Well it has been a crazy long day listening to all the entries, I like to try and hit them all in one go or multiple joining listening sessions - as I feel it gives me a fresher feel on the songs and where to place them each week.

This was a huge week with massive competition for placements, you guys are amazing and should be super proud of the brilliant entries you are putting out there.

As we start of a new year, the tone has been set Open Mic will continue to just keep on growing each and every week - the only way on from here is up and your all part of the family, so enjoy the crazy ride that is Open Mic.

It is always such an honour to get to listen and review some of my favourite entries each week, but man you guys know how to make the job harder - each week you guys just keep getting better and better!

So without further delays, here are this weeks top 5:

This week's top 5:

1st Place - @jaredkhamanah - Vuelve

Well this just sounds bloody amazing! I just can't get enough, the sound is so unique and your vocals are sublime.

Here we have another new entrant that knows how to make some waves, what an amazing performance in every way - there is no possible way to fault this entry in any way.

Both of your playing is spot on creating such a full and textured sound, your guitar is just next level and the percussion mixed throughout is just perfection - you have captured and performed this song like it was your own and it was just amazing to watch and hear.

Even before reading the lyrics to find out the words I was hooked, even without understanding the meaning of the song I could feel the emotions you conveyed brilliantly.

Then there's your vocals and I am a little lost for words, you have a truly stunning voice - your vocal control and the way you use it is just spot on each time I hear it.

Listening to this entry while I write this review, it sounds like a professionally recorded song - the sound, the music and the vocals combining to utter perfection.

I really loved every single moment of this entry and I can't wait to hear more from you, in the coming weeks and months - your an amazing addition to the Open Mic family.

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2nd Place - @camporr - Rehab

Wow these vocals and your energy together was just everything I could ask for, what a brilliant entry and an amazing display of sheer raw talent.

You guys created such a full sound with a uke and vocals alone, colour me impressed as this was just a pure joy to hear time and again.

Your song selection was a brilliant choice and the choice to use a uke was a new take on an old classic, the sound was so energetic and fun - it added a whole new element to the song for me and I just adored it.

This is not the easiest song out there, the vocals are quiet demanding throughout the whole song and you just slayed it every step of the way - I just can't get enough of this entry, I keep listening to it over and over each time I just get more into it.

You have insane vocal control and I have a feeling some serious range to boot, I am so glad you entered and shared this amazing entry with us all - it has been such pure pleasure getting to listen and review it.

I can't wait to hear more from you in the future, you both have some serious skills and the possibilities are endless!

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3rd Place - @storycharlemagne - Take me to Church

Firstly mate brilliant song choice and secondly absolutely brilliant and unique take on a phenomenal song!

I just love the divine vocals you have weaved throughout this rendition, I don't normally go for slowed down versions but the additions and adaptations you have incorporated - highlighted the lyrics in a new way for me, it was similar to the original but it could stand alone independently.

Now I have to say holy shite you have an amazing set of pipes buddy, I just love your voice and the way you use it to such epic affect - the whole song was just utter brilliance.

Your vocal control is next level, you have a way to go from gentle to powerhouse in a millisecond - and all the subtle variations in between.

Your falsetto is sweet and just so powerful in how you chose to use it, anyone who reads my reviews will know how much I love a song that you just have to sing along with - well it's 5:20 am and I belting it out with you, I just can't help myself.

I just love a great vocal challenge and this is absolutely that, especially with the power and then there's the next level control you display - and vocal gymnastics are just divine.

You are fast becoming a favourite in Open Mic for your sheer talent alone, you have a great presence when your performing and you can hear the emotion when you sing.

I can't wait to keep hearing more from you in the coming weeks, it has been such a pleasure to hear your amazing entry.

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4th Place - @etemi - Say you won't let go

Yet another amazing entry with simply outstanding vocals, the whole performance was just everything I want in a song.

The guitars are beautiful and fill the sound out perfectly, but it's the vocals I just can't get enough of - you have managed to take a rather complex song and take it up another notch, making it insanely brilliant.

Then adding the harmonies at the end was absolutely wonderful, I just loved the energy you had throughout and the clear connection to the lyrics and emotion of the song - it felt like you felt every word as you sung.

This is not an easy song, but you made it sound like it was little to no effort - I just love your sheer pure talent, you have an amazing gift and you share it with such a passion it's just wonderful to see and hear.

You not only have insane vocal range and absolutely amazing vocal control, even better still you have some serious power behind it all - when you get going and you feel it, it's simply divine to hear.

