To encourage members to write at least one song a month, we publish a list of challenges. Challenges can be a theme, topic, song style or method which encourages our members to try something new. The Last Wednesday of every month is our New Song Night, where challenge songs and any other song written that month are performed in the first set. Members are encouraged to perform the new songs, no matter how rough the song or performance may be in order to get early feedback and support.
After three decades of publishing a new list of monthly Song Challenges, we decided to put all these song prompts on the site and let people choose what they want to use to inspire a new song.
Song Challenge Archive
2018 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge –Portrait
Bring a new song that is a portrait of a HISTORICAL figure.
February Song Challenge –Tight Lyric
Bring a new song where every word counts. No fillers until the rhyme comes along, no setting the mood and no preaching at the end of the song.
March Song Challenge –KKFI Fundraiser
Bring a new song that is entertaining yet could be played on any community radio station as a fund raiser. It should give the listener a good reason to support the station with money.
April Song Challenge –Foreign Setting
Bring a new song that is set in a foreign country. It may or may not include words in a foreign language.
May Song Challenge –Healing Song
Bring a new song that heals the soul. This should deal with life’s dark side that cuts us down to our knees, in a way that makes us able to get back up and face the sharp edges again.
June Song Challenge –Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally the work should be split about 50/50, but it’s OK if one person does the words and one the music.
July Song Challenge –1 Line Refrain
Bring a new song that uses a one-line refrain. The same line ends each verse and must make sense each time. You may repeat the line again or have a bridge but no refrain.
August Song Challenge –Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger or older person, etc.
September Song Challenge –Rhyme Scheme
Bring a new song that uses a formal rhyme scheme that is NEW for your songs. Try internal rhymes, slant rhymes, relaxed rhymes or a sestina.
October Song Challenge –Work Of Art
Bring a new song that is based on a work of art such as a painting, play, novel, poem, dance or sculpture. It can be a famous piece or just something to spark your imagination.
November Song Challenge –Round
Bring a new song that can be sung as a round. All three (or four) elements must be compatible when sung to the same music at the same time.
December Song Challenge –Place
Bring a new song that builds upon a strong connection to a place or reminisces about a place
2016 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge – Creation Story
Bring a new song that tells one of the many creation stories,
or make up your own. Dave Carter even has one for Unitarians, Gentle Arms of Eden.
February Song Challenge – Family History
Bring a new song that uses a story from your family history.
March Song Challenge – PreEdison
Bring a new song that takes place before electricity.
April Song Challenge – Reunited.com
Bring a new song that has two people reunited through the Internet and technology.
May Song Challenge – The Tree
Bring a new song that is about a tree or is from the point of view of a tree.
June Song Challenge – Four Seasons
Bring a new song that is structured around the four seasons or mentions each season.
July Song Challenge – A Blessing
Bring a new song that is a blessing or has a blessing in it, like Bob Dylan’s Forever Young.
August Song Challenge – When I Go
Bring a new song that has instructions for when you die;
or a description of what will happen to you.
September Song Challenge – Hello Mr. Abstract Noun
Bring a new song that puts an abstract noun as a person in the song,
as Bob Dylan does in Dignity.
October Song Challenge – Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally the work should be split
about 50/50, but it’s okay if one person does the words and one does the music.
November Song Challenge – Heart Strings
Bring a new song that tugs at our heart strings or brings a tear to our eyes.
December Song Challenge – Title Book
Bring a new song that is written from a title, or use one from the Circle’s Title Book.
2015 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge – From an Animal’s Point of View
Bring a new song that is from an animal’s point of view.
February Song Challenge – Myth
Bring a new song that tells the story of a myth in song.
March Song Challenge – Shopping Trip Gone Bad
Bring a new song that is about a shopping trip disaster.
April Song Challenge – Lady Luck
Bring a new song that has good or bad luck in the plot.
May Song Challenge – Interior Landscape
Bring a new song that gives a picture of a character’s inner self.
June Song Challenge – Palm Reader
Bring a new song that has someone’s palm read.
July Song Challenge – Firearm
Bring a new song that has a firearm in it.
August Song Challenge – Juxtaposed
Bring a new song that has two things together that are almost never found together.
September Song Challenge – Group Collaboration
Bring a new song that is written by three or more people.
