97 weeks running and the music continues to flow!

As the creative team continues building our song for the Open-Mic Mega-Mash Up, our workload continues to build as well. So much so that I haven’t had time to post a proper update for a couple of weeks now.

The creative team and I are extremely pleased with all of the auditions and entries thus far. The project is moving along nicely and right according to schedule. This coming week, we’ll be tracking HORNS!

I trust that once the project reaches critical mass, the workload will get a bit easier and allow me time enough to provide a dedicated update post. I hope – Hahaha! Until then, I’ll keep the community updated here in my weekly top-5 posts.

If you haven’t done so already, please check out all of the posts associated with the forthcoming Open-Mic Mega-Collaboration.

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The Original Announcement Post

Update #1.

Update #2.

Update #3.

Update #4.

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Should anyone have any questions or wish to participate in the “Mega Open-Mic Collab,” feel free to hit me up on discord >> @passion-ground#5524.

Next Up, a few words about our Sponsors

Please, VOTE for These WITNESSES...

IMPORTANT: Before we move on, please don't forget to vote for @Pfunk as witnesses! @pfunk is our biggest supporter, and plays a major role in helping to fund, the Open Mic contest each week.

Every last one of us should be proud and honored that @pfunk continues to weigh in at #18 on the witness list! It wasn’t that long ago that he was struggling to hold onto the #20 slot. Let’s keep this up, okay - @pfunk all the way - to #1!

In addition to @pfunk, I am also adding @curie, @ausbitbank, and @aggroed to my short list of “must-vote-for” witnesses who support the Open-Mic venue.

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You can vote for each of these witnesses right now by going directly to this link: https://steemit.com/~witnesses

With all of that said, following some further insights as to how I judge entries, let’s get on with it, shall we?

Steemit Open Mic Week 97

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

FIRST PLACE: @joseacabrerav – Inefable - (Original)

As soon as the first few seconds of crazy fun subsides, Jose gets right down to business with his most captivating performance of “Inefable! I was struck not only by his flawless guitar playing throughout, and the wonderful camera work capturing his brilliant performance, but also by the sheer beauty of the composition itself. Jose’s playful nature is simply icing on the cake!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@joseacabrerav/mux6jqx8

SECOND PLACE: @chaifm – Dreamkeeper - (Original)

She’s back! It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard from @chaifm, and let me tell you guys, it was certainly worth the wait! Dominique’s “Dreamkeeper” is to my ear is a beautiful blend of East meets West. That great opening guitar work and her vocal melodies within the verses carry a rather compelling Eastern flavor. A lovely little bridge then spans the world, which takes us to a rather catchy chorus that is quite familiar to my Western ears. All of that coupled with quite an impassioned performance left me no choice but to include @chaifm in my top picks this week.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@chaifm/steemit-openmic-week-97-dreamkeeper-original-song

THIRD PLACE: @tribedownsouth – Gremory - (Original)

This is quintessential “Tribe Down South.” His dreamy vocals and signature melodies never fail to capture my interest. As always, upon further inspection, he always has something rather meaningful to say with his lyrics. This composition is about breaking on thru to the other side after hitting proverbial bottom. Creativity abounds within this one-man Tribe from Down South – check him out!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@tribedownsouth/steemit-open-mic-week-97-original-or-gremory-i-s-a-a-c

FOURTH PLACE: @cabelindsay – Grace Us With Your Embrace - (Original)

I’ve always loved Cabe from the first time I heard him. Now that he’s introduced “the one he walks with” to us (@wildfamily), I’m in love with her too! This particular arrangement, penned specifically for their children is not only touching, but it has a magical way of drawing you in. Cabe’s guitar intro sets the tone perfectly. Soon thereafter, their beautiful vocals render the tenderest of lyrics wrapped in the sanctity of a most warm and inviting melody. When I heard this, I became just as grateful for it as they are.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@cabelindsay/steemit-open-mic-week-97-grace-us-with-your-embrace-original-song

FIFTH PLACE: @paintingangels – Swim - (Original)

The first thing one can’t help but notice is just how incredibly adorable Serena is! Her beauty extends far beyond the sweetness of her dainty voice and her inherent Southern charm – which by the why, comes neatly packaged with a slight twist of quick-witted sarcasm! Serena penned “Swim” on the fly after ditching a previous composition – simply because she felt like it. As a result, we’ve been gifted this week with “Swim.” In my view, Serena is bullet-proof, and yes, I very much believe in her!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@paintingangels/ma9hn6nf

My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:

First: @ilazramusic – Sin miedo a nada - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@ilazramusic/steemitopenmicweek97-sinmiedoanadacoverftjotadiaz12kimugas23-zp3f52l3s4

Second: @carolinafer – Silencio Autor - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@carolinafer/1e1pxncs

Third: @samidbarid – Untitled - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@samidbarid/steemit-openmic-week-97-sami-d-barid-original-piano-song

Fourth: @wilins – Mala Compañía - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@wilins/o3m4ato2

Fifth: @orlandogonzalez – Una forma de soñar - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@orlandogonzalez/steemit-openmic-week-97-una-forma-de-sonar-a-way-of-dreaming-cancion-original-orlandogonzalez

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:

@elisonr13, @dinoromanelli, @ill-esha, @dianakyv, @juliolunar, @mayneth, @silentscreamer, @miguelblanco, @alejandra23, @michaeldietrich, @honeymoon-1611, @skycorridors, @siomarasalmeron, @lisamalletart, @darrenclaxton, @mariajruizb, @moccamonica, @davidsuarezms, @cpereira, and @rodrigo98!

Another Special Shout Out To:

The following artists whose performances I very much enjoyed this week.

They are - in no particular order:

@elcascriollo, @k0wsk1, @danieldedosd2, @leomolina, @minuetoacademy, @yusaymon, @oswaldotorres, @coruscate, @samjgonz, @lucybanks, @maycorjerjes18, @juanhobos, @drewley, @irelandscape, @yisusgtr, @kkarenmp, @manurodriguez, @mcmusic, @andreamaestre1, @jqalirio, @shephard, @jarradlevi, @diegopadilla, @enriquemarval, @ferchemusico, @abelfernandez, @lostgalaxy, @acustico2384, @lk666, @theangelsdf, @williansjmm, @cezanne, @zuelivictoriat, @emiliojmoreno, @dreamrafa, @gerardomarin, @vecca-vecca, @enriquesalgadoc, @rjcha, @donatello, @ingridkorneelia, @guacamedia, @nior, @chrisroberts, @gibber, @graceleon, @johnthefelon, and @josevallera!

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!