67, Nice production on your track. Under what name are you registered with SAC? You may want to consider using your legal name on your blog…I couldn’t find it…so you’re like a big mystery. And I don’t think you want to be? Great work and Thanks for posting the sound file link at the end of your blog!

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  21. David O'Reilly

    Here’s my submission for Week 2! The song is called ‘All of it or Nothing’.
    I got a lot of great ideas from various people on facebook for things to change around in the song, but unfortunately I won’t have a chance to do them before the deadline. I will however keep them in mind for future refinement of the song.

    https://soundcloud.com/oreillysremedy/all-of-it-or-nothing-sac-songwriting-challenge-week-2

    Here’s my blog for this week too:

    https://www.tumblr.com/blog/davidsongchallengeweek2

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      1. Thks Debra! So I ended up changing the title of my Week 2 submission to
        ” Never Skipped A Beat” in my blog & in my mp3 file . Could not change it above. Thanks very much.

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  35. Great week! Here’s my Blog Post: http://adriannesoundslike.tumblr.com/post/111802476526/forces-of-nature-trying-to-have-it-all-sac

    And here’s my song, “Force of Nature”: https://soundcloud.com/adrianne_r/force-of-nature-sac-challenge-week-2-female-top-40

    Here is my co-write with Dean Sawatzky, “Over”: https://soundcloud.com/adrianne_r/over-week-2-sac-challenge-female-top-40-song-2

    And my co-write with Michael Proudfoot, “The Best Thing Ever”: https://soundcloud.com/adrianne_r/the-best-thing-ever-mp3

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    1. Kathryn Jean (Alexander)

      I made a last minute lyrical change to one line of the song that is not in the recording…Fresh air, blue sky was changed to Salt air, grey sky to improve prosody…the melody stays the same. The “Me” in the song is the Sea

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  41. Pingback: SAC Songwriting & Blogging Challenge: Week 2 | Who Gives a Pop?

  45. Here’s my week two’s challenge for my “Magnets” and a video blog. I didn’t have a chance to have a female sing this yet so I sang it myself. But I will be posting a demo with a female vocals soon. You can check them both on my website or you can go directly to the links Hope you enjoy, thanks.

    http://ahimusic.com/#!sac-blog/sac-challenge-week-2/

    Song link: https://soundcloud.com/officiallyahi/magnets-acoustic-scratch-demo
    Blog link: http://ahimusic.com/#!sac-blog/sac-challenge-week-2/

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    1. Katy, VERY impressive effort to go so outside your genre. All your instincts were right on–love that you studied so hard and went into it thinking, how hard can it be to write 3 chords, etc…and came out of it…the way you did. And you do NOT, EVER, sound like a sheep! Great vocals. Congratulations on all your hard work.

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  54. Here is the link to my bog post for week 2.

    The song — A Little List — is sung by a teenage girl to her boyfriend who is obsessed with video games. She wants him to spend less time playing video games, and more time with her, doing things she likes to do. To make it easy for him, she makes him “a little list”.

    The song coveys a serious message in a light-hearted way. And the chorus is catchy and memorable.

    https://www.facebook.com/notes/steven-hardy/sac-challenge-week-2-issued-by-rob-wells-write-an-explosive-pop-hit/10153126426301000

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  55. Week 2 Challenge – Line of Fire

    Here is my music and blog post for Week 2. I’d like to thank my beautiful and talented wife for singing on this (and save you all from hearing me do it!). Hope you enjoy it.

    Song link: https://soundcloud.com/craigster67/line-of-fire

    Blog link: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/craigster67

    Verse I
    When I was a younger girl I gave my heart to anyone
    Afraid that somehow I’d miss out on love
    But I fell victim to a nasty dude with a smoking gun
    And found love wasn’t anything like what I dreamed of

    Prechorus
    So I kept my heard under lock and key
    But now your sights are on me

    Chorus
    And I’m standing in the line of fire
    Feeling like I’m somebody’s prey
    Standing in your line of fire
    Trying to get out of the way
    Get out of the way

    Verse II
    I can spot a fake disguise
    Through that thick blond hair and those pretty blue eyes
    You’re all just predators, you’re all the same
    Out on a hunt tonight
    Taking shots at me by the clear moonlight
    You’re all just hunters
    And I’m just your game

