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Summary…

This week’s theme was “Because We Can.” It was intended to spur some happy, upbeat, and positive songs however; the level of creativity among our prized songwriters is such that many of them had other plans with regard to the way in which they interpreted this week’s theme. This presented quite a challenge insofar as judging was concerned.

There were plenty of excellent “happy” songs, but there were also quite a few darker interpretations of the theme as well. As such, in order for me to make more sense of the fashion in which I was going to order my selections this week, I decided to separate them to some extent.

Because of the theme’s intended direction, I gave preference to the more positive and happy songs, however, there was simply no ignoring the power and intensity of the many contrasting entries.

So, as a result, my Top-5 generally falls into the “happy” category, and my Top-5 honorable mentions more or less make up the “contrarian” list of songwriters that put a definitive artistic twist on the theme’s face value.

It was almost as if I had to judge two separate themes at once, which is what made this week the most challenging for me thus far.

Song Writers Challenge: Week-4 (Because We Can)

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My Process

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Aside from a few key category modifications with regard to scoring and awarding points to the entrants of the Songwriters Challenge, I am basically using very similar methods to arrive at my picks and honorable mentions as I do in the general Open-Mic contest.

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.

My Top-5 Picks in Order

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FIRST PLACE: @afrao0 - “Oneness”

Based on his introduction, it is not entirely clear, whether or not “Oneness” was freshly written specifically for week #4, or if as he stated - it simply had a lot to do with this week’s theme. Nonetheless, @afrao0 and his lovely companion most certainly delivered an original composition that wholly captured the essence of this week’s theme. The passion and harmonies set forth in their performance was compelling as was the song’s positive message of hope, love, and togetherness.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@afrao0/steemit-open-mic-songwriters-challenge-week-4-oneness

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SECOND PLACE: @wilins – “Porque Podemos”

@wilins passion and love for music are quite clear. His composition this week was filled with all of the hope, love, and joy that can envelop us with song. The vibrant and contagious feelings he expresses amid his most passionate performance of “Porque Podemos,” is what compelled me to place him near the very top of my list.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@wilins/openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-4-because-we-can-original-song-porque-podemos

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THIRD PLACE: @chrisroberts – “Because We Can”

Chris is among the legions of Open-Mic participants who have been forever changed for the better as result of being part of this loving, artistic, and supportive community. He has an uncanny knack for assembling lyrics and building melodies in that special way that few can. The primary melody that he created here is oh so familiar and quite comforting – yet he made it entirely his own, and wove that melody throughout his composition rather skillfully. Chris’s thematic interpretation was right on point and never strayed. That and a whole lot more got him to my #3 spot for the week.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@chrisroberts/open-mic-songwriter-s-challenge-week-4-because-we-can-original-song

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FOURTH PLACE: @jaybird – “Because We Can”

Even though Jay would have liked a little more time to polish his entry, he tossed whatever rough version he had into the mix and just let her rip! In addition to his rhythmic energy, catchy melody, and engaging performance, his closing lyrical statements, driven with unrelenting emotive force, fully embodied the positive nature of this week’s theme.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@jaybird/steemit-open-mic-songwriter-s-challenge-week-4-original-song-becaue-we-can

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FIFTH PLACE: @miguelarl – “Escapar- La Niña Ingrávida”

Though Miguel states that it is the widespread feelings of uneasiness and chaos within his home country of Venezuela that spawned his entry, his lyrics tell a story of one’s choice to ignore focusing upon such madness, and instead to embrace the hope of one day escaping all of the insanity – “because they can!” The production and recording quality along with great guitar playing and the incredible vocal collaboration between these two make for a rather compelling song of hope precisely because it was generated by the sheer frustration of chaos and despair. Their smiles of joy at the end tell all that needs to be told about the hope and love that music brings to us all - no matter the conditions that prevail.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@miguelarl/openmic-songwriters-week-3-because-we-can-escapar-la-nina-ingravida

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My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in order:

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First: @chaifm – “Because We Can Fly”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@chaifm/open-mic-songwriters-week-4-or-because-we-can-fly

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Second: @pechichemena – “La rueda / The Wheel”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@pechichemena/open-mic-songwriters-challenge-week-4-because-we-can-la-rueda-original-song

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Third: @melavie – “Because We Can”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@melavie/openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-4-and-openmic-week-64-because-we-can-original

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Fourth: @onetruebrother – “We Must Go On”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@onetruebrother/steemit-openmic-songwriters-challenge-week4-because-we-can-original-song

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Fifth: @anniemacleod – “Because We Can”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@anniemacleod/open-mic-songwriter-s-challenge-week-4-just-because-we-can

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Thank you for reviewing my selections for this week’s Songwriters Challenge. Thanks so much as well for up-voting and re-steeming this post in order to help spread the word that Open-Mic and its subsidiaries are clearly taking Steemit by storm and that the Open-Mic brand shall remain a collective people-oriented force of love and artistry to be reckoned with on every level of measure.

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Peace, Love, and Justice for All