October Song Challenge – Backing Track
Bring a new song that has has a backing track that you can sing to. It could be rhythm, electronica, or just yourself on instruments.
November Song Challenge – The Promise
Bring a new song that has a promise given or broken.
December Song Challenge – Black and White Photo
Bring a new song that has an old black and white photo in it.
2014 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge – A Better World
Bring a new song that shows ways to make things better, or a vision of a better world.
February Song Challenge – Love Song
Bring a new song that tells about love.
March Song Challenge – Spirit
Bring a new song that deals with religion, faith or the spirit world.
April Song Challenge – Sweet Memories
Bring a new song that uses your own past, someone else’s past, or pure fiction.
May Song Challenge – Music Festival
Bring a new song that is about the Winfield Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival or any music festival.
June Song Challenge – Children’s Song
Bring a new song that is for children, or the young at heart.
July Song Challenge – Humorous Songs
Bring a new song that is funny.
August Song Challenge – Feeling Blue
Bring a new song that is about feeling sad. It could be in any musical style.
September Song Challenge – Rewrite
Bring a new song that has been reworked from suggestions at a critique session. This could be a one-on-one or a group critique session.
October Song Challenge – Short and Sweet
Bring a new song that has only 12 lines in it.
November Song Challenge – The Whole Story
Bring a new song that has at least six verses in it.
December Song Challenge – Holiday Song
Bring a new song that is about any major holiday that a radio DJ would want to play on that day.
Download the PDF of the 2014 Song Challenges
2013 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge – Portrait
Bring a new song that is a portrait of a HISTORICAL figure.
February Song Challenge – Conversation
Bring a new song that is sparked by real conversation you have overheard or a song with dialogue between two people in it.
March Song Challenge – Ghost Story
Bring a new song that tells a ghost story or uses the dead as a supernatural character or image in the story.
April Song Challenge – Clap, Stomp, Howl, Sing
Bring a new song that uses audience participation as an element of the song.
May Song Challenge – Healing Song
Bring a new song that heals the soul. This should deal with life’s dark side that cuts us down to our knees, in a way that makes us able to get back up and face the sharp edges again.
June Song Challenge – Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally the work should be split about 50/50, but it’s OK if one person does the words and one the music.
July Song Challenge – 1 Line Refrain
Bring a new song that uses a one-line refrain. The same line ends each verse and must make sense each time. You may repeat the line again or have a bridge but no refrain.
August Song Challenge – Sequel
Bring a new song that is a sequel to one of your songs or a well-know song with characters in it. Tell us what happens next.
September Song Challenge – Dorothy Met Eve
Bring a new song that has two well-known characters (from different stories) meet.
October Song Challenge – Work Of Art
Bring a new song that is based on a work of art such as a painting, play, novel, poem, dance or sculpture. It can be a famous piece or just something to spark your imagination.
November Song Challenge – News
Bring a new song that is based on a news article. It can be a real event or one from the likes of the National Enquirer.
December Song Challenge – Leap of Faith
Bring a new song that is about stepping out of the predictable into the unknown to follow your dreams.
Download the PDF of the 2013 Song Challenges
2012 Song Challenges
January
“Yesterday” Tell us what happened. And if it isn’t the truth, then it ought to be.
February
“Here Come Ol’ Flattop” Bring a nonsense song.
March
“Savoy Truffle” Write a song about food; a favorite food, or one you can’t stand the sight of.
April
“Here Comes the Sun” It’s Spring. Bring a seasonal song.
May
“Michelle” Use a person’s name as the title of your song.
June
“Taxman” Bring a protest song.
July
“Something” or anything from your notebook that you’ve never finished.
August
“Let It Be” Bring a gospel song, or a spiritual song.
September
“Yer Blues” Bring a blues song.
October
“Eight Days A Week” Bring a song that uses a malapropism for the title.
November
“Twist And Shout” Write a two-and-a-half minute rocker.
December
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” Write a song from the perspective of an inanimate object.
2011 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge – Watercolor
Bring a new song that uses watercolors or watercolor painting in it.
February Song Challenge – Current Events
Bring a new song drawn from a current event.
March Song Challenge – Inanimate Object
Bring a new song from an object’s point of view.
