DSA 2014 SONG CONTEST WINNERS

2014 DSA SONG CONTEST WINNERS

AMERICANA

1. No Hiding Place by Lucia Comnes and Gawain Mathews, San Francisco, CA   

2. Over Space and Time by Nitanee Paris, Malibu, CA , Roy Bemelmans, Wijnansrade, Netherlands

3. Hold Me by Dickey Johnson, Dallas, Tx   

CHRISTIAN/ INSPIRATIONAL

1. The Journey by Rob Cariddi, Fort Mill, SC 

2. The Plans I Have for You by DeDe, Houston, TX

3. What You Made of Me by Mike Hyden, Ralston, NE

HM Known & Loved by Blue Light Bandit, Framingham, MA 

HM Believe by Life Is Hard, Houston, TX

COUNTRY

1. My Shine by T Ediwin Doss, Silver Springs, MD 

2.  Made In The USA by Roger Kaye, Glen Falls, NY 

3. Where The Corn Used To Grow by Benjamin Neuman, Nashville, TN 

INSTRUMENTAL

1. Surreal McCoy by Charlie Hill, Tulsa, OK 

2. Change the World by DeDe, Houston, TX 

3. Malibu by Maxim Senin, Lakewood, CA 

3.  Morning by Christian Taylor, Seattle, WA

LOVE SONGS/ EASY LISTENING

1. Love Is Everything by Al Hovden, John Roles, Vancouver, BC

2. Something Just Clicks by James Bennett, Tulsa, OK 

3. Do You Miss the Heat by Debra Gussin, Los Angeles, CA, Stacy Hogan, Nashville, TN 

NOVELTY / CHILDREN

1. Jingle Jangle Christmas by Rob Cariddi, Fort Mill, SC 

2.  Snowflake by Katie Hardyman, Taree, NSW, Australia 

3. Squishy Flip Flops by Randy Sauer, Hayes, KS

3. The Christmas Song That No One Knows by Renee Safier and Andy Hill, James Vermilya, Rodondo Beach, CA 

POP/ROCK

1. Forget You Girl by  Debra Gussin,  Los Angeles, CA, Kyle Vincent, Amherst, MA 

2. Learn to Breathe by Nitanee Paris, Malibu, CA

3. I've Already Won by  Debra Gussin,  Los Angeles, CA, Stacy Hogan, Nashville, TN 

SINGER SONGWRITER

1. Open Up by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA  

2. Say That You Love Me by Gracie Lott, De Soto, TX

3. Small Town Living Life by Stephen Blackwell, Wills Point, Tx 

GRAND PRIZE

1. No Hiding Place by Lucia Comnes and Gawain Mathews, San Francisco, CA  

2. Say That You Love by Gracie Lott, De Soto, TX

3. Something Just Clicks by James Bennett, Tulsa, OK

See the Press Release on the Grand Prize Winners: http://dsapress.blogspot.com/2015_01_01_archive.html 

Here the winning songs on Soundcloud. https://soundcloud.com/dallas_song_contest/sets/dsa-2014-song-contest-winners

GRAND PRIZE JUDGES COMMENTS

Here are my Top 3.  I intend on writing in more detail about these and others, but I thought you might like to know some of my thoughts for your shindig tomorrow.  Lots of strong songs this year.  Unlike most years, many songs could have won this. Once I get settled in my new home, I will write a more detailed review.  Thanks for letting me be part of this great contest.

Roy

1.) No Hiding Place – While the song has about a 5 note range, I gave it high marks for melody.  The melody is so easy to remember, I found myself humming this over and over again and really wanting to learn the lyric. Sometimes great melodies are really simple, that is the case here. The lyric is captivating, thought provoking and if we were only hearing the melody and lyric, one can visualize exactly who would be singing it, what kind of band would be playing and even the clothes they would be wearing. It creates a vision beyond the content of the lyric.  Another thing that caught my attention was that this song is dead center of the Americana genre with many lyrical & visual overtones. One listener might feel “religious,” one might hear “relationship”, one might simply see "a bird" and another might experience something completely different. Songwriting contests come down to the opinion of the judge, but there is no denying that this song nails the genre, with or without the music. With that said, it really isn’t my cup of tea, but the fans of this genre will eat it up.

