Week 96 is now behind us, and what a week it was!

With week 96 behind us, we now have 8-weeks to go to celebrate 2 full years of the Open-Mic venue! In case haven’t heard, in honor of this significant milestone, we are in the process of putting together the biggest ever musical collaboration on Steemit – and possibly anywhere else for that matter!

@pechichemena and I have been working like dogs to keep the project on schedule. Beginning today, we are sending out the call to track Piano and Keys for this Epic Worldwide Mash-Up. If you wish to participate in this one-of-a-kind collaboration, you can find out more about the project directly below.

If you haven’t done so already, please check out all of the most recent posts associated with the forthcoming Open-Mic Mega-Collaboration.

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The Original Announcement Post

Update #1.

Update #2.

Update #3.

NEW Update #4.

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Should anyone have any questions or wish to participate in the “Mega Open-Mic Collab,” feel free to hit me up on discord >> @passion-ground#5524.

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.

Every last one of us should be SO VERY PROUD that @pfunk continues to weigh in at #18 on the witness list! It wasn’t that long ago that he was struggling to hold onto the #20 slot. Let’s keep this up, okay - @pfunk all the way - to #1!

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.

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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 96

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: @pechichemena – Reflejos - (Original)

From the very first time I heard him perform, and ever since, I have developed great respect for Pechiche as an artist, songwriter, performer, and composer. I have gotten to know him very well over the past year, and my relationship with him has intensified greatly since we’ve been working so closely together on the Open-Mic Collaboration project. Be that as it may, if I were listening to “Reflejos” for the very first time – and I knew nothing of @pechichemena at all, this entry would still be at the top of my list for week 96. There’s no doubt about this… This entry is hands-down incredible! The production is stellar, the composition sweet, the performance impassioned, and the execution flawless! I love this song so much, and I’m sure you will too!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@pechichemena/6dgvf0i9

SECOND PLACE: @silentscreamer – Show Must Go On - (Cover)

There is no doubt that SS has that special something! Her creativity is boundless as is her tenacity to produce and excel in everything that she does. Marica’s cover of Queens, “Show Must Go On,” is a perfect testament to the iron will and exquisite artistry of Silent-Screamer!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@silentscreamer/mvf8xt6t

THIRD PLACE: @joseacabrerav – Lloro - (Cover)

Jose is an exceptionally talented young musician! His original compositions are on par with great covers such as his week 96 entry, “Lloro,” with which he has done a remarkable job interpreting. Jose is full of hope, energy, and immense potential… I’m certain that if he remains grounded and focused, that the future will indeed be very bright for one Mister Jose Acabrerav!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@joseacabrerav/l3ey06lq

FOURTH PLACE: @abelfernandez – El Mismo Dolor - (Original)

@abelfernandez really laid down a nice groove here with “El Mismo Dolor.” He has produced and shared with us a great audio and video production of this most amazing performance. I was captivated by this entry from the start right until the very end!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@abelfernandez/qx7sj5mg

FIFTH PLACE: @lillywilton – The Wrong Way - (Original)

Yes, I am still very much smitten with the notoriously talented, Lilly Wilton! With her latest composition, “The Wrong Way,” Lilly has loved me up in just the “right way,” - and even though it burns – I love it! And so will you – trust me!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@lillywilton/v6lx5unx

My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:

First: @daily-musings – Little Truthful One - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@daily-musings/steemit-open-mic-week-96-or-little-truthful-one-or-daily-musings-original-song

Second: @jotadiaz12 – Domingo - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@jotadiaz12/steemit-open-mic-week-96-domingo-cover-armando-and-kim

Third: @dianakyv – Contigo en la Distancia - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@dianakyv/wodh54n5

Fourth: @melavie – Fever - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@melavie/steemit-openmic-week-96-fever-by-peggy-lee-feat-ingrid-kornelia

Fifth: @mariajruizb – Cosiendome el corazón - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@mariajruizb/x74ppvdp

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:

@wilins, @katrina-ariel, @esthersanchez, @elisonr13, @alejandra23, @nilssonleiva, @ferchemusico, @davidcentenor, @shookriya, @siomarasalmeron, @naiyagarcia24, @vladoramirez, @kimugas23, @maycorjerjes18, @yrmaleza, @marcosjerjes, @melor9, @alcoholisedbsoul, @mayneth, and @belenlopr!

Another Special Shout Out To:

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

They are - in no particular order:

@manuelmusic, @josegri, @cabelindsay, @rjcha, @beto14, @tribedownsouth, @centenojesus, @minuetoacademy, @jerrytsuseer, @johnthefelon, @rodrigo98, @steevc, @luismarcanoxd, @kkarenmp, @carlosfbass, @danielsandoval, @ceheiberg, @donatello, @nior, @gabrielkrupaz, @lk666, @damcrow, @ragnar29, @smile20, @davidfar, @mcmusic, @digitalopus, @salvadorhr18, @samjgonz, @montanacellist, @coruscate, @sheenopmusic, @cesarmarcano, @carlosvidal, @cpereira, @shephard, @sanami, @racso, @lozanocarmen, @miguelblanco, @jembee, @carolinafer, @gibber, @jons0318, @drewley, @cesaralejandro, @wethepatsies, @emiliojmoreno, @julian.alejandro, @carlosgu, @dreamrafa, @edwardstobia, @lasseehlers, @angelaraujo, and @luis2702!

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!