Well Merry Christmas everyone, here in Australia it has just become Christmas day - so it's gonna be a short but sweet one this week.

I hope you all have a fantastic festive season, get all your hearts desires - and generally set things up to have an awesome new year.

The Christmas concert may still be happening, it's hard to organise a lot of people all over the world to meet a specific time - but were trying, at this rate we may end up just doing a casual shout out in the Open Mic discord to let people know when.

The plan is vague but were feeling in the spirit, so we will see what we can come up with for ya's - anyways this week was filled with more awesome entries, you guys never let us down.

So without further delays, here is my judges top 5 selection for Open Mic week 116.

This week's top 5:

1st Place - @kayclarity - Carol of the Bells

This was such an amazing treat, brilliant to have you back with us Kay - and with such an incredible entry, your performance was absolutely flawless in every conceivable way.

Your playing is just brilliant hun, you absolutely nail this - the staccato form of the song is enhanced masterfully with your precise playing, just beautiful accompaniment.

Then of course there is your next level phenomenal vocals, just wow I really struggle to find the words - but this was exceptional, you completely stole the show with this masterpiece.

I have to mention the breathing in this song, it doesn't really give you a chance to recapture it and you just slayed this beautifully - you have an incredible gift and some truly phenomenal skills, it's such a joy to hear and share.

You have such an amazing tone to your voice, it really is stunning and then you go and show of your range and control and I am just blown away - your bloody brilliant and I can't get enough, so hope to see more from you again soon <3

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2nd Place - @justinzidi - Baby you make me crazy

You've gone and done it again mate, what a brilliant entry and performance - you just kill it every single time you enter man, it's incredible.

Your playing as always is perfection, timing and volume are spot on throughout - I like to combination of strumming and moments of silence, focusing on the vocals.

Yet again you just smashed those damned vocals mate, you have a truly phenomenal vocal range - it's awesome to behold.

Then there's your insane vocal control, the vocal gymnastics you perform are sublime and such an pleasure to hear - you really are an exceptional talent and I'm stoke to have you as a part of the Open Mic family, hope to see and hear more soon!

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3rd Place - @katrina-ariel - You Only Live Once

Wow hun you absolutely nailed this performance, I was hooked the instant you started - and you held me throughout with ease.

Your playing is perfection, I love this composition you have created - it has some great texture and flow to it, the tempo really adds a sense of urgency throughout.

But it's your crystal clear vocals that just sent me into overdrive, you have such an impeccable voice I just can't get enough lovely - seriously it sounds almost angelic and I just couldn't get enough.

Listened to this too many times to count now, just a brilliant entry and performance - your incredible and I'm really excited to see what you have in store for us next time.

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4th Place - @skiwzz - Dive

I am so thrilled to have heard this entry this week, what an amazing performance from you both - I was absolutely blown away but this and just couldn't get enough.

The playing is impeccable on every level, the perfect accompaniment for the vocals - the timing was brilliant and never over shinning the vocals.

But I was in love with your voice the moment I heard it, you have incredible range and control which you display to great effect throughout.

On top of this the emotion you weave throughout the song was beautiful, what a fantastic entry and performance - hoping to see you both again soon.

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5th Place - @dearw - Sunday Morning

I really enjoyed this cover, you have a really clear vocal and your playing suited the style of presentation.

Your singing is spot on, I really liked the little inflection you added to the melody at times - it really added some extra texture to the song.

You did really well recreating this song, an enjoyable rendition that I had to join you in the chorus for - hope to see more soon.

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Honourable Mentions:

@moccamonica - Pause Rewind

@k0wsk1 - Back Against The Wall

@roman.musica - Zamba del olvido

@shookriya - It Could Happen To You

@drewley - Honesty

@rhyt - Creep

@bettyamv - Reloj

@pechichemena - My 1-Bedroom

@donatello - Original guitar composition

@maximilianoflute - Lagunillas-Nathalia

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Master Shortlist:

@cristmounicou, @amberyooper, @minuetoacademy, @lk666, @betzaelcorvo, @derekrichardson, @Josevallera, @angelillo, @carolinaidrogo, @yisusgtr, @mandysp, @adreini, @juanchez, @salvadorhr18, @edmundocentenor, @felixjfarfan, @graceleon, @edwardstobia.

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See we had another bloody brilliant week of music and creativity, I am so thankful to all who enter and share their gifts with our community - you are who make Open Mic a possibility and we love you so much for it.

We got to catch up with some people we haven't seen in a while and it was just a brilliant week of awesome music, I hope we can see you all again next time!

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Steemit Musicians:

I'd also like to remind everyone again that all top five nominations from this week, will feature in the Steemit Musicians live radio show on MSP-Waves every week - hosted on the Peace Abundance and Liberty discord server, through the Minnow Support Project.

A massive congratulations to all of those to be featured in the show, it is going to be great opportunity to get to further share the awesome entries we receive each week - I can't wait to hear the audience's feedback on all our judges selections and your entries.

I hope you can all drop by and support those who made this week's lists, I'm sure they'd appreciate the support - not to mention if you join you get to help choose the weekly 30 SBD winning entry!

Please join us for Steemit Musicians this Sunday 12-1 UTC!

Time Zone Converter

You can listen live at the mspwaves website- http://mspwaves.com/home/listen
You can listen on twitch-

You can join broadcast hosts in a special chat room on the MSP Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/kNxM7T6
You can check out http://mspwaves.com/ for more information

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Open Mic's New Discord Server:

I'd like to officially welcome you all to the new Open Mic Discord server, we have been open a little while now - with many of you having already joined.

But it's still a little quiet and I blame myself partly (I didn't know the world of crazy would set in just after opening it up and I just haven't been there to engage with everyone properly or promptly), I hope to remedy this in the coming weeks and months with some big plans we have in the works.

For now it's very hush hush, as plans are finalised and things evolve - you a can be sure you guys will hear all about it.

In the meantime however, there are heaps of amazing musicians already on there - it's a tool and you guys need to use it to get full advantage.

Ask a question, request a collaboration the world is yours - hell even just go in there and play around listening to some tunes in the jukebox room!

I will be trying to make myself more available on the server as time continues, so feel free to drop by even just for a chat.

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Again a big thanks to @soundlegion, @meno, @verbal-d and @passion-ground for all they do as judges, please remember to go and check out their top five selections each week and to @luzcypher and @pfunk thank you so much for making all of this possible - until next week.

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