April Song Challenge – The Dentist
Bring a new song about going to the dentist.
May Song Challenge – Indefinite
Bring a new song without using the word “the.”
June Song Challenge – Acrostic
Bring a new song where the first letter of each line in a song spell out a word or phrase.
July Song Challenge – Modulate
Include a key change in a new song.
August Song Challenge – Time Change
Include a change of meter in a new song.
September Song Challenge – Rip Off
Bring a new song with the same title as a very famous song e.g. ‘Yesterday’, ‘Stairway To Heaven’ but make the song TOTALLY different.
October Song Challenge – Foreign Tongue
Bring a song with at least part of the lyrics in a language other than your native tongue, the chorus for example.
November Song Challenge – Citified
Bring a new song where you mention the names of at least four cities in your song.
December Song Challenge – Random Word
Open a book randomly, point to a word with your eyes closed, and use that word in the chorus of a new song.
2010 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge -Leaving
Bring a new song about the parting of ways. It could be sad, wistful, hopeful or funny.
February Song Challenge – Chorus
Bring a new song that starts with the chorus.
March Song Challenge – Major/Minor
Bring a new song that has the verse in a major key and the refrain in a minor key, or vice-versa.
April Song Challenge – Tax Time
Bring a new song about money. It could be funny, use money makes the world go round, or use money talks.
May Song Challenge – Gimme a Fiver
Bring a new song that either:
is in 5/4 or 5/8 time or,
uses a pentatonic scale or,
begins each line with a vowel or,
has five stanzas with five lines each or,
is about a fist fight.
June Song Challenge – Jingle
Bring a new song that is a phone answering jingle for yourself, or for a product you use.
July Song Challenge – Tardy
Bring a new song about being late.
August Song Challenge – The Villain
Bring a new song about a villain, either fictional or true to life.
September Song Challenge – The Phone Call
Bring a new song that is one side of a phone conversation, but the audience can fill in the other side.
October Song Challenge – Where I Live
Bring a new song that is about the place you live. It could be what you like or donÕt like about it.
November Song Challenge – Way Out West
Bring a new song that has a Western theme.
December Song Challenge – Questions
Bring a new song that asks interesting questions.
2009 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge – A Fresh Start
Bring a new song that is about starting all over.
February Song Challenge – My FunnyValentine
Bring a new love song to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day.
March Song Challenge – Erin go Braugh!
Bring a new song that is inspired by something Celtic in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
April Song Challenge – April Fool
Bring a new song that is funny.
May Song Challenge – Car Talk
Bring a new song that is either about a car, or uses a car as a metaphor.
June Song Challenge – Odd Meter
Bring a new song that is in a meter you don’t usually write in.
July Song Challenge – America
Bring a new song that tells how you feel about America.
August Song Challenge – Summertime
Bring a new song that is about summer, or that
uses summer imagery or as a metaphor.
September Song Challenge – GlobalMarket
Bring a new song that is about the Global Economy,
the Global Village, or the Global Blog.
October Song Challenge – When Fall ComesTo the Prairie
Bring a new song that is about autumn, or that uses
autumnal imagery.
November Song Challenge – Sing Along
Bring a new song that has a sing along chorus.
December Song Challenge – Winter
Bring a new song that is about winter or that uses
winter as an image.
Download the 2009 Song Challenges in PDF.
2008 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge–Travel
Bring a new song that is about leaving, coming home, vacations or life on the road.
February Song Challenge–Valentunes
Bring a new song that tells about a current, past or
fictional love affair.
March Song Challenge–News
Bring a new song that is inspired by a news article.
April Song Challenge–Work Song
Bring a new song that is based on employment or what people do for a living.
May Song Challenge–Parenthood
Bring a new song that tells about the trials, tribulations and/or joys of being a parent.
June Song Challenge–History
Bring a new song that deals with a historical event.
July Song Challenge–Clap, stomp, howl, sing
Bring a new song that uses audience participation as an element of the song.
August Song Challenge–Friends
Bring a new song that deals with friends and friendships, old or new.
September Song Challenge–That Way Madness Lies…
Bring a new song that is about madness, mental illness or insanity.
October Song Challenge–Twist of Fate
Bring a new song that uses a surprise ending.