Thank you so much for joining us, I am absolutely loving what your bringing so far - can't wait to hear more from you all soon.

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5th Place - @mrprecious - FireMan

Wow well it must be the week of the vocalists, cause damn me if I'm not loving yet another stellar vocal submission.

This was just such a beautiful and unique sounding song, with absolutely outstanding vocals - you really blew me away and that was before, I heard the brilliant falsetto you had hidden until the end.

What an amazing song, it has a great energy and vibe and when coupled with that beautiful playing on the guitars - well it was absolutely sublime, to watch and hear.

Your composition was just perfection, I love the structure of the music the slower, staggered approach - then the beautiful full sound, when things pick up as you continue.

Those super sweet high notes, that then just get smashed by some serious power coming up after - it really was an absolute joy to hear this amazing song.

You guys have won me over, I think you have a new fan cause this was just awesome - thanks so much for such a brilliant song and entry.

I can't wait to hear more from all of you, there is a group of you with some serious talent and skills - I look forward to hearing what you have for us next week!

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Honourable Mentions:

@caracortada - 2nd improvisation

@jovifermusic - ya no quiero estar

@gwills06 - holy spirit

@addiesworld - Disaster

@mrherby - Oceans

@ovweedb - De una capital a otra

@gabrielamenesesg - Locked Out Of Heaven

@kjablonski - Valerie

@isaria - Kamera

@j-lee - Eyes Shut

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Well some of you may be shocked to see such a small post, fear not I will be back to my overly wordy self soon enough - I just really struggled this week to make a final selection.

With so many amazingly talented and brilliant entries what's a girl to do, I'll tell ya - she stays up until 6 am writing her judges top 5 selection post is what!

So I have to admit I was my own worst enemy, knowing I had to choose but instead sitting here listening to songs again and again - just trying to find something, anything to set it apart from the other outstanding entries.

Well I got there in the end but as time was slipping away, I decided to do shorter reviews than my normal posts to ensure I got it out in time for @luzcypher - he has been running this for over a year and I cannot be the brakes on this train.

I am loving this job even when it leaves me sleep deprived before a live radio show, because honestly listening to entries - just gets me energised and ready to do the Steemit Musicians show!

It has been fun and difficult at the same time, because everytime you chose someone to win there is another worthy entrant that is missed - that is truly the hardest part of the job, knowing I can't choose you all (especially when so many of you kicked arse this week).

I am looking forward to the coming weeks and seeing how our new changes will affect the Open Mic community, I just have to say the support from the Open Mic family has been overwhleming and just so supportive - you guys are good peoples.

I'd also like to remind everyone again that all top five nominations from this week, will feature in the Steemit Musicians live radio show on MSP-Waves next week.

A massive congratulations to all of those to be featured in the show, it is going to be great opportunity to get to further share the awesome entries we receive each week - I can't wait to hear the audience's feedback on our selections and your entries.

I hope you can all drop by and support those who made this week's lists, I'm sure they'd appreciate the support - not to mention if you join you get to help choose the weekly 20 SBD winning entry!

Please join us for Steemit Musicians this Sunday 12-1 UTC!

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You can listen live at the mspwaves website- http://mspwaves.com/home/listen
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You can join broadcast hosts in a special chat room on the MSP Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/kNxM7T6
You can check out http://mspwaves.com/ for more information

On the note of the community I thought I'd take a moment to mention that, over at the minnow support program on our discord chat room Peace Abundance and Liberty - the recently revitalised music room has been getting rather active lately.

As well as the recent burst of activity, we have also added a jukebox to the room - so now when you're chatting with people in the music room, you can choose and play music from youtube (this includes open mic entries, I may have already played a couple I really enjoyed).

So far I have seen a few open mic regulars hanging out and about on the PAL chat rooms, now we have a place where we can actively share music live with people were chatting with - this can help musicians in so many ways, not to mention it's just fun to hang out and chat over and about good tunes.

In addition to the new music room Peace Abundance and Liberty chat rooms have a lot to offer, you can access bots to vote on your posts, you can also meet and interact with over 5000 steemians in the channel - this can be a very useful resource to new steemians, but is also a fantastic place to meet and interact with like minded individuals on many different topics.

Again a big thanks to @soundlegion, @jessamynorchard, @verbal-d and @passion-ground for all they do as judges, please remember to go and check out their top five selections each week and to @luzcypher and @pfunk thank you so much for making all of this possible - until next week.

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