#50-90-challenge — Public Fediverse posts

2025 50/90 Challenge Day 1/90

Today is July 4th. While that means something to the nation formerly known as the US it now just means that it is the first day of the 50 Songs in 90 Days Challenge. Welcome!

I would link to the 50/90 website but apparently it no longer exists. I guess 50/90 as an organized thing is over? Sure looks that way. I’ll still try it on my own though. There are 90 days between July 4th and October 1st. During that stretch of time I plan to write 50 songs… because I am an insane.

It’s after 11:00pm now. We just came home from watching fireworks up in Derry, NH. Do I have a 50/90 recap? Why yes, yes I do.

There are two songs in the pipeline. One has the full song form and the MIDI bass and drums done. The other is just three loose fitting eight-bar phrases.

That’s it. Two songs under way. Come back again tomorrow and see if I made any additional progress. One day down, 89 to go!

#5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #SongWriting

This year’s challenge is now officially over. 90 days in the books. Thanks for coming along on my journey through silliness.

The next internet based musical songwriting/recording challenge kicks off on November 1st. National Solo Album Month. I’m not sure if I am going to play along this year. 50/90 took a lot out of me. We’ll see.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/10/02/2024-50-90-challenge-day-90-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

This year’s 50 songs in 90 days challenge equates to more like 57 songs in 89 days. I am done. I mixed the last four songs. I didn’t mix them well (just quick and dirty) but they are done and now so am I. I hit all of my goofy little goals.

• 50 songs
• 10 songs started and finished within each calendar month
• More songs than any of my previous 50/90 successes (my record was 52)

And there we have it, folks. My forth successful summer challenge. I guess the next step is to pick around 10 songs that aren’t as awful as the rest and edit, rewrite, and rerecord them into a sort of album-ish project. Maybe that will be my task for day 90. We’ll see.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/10/01/2024-50-90-challenge-day-89-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

And just like that, the 50 songs in 90 days challenge comes to an end. I mixed the four remaining songs and that’s all she wrote.

https://hearthis.at/musical.idiot8/this-is-the-way-it-goes/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/30/finished-6/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I think I am going to miss these first thing in the morning posts once this year’s challenge is all over. I always try to do this but I’ve never managed to do it for the full 90 days. Another challenge completed? Sort of.

Yesterday, day 88, I put vocals on four songs. Then I put both rhythm and lead guitars onto two songs. Finally I mixed three songs. All that’s left now is to mix the last four. I technically have two days to do it but I sort of see this little project as needing to be over before the calendar strikes October. We’ll see if I can wrap it up tonight (day 89). Today is a work-in-the-office day so I lost a lot of time to my commute.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/30/2024-50-90-challenge-day-88-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I have mixed three songs so far tonight. I’m up to 53 songs complete for the 50 songs in 90 days challenge. 106% complete.

https://hearthis.at/musical.idiot8/i-think-you-know/

I still have four songs to mix. Will I finish tonight? Probably not. Tomorrow seems pretty likely. Success is fun, even if it is for something incredibly stupid like 50/90. Incredibly stupid and endlessly pointless. Yippee, bro.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/29/53-106/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I think it was at some point last week when I declared that tracking was done for the 50/90 Challenge. Then I added four more songs because I’m a doofus. Now today, once again, I am declaring that tracking for the 50/90 challenge is done.

I put all guitars onto two songs that I started writing yesterday. They both got vocals earlier this morning and now every song I’ve come up with for this stupid internet songwriting challenge has had all of the parts recorded on their individual demoes. Hallelujah, Holy Shit.

I am now left with seven songs to mix. If I finish them all before Tuesday then I will finish the 50 songs in 90 days challenge with 57 songs… again, because I am a doofus.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54030562949/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54030562929/in/datetaken/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/29/tracking-is-done-again/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #iphoneography #Music #photography #Recording #Songwriting

I did some singing in the car today. Nice. I put vocals on four songs. Two of those songs still need some guitar parts but that’s all that’s left for 50/90 challenge tracking. I still have seven total songs that remain unmixed and I have until Tuesday to get to them all. Crazy, right?

Since coming home from car music at about 9:00am (three hours ago, approximately), Jen and I have been sacked out on the couch watching episodes of Parks and Rec and New Girl because it’s Sunday and we’re flipping a big eff-you to responsibility today.

Jen’s going to have lunch now and we’re going to watch one more episode of New Girl and then she’s going to do some work because we can’t be flipping the big eff-you to responsibility all day… I guess. I’ll finish the guitar tracking then. I should have lunch but I had a snack at around 11:00 and I am stuffed. I way over did it. My tiny little re-wired stomach pouch thing is a little cheesed off with me right now, but it will be okay. We’ll get through this, stomach pouch. We’ll get through it together.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54029567881/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54029897749/in/datetaken/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/29/car-music-14/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #newGirl #parksAndRec #parksAndRecreation #Recording #sitcoms #Songwriting #Television

Monumental stuff today. I added two new songs because I am a glutton for punishment. I also mixed one song. That one song being the 50th song. I have successfully completed the 50 songs in 90 days challenge! Hurray for me, folks! Yet another pointless waste of time in the books!

