MafiaScum Idol Season 1 (And the winner is...)

[Mina]

Debating whether I'd prefer embarrassing myself in front of my upstairs neighbours by recording another take when they're home or embarrassing myself in front of the forum by sending a version in which I'm super strained on all the high notes. Decisions!

[Mina]

If whatever we submit doesn't matter, I'll just submit the shitty version and beg everyone to please not listen to the choruses. Also, I'm choosing to blame every single flaw on my neighbours and pretend my final take would have been perfect.

[Mina]

That's the spirit. <3

[Mina]

For what it's worth, I think you have a nice voice!

[Mina]

...playing a karaoke version of the song and recording on our phones feels very amateur now....

If it makes you feel any better, I did the same thing!

Also, should there be any restrictions on editing/audio effects we use? I sort of thought it had to be a "live" performance. Otherwise, we could record each line several times and edit them together, then add reverb or pitch correcting. (Or the people with music editing skills could, anyway.)

[Mina]

Ugh, every time I try to record myself singing above a whisper, my neighbours' footsteps suddenly get louder. This is terrible, particularly when the genre is rock.

[Mina]

(But on the plus side, time for my go-to karaoke song!)

[Mina]

Ari, yes!!! I'd be 1000% in. I've almost forgotten what social interaction feels like nowadays.

(The "I wish I was special" line was a gut punch, you delivered it with so much emotion.)

[Mina]

I think that maybe people could be allowed to opt in for either public or private constructive criticism if they want it. But your request was perfectly reasonable and polite, Malkon. Thank you so much for running this and keeping it a fun and positive experience. I know I struggle personally with "if it's not absolutely perfect and something that makes every person on the planet fall in love with it instantly, then it's terrible and embarrassing and should be banished from the light" for anything artistic, so this contest is a good way of getting over that.

Also, it makes me sad you've had bad experiences with Simon Cowell-types on other forums.

[Mina]

But I got ninja'd, so changing awkwardly back to the contest, my submission will be a bit of a hot mess, but it's

my

hot mess. I have a back-up take, but I'm waiting to get a better version when my asidjoaidioadioadoa-ing neighbours leave, since I could have sold certain parts a lot better.

[Mina]

Micah was very audible during Klick's audition.

(also, mine always sound good through my shitty cell phone sound and embarrassingly horrible through headphones, and it's super annoying.)

[Mina]

Could be a tad late since I'm a bit busy tonight. I've recorded it but am not entirely happy since I'm finding it difficult to not hold back bc of nerves of family hearing and questioning. I'll keep taking part to the best of my ability since I'm not so shy about showing to you guys, but don't be too shocked if I end up leaving due to missing a submission somewhere down the line.

Relatable, except replace "missing a submission" with "submitting embarrassing takes with multiple fuck-ups because I can never re-record."

[Mina]

That would have been me if I lived alone in a house. I got 4 shitty ones, but I'll see if I can get a better one before deadline even though it will make my neighbours and boyfriend hate me!

[Mina]

To those who said I needed to project more and be more confident: uh, be careful what you wish for, that's all I'll say.

[Mina]

To those who said I needed to project more and be more confident: uh, be careful what you wish for, that's all I'll say.

Yusssss!!

Sing it loud and powerfully, Queeina!

<3

Parts of it are a bit, um, extra. What can I say, I was channeling the spirit of rock & roll.

[Mina]

Spoiler: Spoiled so as not to influence the judging

I only sound like a dying cat 3% of the time! (aka don't get your hopes up)

[Mina]

Spoiler:

Cat death = the spirit of rock & roll!

[Mina]

Okay, now I'm sorry for complaining so much about my entry.

This is just a no-brainer for me:

BROADWAY

[Mina]

Thank you!

I try not to comment on other entries (since I don't want to accidentally slight the people I DON'T mention), but I'll just say I would have given toolenduso a super high score.

[Mina]

omigod YES <3

(for the actual contest, I'd probably choose something that suits my voice better, but we can record a bonus track!)

[Mina]

Mwahaha, the theatre kids are getting their revenge.

(I, uh, have no idea what song I'm picking either. .__.)

[Mina]

As an update, my voice is gone today.

