Summary...
This was quite an interesting week here at the Songwriters Challenge. The field is widening with lots of talented newcomers entering the fray, and some rather remarkable week-to-week improvements amongst our most steady participants.
It is such an honor for me to have the opportunity to listen to and appreciate all of the original music provided by each of the talented songwriters who enter the challenge. The hard part is picking out a short list of the Top-5 entries for the week. It ain’t easy, but I try.
Song Writers Challenge: Week-3 (Stolen Soul)
My Process
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
Whatever you do, do not be dissuaded by the deceptive guitar intro, which to my ear almost sounded like the beginning of an episode of “Breaking Bad,” or “Better Call Saul!” Trust me - this guy’s got a whole lot of passion to spread around, and I can really relate to that on the highest level. Soon after his guitar intro, which makes perfect sense as his song progresses,
simply breaks out into a most soulful and unrelenting plea for understanding, stating his case, and getting you on his side and way of thinking by the time the song ends. His passionate vocals in concert with his thematic interpretation and rhythmic persistence simply won me over hands down. As such, there was no doubt in my mind that had to top my list this week.https://steemit.com/openmic/@elisonr13/steemit-open-mic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-hasta-que-llegaste-tu-original-music
Hey man, this is “onetruebrother,” dude. He’s our go-to “James Taylor” handyman of Open-Mic and the Songwriters Challenge! “Canstille my Soul” – So we all know that the actual lyric is “Can’t Steal My Soul” – but there’s just something about the way that this lyric transposes itself to the ear that makes it that much more magical and irresistible! For this and a host of rather obvious reasons, that’s why
has taken my 2nd spot amid this week’s songwriter’s challenge.https://steemit.com/openmic/@onetruebrother/steemit-openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-stolen-souls
So Annie is a brand new member of Steemit. Do give her a warm welcome! In addition to her basic but rather effective guitar construct, Annie delivers a quite impressive vocal melody and thematic lyrical interpretation of this week’s “Stolen Souls” challenge. All you need to do is listen and you’ll know exactly what I mean. Great maiden entry to the Steemit, Open-Mic, and Songwriters venues, Annie!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@anniemacleod/openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-stolen-souls
I suspect that the buzzing frets at the beginning and throughout this fine rendition are a manifestation of
’s lack of access to a suitably proper guitar. Casting that technical observation aside, his vocal melodies are simply magical. One can arrange as many of the most credible and catchy chord progressions as they wish – however, to put a viable and succinct melody to such progressions is where all the real magic happens. In listening to “In My Dreams,” it is quite clear that has such magic readily at his disposal. All he needs now is a good guitar and some recording gear, and he’ll be right up there with the best of them!https://steemit.com/openmic/@g10a/openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-in-my-dreams-or-original-composition-by-g10a-or-20171211t14935596z
In my opinion, Cabe has delivered quite a gem here, and his performance in my view is one of the most improved amid our regular and steady entrants. Quite similar to the lyrical effects described above in “onetruebrothers” review, Cabe’s lead chorus line “Heradiance Adores,” within “The Pearl,” which of course translates to “Her Audience Adores” – has that same special auditory effect of something quite magical. Though this type of lyrical effect happens purely by accident in most instances, it nonetheless manifests itself as having a significant ancillary impact that just adds tons of value to the allure of a given composition. Again, as mentioned in
’s review, Cabe’s vocals and unique melodic tapestry far outshines the basic chord progressions that make up the foundational construct of this rather fine composition. https://steemit.com/openmic/@cabelindsay/steemit-open-mic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-the-pearl-original-song
My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in order:
First: 
https://steemit.com/openmic/@pechichemena/open-mic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-stolen-soul-reflejos-original-song
Second: 
https://steemit.com/openmic/@chaifm/open-mic-songwriters-week-3-or-stolen-or-original
Third: 
https://steemit.com/openmic/@jaybird/steemit-openmic-songwriter-s-challenge-week-3-what-you-stole-original-song
Fourth: 
https://steemit.com/openmic/@wilins/openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-stolen-soul-original-song-no-perderemos-nuestras-almas-wilins-mendez
Fifth: 
https://steemit.com/openmic/@geenaizzy/openmic-songwriters-challenge-week-3-stolen-soul
Thank you all so much for taking some of your precious time to review my take on all of the incredibly creative artists here at the Songwriters venue this week. Thanks so much as well for up-voting and re-steeming this post in order to 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.