Broadjam Artist: Janet Murphy
Song: Washington Needs Washing Down
Reviewer: John Walradt
Positive Comments: Has the last few years left you despondent and disillusioned? This is the song that describes what we are going through, with its slow, contemplative melody and well thought out lyrics to match. It follows “Thy kingdom come” with a cynical “Maybe that’s the plan” which is a quite a poetic punch that shows how far things have seemingly gone. Eliza Gilkyson has written such lyrics for social comments. This one does the same and is done very well.
Constructive Comments: This is an interesting song. I can tell you put a lot of careful thought in what you’re writing. I looked up a few more that I’ll listen to. Some of what they list for ratings is nebulous: marketability is a crap shoot for any song, everyone has a different criteria for what a hook is so I usually place melody into that. The melody and arrangement is gray and droning which is appropriate. It keeps with a feeling of disillusion and despondence. I’d keep it. But I would also experiment with a new, different version by bumping up the tempo some and rocking it with raspier, harder vocals and electric guitars to give it a sense of urgency…to find out what happens! I’ve decided to do different versions on some of mine as well.