Homepage Suggestions

T"he purpose of this change is 'take users by the hand.'" .. .to do what? this phrase requires an additional phrase to explain what it is in this case "users" will do-- and usually implies the ones taken by the hand have some sort of helplessness-- it is not a positive phrase

2) I also don't like it-- for new users to shs it's meaningless

3) I have a long list -- my 'who knew file" of obscure originals, so imo there are way too many for such use

READ

Read.

Some fan mail needs some updating:

https://secondhandsongs.com/page/ContactUs

Quote from VirileVagabond

I am reminded of an observation that Churchill made regarding Americans. I won't trouble to find the exact quote, but he stated that Americans will go all in for a big idea, which is admirable if the idea is a good one.

The spontanous laugh, of course, was out of appreciation.

Off topic: I don't have Churchill's quote at hand, either, but seem to remember that he (typically cynically and half between the lines) said Americans will buy any idea presented to them if suiting their simple minds and boosting their egos. If he was still alive, he'd probably refer to "Make America great again"... .

Quote from camembert electrique

Quote from VirileVagabond

I am reminded of an observation that Churchill made regarding Americans. I won't trouble to find the exact quote, but he stated that Americans will go all in for a big idea, which is admirable if the idea is a good one.

The spontanous laugh, of course, was out of appreciation.

Off topic: I don't have Churchill's quote at hand, either, but seem to remember that he (typically cynically and half between the lines) said Americans will buy any idea presented to them if suiting their simple minds and boosting their egos. If he was still alive, he'd probably refer to "Make America great again"... .

Churchill may have indeed referred to "MAGA" if he were alive today, but a safer bet would be Socialism will work eventually or "diversity is our strength", the later with a glance in the general direction on the Balkans….

Quote from Limbabwe

"In der Beschränkung zeigt sich der Meister" (only the master shows himself in the limitation) should be applied to the new homepage ...

Great and very fitting German quote even many Germans don't know, anymore... Originally, it's "...der wahre Meister..." (= the true/real master/expert), which suits even better...

For given reasons, I'd in a neutral and simple way asked some non-specific friends to have a look (for Erik and other German speaking editors: "Wie finded ihr unsere neue Startseite?" For others: What do think about our new start page?).

Most so far reporting back in short answered they were confused and didn't know what it's all about (now) and/or missed straight forward info etc., which, according to quite some posts in the thread, is no real news.

The one with the most extensive and comprehensive answer said highlighting examples at first sight reminded him of recommendations typical for commercial download sites, but the categorizations initially bewildered him. Normally, he would have left the site, but feeling obliged to respond, he'd taken his time to follow up. Doing so, he'd realized that the categories, except for the more or less fact based 'Hit songs' and 'Revivals', which both to him turned out very incomplete, were solely based on individual ratings (= tags).

I guess this comment says a lot...

Quote from camembert electrique

"In der Beschränkung zeigt sich der wahre Meister" (only the master shows himself in the limitation)

A quote my father regularly used (including the "wahre"!), so I agree with both Eriks: SHS should do a bit more of "Beschrankung"...............

Quote from VirileVagabond

Churchill may have indeed referred to "MAGA" if he were alive today, but a safer bet would be Socialism will work eventually or "diversity is our strength", the later with a glance in the general direction on the Balkans….

"Castles built of sand, melt into the sea... Eventually" -> Castles Made of Sand

As for the Balkans: Emphasizing on the Socialist ex-Yugoslavia 1980-1990 (and considering main aspects regarding those days Warszaw bloc countries), I could draw up something like a dissertation, but... too late and wouldn't belong here, anyway...

Dva dinara, druže...

Quote from camembert electrique

…. he'd realized that the categories, except for the more or less fact based 'Hit songs' and 'Revivals', which both to him turned out very incomplete, were solely based on individual ratings (= tags).

I guess this comment says a lot...

Sounds to me we may be prematurely rushing tagged performances to the forefront, given that we haven't been tagging that long....

Agree with Erik CE's friend: the homepage makes SHS look like one of those pointless sites whose only purpose seems to be to regurgitate youtube videos.

- as Seb says, there is no mention that SHS is a database of cover songs full of carefully researched information

- the song titles and artist names are in a bigger font than the headings (Hit song, Editor's pick, etc), and the headings don't really mean anything as there's no context (see previous point)

- some of the Editors' Picks seem to be willfully obscure, unknown songs and unknown artists. They should be intriguing, to draw people in (e.g. wow, I never knew artist A did a version of song B)

- the homepage is a wall of videos. Why are we promoting videos when our USP is the data/research?

(Detailed points: why are "Hit Song" and "Editor's Cover Song Pick" singular but the others e.g. "Obscure Originals" and "Unusual Cover Songs" plural? And what is the difference between an "Unusual Cover Song" and an "Unrecognizable Cover Song"?)

Quote from camembert electrique

"Castles built of sand, melt into the sea... Eventually" -> Castles Made of Sand

Castles built of stone will eventually melt into the sea as well. If not, the red giant phase should get them....

Quote from CarlDennis

SHS should do a bit more of "Beschrankung".....

Beschränkung... But very right!

Quote from VirileVagabond

Sounds to me we may be prematurely rushing tagged performances to the forefront....

Indeed...

Jon, thanks for your interpretation my friend's reply.

I just summed it up and, although my core conclusions were similar to yours, I admit to (except for the last sentence) intentionally having refrained from commenting and leaving it to fellow editors and CCs to do so...

What CE and Jon said.

Read.

From a musical point of view it's better: you have more music on hand to discover.

Since you are highlighting "Editor's Cover Song Pick" on the "Homepage"

https://secondhandsongs.com/search/performance?tag=editor%27s%20pick

I was wondering are there any rules or limitations for this tag?

I believe there should only be one cover pick per editor for each original song. I don't think one editor should pick 6 cover songs for one original song.

If an editor has more than one cover pick for that song , doesn't that just cheapen your other picks of that song and make them meaningless? The one pick makes it more personal and special.

Anyway, I made a trac ticket #3776 to change it to one pick. I know my 6 points will go to it, if it ever comes up for the vote.