I want to talk to Jeff Tweedy.

[u2roolz]

Hmm...you say the song is 2.5 minutes long....hmm....hmm...

 

Eddie Vedder is that you?

[Sir Stewart]

it's not fun. he farts in the tub. true story

Yeah, but the melodies he comes up with are amazing.

[Good Old Neon]

Ok and so I just hung up with Tweedy, he and I had a long conversation regarding the merits of your music, and, unfortunately for you, he said, I quote – “it’s tacky and I hate it.” Sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, anyways, he and I are weekending at Speilberg’s place on the Hamptons.

 

And so...ta ta.

[Maddie Hope]

I do think you could meet Jeff after a show and hand it off to him personally. But I would not recommend asking him to listen to it right there in that moment.

Would you be happy if Jeff just had a copy of your song/album with no commentary?

Gregory Kollins, this is your best bet to get your music to JT. Maybe you can see him at another show and ask if he listened, if he remembers then I'd say your song is good. If not at least you got to meet JT Mailing your cd in to their corporate office I feel it wouldn't get listened to, just piled up in a corner somewhere, but I don't know that... Good Luck and maybe you'll feel you could post it on the board here, but that leaves you open for comments good and bad... Most of all get out and play your song to folks...

[Dude]

If it were me, I think I'd be pretty uncomfortable having fans hand me tapes. Everything Jeff could say about the song could potentially get misconstrued. If he offers constructive criticism, it could be taken as a huge personal affront by an emotionally needy fan who is pinning their entire lives on how he responds. Genuine praise could be misinterpreted as being backhanded. No matter what Jeff says or does, it's probably never seen as enough by some people. On top of that, of course, there is the whole "You have my tape, therefore I have an excuse to hound you after every show about it to see if you heard it" scenario, and Jeff's a pretty busy guy.

 

I think getting hammered over the years by every manner of presumptuous request (and I have no doubt he's heard 'em all) probably hasn't made Jeff excessively hungry for having new fans come up to him with tapes, either.

 

As others have said, you ultimately have to ask yourself why you seek Jeff's validation and is it even necessary. Connecting to an audience is way more important than getting one guy's opinion on your music.

[bigshoulders]

Yes a "poor man's copyright." Mail your song to yourself and don't let anyone open it. That's what I do for people when I do their Will's, POA's, ect. The email would work also since we are in that era of time... Good Luck!

Why would someone need to copyright a Will or Power of Attorney? It *should* be notarized, but copyrighted?

[Maddie Hope]

Why would someone need to copyright a Will or Power of Attorney? It *should* be notarized, but copyrighted?

I guess it isn't so much a copyright with Will's and POA's as it is to show your most current wishes. As a persons life changes so does their wishes and to keep the family feud down if your Will is time dated then no one can protest. Of course people can and do protest if they think they are cut out of something they believe is theirs. I made copies of everything to use and then the orginals that were sealed didn't get open for my mom until I went to probate her Will.

[thejokeexplained]

If it were me, I think I'd be pretty uncomfortable having fans hand me tapes. Everything Jeff could say about the song could potentially get misconstrued. If he offers constructive criticism, it could be taken as a huge personal affront by an emotionally needy fan who is pinning their entire lives on how he responds. Genuine praise could be misinterpreted as being backhanded. No matter what Jeff says or does, it's probably never seen as enough by someone people. On top of that, of course, there is the whole "You have my tape, therefore I have an excuse to hound you after every show about it to see if you heard it" scenario, and Jeff's a pretty busy guy.

 

I think getting hammered over the years by every manner of presumptuous request (and I have no doubt he's heard 'em all) probably hasn't made Jeff excessively hungry for having new fans come up to him with tapes, either.

 

As others have said, you ultimately have to ask yourself why you seek Jeff's validation and is it even necessary. Connecting to an audience is way more important than getting one guy's opinion on your music.

 

 

This is a somewhat accurate senereo of mine with Jeff.

 

I compiled the AGIB tour comp a few years ago and presented each band member a copy after a gig. The response i got from the band that night was very gracious. I had hoped they would each give it a listen and find it a heart felt tribute from a fan and as a memento for their hard work on the tour.

 

The first contact i had with any member after giving them each a copy was a small club gig with the Autumn Defense in Dallas a few months later. Both Pat and John both remembered me giving it to them and each said they gave it a listen. their main feedback was one of amazement; not of the quality of the compilation, but the number of songs they played during that tour. The only thing they really were interested in production wise how i chose the songs.

 

Then a few months after that i saw Wilco again in Wichita KS and talked with Jeff out by the bus and asked him if he had a chance to give the comp a listen. His reply was that he can't listen to live music from Wilco. His letting us recored his shows is for us not for him, but he appreciated my effort. It made perfect sense to me as most artist i have talked to don't really listen to their own work for entertainment.

 

I'm not really sure what type of feedback i expected from the band other then selfish gratitude.

[Atticus]

That might be possible...