    Prechorus
    So I had my reasons not to care
    But then I saw you there

    Chorus
    And now I’m standing in the line of fire
    Feeling like I’m somebody’s prey
    Standing in the line of fire
    Trying to get out of the way
    Get out of the way

    Bridge
    So what’s this I see
    A hint of some sincerity
    Then lay down your gun
    and show me that you just may be the one

    Chorus
    Now you’re standing in the line of fire
    Feeling like you’re somebody’s prey
    Standing in the line of fire, and
    I’m not going to let you
    Let you get away

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  57. I had a tough time this week for sure… I think I channeled the late great Leslie Gore a bit as the “pop explosion” I heard in my head with synths and female vocal stylings became a retro 60’s feel in the demo – but thanks to my daughter for being the girl (she just became a teenager) to sing Like A Girl… You might think having a teenager in the house would mean I’d know the target music audience, but she’s into some older classic pop (The Beatles being her favourite).

    Blog: http://blog.lorenzopolicelli.com/2015/02/23/like-a-girl-week-2-challenge/
    SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/renzo/lorenzo-policelli-like-a-girl/s-4dcHn

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  58. Pingback: S.A.C. Challenge #2 – Power Pop | Liminal Music

  59. What a wonderful bunch of gifted songwriters and singers …..it’s a pleasure to meet you all via “Internet”….. this couldn’t have happened among us all even 10-15 years ago. Amazing how technology moves so fast to connect us to each other and the world…..

    Blog for week 2 -https://magnifonic.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/week-2-sac-challenge/ Song for week 2-

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  74. Lorenzo D. Policelli

    Hope this post goes through… I had a rough time this week with the challenge but not as rough as trying to post in the blog (I’ve been trying since 1 a.m.). I decided not to log in with my WordPress login if that helps anybody else seeing this (Google+ is what I chose this time).

    I channeled Lesley Gore instead of Demi Lovato it seems – I heard this pop explosion in my head but it came out like a 60’s pop song in the end… thanks to my newly-teenaged daughter for doing the vocals – Like A Girl… looking forward to any feedback…

    Blog: http://blog.lorenzopolicelli.com/2015/02/23/like-a-girl-week-2-challenge/
    Song (with Lyrics): https://soundcloud.com/renzo/lorenzo-policelli-like-a-girl/s-4dcHn

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  84. O.K. I have spent all day trying to get a video of my recording for week 2 submission and I am still struggling. Nothing will recognize my file, so I am submitting it on the FB page. I know you are not supposed to send lyrics, but if all else fails, that’s all I have…

    Week 2 submission

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  87. Hope this works! Still a bit more work to do on it but here’s week 2’s challenge and blog. Please notify me if either of this links is not working properly. Debra and James – I would love feedback if time permits. Thanks to my wonderful friend Chelsea Edwardson for providing fantastic vocals!

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  95. Pingback: SAC Challenge – Week 2 of 6 – and they’re off into the world of Pop! | Robert Campbell

  99. Great Challenge. Almost passed on it. Glad I didn’t!!
    Ended up a co-write with Kathryn Berry. We have different versions. Tell us what you think!
    Here’s my post;
    http://rcampbell.com/2015/02/24/sac-songwriting-challenge-2015-week-2

    Here’s the Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/campbellandgreen/kiss-my-lips-sac-6-weeks-2

    Here the lyric: (slightly different that Kathryn’s)

    Title: Kiss My Lips

    He looks like summer and walks like rain
    he leaves me whispering, will I see you again
    he takes sweet time in conversation
    he keeps me wondering
    could we be more than friends

    CHORUS
    kiss my lips out on the grass
    where the fireflies dance dance and dance
    kiss my lips under the sky
    where the stars collide collide collide

    VERSE
    I’m on the bus its the weekend
    he’s there with friends, and I’m alone again
    It feels like heaven, when he steals a glance
    and I’m still wondering
    could we be more than friends

    CHORUS

    BRIDGE
    He’s perfect in my dreams
    He’s could be my ever after in my dreams

    CHORUS
    CHORUS

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  105. I am late and I apologize…some days technology and I just don’t see eye to eye! Was a great week tho and had an absolute blast :-)! I’ve included the sound-file links in my blog but including here as well for convenience :-).

