March 2021 Co-write Challenge Results

Congratulations to our MAS 2021 March Co-Writing Challenge songwriters!

Each time we run these challenges, it's a special treat to see what songs are created from the same set of prompts they are given. Some writers selected their own co-writer, and some were adventurous and let us pick a writer at random for them.

The talent, creativity, and heart of our writers shows up in their work.

You'll hear it in a second.

If you're interested in jumping in on the fun our members have, click here to find out how you can join MAS today.

Fun Facts

We always try to build in a few MAS trinkets in the song challenges. Some part of the prompt is based on one or two MAS members.

The word "bug, bugs, or bugged" was merely the fact when we created the challenge prompt, the day's high didn't make zero, and even warm weather bugs were missed.

 The line, "You always claim you have stage fright," is a line from Andrew Spreck’s song, Dancing Girl.

You'll find it and other great rocking songs on his new CD release, Where I’m From.

The chord progression A E D C# D comes to us from Larry Suess. It's the A and E within his name, and his street address transposed from Nashville numbering.

What was the prompt this time?

Each writing team was given a choice to pick one of three writing challenge levels.

Here they are:

Level 1: Huh, okay. Seems easy enough.

• They had to put the word bug, bugs, or bugged in the title.

That was it for this level.

Level 2: Umm sure. A challenge but I’ll go for it.

• Must have bug, bugs, or bugged in the title.
• Must contain the phrase, “You always claim you have stage fright”, somewhere in the song.
• Must be a VCVCBC song structure.

And that’s it for this level

Level 3: Yeah baby! Bring it on!

• Must have bug, bugs, or bugged in the title.
• Must contain the phrase, “You always claim you have stage fright”, somewhere in the song.
• Must be a VCVCBC song structure.
• The chord progression A E D C# D must show up in the song. Or a key equivalent.
• The bridge must contain only three lines and at least one question.
• Must contain a breakdown for at least one measure. At some point in the song everything drops out except a drum beat and vocal or just vocal for a minimum of one measure to however long they feel it should be.

Here are the songs.

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Bugs on the Windshield

Date submitted: March 10, 2021 at 8:08 pm
By: Paul Beckermann, Chad Shank,
Copyright info: 2021

Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Bugs-on-the-Windshield-1-1.rtf

Bugs on the Windshield

The summer heat was rising
Like phantoms from the highway
The spirit of the day all around
Your hand was on my shoulder
We were dreaming down the road
And cranking up the radio

Ain’t it funny how a two lane
Gets etched in your brain
I can still see it plain as day
We were two kids in blue jeans
With a full tank of gas
We let the summers take us away

Chorus
We were on the black top
You were in a tank top
68 with the windows down
We just let our hair blow
Letting all our cares go
The wind is the only sound
We’re burning down the highway
Nothing in our way
Just a crystal clear view
Of blue skies and cornfields
And Bugs On The Windshield

And no matter how I tried
To wash those bugs from the window
They never seem to wash away
But that’s ok with me
‘Cause every time I see them
It takes me back to those days

Ain’t it funny how a two lane
Gets etched in your brain
I can still see it plain as day
We were two kids in blue jeans
With a full tank of gas
We let the summers take us away

[Repeat Chorus]

Never wash never wash away (no, no, no)
Never wash those memories (not the memories)
Never wash those memories away (can’t wash them away)
Never wash never wash away (no, no, no)
Can’t wash those days away (those days)
Those memories are here to stay (they’re here to stay)

[Repeat Chorus]

[Repeat Chorus]

© Chad Shank and Paul Beckermann