Summary
...I’m winding down the honorary shout-outs I promised from the personal challenge that I’ve recently hosted in tandem with @pechichemena’s #coverasteemian initiative.
All 10 qualifying entries from the @passion-ground challenge have already been awarded. To say that I loved each and every one of them dearly would be a gross understatement! I’ll wrap it all up next week with my humble attempt to reciprocate in covering @wilins “Amore Violento.”
This week’s #coverasteemian shout-out’s include @lorey-bero covering “Here, Now, There, and Then” along with @pipomontilla covering “Beautiful Woman”. So, before we move on to the regular business at hand, do check out their individual interpretations of my amateur original songs, go to their linked posts, and give them your respective upvotes and comments in much-deserved appreciation for their most respectable efforts.
@lorey-bero/cover-a-steemian-passion-ground-here-now-there-and-then
Below is the original.
Below is the original.
VOTE for These WITNESSES... ... RIGHT NOW!
Before we move on, please don't forget to vote for @Pfunk, @Ausbitbank, & @Teamsteem as witnesses! All of whom are our biggest supporters who play major roles in helping to run, fund, curate, build and expand the Open Mic contest. You can vote for each of them right now by going to this link: https://steemit.com/~witnesses
Week 81 has come and gone – let’s see what she left in her wake! With that said, following some further insights as to how I judge, let’s get it on, shall we?
Steemit Open Mic Week 81
My Process
As one of the esteemed Open Mic judges, it is my job to come up with (or “curate” as it were) a short-list of my top 5 entrants each week. With all of the great talent here, that is by no means an easy task. Sure, tossing in another 5 honorable mentions helps, but not when my weekly list starts out with 100 or more of my favorite entries... You guy's rock - I'm tellin ya!
Yes, I am a Libra – so I have an inherent drive deep within me to be fair and balanced – good qualities for a “judge” if you ask me. That being said, I’m still human – filled with emotion and subjective feelings – just like you. So, in order to mitigate my subjective tendencies to the best extent possible, I’ve come up with a method by which to narrow down my selections in a more objective vs. arbitrary manner.
Here’s how I go about my personal judging process: I first start out with a list of 100 or more of my most favorite entries for the week, and score them (yes, subjectively) in six distinct categories via a spreadsheet. The categories I’ve selected for scoring are in general harmony with those explained by @luzcypher in his post titled How We Pick The Top 3 Entries, referencing such.
To get a more in-depth perspective as to how I personally go about selecting my artists, please refer to What I go through as an Open-Mic Judge.
Even though it’s still a “subjective” process – diligently going through each scoring category to come up with a “total” score for each entrant helps to minimize any overzealous subjectivity that I may harbor with respect to any specific entrants.
Quite often, this exercise doesn’t give me the exact results I would personally prefer to see – but that only means that my system of judging is working as intended and designed. With all of that said, here are...
My Top-5 Picks in Order
Not only does Darren’s trusty home Porta-Studio get the job done like a boss, but his music is every bit as professional! I just love his guitar work, the lyrics, and damn, his hooks here have all the hallmarks of a classic!
@darrenclaxton/steemit-open-mic-week-81-was-it-right-original-song-by-darrenclaxton
Yep, here he comes again! I just can’t seem to rid Danny of my top-5 list, damn it! I mean come on, just take a listen to this folks. Can you blame me? Danny put together a rather awesome rendition of this classic. Check him out; he’s got a golden voice and musical accompaniment to match.
@dannyhamilton/steemit-open-mic-week-81-when-i-see-you-smile-bad-english-acoustic-cover
The energy of his guitar intro grabbed my attention right away and then BAM – he opens it up even further and it just keeps building, leading headstrong into the passionate rage of his rugged vocals. The 2nd verse dynamics are perfect, setting the stage for another round of passion and fire – “built-in-fire” that is!
@builtinfire/steemit-openmic-week-81-original-song-silent-world
We haven’t heard from Tomas in a while, and I’m sure glad he’s back! His brilliant guitar playing, vocals, and songwriting skills are second to none. “Here With Me” displays all of his incredible artistry with a tale youth, and holding onto that part of us that is most precious.
@tomashofficial/steemit-open-mic-week-81-here-with-me-original-tom-ash
From his very first entry, there was just something about Johannes that I really liked. He has a very friendly and pleasant persona. As if all that charm weren’t enough, he sings and plays guitar like a true boss! Now that’s a killer combo by any measure. He does a truly magnificent job in covering this classic. Johannes is ruling our world right now people, check him out!
@johannesburghart/steemit-open-mic-81-or-coldplay-viva-la-vida
My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:
First: @pedromrmourato – Desfado - (Cover)
@pedromrmourato/f5253hmq
Second: @moccamonica - Cuenta Conmigo - (Cover)
@moccamonica/steemit-open-mic-week-81-cover-cuenta-conmigo-by-moccamonica
Third: @moderndayjester – Mad World - (Cover)
@moderndayjester/steemit-open-mic-week-81-or-mad-world-or-mdj-cover
Fourth: @vera.carla – By The Way - (Original)
@vera.carla/steemit-open-mic-week-81-by-the-way-original-song
Fifth: @dinoromanelli – Traveling Alone - (Cover)
@dinoromanelli/steemit-open-mic-week-81-traveling-alone
Thank you for reviewing my selections for this week’s Open-Mic contest. If you find this content I’ve curated entertaining and of value to you, then please consider up-voting and/or re-steeming it.
Peace, Love, and Justice for All
A Very Special Shout Out To:
The following 20 artists who were very much on my radar, each within a splitting hair of making it into my overall top-10, and whose performances I loved, cherish, and respect most assuredly. This special list is very much an extension of my most honorable mentions.
They are - in no particular order: @joedukeg, @carlosrada, @chrisgoans, @nathankaye, @silentscreamer, @wilins, @tarotbyfergus, @pechichemena, @yulita, @lincolnofblood, @luiskrupaz, @operahoser, @jumpmaster, @lifetipsbysn, @yenibe, @miaapado, @yrmaleza, @senzenfrenz, @laleerock, @futuremind, and @manuelmusic!
Another Special Shout Out To:
The following artists whose performances I very much enjoyed this week. They are - in no particular order: @enriquesalgadoc, @erpachon, @lostgalaxy, @leomolina, @queenbee, @wethepatsies, @abisaiycristina, @juliopalomo, @thesimpson, @paintingangels, @gibber, @soykatonline, @mcmusic, @drewley, @gabrielinho, @samidbarid, @, @quinneaker, @edwardstobia, @greatestbastard, @markaustin, @silverbackjonz, @mandysp, @alejandra23, @andreabortone, @miguelblanco, @nior, @graceleon, @abelardobravoh, @carlosgu, @gorekster, @williansjmm, @mrprecious, and @shaularosa!
Much love and thanks to each and every one of you who have touched a part of my heart and soul - not only this week but forever!