2.) Say That You Love Me – Very strong lyric, melody and hook.  Clearly written from the heart by a very good writer. The melody and lyric are so strongly connected, it feels as if the singer is “begging” throughout the song.  Obviously, relationship songs are a dime a dozen and it’s hard to create something unique that no one has done before.  This is unique and I believe it’s one of those songs that would make a life playlist of a 15 year old girl. She will probably remember this song when she is 50, as it is very memorable and speaks loudly to a specific audience.

3.) Something Just Clicks – Another unique and different relationship song.  Simple melody with a strong lyric.  The hook is unforgettable and the melody of the backing vocals actually becomes one of the memorable parts of the song. The production doesn’t help the song as I believe it has so much more potential. But it is a song that I will remember for a long time and believe that it has opportunity in the rock, pop and r & b markets.  Although this singer is very good, it could be interpreted in many different ways.  In my eyes, that’s what makes it good.

2013 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

1. Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

2. Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia

3. 3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

SEE THE COMMENTS FROM THE GRAND PRIZE JUDGE

CATEGORY WINNERS

Listen to the whole playlist on Soundcloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/dallassongwriters/sets/dsasc2013winners

Americana

Cook a Chicken by Whitley Hill, Nashville, TN

2. Old Grim by Eric Bettencourt, Portland, ME

3. Carla Moore by Brian Kalinec, Houston, TX

Christian / Inspirational

1. He Did His Best Work On Wood by T Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, VA

2. First Church of The Last Chance by Brent Benton, Plano, TX

3. Point Me Home by Stephen McWhirter, New Albany, IN

Country

1. Guitar Players Get The Girls by Debra Gussin and Marty Dodson, Los Angeles, CA

2. Dancing on Dandelions by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY

3. Driftwood You and Me by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT

Instrumental

1. Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia

2. Dogs In Paradise by Charlie Hill, Tulsa, OK

3. Warrior by Arek Religa, Chicago, ILWarrior

Love

1. A New Love Song by Nitanee Paris Lawson and Jonathan Bluth, Malibu, CA

2. When Did You Know by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia

3. So Beautiful by Katie Hardyman, Pampoolah, Taree, NSW, Australia

Novelty / Childrens 

1. Down To Earth by Kate Diaz, Chicago, IL

2. The Christmas Song No One Knows by Renee Safier, Andy Hill and James Vermilya, Redondo Beach, CA 

3. Dig Into Reading by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS

Pop/Rock/Alt/RnB

1. Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

2. 3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

3. Like They Do It In The Movies by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Malibu, CA

HM. So Long by Maureen Fichten, Manalapan, NJ

Singer / Songwriter

1. Smoke & Ashes by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA

2. Smallest Act of Kindness by Cal Scott, Portland, OR

3. Trans-Pecos Serenade by Eddie Lott, Dallas, TX

2013 SEMIFINALISTS

Americana

1. Carla Moore by Brian Kalinec, Houston, TX

2. Parting Song by Melissa Bandura, Richmond N., BC, Canada

3. Possum Trot Road by Richard Mack Harrell, Boca Raton, FL

4. Memory Museum by Mark Stepakoff, Wellesley, MS

5. Circle Back by Michael Henchman, Vancouver, WA

6. Screen Door by Martin Flannagan, Baton Rouge, LA

7. Cold Blood by Mark Stepakoff, Wellesley, MS

8. The Twilight Years by Roy Williams, Woodbridge, ONT, Canada

9.  Lost Angel by Eric Stone, Boulder, CO

10. Old Grim by Eric Bettencourt, Portland, ME

11. Lonely at the Bottle by Tom Biles, Keller, TX

12. Cook a Chicken by Whitley Hill, Nashville, TN

Christian / Inspirational

 1. When A Soldier Comes by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT

2. Spirit's Hymn by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA

3.The Sky Is The Limit by Lanny Sherwin, Santa Barbara, CA

4. He Did His Best Work On Wood by T Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, VA

5. Point Me Home by Stephen McWhirter, New Albany, IN