November Song Challenge–Title Book
Bring a new song that starts from a great title or choose a title from our new “Title Book.”
December Song Challenge–The Shopping Trip from Hell
Bring a new song that tells about a real or imaginary shopping trip that goes from bad to disastrous.
2007 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge –Eavesdrop
Bring a new song that uses conversation overheard at a cafe, coffeehouse, party, etc.
February Song Challenge –Tall Tale
Bring a new song that tells a tall tale. Make it a whopper, yet do your best to make it believable.
March Song Challenge –Romantic Comedy
Bring a new song that shows us how love makes us act crazy.
April Song Challenge –Band Together
Bring a new song that comes from forming a band with other writers/performers and have the band write the song as a collaboration (with 3 or more people).
May Song Challenge –Ghost Story
Bring a new song that tells a ghost story or uses the dead as a supernatural character or image in the story.
June Song Challenge –Miracles & Magic
Bring a new song that deals with everyday miracles or uses magic. Make us believe your “make believe.”
July Song Challenge –Zipper Song
Bring a new song that uses a word or line in the song which is repeated by the audience, as in “She’ll be coming ’round the mountain when she comes. When she comes.” This is similar to a call and response part of a song.
August Song Challenge –Teach Your Children Well
Bring a new song that deals with a parent/child relationship in some way. Either or both sides can have a voice in the song.
September Song Challenge –And Another Thing…
Bring a new song that tells someone off who deserves a good cutting down to size.
October Song Challenge –New Sounds
Bring a new song that uses two new chords you have never used in a song before. (Swap with other Circle members.)
November Song Challenge –Downstream
Bring a new song that uses stream of consciousness rather than plot to advance the song. Just let the song flow downstream on its own.
December Song challenge –Saints & Angels
Bring a new song that tells about someone who has been a saint or a guardian angel for you in your life, or a song that uses these images.
2006 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge –Sequel to Puff
Bring a new song that is a sequel to Puff the Magic Dragon. This can be a humorous song or a children’s song.
February Song Challenge –Gender Switch
Bring a new song that is written from the point of view of someone of the opposite gender.
March Song Challenge –New Music Style
Bring a new song that is in a specific musical genre or style that is one you don’t usually write for your songs.
April Song Challenge –Central Metaphor
Bring a new song that is based on a central metaphor that continues through the song.
May Song Challenge –Dreams
Bring a new song that is inspired by a dream or that uses dream logic and imagery.
June Song Challenge –Ecobilly
Bring a new song that deals with an environmental issue. It could be serious or humorous.
July Song Challenge –Arrangement
Bring a new song that is written and arranged for 2 voices (or more) and for 2 instruments (or more).
August Song Challenge –Aphorism
Bring a new song that creates a new aphorism or maxim such as “a rolling stone gathers no moss.”
September Song Challenge –Piano Power
Bring a new song that is composed on a piano (or synth). The song may or may not be performed on piano. You may want to enlist the help of a piano-playing member to help you perform it.
October Song Challenge –Jekyll and Hyde
Bring 2 versions of the same song. These may be identical lyrics to different music or two different takes on the same song subject (i.e. serious and humorous).
November Song Challenge –Traveling
Bring a new song that is about traveling.
December Song challenge –Parody
Bring a new song that is written as a parody.
2005 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge –Portrait
Bring a new song that is a portrait of a HISTORICAL figure.
February Song Challenge –Tight Lyric
Bring a new song where every word counts. No fillers until the rhyme comes along, no setting the mood and no preaching at the end of the song.
March Song Challenge –KKFI Fundraiser
Bring a new song that is entertaining yet could be played on any community radio station as a fund raiser. It should give the listener a good reason to support the station with money.
April Song Challenge –Foreign Setting
Bring a new song that is set in a foreign country. It may or may not include words in a foreign language.
May Song Challenge –Healing Song
Bring a new song that heals the soul. This should deal with life’s dark side that cuts us down to our knees, in a way that makes us able to get back up and face the sharp edges again.
June Song Challenge –Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally the work should be split about 50/50, but it’s OK if one person does the words and one the music.
July Song Challenge –1 Line Refrain
Bring a new song that uses a one-line refrain. The same line ends each verse and must make sense each time. You may repeat the line again or have a bridge but no refrain.