The spirit of rock & roll: not even once.

[Mina]

I tried again and managed to hit the notes but it kind of just sounds like I’m screaming so idt this is the song for me I could probably do it if I had more than a week to regain my range, but alas. It could have been an awesome singoff!

I used to be able to hit the high notes in Phantom...when I was ten. #MezzoProblems

[Mina]

By the way, you should all be very thankful I'm trying to give my vocal cords a rest, because I was tempted to subject you to more cat murder with this song.

"Wow," you may be thinking. "I had no idea you were able to belt some of those ridiculous high notes." To which my response would be, "...no, I most certainly can't, but I wasn't going to let that stop me." This time instead of abusing my vocal cords, I think I'll abuse my lungs instead.

[Mina]

On that note, I'd be open to

polite

constructive criticism on my entry last round. (Not so much on my audition, because, uh, you wouldn't be telling me anything I don't know.)

[Mina]

I would have tried to write suggestions/critiques for all the people who asked, but I don't know enough about proper singing technique to give constructive advice (especially not for male vocalists). I would be like those annoying design clients saying, "but can you make it POP more?"

[Mina]

Sent! I had a lot of fun with this one, so thanks to Mina for the category.

You're welcome! I'm starting to hate

myself

for this category, though. It definitely looks like I'll wind up using the take I fuck up the

least

.

[Mina]

I'm so tempted to change my submission to something easier but I'm trying not to give in to that

DON'T DO IT

[Mina]

By the way, a tip for fellow phone users: if you're using Voice Memos and go to Settings, it's possible to change the recording quality to High. I did it this round, and the improvement is huge.

[Mina]

Omigod, that has basically been my life this round too! In the end, I wound up submitting a take with a couple of flaws because it was so hard to get one with no mistakes that also sounded good vocally. (Hoping Malkon took pity on me because of my song choice!)

This really makes you appreciate Broadway performers who do this live eight times a week and are always perfect.

[Mina]

Congratulations to toolenduso! Listening to these now, and holy shit, the competition is steep. You guys did an amazing job.

Malkon, the shakiness in the middle is where you can tell the lack of oxygen was starting to catch up with me and I was holding on for dear life. Maybe trying to do Angelica, Eliza,

and

Alexander at the same was a bit over-ambitious.

[Mina]

Glad we didn't accidentally double up! We probably could have just done Angelica's parts and left in a lot of awkward silences (or found a karaoke track with the other voices in there), but where's the fun in that? It's not like I need to breathe to live or anything!

[Mina]

I'm taking it as a sign of personal growth that 'on my own' doesn't speak to me in the same way it did when I was 16!

omg

On My Own was my go-to audition song (along with I Dreamed a Dream--cliched, I know!) for over a decade, but luckily I grew out of it in time for me not to subject you to it. (I "considered" singing Defying Gravity in that it crossed my mind and I immediately went, "lmao NO.")

Why don't we just make a bonus round in which everyone sings "Satisfied"?

And if people are offering specific notes, I'd be interested in feedback on the technical side. My entire shtick as a singer is having a good tone but no technique.

[Mina]

let me know if anyone wants specific feedback from me - this is probably the one category I'd feel comfortable talking about

Oh yeah, I'll sign up for this.

Also /in

/in in case it wasn't clear

[Mina]

I think it's time for more SPIRIT OF ROCK AND ROLL. The best part is I don't even need a key change for those songs.

[Mina]

ftr, I'd be happy waiting for Davsto to get better. I like his entries, and it's not fun when people have to Medevac out!

[Mina]

As a warning, my entry will probably be submitted at the very last minute tomorrow. Tonight was a terrible vocal night, and I still can't make up my mind on the song.

[Mina]

Spoiler: Spoilered so as not to affect the judging

I actively kind of hate mine, but oh well. It was hampered by the fact I tried three different songs, so didn't get enough takes for the one I actually submitted.

[Mina]

I finally submitted! This category turned out to be much harder than I expected, and I wound up switching songs after I realized I couldn't figure out how to do my first pick without straight wrecking my voice. But I did have fun doing the one I settled on!

It's a really difficult category because the songs are all written for different keys/vocal types. (And transposed versions tend not to sound as good.)

