DICARLO PRODUCTIONS's Blog
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#1 IN LATIN AT OURSTAGE!!! THANK YOU!!!! 08/01/08 6:16am
Hi Everyone,I won the Latin genre on Ourstage, and some kind of prize, (to be annouced) and they want me to do a 20 second video winner acceptance-thank you speech, which will include all of the winners for July on the front page.
I had the feeling everyone voted me into the Finals, but once I got there, they all abandoned me. :) lol There were very few people voting for me in the Finals, and I finished around #31, out of 46, I think. :( Far away from the $5,000 grand prize. lol Truth is, there were some very good songs in the contest, and you really needed a vocal track with a good singer to compete. The 2 absolute best written songs were by 2 different guys singing and playing acoustic guitar. Both songs were world class, in the styles of Paul Simon, and Al Green, and just as good.I really thought they deserved to win. Both were excellent singers with world class songs. But what always seems to win is the typically watered down mainstream Rock, which is more like Pop than Rock. But it seems to be what wins on just about every site these days. It all sounds the same to me after a while. I couldn´t tell one band from the next. It´s all kind of like Elevator Music, but people seem to love it. :) lol
Fact is, I was completely caught off guard with my song "Do You Want My Lovin" winning the Latin genre, because although it´s very strong as an instrumental, it´s really a vocal track, that I still haven´t finished the lyrics for, and it really had little chance of winning the Finals without a killer female vocalist. :) I´m being honest. :) But had it had the singer I want on it, I probably could have won the Finals. Anyway, this just shows me that it will be a VERY strong song when the vocals are on it. :) I would have done much better with a song like "Love Is The Key", but it´s never even made the Top 10 over there on Ourstage, which is very strange, because it´s done very well everywhere else. :) But hell, I´ve made the Top 10 Semi Finals 5 times, and won in the Latin genre and made the Finals on the 6th try, and I´ve only been in 7 contests over there, so I´ve got a pretty good batting average. I really have to finish up the lyrics and get vocals on my new tunes from 2007-2008, which are not online, and completely blow away most of my older songs. Except for my Beats & Song Snippets, Athena´s Wish, The Five Rings, Funk Machine, Funkin It, and a few other tracks that were written in 2006, (All Instrumental tracks at the moment without Rap or Vocals) everything else is several years old, and not even close to the productions I´m doing today. So, I really have to make the time to work on my own new songs and get the Raps and Vocals on them, if I want to compete with the new stuff other people are submitting in these contests. The Ourstage contests are VERY competitive, because there are only 46 songs in the Finals. Out of 46 songs, I only heard 2 or 3 that were a bit amateur sounding. The rest were High Quality.
Anyway, I really appreciate ALL of you that supported me and voted for me here and over on Ourstage. I´m very greatful. And I hope you will continue to support me the next time, as I will always be here to support you if you need my votes in any contest. :)
Oh, the latest contest I´m in is over on Loud.com. I´m in the Rap contest, and the Producer contest. The Rap contest winner will win $100,000 and a deal with Universal, and the winner of the Producer contest will win $15,000. :) These contests have several rounds, and will be going on until January 2009. But it´s pretty simple to vote over there. You just rate the Raps or Beats. No H2H players, at least none so far. :) Maybe in the last round, who knows. :) lol
Once again A BIG THANKS TO ALL THAT SUPPORTED ME!!! :)
All the best,
DICARLO| Flag as Inappropriate | 0 comments -
THE REALITY ABOUT THIS CONTEST 06/16/08 10:45am
HI EVERYONE,
I DON´T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM "MR. T", ACCUSING SOMEONE OF CHEATING IN THE QUALIFICATIONS, BUT HERE´S MY TAKE ON ALL OF THIS!!
WELL, AS I SAID IN MY REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, IT DOESN´T REALLY MATTER EITHER WAY, AS LONG AS YOUR IN THE TOP 500, YOU´LL BE IN THE CONTEST!!!!! :) SO BEING #1 OR IN THE TOP #10 IN THE QUALIFICATIONS MEANS VERY LITTLE. ALSO, AS I STATED, WE REALLY DON´T HAVE MUCH CONTROL OVER WHO WINS THIS CONTEST!!!!! :(
MY REASONS WHY;
THERE WILL BE 20 TOP WINNERS IN THE HEAD ON HEAD VOTING,
BUT THE JUDGES CAN SELECT ANOTHER 4 ARTISTS THAT THEY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT, WHETHER PEOPLE HAVE VOTED FOR THEM OR NOT!!!!! :) THAT MEANS THAT 1 OF THE 4 COULD WIN, IF THE JUDGES SO DECIDE!!!!! :)
ALSO, I´VE WORKED WITH MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD MAJOR DEALS, AND HAVE HAD 2 MAJOR DEALS MYSELF WITH A BAND, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT´S NOT EASY EVEN IF YOU HAVE A DEAL, AND IT´S HARDER THEN EVER TO GET A MAJOR DEAL THESE DAYS.