August Song Challenge –Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger or older person, etc.
September Song Challenge –Rhyme Scheme
Bring a new song that uses a formal rhyme scheme that is NEW for your songs. Try internal rhymes, slant rhymes, relaxed rhymes or a sestina.
October Song Challenge –Work Of Art
Bring a new song that is based on a work of art such as a painting, play, novel, poem, dance or sculpture. It can be a famous piece or just something to spark your imagination.
November Song Challenge –Round
Bring a new song that can be sung as a round. All three (or four) elements must be compatible when sung to the same music at the same time.
December Song Challenge –Place
Bring a new song that builds upon a strong connection to a place or reminisces about a place.
2004 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge –Work Song
Bring a new song that tells about a work issue or is set in a working situation.
February Song Challenge –Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally the work should be split about 50/50, but it’s OK if one person does the words and one the music.
March Song Challenge –Animal Song
Bring a new song that is about an animal or animals in general. It may also be from the point of view of an animal. It can be an adult or a children’s song.
April Song Challenge –Food Song
Bring a new song that is about food. It can be funny or pensive, high cholesterol or organic, fictional or biographical, we’ll sample them all…
May Song Challenge –Story
Bring a new song that tells a story. It should have most of the basic elements found in a short story, yet stay under seven minutes..
June Song Challenge –Song In The Hat
Bring a new song that uses a title idea drawn from a hat at the May Circle Performance night. Everyone will think of a title and put it in the hat, then we’ll all draw one.
July Song Challenge –One Word Title
Bring a new song that has a one word title. The title should be the main anchor for the song.
August Song Challenge –Funny Song
Bring a new song that uses humor. It can be a funny story with a punch line, a funny “what if” situation, a parody or a combination of each.
September Song Challenge –Topical
Bring a new song that uses a topic of a current event as its main theme. It should be an issue that everyone is aware of, even if the event may not be well publicized.
October Song Challenge –One Verse Song
Bring a new song that uses a simple a,a,a. form as opposed to a verse, chorus, verse, chorus form. All the lyrics must be in the first and only verse. There would be no refrain..
November Song Challenge –Conversation
Bring a new song that is sparked by real conversation you have overheard or a song with dialogue between two people in it.
December Song Challenge –On Automatic
Bring a new song that is sparked by automatic writing. Just write whatever comes into your head for several pages without any editing. Then use the best images and phrases.
2003 Song Challenges
January Song Challenge –Disability Character
Bring a new song that shows a person with a disability in a positive light. No pity, no cures, just reasonable accommodation.
February Song Challenge –Portrait
Bring a new song that paints a portrait of a fictional individual. This can be in the first person as a self portrait.
March Song Challenge –Parody
Bring a new song that is a parody of a song by a songwriter you really admire. It must poke fun at the songwriter’s style. This is usually done by exaggeration.
April Song Challenge –Letter
Bring a new song that is in the form of a letter. It doesn’t need to start with “Dear____”. It should be clear at the beginning that it is a letter.
May Song Challenge –Story
Bring a new song that tells a story. It should have most of the basic elements found in a short story, yet stay under seven minutes..
June Song Challenge –Collaboration
Bring a new song that is a collaboration with someone. Ideally the work should be split about 50/50, but it’s OK if one person does the words and one the music.
July Song Challenge –Motif
Bring a new song that uses a motif. Each line must begin with the same word or phrase.
August Song Challenge –Persona
Bring a new song that uses a different persona. Write from the viewpoint of a person of the opposite sex, of a much younger or older person, etc.
September Song Challenge –Children’s
Bring a new song that is primarily a children’s song. It should be simple to learn. It should have enough elegance to be of value to adults as well.
October Song Challenge –Newspaper
Bring a new song that is based on a newspaper article. It can be a real event or one from the likes of the National Enquirer.
November Song Challenge –Death
Bring a new song that tells about someone’s death. The person can be real or imaginary.
December Song Challenge –Emulation
Bring a new song that emulates a famous songwriter’s style: Dylanesque, Simonesque, Tayloresque, etc. as long as they are well known and your song is clearly in their style.
Song Challenge Archive in PDF – 1996-2000
Song Challenges for 2000 in PDF
Song Challenges for 1999 in PDF
Song Challenges for 1998 in PDF