Now while I could call it a project and take the last three days off, I will not. I still have seven songs outstanding. Three are ready to mix. Four need vocals and two of those still need guitars. I hope to finish all of the tracking (again) on day 88 (today). I can pull this off.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/29/2024-50-90-challenge-day-87-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

And with the finished mix of this stink nugget, I have successfully pulled off the 50 songs in 90 days challenge. Yup, this is finished song number 50. I was hoping it would be a banger, but instead it is not. Oh well.

2014, 2020, 2021, and now 2024. My forth victory.

https://hearthis.at/musical.idiot8/on-the-edge/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/28/50-songs-in-90-days/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

Day 86 (yesterday) was a nightmare of stomach pain and post-gastric-bypass surgery awfulness. I woke up at 5:00 feeling pain and it didn’t go away until about 9:00pm. In short, yesterday sucked.

I did manage to put both rhythm and lead guitar tracks onto one song. I was hoping to mix something and maybe add another song to the pipeline as well, but my redesigned innards had other plans. At least I didn’t get shut out, right?

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/28/2024-50-90-challenge-day-86-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

Let’s see… I put all of the guitar tracks onto one song before work. After work I added another song (why?) and then mixed song number 49. The project is officially 98% complete.

I’m hoping day 86 is going to look pretty much the same.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/27/2024-50-90-challenge-day-85-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I over did things without making any major progress. Somehow… I guess.

I mixed a song. That’s good. Before I did that though I added a song. MIDI bass and drums down as well as a melody and lyrics. The pipeline is up to 54 songs now. Why did I do that?

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/26/2024-50-90-challenge-day-84-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I mixed another song. It’s been uploaded to Alonetone.com and cross posted to the 50/90 challenge page. 48 songs down. Two more completes the challenge for this year. I’m 96% finished.

https://hearthis.at/musical.blathering.idiot12/rejection/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/25/48-down/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I mixed one song last night, just before bed. That’s all I had time for. 47 songs complete. Three more to finish the 50 songs in 90 days challenge. Three more on top of that to empty my in-progress pipeline.

I have 11 songs that were started in September. It would be more fun if there were 15, don’t you think? I have this weird compulsion to add four more songs. I think this whole project might be getting to me. We’ll see.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/25/2024-50-90-challenge-day-83-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

47 songs down and three to go in order to complete the 50 songs in 90 days challenge for 2024.

If I pick out 5-10 songs from this year’s batch to make an “album”, it’s safe to say that this one one be included. It’s not the worst song, but it’s not terribly good either. Can 7/8 time swing? I guess not.

https://hearthis.at/musical.blathering.idiot12/never-come-home/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/24/47-songs-down/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

A good day. I put vocals and lead guitars on the last three songs. I also mixed the last song that was started before September 1st.

There are 46 songs mixed and complete. There are seven more ready to mix. 53 in total. There are eight days left. I have more days than songs left to mix. I think I am in good shape.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/24/2024-50-90-challenge-day-82-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I had a vision in my head of finishing the tracking for the 50/90 challenge by adding vocals and lead guitars to the final three songs. Instead, I didn’t do any of that which lead to me sneaking out and putting vocals on those final three songs this morning. I won’t have time for the last few guitar tracks until… Thursday? I have a bunch of songs still to mix so there’s plenty of work to do between now and then. I mixed one song last night and started mixing another. Hopefully I’ll finish that tonight, but I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night at all and I expect to crash hard tonight. We’ll see.

Pictures. One guitar picture as a reminder to myself that I didn’t play yesterday (or today) even though I wanted to.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54015482856/in/datetaken/

Next, a view from my “recording studio” this morning.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54016009200/in/datetaken/

Finally, yet another picture of the downtown clock from the drive home. Fascinating.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54014670302/in/datetaken/

I have eight days left to finish the 50 songs in 90 days challenge. I am feeling some pressure, but I am also optimistic.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/23/not-quite-done/

#20245090Challenge #365 #365Challenge #365Project #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Hipstamatic #iphoneography #Music #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #Recording #Songwriting

Okay, let’s get nervous now. Less than 10 days left. Just over a week.

I mixed one song. That’s it. I had SO much more planned. I thought I was going to be able to finish all of the remaining tracking but I didn’t get to any of it.

The nerves are irrational, I know. It doesn’t matter though.

45 songs complete. The challenge is 90% finished.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/23/2024-50-90-challenge-day-81-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

The arrival of day 80 (yesterday) brings on the start of crunch time. I am light years ahead of the pace still, but seeing day 80 still brings on a crashing irrational panic. You know how it is.