6. Snowflake by Randall Brown, Mineola, TX

7. Sing It by Carl Peterson, Paw Paw, MI

8. A Dance With Angels by Rob Cariddi, Fort Mill, SC

9. First Church of The Last Chance by Brent Benton, Plano, TX

10.  Sweet Communion by Brent Benton, Plano, TX

Country

1. All Part Of Our Love by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT

2. Already Gone by Wyler Delray, Creve Coeur, IL

3. Dancing on Dandelions by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY

4. Dear John Letter Again by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY

5. Driftwood You and Me by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT

6. Guitar Players Get The Girls by Debra Gussin and Marty Dodson, Los Angeles, CA

7. Headstone by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY

8. I Knew by James Hoppe, Aliso, CA

9. I Miss Someone All the Time by Wyler Delray, Creve Coeur, IL

10. I'll Meet You In Dallas by Krystan Bellows, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

11. If You Were My Girl by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY

12. Professional Help by T Ediwn Doss, Silver Spring, VA 

13. The Point of No Return by Wyler Delray, Creve Coeur, IL

14. Your Memory's Never Done Me Wrong by Brent Benton, Plano, TX

Instrumental

1. Backlash by Lou DeAdder, Whitby, Canada

2. Dogs In Paradise by Charlie Hill, Tulsa, OK

3. Friday Night Chant by Tomer George Cohen, Latin, Israel

4. Jazzy by Lou DeAdder, Whitby, Canada

5. Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia

6. Warrior by Arek Religa, Chicago, IL

Love

1. A New Love Song by Nitanee Paris Lawson and Jonathan Bluth, Malibu, CA

2. Caught by Stephanie Krawiee, Bloomfield Hills, MI

3. I Keep On Wanting You by Andre Kerek, Miami, FL

4. A Paris August Moon by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia

5. So Beautiful by Katie Hardyman, Pampoolah, Taree, NSW, Australia

6. The Very Best In Me by Jordan Spivack, Nanuet, NY

7. When Did You Know by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia

8. Where The Willows Weep by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia

Novelty / Childrens 

1. Echo The Gecko by Jordan Spivack, Nanuet, NY

2. Cat In My Hoody by Robert Stelmach, White Rock, BC, Canada

3. Rockin' THe Kazoo by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS

4. The Christmas Song No One Knows by Renee Safier, Andy Hill and James Vermilya, Redondo Beach, CA 

5. Down To Earth by Kate Diaz, Chicago, IL

6. Jasper's Worst Christmas by Whitley Hill, Nashville, TN

7. Jonathan Baker by Robert Graham, Toronto, Canada

8. Dig Into Reading by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS

Pop/Rock/Alt/RnB

1. 3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

2. Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

3. Ice Cream by Stephanie Krawiee, Bloomfield, MI

4. Like They Do It In The Movies by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Malibu, CA

5. Lucid Lover by Jessi Teich, Philadelphia, PA

6. Museum Day  by Patrick Bisaillon and Marc Bourbonniers of Plead Guilty, Mirabel, Quebec, Canada

7. River by Heidi Zettl, Allen, TX

8. Shade of Grey (Starlight Mix) by James Hoppe, Aliso Viejo, CA

9. So Long by Maureen Fichten, Manalapan, NJ

10. Story Of A Broken Heart by Stephanie Krawiee, Bloomfield, MI

Singer / Songwriter

1. Trans-Pecos Serenade by Eddie Lott, Dallas, TX

2. Open a Vein by Martin Flannagan, Baton Rouge, LA

3. Smallest Act of Kindness by Cal Scott, Portland, OR

4. Hands of Angels by Steve Schultz, Poughkeepsie, NY

5. Shadow by Steve Schultz, Poughkeepsie, NY

6. Nicer Here by Davis McGee, Orlando, FL

7. Beautiful Like You by Davis McGee, Orlando, FL

8. Smoke & Ashes by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA

9. Honey Pie by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Malibu, CA

10. Empty Space by Sebastien Parentin, Loudrefing, France

11. Slow Work in Progress by T Ediwn Doss, Silver Spring, VA 

12. On A Cold Cold Christmas Day by T Ediwn Doss, Silver Spring, VA 

13. Philadelphia by Eric Colville, Ipswich, MA

2013 CATEGORY SEMIFINALIST

Song titles only are listed because the judging is still in process and the songwriters must currently be anonymous until completion of the process at which time all names and home towns will be added to this listing in September.