THE MAJOR COMPANIES ARE LOSING MONEY, BECAUSE OF DOWNLOADS ON THE INTERNET, SO YOU KNOW THEY´RE NOT JUST GOING TO SIGN ANYONE THAT THEY DON´T THINK THEY CAN MAKE MONEY WITH!!!! :)
MY PREDICTIONS FOR WHO WILL WIN THIS CONTEST;
PROBABLY NONE OF MY FRIENDS HERE WHO HAVE BEEN SO WONDERFUL, AND HAVE BEEN VOTING FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND CERTAINLY NOT MYSELF!!!!! :) LOL
MY REASONS;
AGE;
ANY MAJOR LABEL IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE YOUNG!!!! :)
THE YOUNGER THE BETTER, BECAUSE THEY´LL GET MORE MILEAGE OUT OF THE ARTIST. MORE YEARS!!!! :) JUST LIKE BUYING A NEW CAR!!!!!! :) LOL
I´D SAY IF YOU WERE BETWEEN 15 TO 20 YEARS OLD, (MAX) YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHOT AT GETTING SIGNED TO A MAJOR DEAL
.
IMAGE;
IN THIS GENERATION OF MTV VIDEOS, IMAGE IS EVERYTHING. IT´S BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE A FASHION SHOW, SO IF YOU LOOK LIKE A TOP MODEL, (MALE OR FEMALE) AND CAN SING AND DANCE, YOU MAY HAVE A SHOT, BECAUSE THAT´S BASICALLY WHAT THEY´RE LOOKING FOR. JUST LOOK AT THE P DIDDY´S GROUPS THAT HE´S PUT TOGETHER ("DNA", ETC.) AND HOW THEY WERE CAST AND PUT TOGETHER, AND YOU´LL UNDERSTAND WHAT I´M TALKING ABOUT. THIS GENERATION IS MORE ABOUT THE VISUAL THAN THE MUSIC. VIDEOS SELL MUSIC THESE DAYS!!!!!!!! EVERYTHING HAS BECOME MORE SUPERFICIAL THAN EVER BEFORE. I MEAN EVERY 3RD GIRL IN THE USA TODAY HAS A BREAST OP, A NOSE JOB, OR SOME KIND OF COSMETIC SURGERY BEFORE SHE´S 16. LOL THAT SAYS IT RIGHT THERE. VERY SUPERFICIAL GENERATION!!!!!!!
SO YOU´D BETTER HAVE A VERY STRONG IMAGE THAT WILL SELL, WHETHER YOUR AN ARTIST OR A BAND!!!!! :)
MUSIC;
THE MUSIC IS IMPORTANT TO A DEGREE, BUT NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IF YOU´VE GOT A GOOD IMAGE AND YOUR MUSIC IS OK, BUT NOT SUPER COMMERCIAL, THERE ARE TONS OF GREAT WRITERS ON THE STAFF OF RECORD LABELS THAT WILL WRITE HITS FOR YOU. :)
AND YOU WILL GLADLY PERFORM THEM, IF YOU WANT THE SUCCESS BADLY ENOUGH, OTHERWISE THE LABEL MAY JUST SHELVE YOU, AND YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS UP!!!!!! :( BELIEVE ME I KNOW, BECAUSE A FEW VERY TALENTED FRIENDS OF MINE HAVE BEEN SHELVED. :(
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE JUDGES HAVE BEEN DONG SOME SCOUTING OF THEIR OWN THE LAST WEEKS, AND HAVE PICKED OUT THEIR FAVORITES. I´VE ONLY SEEN JUDGES COMMENTS ON 1 ARTIST`S PAGE HERE SO FAR, AND THEY SEEM TO LIKE THIS ARTIST A LOT.