    http://www.lesliewoodsmeyersofficial.com/#!Week-2s-results/czsv/B6C859AF-E4C1-4B71-8ED8-60E4F57A09E6
    https://soundcloud.com/leslie-woods-meyers/stars-leslie-woods-meyers
    https://soundcloud.com/leslie-woods-meyers/take-to-the-sky-leslie-woods-meyers

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  107. Trish Evans

    Hey everyone. I realized that without logging in, it may not accept my post. Thankfully I eventually caught on. So if this posts twice, sorry bout that.
    Here is my song challenge for week 2 entitled Maybe Tomorrow. I have a link on the blog to the recording as well. Lyrics are included.
    looking forward to hearing all the music!
    This is a great challenge for me. Thanks S.A.C
    Blog
    http://trishevansmusic.blogspot.ca/2015/02/write-hit-how-hard-can-it-be-bahahahaha.html

    Music
    https://soundcloud.com/trish-evans/maybe-tomorrow

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  122. http://wigglytoesmusic.com/sac-challenge-week-2/ Here’s my blog link and my song demo for Week 3! It was great fun, but a mad rush! Sorry to post it here on the 24th – I posted to the week 3 blog by mistake in my hurry on the 23rd, and just realized my mistake. As it’s a co-write with Lucy LeBlanc and Dave Stanley Daoust, they posted it here yesterday OK, unlike me, so at least the song was here. The audio file is at http://www.soundcloud.com/michael-holland-11/unstoppable but it should be playable at the first link too, which is my blogpost on the week 2 challenge.

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  125. Angie Ricci aka amomnus
    February 22 at 7:44pm ·
    SAC CHALLENGE #2 – Rob Wells call for pop
    Rob Wells is looking for strong female based Pop/Top 40 songs. Think Selena Gomez. Think Demi Lovato. Think big. Think hits. Think target audience of 13-18 years old. If you’re writing a global, universal, and (a little bit) quirky smash song with an interesting title, I’m interested. If you can sing your explosive chorus a thousand times and not be sick of it, I’m interested. Trim the fat. No unnecessary sections or long intros. Take me on a journey. Make every lyric count and funnel towards a great chorus pay off. Maximum 3:30 in length. Good luck!

    Sometimes co-write scheduling doesn’t always go as planned. This week was one of those “sometimes” forcing me to reach into my wardrobe(catalogue) to find something to match the call (track) and tweak it to fit (track pants). Make some edits, shorten the length, re-work the title because not all countries have yearbooks (might have over thought that one). So tell me, “Which One Were You ?”

    https://soundcloud.com/amomnus/which-one-were-you-yearbook
    @debraalexander @jameslinderman
    lyrics here –

    Trophy case hangs on the wall
    Smell of cheap cologne lingers on
    All the pretty girls got the pretty guys
    Cheerleaders screaming from the side lines

    I can still see the players and jocks
    Flexing their pecs as they walk down the hall
    Potter heads, drama queens and the rest of us in between

    HOOK…
    Doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter where you go to school
    You Know there’s always gonna be one, Na Na Na Na Na Oh na na na na
    Doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter where you go to school
    You know there’s always gonna be one… Na Na Na Na Na Oh na na na na
    Which one were you, which one were you, which one were you
    Na Na Na Na Na Oh na na na na

    V2
    Do you remember Friday night school dance you asked if you could hold my hand
    Monday morning everybody new cause Mr Big mouth went and spread the news
    Do you remember how we looked back then, remember the crazy trends
    Remember, the hairy guy had a beard before he went into grade 9

    HOOK…
    Doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter where you go to school
    You Know there’s always gonna be one, Na Na Na Na Na Oh na na na na
    Doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter where you go to school
    You know there’s always gonna be one… Na Na Na Na Na Oh na na na na
    Which one were you, which one were you, which one were you
    Na Na Na Na Na Oh na na na na

    BRIDGE
    Gangster prankster drama queen
    Rocker rapper country
    Hoochie cooch and even the mooch POP goes the weasel
    Emos, goths and preppy kids, geeks and freaks and losers
    Wanna a toke and bum a smoke
    Pop goes the weasel, pop goes the weasel, pop pop goes the weasel POP POP POP

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  127. Pingback: Who Wrote a Pop Hit? – Week 2 Challenge Feedback by Rob Wells | Songwriters Association of Canada

  128. hi!,I really like your writing very a lot! proportion we communicate more approximately your post on AOL? I require an expert on this house to resolve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look forward to look you.

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