Music Challenge 2026 - Official Support Thread

[SugarStorm]

I’ve wanted to write a fantasy story inspired by Nightwish’s cover of Over the Hills and Far Away for so long. Maybe this is finally it!

 

[NaughteeDragon]

I'm looking forward to this, but I'll also need to self-police. I've gone into music in stories heavily recently, particularly with Letting The Sunshine In, which ventured deeply into obsessive territory. I was looking up sheet music ('to Let The Sunshine In / The Flesh Failures', from Hair) trying to work out the composers' intentions and see the original allocation of vocal parts, since there are many different versions recorded. I was researching songs with unusual time signatures to use in the sex scenes, thinking about the harmonic vibrations to use during cunnilingus, trying to find obscure musical terms that helped define the narrative of the story, and so on. I think that my proofreaders did have a hard time restraining me, and there's definitely a potential here for overcommitment.

I don't feel so bad about how deep I went on Ravel's "Bolero" for the story I'm submitting this weekend. The song cycles 8 times over the course of the story, and I tie the increase of intensity and pleasure to the crescendo and addition of instruments. More than one orgasm is tied to the glissandi and final key change.

My plan for this challenge is to use Jon Anderson's "She Just Started Likin' Cheatin' Songs." It's not actually a cheating story. MC's wife is an erotica writer and she starts getting "method" in her research. He starts exploring a bunch of kink and fetish behaviors so she can try and understand the appeal. When he comes home and she's listening to the title track he has to decide if he's going to put his foot down on her behavior.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I’ve wanted to write a fantasy story inspired by Nightwish’s cover of Over the Hills and Far Away for so long. Maybe this is finally it!

Yes!!!!!! Looking forward to reading it!

 

[Rob_Royale]

I'm in. My first entry into the Romance category with a story based on Jim Croce's Dreamin' Again.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I’ve wanted to write a fantasy story inspired by Nightwish’s cover of Over the Hills and Far Away for so long. Maybe this is finally it!

A favorite. Looking forward to it.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Somebody doing old country ....

A Boy Named Sue could be a whole different tale.

 

[dreams_in_words]

Somebody doing old country ....

A Boy Named Sue could be a whole different tale.

Crossdressing, transgender. Many options.

Or just going by the theme of the song and beats the crap out of guys who give him shit for his name. Then maybe it turns into non-consent on the beat up guys part...

 

[pink_silk_glove]

This entire album is beautiful, impeccably recorded and highly poetic, but there is a song on it that is a very sweet trans story.

** caution that there are heavy dynamics (it goes quiet and REALLY LOUD and quiet and REALLY LOUD, so careful with the volume **

I don't know if I could write a piece for it because every time I come up with an idea to match the narrative, it's just repeating the song and the song is better than the story idea. But if anyone is looking for a good transexual song, maybe check it out. The song is beautiful and the narrative is just so sweet. Makes me go 'awww' every time that I listen to it (and I'm completely straight). It transcends any actual sexuality.

I want to ride with the sunroof down
I want to drive till the sun goes down
I want to drive to the secret hideout
Because I'm the right kind of girl for you

We can forget what we learned at school
There is no right for persistent fools
And if we keep on driving backwards
You'll see there's no good and/or bad, my friend

Down this golden road
There is something that I must unload
I'm not a schoolgirl
I am just a Siamese cat with wings

And I hope that you understand
That I once was a boy or a man
And it's too late to change the course of history
But I would like to see you again

Down this golden road
There is something that I must unload
I'm not a schoolgirl
I am just a Siamese cat with wings
And I say things I don't mean
Like there's still a shred of truth to be seen
I'm feeling so high
But I'll take you home if you think that I

Said too much, much too soon
But I'd really like to see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The line, "I'm not a schoolgirl' I always thought was 'I'm not stupid' but the vocal is distorted so maybe I am right and lyrics genius is wrong. I should have the lyrics in the CD liner but my CDs are all packed up in boxes in the basement and I'm not about to dig them out.