I put rhythm guitars onto one song yesterday and lead guitars onto four. I’m hoping day 81 (today) will include some vocal tracking and maybe some more lead guitar. There is a very slim chance that I could wrap up tracking entirely by the end of the day. We’ll see.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/22/2024-50-90-challenge-day-80-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

Hey there, everyone out there in internets land. How’s your morning going?

Are you having a good morning the way I am? Are both of your kids home for a visit? Did you play a ton of guitar before breakfast?

That’s my morning in a nutshell. Both kids are here, but only for the morning. I also put rhythm guitar tracks onto one wong and lead tracks onto four.

It’s a good morning ’round here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54010567901/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54009666677/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54010992510/in/datetaken/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/21/hows-your-morning-going/

#20245090Challenge #365 #365Challenge #365Project #5090 #5090Challenge #collegeKids #Family #Guitar #iphoneography #lids #Music #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #Recording #Songwriting #StepKids

I wrote lyrics and a melody for two songs. Likely they will be the last two songs. I started putting vocals on one of them but I had to stop in the middle. I doubt I’ll be able so salvage any of it.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/21/2024-50-90-challenge-day-79-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

We’re really through 78 days of this thing? That means today is day 79… which means that counting today there are only 11 days left? Daaaaaaamn.

I had almost zero time to spend on music yesterday (day 78) but I did manage to sneak in a mix as I was falling asleep last night. 44 songs finished. Six to go. We’re 88% complete.

https://hearthis.at/musical.blathering.idiot12/riddle/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/20/2024-50-90-challenge-day-78-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I had a very full, busy day yesterday (day 77) and I am not sure I can remember everything I did. I think this is everything…

I put lyrics and melodies onto two songs, then I added a new song with bass and drums (all MIDI), and then I jumped in the car and drove to an empty parking lot and put vocals onto four songs. A good haul on an extra busy day.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/19/2024-50-90-challenge-day-77-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

Today’s photo a day pic:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54003311682/in/datetaken/

She looks pissed off because I keep stopping her when she tries to eat one of the plants. I’m a jerk like that.

In other news, I put vocals on four songs for the 50 songs in 90 days challenge. I now have 50 songs with vocals… which implies that I will be successful this year. Huzzah, babie.

Here a picture of the clock downtown from my drive home… because.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54004158471/in/datetaken/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/18/jungle-cat/

#20245090Challenge #365 #365Challenge #365Project #5090 #5090Challenge #Cat #Guitar #Kitty #Music #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #Recording #robin #Songwriting

Right then, back on schedule with the previous day’s update happening first thing in the morning.

Yesterday, on day 76. I added lyrics and melodies to one song. Time to get cracking, red head!

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/18/2024-50-90-challenge-day-76-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

This post is supposed to happen first thing in the morning but I didn’t get to it until dinner time. Sorry.

Yesterday, day 75, I added lyrics and melody to one song.

That’s all.

15 days left. Still a lot of work to do but not a long time remaining.

Crap.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/17/2024-50-90-challenge-day-75-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I did a few things on day 74 (yesterday) Let us recap!

I put rhythm guitars onto two songs. I think it was two songs. It was two songs, wasn’t it?

I put lead guitar onto one song.

I mixed two songs.

I wrote lyrics and a melody for one song.

Not sure what I will have time for today (day 75). I have a bunch of songs that need lyrics and a few that are ready to mix. Nothing is waiting on guitars at the moment though. I should focus on the lyrics and the melodies so that I can do a car music tomorrow morning. I think that’s the plan. I also want to add one more song if I can. I’m at 52 total right now and I want to be at 53 when everything is over.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/16/2024-50-90-challenge-day-74-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting

I did it again. I messed up my morning routine. Big time. I overslept, then I had a problem that came up and screwed up my morning exercise. I am just off today… again.

I did work on some music though. I put rhythm guitars onto two songs. I used my SG for both of them.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/53996964295/in/datetaken/

Then I switched to my Les Paul Custom and put leads onto one song.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/53996538811/in/datetaken/

Musically speaking, what’s next for today? I haven’t a clue. I’ll let you know once I straighten out my brain. Maybe in 25 years or something? Who knows.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/15/another-screwed-up-morning-routine/

#20245090Challenge #365 #365Challenge #365Project #5090 #5090Challenge #GibsonGuitars #GibsonLesPaul #gibsonSg #Guitar #Music #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #Recording #Songwriting

I worked on one song on day 73. One new thing that managed to get a song form and MIDI bass and drums.

Hoping for more today but not sure how things will go down.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/15/2024-50-90-challenge-day-73-90/

#20245090Challenge #5090 #5090Challenge #Guitar #Music #Recording #Songwriting