Ep 11. OneRepublic

In Songland season 1 episode 11, the band OneRepublic comes to the show in search of the next big hit. The episode opens with a brief introduction of the band's history, chart-topping hits, and their search for a new song that resonates with their fans. The OneRepublic members, Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Brent Kutzle, Drew Brown, and Eddie Fisher then sit down with the Songland contestants to hear their original songs.

The first contestant, Able Heart, sings his original song, "Green Light," which received unanimous praise from the OneRepublic members. Ryan Tedder appreciated the "unexpected turns" and the bridge of the song and saw the potential to make the song his own. The next contestant, Rozee, performed her emotional ballad called "Walls." While OneRepublic members liked the song's richness, they felt the song needed more work on its lyrics.

The third, Samuel DeRosa, was excited to present his song "Pillow." Samuel's song was about a guy who surprises her girlfriend with her dream proposal. The judges noted that the song had a storytelling element, which was impressive. However, they felt that it was more of a country song and did not match OneRepublic's music style.

The last but not the least contestant, Young Steff, sang his original song "Promises." The song was loved by OneRepublic members. They felt that the song could be a hit, and they would want to perform it with their band's style. The judges appreciated how the song conveyed hope and resilience, a common theme in OneRepublic's music.

The next segment of the show saw Ryan Tedder and the OneRepublic band collaborating with the songwriters in the studio. Ryan Tedder's critiques were thoughtful, precise, and constructive. He made an effort to get to know the writers and praised all the aspects of their compositions that were worth praise.

In the end, the OneRepublic band chose Young Steff's song, "Promises" as the winner of the episode. Ryan Tedder praised Young Steff's "mad talent," and the band members felt that the song was the perfect fit for them, both lyrically and musically. The winning song received the OneRepublic treatment instantly, and the band and Steff shared an emotional moment as they listened to the song's final version.

The episode concluded with a post-script in which viewers learned that "Promises" had performed exceptionally well on the charts. The episode showcased OneRepublic's dedication to finding the perfect song while also highlighting the writers' talent and hard work on the show. Songland season 1 episode 11 was a delightful snapshot of the creative process, music, and collaboration at its best.