Week 92 has been a Rather Emotional Week for me…

First and foremost, the genesis and coming together of an epic tributary Open-Mic collaboration has gotten my “feels” in a state of rather excitable and passionate fury!

To catch up on all of the excitement, please check out update #1.

Secondly, I was really taken back by the entries of both @wilins and @juliolunar this week. Based on the comments in their posts, it seems as though I was very instrumental in igniting their musical and artistic reunion. For me, that’s a really big deal!

With all of that said, aside from some platform-based technical glitches earlier in the week - week #92 turned out to be rather awesome on so many fronts!

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.

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.

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 92

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: @moderndayjester – The Earth has Cracked Again - (Original)

With passion, the intensity is sure to follow. With genius, there are no bounds. Combine these three elements musically, and you will find yourself at the doorstep of @moderndayjester! “The Earth has Cracked Again” is a stunningly beautiful composition. Our resident jester-man sets the tone and rhythm perfectly and never misses a beat. The box in the beat simply adds to the overall appeal of this rather intense masterpiece. The world just wouldn’t be the same without the likes of @moderndayjester!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@moderndayjester/steemit-open-mic-week-92-the-earth-has-cracked-again-original-song-mdj

SECOND PLACE: @disclaimerhffmn – Satellites - (Original)

I was captivated by this performance right from the introduction. When @disclaimerhffmn’s vocals kicked in – I was sold! In my view, in contrast to the closing remarks in his post, I do not believe that @disclaimerhffmn should ever hesitate – not even for one second – in pursuing his musical blessings to the fullest!
https://steemit.com/spanish/@disclaimerhffmn/steemitopenmicsemana92-satelites-21roab7ae8

THIRD PLACE: @drewsmusic – On My Mind - (Original)

What can I say – Drew is just a stand-up guy who just so happens to be a rather incredible musician! His composition and vocal skills are to die for! “On My Mind” is yet another testament to Drew’s immense charismatic musical appeal. He closes his post by telling us not to take one single second for granted. Wiser words have never been spoken! I trust that we all will take such sage advice to heart, and in the process, that each of us will never take @drewsmusic for granted either.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@drewsmusic/steemit-openmic-week-92-on-my-mind-original

FOURTH PLACE: @wilins – No Se Juega - (Original Collaboration)

I have a very special place in my heart for my brother, Wilens. We first became acquainted thru @meno’s songwriter's challenge – and have connected musically, and have been very good friends ever since! Sir Wilens possesses within him, a passion for music and performance artistry that is clearly self-evident. It pleases me to no end that I was fortunate enough to have been instrumental in bringing back together the immense collaborative powers that both he and the distinguished @juliolunar have been blessed with. “Do Not Play” is a serious reflection upon the day-to-day plight that affects the masses in Venezuela in ways that the rest of us could only begin to imagine! Life itself is not something to play around with. In their exceptional collaborative performances, both Wilens and Julio let this be known in no uncertain terms, and for that, I salute them!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@wilins/i2k9os7o

FIFTH PLACE: @juliolunar – A Perfect Circle - (Cover Collaboration)

Like Wilens, Sir Julio is another Venezuelan artist that I have connected with on many levels. His musical and technical acumen is second to none as is his incredible songwriting abilities! Here, both he and Wilens perform an outstanding cover entitled, “A Perfect Circle.” Both of my good friends (Julio and Wilins) know me well enough by now, to know that I will never place them unless their entries are truly outstanding. This week, the two of them together, have hit a “Grand-Slam” with each of their respective entries. For such highly respectable accomplishments, I am so very proud of them both! You guys rock, man! Never stop playing together, brothers!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@juliolunar/steemit-open-mic-week-92-volver-al-modo-de-ediciona-perfect-circle-staind-mashup-the-noose-outside-ft-wilins

My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:

First: @silentscreamer – Moonlight Sonata / Thunderstruck - (Cover Mashup)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@silentscreamer/5sccew5m

Second: @joseacabrerav – Necesaria - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@joseacabrerav/steemit-openmic-semana-92-necesaria-original

Third: @juanhobos – Maga - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@juanhobos/steemit-open-mic-week-92-maga-original

Fourth: @andreabortone – Sweet Dreams - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@andreabortone/steemit-openmic-week-92-or-sweet-dreams-havana-acoustic-mix-openmic-by-luzcypher-and-pfunk

Fifth: @jembee – Ikaw Akong Musika - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@jembee/5fxve4qb

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:

@johannesburghart, @elainefaye, @dinoromanelli, @rodrigo98, @alcoholisedbsoul, @laurascarborough, @etemi, @nelsooona, @beto14, @armandolnrs, @mayneth, @brendahcaroline, @racso, @dominiqueguitars, @michaeldietrich, @tribedownsouth, @juanmolina, @shookriya, @moccamonica, and @mrprecious!

Another Special Shout Out To:

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

They are - in no particular order:

@k0wsk1, @leomolina, @drewley, @abrahampe3, @lk666, @coruscate, @arrozymangophoto, @jaredkhamanah, @carlosrada, @shephard, @luznazareth, @cimillan, @quochuy, @mcmusic, @carlosgu, @mariajruizb, @guifaquetti, @pipomontilla, @marafranceschi, @samjgonz, @lifetipsbysn, @melor9, @itslobianco, @dianakyv, @kkarenmp, @marianvitz, @thesimpson, @nior, @digitalopus, @rjcha, @davidcentenor, @gibber, @yisusgtr, @danieldedosd2, @maycorjerjes18, @lecumberre, @danne10, @orlandogonzalez, @siomarasalmeron, @abelfernandez, @fernando.lubezki, @miguelblanco, @honeymoon-1611, @karhylvqb, @zeroabsoluto, @tcpolymath, @graceleon, @dreamrafa, @angelali, and @katrina-ariel!

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!

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