 

[YmaOHyd]

I'll probably do something for Morphine's "Top Floor Bottom Buzzer," and if I don't it'll be because I do that for a competition. In that case, I'll probably try something to Tim McNorris's "It's a Beautiful Day."

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Had a story I was working for the Born to Run challenge(inspired by ‘Night’). I finished it too late so I’m going to hold onto it for this one.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Okay I have Maddie my decision, which scares me. I love old rock n roll, stuff from the 70’s and 80’s, then again those were my high school and college years

I am going to take a swing and hopefully do not miss with this Sci/Fi category.

 

[Trionyx]

My first one is done and needs my usual six weeks of slow editing and rewrites. Have an idea for a second one as well.

I am encouraged by the enthusiasm for this challenge. Keep listening, keep planning and keep writing.

 

[old_prof]

Okay I have Maddie my decision

I'm so far away from making a final decision. I'm still tentatively on Peter Gabriel's (I guess officially Genesis's) Counting Out Time, which would turn into a humorous story. It;s probably my favorite humorous song about sex ever written.

But I hear probably ten songs a week and think, that could make a great story. Put a happy ending on Stephen Still's 4+20, The Beatle's If I Fell, Lumineers's Classy Girls would be again a more light hearted one, A couple of Lana Del Ray songs. 2:22 by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. The list just goes on and on. If I'm not careful, I'll end up writing a half dozen stories for this.

 

[Trionyx]

If I'm not careful, I'll end up writing a half dozen stories for this

Go for it.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

I'm so far away from making a final decision. I'm still tentatively on Peter Gabriel's (I guess officially Genesis's) Counting Out Time, which would turn into a humorous story. It;s probably my favorite humorous song about sex ever written.

But I hear probably ten songs a week and think, that could make a great story. Put a happy ending on Stephen Still's 4+20, The Beatle's If I Fell, Lumineers's Classy Girls would be again a more light hearted one, A couple of Lana Del Ray songs. 2:22 by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. The list just goes on and on. If I'm not careful, I'll end up writing a half dozen stories for this.

Exactly! MB and I were goofing around while making a list of our top rock songs from our youth. What it turned out to be on paper isn’t only a long list of potential stories and an awesome playlist

 

[Writer61]

My first thought was to base a story on a song about oral sex by an obscure Dutch-Belgian jazz band, which is obviously a bit niche.

How important is it that the song is well-known?

 

[YmaOHyd]

This overlaps with Summer Lovin', right?

 

[Trionyx]

How important is it that the song is well-known?

Go for it. An explanation at the end might be nice but obscure songs are AOK.

This overlaps with Summer Lovin', right?

A little. If I recall correctly, Summer Lovin’ closes out in the first week of September.

 

[Writer61]

Ran through the 5* tracks in my library … came up with a long list of 55 possible titles. FFS. HTF to choose?

 

[Trionyx]

Ran through the 5* tracks in my library … came up with a long list of 55 possible titles. FFS. HTF to choose?

You better get busy. 55 stories between now and then is ballpark 3-4 days per story.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I’ve been drawn to period pieces lately, and I am inspired to base a story on Yankee Bayonet by the Decemberists.

Yankee Bayonet

 

[Writer61]

You better get busy. 55 stories between now and then is ballpark 3-4 days per story.

I have been whittling them down.

 

[Actingup]

I'm so far away from making a final decision. I'm still tentatively on Peter Gabriel's (I guess officially Genesis's) Counting Out Time, which would turn into a humorous story. It;s probably my favorite humorous song about sex ever written.

But I hear probably ten songs a week and think, that could make a great story. Put a happy ending on Stephen Still's 4+20, The Beatle's If I Fell, Lumineers's Classy Girls would be again a more light hearted one, A couple of Lana Del Ray songs. 2:22 by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. The list just goes on and on. If I'm not careful, I'll end up writing a half dozen stories for this.

Bonus points if you do one for The Lamia as well.

(I know you know the piece well - linking for anybody else interested.)