[Mina]

ugh i balanced my audio really poorly (backing track way too quiet even though it sounded a bit loud when i was editing??) but i'm happy enough with my singing and another take is probs too risky. ohwell.

No matter what you'll do, it'll be better than me playing the track on my laptop.

[Mina]

In response to Haschel asking about possible song choices:



This is all my fault.

[Mina]

Congratulations to

Flubbernugget and Haschel! (although I guess I spoiled it in my last post anyway)

Aristophanes

, you will be sorely missed.

Yeah, Malkon, that song went on for about another minute of "Still loving you, Still loving you, I need your love," and I, uh, didn't really know what to do with the end. Thank you, and tbh, I think your critiques were pretty spot on given they aligned a lot with the stuff I cringed at while relistening!

[Mina]

i know only like 5 country songs and only one was in range so enjoy that other superfamous country hit besides country roads

I hope our having different ranges means it's not the superfamous country hit besides Country Roads I was thinking of doing for similar reasons!

The more time I spend scouring YouTube for something off the beaten path, the likelier it seems I'll wind up defaulting to my original boring idea.

[Mina]

...oh no. It probably is the same one.

Time to wreak even more havoc on my YouTube algorithm.

[Mina]

It would have been funny to have five versions of [REDACTED], but I

think

I have a better option right now, assuming I can pull this off.

[Mina]

Somehow blew out my voice yesterday by coughing so hard from allergies, so I'll be drinking a lot of tea and hot water with honey and lemon before deadline. Pity, I think this song would have been perfect for me on a better vocal day.

[Mina]

Submitted. I feel like I need a disclaimer that a lot of messages in country music are inherently problematic

My guess:

Stand By Your Man

[Mina]

Spoiler: Spoiled so as not to affect judging

The good news: I actually have a working cord for my mic, so I'll have decent sound quality and be in sync with my karaoke track for once!
The bad: since last week, I've constantly either had a hoarse voice, sore throat, or phlegm in my chest (I'm not sick--this is either from allergies or damage from chronic coughing), and this is the round that requires pretty, clean vocals, so this is probably it for me.

[Mina]

Fuck it, I still have no voice, and my attempts to pull off easier songs keep bombing.

So instead of dropping out, I might as well have fun and go out in a blaze of glory. Last-minute way too ambitious song change, let's go!

On second thought...I'm not subjecting anyone to that.

[Mina]

Fuck it, I still have no voice, and my attempts to pull off easier songs keep bombing.

So instead of dropping out, I might as well have fun and go out in a blaze of glory. Last-minute way too ambitious song change, let's go!

On second thought...I'm not subjecting anyone to that.

Same lmao

I was going to submit a version of "Let It Go" in which I screamed/laughed through the entire second half. It would not have been pretty.

[Mina]

Lmao, I almost sang "Part of Your World" also, but then I stumbled upon Lilith's Soundcloud by accident (plus I chose something easier because my voice was in such bad shape).

[Mina]

I considered Be a Man and How Far I'll Go also. And I almost did Reflection for my audition. (Also, yes, Jolene was the song I was talking about during the country round.) I keep narrowly avoiding doubling up.

[Mina]

I loved your song, toolenduso! And you nailed that last note.

That song was a very strategic choice because it could be sung quietly. XD My attempt at "Let It Go" would have scored a 4/10. At first I was disappointed at blowing my signature karaoke song so early when I saw there was a 70s round, but I'm worried I have vocal nodules from the chronic cough, so time for me to find a song in a very low key.

[Mina]

Relatable. So much of what I wanted was either eight minutes long or released in the late 60s/early 80s or too belty when I'm trying to rest my voice. I finally found out that one of the best albums of all time was released in 1971 and not in the late 1960s like I thought. So I'm hoping I magically become a better singer before the deadline because of the following:

The eternal problem: 'I can sing 99% of this song great, but that one high note is a dealbreaker'

[Mina]

Argh, I finally recorded a decent take, and it's unusable because the air conditioner was on in the background. And now my neighbours are talking right above my bedroom.

