Summary

...Before I get started I just want to share a couple of quick shout-outs in thanking @pechichemena and his #coverasteemian initiative. This week, I had the honor of having @wilins and @leomolina covering two of my original songs. Do check out @pechichemena’s blog for details about participating in the #coverasteemian initiative.

I am so humbled and honored by these artists and their covers that I one day hope to have the requisite talents that they clearly have in order to translate one of their respective originals, and cover them in kind.

It is quite a pleasure for me to hear such beautiful renditions of my music, and I am thrilled with the opportunity to showcase their talents and to show my gratitude toward my musical brothers for their dedication, skill, passion, and artistry.

COVER A STEEMIAN: @wilins – "Here, Now, There, and Then" - (Cover)

https://steemit.com/coverasteemian/@wilins/cover-a-steemian-the-sir-passion-ground-challenge-here-now-there-and-then-spanish-version-justo-ahora-o-algun-tiempo-despues

Below is the original.

COVER A STEEMIAN: @leomolina – "I’m Comin’ Home" - (Cover)

https://steemit.com/coverasteemian/@leomolina/cover-a-steemian-or-the-passion-ground-challenge-or-i-m-comin-home-spanglish-version

Below is the original.

For those celebrating, Happy Easter everyone! I am entertaining a house full of family and guests this week, and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to do so. I hope that each of you will be enjoying the good company of your family and friends as well!

Like each of the 77 previous weeks, #78 was yet another exceptional week here at the Open-Mic Venue! So with that said, following some further insights as to how I judge, let’s get it on, shall we?

Steemit Open Mic Week 78

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: @allanshrestha - "Goodbye" (Original) (Cover)

I am so happy that Allan has returned to the Open-Mic after quite a respite. I am also quite envious that he can compose such a beautiful song in a mere 20-minute session. I loved everything about this song: The melody, the guitar, the lyrics, the vocals, and yes, the audio quality! Welcome back, Allan!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@allanshrestha/steemit-open-mic-week-78-goodbye-original

SECOND PLACE: @markaustin – "Callin' Out My Name" (Original)

I’ve had my eyes and ears on Mark since he first arrived at the Open-Mic venue a month or two ago. Bear with his long introductions folks – they are a bit long for a reason. You see, Mark has to “loop-set” the stage for his epic one-man-band performances. Give him a chance to ramp-up, get up and running, and man I promise you, you will NOT be disappointed! Mark just sinks into his freshly looped grooves and never resurfaces until he has ripped through every blue soul-searching riff that one could hope to experience. This one rocked me in particular, and I especially loved his vocal harmonies. You get your blue-self down brother, Mark!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@markaustin/steemit-open-mic-week-78-original-callin-out-my-name

THIRD PLACE: @siomarasalmeron – "TODAVÍA" - (Cover)

Straight up, folks, this girl’s cover selection, and performance got to me big time! Her eye contact and engagement with the camera in concert with her passionate heartfelt vocal performance was too much for me to resist. From start to finish, @siomarasalmeron was fully present and felt this song with the very essence and every strand of her being. Her performance touched me deeply and was simply beautiful on so many levels. Can you feel her magic too?
https://steemit.com/openmic/@siomarasalmeron/steemit-open-mic-semana-78-todavia-cover-by-siomara-salmeron

FOURTH PLACE: @aidarojaswriter – "Nuestra Poesía" - (Original)

Admittedly, I’m not one for taking so kindly to Uke performances in general, however, this was one heck of a huge exception! I’ve never heard a better Uke in my life! The melody of this composition in tandem with @aidarojaswriter’s exquisite vocals in concert with the percussive accompaniment from @exzorltg makes for one incredibly fantastic entry! Do be certain to check them out!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@aidarojaswriter/steemit-open-mic-week-78-nuestra-poesia-original-song-by-aidarojaswriter

FIFTH PLACE: @camuel – "My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darling" - (Cover)

Well, Sir Camuel certainly outdid himself here in week 78 with this incredible blue-grass cover. His guitar playing, looping skills, and vocal harmonies had me in awe and stomping my feet, smiling from ear-to-ear whilst enjoying this gem the whole way through! This is a great little production mate! Click play and enjoy everybody!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@camuel/steemit-open-mic-week-78-my-arrangement-of-my-sweet-blue-eyed-darling-by-bill-monroe

My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:

First: @johannesburghart – "Scars" - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@johannesburghart/steemit-open-mic-week-78-or-james-bay-scars

Second: @michaeldietrich - "The Open Sea" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@michaeldietrich/steemit-open-mic-week-78-the-open-sea-original-song

Third: @futuremind – "Working Class Hero" - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@futuremind/steemit-open-mic-week-78-entry-working-class-hero-john-lennon

Fourth: @petrajordan – "Nepoznám Ťa" - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@petrajordan/steemit-open-mic-week-78-nepoznam-ta-the-first-steemit-om-slovak-song-orginal-by-petrajordan

Fifth: @branhmusic – "Crazy" - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@branhmusic/steemit-openmic-week-78-cover-of-gnarls-barkley-s-crazy

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:

@yidneth, @melissakellie, @stanhopeofficial, @pechichemena, @darrenclaxton, @honeymoon-1611, @stevenwalkerrr, @wilins, @joseacabrerav, @mrprecious, @chaifm, @zipporah, @javierdunn, @williansjmm, @breakoutthecrazy, @builtinfire, @silentscreamer, @helyorsini, @maerod, and @gonetroppo!

Another Special Shout Out To:

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

They are - in no particular order:

@mcmusic, @thesimpson, @laviq, @miguelblanco, @lk666, @lorey-bero, @edwardstobia, @williamsreinoso, @ferchemusico, @jgvinstl, @davidcentenor, @crowbarmama, @grayarty, @itinerantartist, @rypo01, @rockchickjen, @donatello, @bennettitalia, @nilssonleiva, @orianacortesia, @lisamalletart, @najp, @beeflomein, @juliopalomo, @rjcha, @mightyjoenolan, @orrslaw, @juanchez, @jumpmaster, @dreamrafa, @brendahcaroline, @miaapado, @lloyddavis, @lerondill, @andrewmarkmusic, @tarotbyfergus, @silviagoh, @vidente, @cryptofarmer, @soykatonline, @disclaimerhffmn, @moderndayjester, @yenibe, @antoniocortesia, @leomolina, @donroberts, @senzenfrenz, @elisonr13, @jotadiaz12, @gibber, @wethepatsies, @buddhaboy, and @shookriya!

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!