 

I will be checking my PM inbox feverishly.

[Dude]

That does not mean he doesn't occasionally get on here and read stuff though. I sure am glad he doesn't argue, that might get scary. This thread is scary enough just as it is.

 

LouieB

Hasn't Ryan Adams been known to get into some verbal sparring with his own fans on his own message board? What an echo chamber that must be.

[Dick Ctionary]

I've got my money that says he's actually posting under the pseudonym "Dick Ctionary."

 

in·cor·rect

Pronunciation: \ˌin-kə-ˈrekt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin incorrectus, from in- + correctus correct

Date: 15th century 1 obsolete : not corrected or chastened

2a : inaccurate, faulty b : not true : wrong

3: unbecoming, improper

[m_to_the_c]

If you really, really, really want Jeff Tweedy to listen to your song, you can always go by the old standby of tossing a CD on stage between songs. Only, with Tweedy I'd pick a show when he's in good spirits (and for the love do NOT CHUCK IT AT HIS HEAD). Make it with a professional looking cover, all pretty-like.

 

Who knows, Wilco could be like Guster: at one point they would make a pile of fan submitted music and play "Smash or Trash" on their tourbus in route between shows. (I think it was WAAF in Boston that had a show they'd do that with new songs back in the early 90's, which is where the idea came from)

[u2roolz]

Since the last thing I went to bed was was post in this forum, I ended up dreaming about it. In 2 different scenarios.

 

Here's what transpired:

 

1) The Wilco tour bus pulls up to wherever you are and it's only you. Jeff comes out decked in a priest's robe and does a slow motion walk off the bus much like Gwyneth Paltrow meeting Luke Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums. Only thing is it's your song playing in your head as he walks toward you and not Nico. Jeff slowly hands you your cd back with your one song on it and starts moving his mouth in a way that means "Oh my God that was amazing!", but keep in mind no words come out. He slowly does the sign of the cross on your cd and touches your nose in a playful manner than he walks back to the tour bus.

 

2) You hand Jeff the cd and he says that he wants to go put it on right now on the tour bus. To your amazement he really does. He runs up the tour bus steps and he vanishes while you wait outside. You hear your music playing inside the tour bus. You are filled with happiness. Than you begin to hear heaving noises and all sorts of bodily functions. It lasts for 2.5 minutes. You get upset and devastated. You think "wow, what nerve?" Once your song stops a nice roadie comes off the tour bus and hands you your cd back. You ask "where's Jeff?" He tells you "sorry man..the guys had burritos before the show and they couldn't wait to finish Spiders and run off stage to hit the toilets." You feel relieved much like Nels or Pat or Mikael did just moments ago.

[bigshoulders]

I guess it isn't so much a copyright with Will's and POA's as it is to show your most current wishes. As a persons life changes so does their wishes and to keep the family feud down if your Will is time dated then no one can protest. Of course people can and do protest if they think they are cut out of something they believe is theirs. I made copies of everything to use and then the orginals that were sealed didn't get open for my mom until I went to probate her Will.

Thanks for clarifying.

[Ghost of Electricity]

This is an amusing thread.

 

to the OP: I understand the urge to want to share your music those who have inspired you. However, I do also realize that not all urges should be followed up on- many are better off left supressed. This is one of them. As several people have pointed out, the chances that anything good (for you or for Jeff) would come out of it are far outweighed by the chance that something unwanted and unwelcome would happen. To echo again what others have said: you should find your own audience, those who appreciate your music will appreciate it for what it is and not from where it comes from.

 

 

to some of the other things:

 

Does Tweedy ever post here when he is not being accused of plagiarism?

 

If the name Gregory Kollins is a pseudenym and you are really called Mikael Jorgensen, or Pat Sansone, or Jay Farrar, or Ryan Adams, then ignore this. And if Gregory Kollins you are in fact Ryan Adams, I suggest putting out one good record every year or two than a crap one every time you in fact take a crap. If this gives you a bit more time on your hands than you are used to, feel free to stick around here, rabblerouse a little and soak up some Tweedy mojo. This would do you some good as well. (but you'll still never get to work with Beck)

[Dr. Steve Brule]

A lot of artists won't /can't listen to unreleased work lest they be accused of ripping it off.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Hasn't Ryan Adams been known to get into some verbal sparring with his own fans on his own message board? What an echo chamber that must be.

 

 

I remember when Ryan would show up on the AOL Alt Country/No Depression board. It was an absolute trainwreck.

[The High Heat]

it's not fun. he farts in the tub. true story

 

Yeah, but the melodies he comes up with are amazing.

 

Just one more thing Jeff learned from Jay Bennett.

[The High Heat]

in·cor·rect

Pronunciation: \ˌin-kə-ˈrekt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin incorrectus, from in- + correctus correct

Date: 15th century 1 obsolete : not corrected or chastened

2a : inaccurate, faulty b : not true : wrong

3: unbecoming, improper

 

What's a word for "thread being taken way too seriously?"