Also, there's a 75% chance my submission will have someone loudly shouting "Take out the Widow!" and "Junkrat's dead!" in the background. <_<

[Mina]

....I will never be Joni Mitchell and that makes me sad.

Spoiler: Spoiler about my entry

Neither will I, but I didn't let that stop me.

(I hope we didn't double up.)

[Mina]

^_^

Yeah, fuck it, I'm not sure if this is the most strategic choice, but my personal goal was to last until this round, so I'm locking that in now:

Eurovision

Also, Haschel will be happy!

[Mina]

I'm really sad lilith had to drop. Hope things are okay with you.

Also, this might have been our last chance to take out Flubbernugget.

[Mina]

My stretch goal for this round will be to sing a song in a foreign language that I speak very, very badly. It's a sentimental choice because I grew up listening to it, but if the foreign language + approximately five zillion key changes wind up being too ambitious for me, I also have a fallback option.

[Mina]

I vote for multiple versions of "Volcano Man"!

[Mina]

Lilith, you could have done early Kate Bush!

Spoiler: Spoilers on my entry choice

my Eurovision pick would have been Rise Like a Phoenix

fallback option.

Welp. Time for me to brush up on my foreign language skills.

[Mina]

Does anyone else have a problem where they can sing a song or phrase perfectly a capella, but as soon as the backing track starts, they get a psychological block where their throat just clenches up and refuses to cooperate?

Also, with being able to sing songs in specific keys individually, but then completely forgetting how when you have to do the key changes in sequence? "Nope, sorry, you're not allowed to do that, because the first part of the song was in chest voice. You can't sing in mixed voice for another ten minutes!"

It's like singing is an instinctive process and I can only do it when my brain is in the mood.

[Mina]

Are you using a reference note before singing a capella?

It's definitely not an issue with singing in a different key. I think it's just being in the right frame of mind, plus it's always easier to sing one phrase alone than an entire song.

[Mina]

Guys, it doesn't have to be a movie musical. For example, anything that was a Best Original Song nominee at the Oscars qualifies.

[Mina]

(Source: I asked Malkon this last week.)

[Mina]

Read the spoiler, Flub!

[Mina]

I knew picking Eurovision first would bite me in the ass, but the more the merrier.

[Mina]

I would have probably done Skyfall had my entry last round not basically been a rejected Bond theme.

[Mina]

I am super hype for this round tbh. Malk has been big on song choice, and I've been struggling to pick songs I think he will rate well. I'm super curious to see what he dishes out.

Yep. Part of it is also the fun of finding out what Malkon sees as our niches.

[Mina]

Spoiler:

You will be missed, Flubbernugget. You were fantastic all competition, and I feel a little dirty about it being this close.

Clearly I need to up my game for the finale, for the sake of my dignity if nothing else.

[Mina]

Go toolenduso!

(You're so gracious! Now I can't indulge in trash talk. )

[Mina]

That video inflicted physical pain on my brain.

And those are big words, coming from the guy who sucks so much he just came in THIRD TO LAST. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ICE-COLD BURN!

(Dammit, I need more material. )

[Mina]

As a warning, my final take for one of the songs might wind up with a loud bang at a really inappropriate moment in the middle...which is probably my neighbours being passive-aggressive at me.

[Mina]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[Mina]

*stunned silence*

[Mina]

Spoiler:

Thank you so much to Malkon for running this! I've always been shy about posting my singing in public, and I'm definitely not a technically "good" singer, so I was really on the fence about participating in the first place. This was great at pushing me out of my comfort zone. It feels crazy it came to this, particularly since there were a few rounds early on where I felt like I was in danger. Thank you to anyone who voted for me (particularly for overlooking the parts where I fucked up <3)

Everyone who participated was incredible, and you made this a lot of fun. Shout-out to toolenduso, who I'm convinced was deliberately singing with a bad mic in the early rounds to lull us into a false sense of security. Now that it won't affect the votes anymore, your "For Forever" blew me away. That long "FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE" was the sound of my MS Idol dreams dying forever at the time. I feel so bad that the vote wound up this close.

I had a lot of fun, and thanks again for running this, Malkon! You did a fantastic job of keeping this positive and drama-free. I feel like I learned a lot from this contest.