Norman McDonald, Paul Ivy & Laura Rabell are the Wide Open Country's Pour Decisions Promotion winners for their song "ALCOHOL OF FAME." We caught up with them to get the story behind their song.
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How long have you been songwriting?
NORM MCDONALD: I've been writing songs since I was about 16, sophomore year, in HS.
PAUL IVY: I've been writing songs since I was about 16 in high school.
Why did you enter Wide Open Country's Pour Decisions Promotion?
NORM MCDONALD: This song always goes over well when played live. We believe this song has a future with artists who like to put out a fun song every once and a while.
PAUL IVY: Norm entered the song but we all thought it would be a good fit for the contest. It's definitely a drinking song.
What was the songwriting process like for "ALCOHOL OF FAME"?
NORM MCDONALD: While we were discussing what we would like to write about, Laura Rabell said something like "what about the Alcohol Of Fame? We all started laughing and a couple of hours later, we were laughing and singing together!
PAUL IVY: I recall Laura brought the idea to the write, and like with any good idea, the song just took off. There are so many halls of fame, we thought what would it take to get into one that was about alcohol.
LAURA RABELL: I just remember that we were all brainstorming the craziest stories that we had experienced or heard other people bragging about. So, it was a pretty entertaining writing session! We were all cracking each other up.
If you could co-write with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
NORM MCDONALD: John Sebastian, John Fogerty & Paul McCartney.
PAUL IVY: Oh gosh, only one? James Taylor, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Dylan
How has entering this contest impacted your career or confidence as a songwriter?
NORM MCDONALD: It's a great boost to find that others believe in you and your ability to write a good, memorable song.
PAUL IVY: It shows me we are on the right track!
What's next for you in your music journey?
NORM MCDONALD: Write. Write Write.
PAUL IVY: To continue to write with my friends and record some of the best ones.
What would you tell other songwriters who are considering entering the contest?
NORM MCDONALD: You'll never know unless you try.
PAUL IVY: I'd say pick a song that you think is a strong contender, have gotten good feedback on, and give it a shot. You can't win unless you enter!
Listen to "ALCOHOL OF FAME" below:
