As you may have read here, when I'm not out playing shows, I'm writing tracks and songs for commercial placements in all sorts of different apllications through a company called Taxi. They put out listings for needed music in many genres including the following left-of-center request:
UPBEAT, HAPPY, PEPPY CIRCUS CALLIOPE-STYLE INSTRUMENTALS needed by a global Music Publisher servicing ambient spaces (retail, malls, restaurants, theme parks). Aim for the authentic style of old world circus parades, carnivals and riverboats with playful melodic motifs and an upbeat spirit. Songs must be original or public domain covers. Imagine big pink swirls of cotton candy and carnival barkers on the midway and you're on your way. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).
I decided to give this one a try and came up this little ditty below. I did what I usually do by getting on iTunes and listening to a few samples of "circus music". I didn't have a true calliope in my arsenal of sound samples so I took an organ patch and "injected" some airiness into it. (huh?) Tweaked it. This is what happened:
CLICK ON MUSIC PLAYER TO HEAR "HAPPY CIRCUS TIME"
The first time I pitched it, it was returned and the critique I got back was,
"This track would have been perfect for this listing. The melody to Happy Circus Time is too close to You Are My Sunshine which is under copyright since 1938." Oooops!
The Punch Line
And so the second chance. The listing has been put up again for more tracks in the same genre so I get to adjust the melody a little bit and resubmit it! I have high hopes for "Happy" the second time around since it was "perfect for this listing."
Thanks for reading along in my songwriting journey! I'll keep you posted.

Second Chance For Happy Circus Time