MY OPINION OF THE ARTIST;
GOOD VOICE, GOOD IMAGE, OK SONG, NOT MEMORABLE AT ALL, BECAUSE IF YOU ASKED ME TO SING IT 5 MINUTES AFTER HEARING IT, I WOULDN´T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE SONG, EXCEPT I FELT THAT THE INTRO WAS WAY TOO LONG!!!!! :) LOL
BUT, THE JUDGES THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT, SO I DON´T KNOW. :) LOL
I DO KNOW THAT IN THE "HEAD TO HEAD" BATTLES AT OURSTAGE,
IT´S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP INTROS SHORT, AND TO GET TO THE POINT RATHER QUICKLY, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE LISTENING AND JUDGING WILL ONLY LISTEN TO ABOUT 15 TO 20 SECONDS OF EACH SONG BEFORE JUDGING. SO IF THE INTRO TO YOUR SONG IS OVER 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THEY MAY NEVER GET TO HEAR YOUR VOICE, OR SONG, NO MATTER HOW WONDERFUL IT IS!!!! :) LOL
I THINK THAT A&R PEOPLE, WHO GET 1,000 OF DEMOS EVERYDAY, PROBABLY DO EXACTLY THE SAME, AND MAYBE ONLY LISTEN TO THE FIRST 5 OR 10 SECONDS, BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO LISTEN MORE, OR THROW IT IN THE TRASH BIN!!!!! :) LOL
I´M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT ALL THIS, BECAUSE IT´S THE REAL WORLD, THAT´S THE WAY IT IS!!!! :) LOL
MY TAKE ON THIS WHOLE CONTEST;
IT´S A PROMOTION THING FOR MUSIC NATION, SPIN, HENNESSEY, AND SIGNAL/EPIC. THERE´S NO GUARANTEE THE WINNER WILL EVER BE RELEASED, OR PROMOTED TO THE THE EXTENT OF BECOMING A MAJOR STAR. GOOD PROMOTION TAKES A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE´RE TALKING MILLIONS, IF THEY´RE GOING TO MAKE YOU A MAJOR STAR!!!! :)
AS I SAID IN MY VERY FIRST BLOG;
I´M HERE TO NETWORK, MEET NEW ARTISTS, FANS, FRIENDS, AND NEW CLIENTS FOR MY MIXING AND MASTERING BUSINESS. :) THAT´S WHY I´M HERE!!!! :)
"LOVE IS THE KEY" IS A HIT SONG. IT COULD BE A TITLE SONG FOR A LOVE STORY OR DISNEY FILM, AND HAS ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN AS A FEATURE SONG IN THE NEW "WEATHER GIRLS" ANIMATION SERIES, SO I KNOW I WILL SELL THAT SONG SOMEDAY FOR SURE. :) BUT I DOUBT IT OR I WILL WIN THIS CONTEST, BECAUSE RECORD LABELS DON´T USUALLY SIGN WRITER/PRODUCERS. THEY TEND TO SIGN ARTISTS, UNLESS OF COURSE THE WRITER/PRODUCER HAS HAD SEVERAL HITS IN THE PAST, LIKE TIMBALAND, KANYE WEST, OR SOMEONE LIKE THAT. :) LOL
MUSIC NATION;
I´VE BEEN ON TONS OF SITES SINCE JOINING THE ONLINE INDIE SCENE IN 2004, AND HAVE BEEN THE #1 AND MOST REVIEWED ARTIST ON 2 OF THEM. BUT I´VE NEVER MET SO MANY WONDERFUL SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE AS I´VE MET HERE. :)
YOU PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!! :)
I REALLY HOPE TO KEEP UP THE FRIENDSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE FUTURE, LONG AFTER THIS CONTEST IS OVER!!!!!:)
I REALLY HOPE THIS WILL BE THE CASE, BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AND I REALLY DO MEAN THAT!!!!! :)
THIS POST OF MINE WAS NOT MEANT TO PISS ANYONE OFF, OR DISCOURAGE ANYONE. I´M JUST STATING THE FACTS, THE TRUTH, AND REALITY OF ALL THIS, THAT´S ALL!!!! :)
BUT, I THINK MOST OF YOU CAN HANDLE IT!!!!!! :) LOL
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I LOVE ALL OF YOU, AND WISH YOU THE BEST.
DICARLO
ADDED; THIS IS MY LATEST BLOG " THE REALITY ABOUT THIS CONTEST", BUT SINCE MOST HERE DON´T HAVE TIME TO LISTEN TO MUSIC OR READ BLOGS, I´M POSTING IT PUBLICLY.| Flag as Inappropriate | 9 comments -
ATTENTION!!! I NEED YOUR HELP!!!! POLL!!!!! 05/24/08 5:19pm
OK, NOW THAT I KNOW THAT THIS CONTEST IS GOING TO BECOME A "HEAD ON HEAD" COMPETITION AT SOME POINT, I WOULD LIKE EACH OF YOU TO HAVE A LISTEN, AND TELL ME WHICH SONG YOU PREFER, WHICH SONG IS YOUR FAVORITE, AND POST YOUR FAVORITE HERE, LIKE IN A POLL. :)
THAT WOULD BE A REALLY BIG HELP TO ME.
THANKS IN ADVANCE.
DICARLO
| Flag as Inappropriate | 6 comments