AMERICANA

1. Carla Moore

2. Parting Song

3. Possum Trot Road

4. Memory Museum

5. Circle Back

6. Screen Door

7. Cold Blood

8. The Twilight Years

9. The Lost Angel

10. Old Grim

11. Lonely at the Bottle

12. Cook a Chicken

Christian / Inspirational

 1. When A Soldier Comes

2. Spirit's Hymn

3.The Sky Is The Limit 

4. He Did His Best Work On Wood

5. Point Me Home

6. Snowflake

7. Sing It

8. A Dance With Angels

9. Church of The Last Chance

10.  Sweet Communion

Country

1 All Part Of Our Love

2 Already Gone

3 Dancing on Dandelions

4 Dear John Letter Again

5 Driftwood You & Me

6 GUITAR PLAYERS GET THE GIRLS

7 HEADSTONE

8 I Knew

9. I Miss Someone All the Time

10 I'll Meet You In Dallas

11 If you were my girl

12 Professional Help

13 The Point of No Return

14 Your Memory's Never Done Me Wrong 

Instrumental

1.   Backlash

2.   Dogs In Paradise

3.   Friday Night Chant 

4.   Jazzy 

5.   Looking Glass 

6.   Warrior

Love

1.   A New Love Song

2.   Caught

3.   I Keep On Wanting You

4.   Paris August Moon

5.   So Beautiful

6.   The Very Best In Me

7.   When Did You Know

8.   Where The Willow Weep

Novelty / Childrens 

1. Echo The Gecho

2. Cat In My Hoody

3.Rockin' THe Kazoo

4. The Christmas Song No One Knows

5. Down To Earth

6. Jasper's Worst Christmas

7. Jonathan Baker

8. Dig Into Reading

Pop/Rock/Alt/R&B

1. 3, 2, 1

2. Do You Believe

3. Ice Cream

4. Like They Do It In The Movies

5. Lucid Lover

6. Museum Day

7. River

8. Shade of Grey (Starlight Mix)

9. So Long

10. Story Of A Broken Heart

Singer / Songwriter

1. Trans-Pecos Serenade

2. Open a Vein

3.  Smallest Act of Kindness

4. Hands of Angels

5. Shadow

6. Nicer Here

7. Beautiful Like You

8. Smoke & Ashes

9. Honey Pie

10. Empty Space

11. Slow Work in Progress

12. Cold Cold Christmas Day

13. Philadelphia

DSA SONG CONTEST IN THE JUDGING PHASE - IPOD DRAWING WINNER ANNOUNCED

Category judges are busy listening to the entries and picking the winners.

 At the July Second Tuesday Meeting, our guest speaker, Kathy Baldwin, drew song entry number 196, Sweet Communion. The songwriter of the winning entry is Brent Benton from Plano, Tx. Brent wins an IPOD shuffle, from the Apple Store, his choice of color.

DSA 2013 Song Contest Deadline June 17th

Eight Song Categories

1. Christian/Inspirational

2. Country

3. Americana/Folk/Bluegrass

4. Pop/Rock/RnB/Alternative

5. Love Songs/Easy Listening

6. Children's/Novelty

7. Singer/Songwriter (songwriter is the performer)

8. Instrumental

Multiple Winners In Each Category

Entry Fee $25

Deadline: Monday, June 17th, 2013

Submissions Close at Midnight. 

Enter Online 

at one of two DSA Song Contest Submission Partners:

Broadjam.com

To Enter Online, you Must Join Broadjam by

Receiving a Free 90 Day PROMoB Membership.

or

sonicbids.com/dsa

To Enter Online, you Must Join Sonicbids

Receiving a Free 90 Day Membership with a 2 week Free Trial of Sonicbid's EPK

Electronic Press Kit)

Sonicbids is the leading matchmaking site for emerging bands and music promoters. Its community of 325,000 registered artists use the site to connect with 25,000 music promoters - ranging from some of the world's largest music festivals and conferences, to clubs, colleges, music supervisors and other people looking to book or license music.

New to Sonicbids? Sign up to submit your band to sonicbids.com/dsa and get a free trial, plus 25 "Tokens" to submit to 25 Token Gig Listings at no additional cost. Previous Sonicbids members can reactivate their membership for only $1!

OR ENTER BY MAIL, 

download the contest form here.

Mail your check and entries to:

Dallas Songwriters Association

2013 Song Contest Director

Sammons Center For The Arts

3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20

Dallas, Texas 75219

(voicemail) 214-750-0916 x1

e-mail: DSA SONG CONTEST

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY June 17th.

 or you can mail you entry form and CD and pay online at our DSA Kagi store with credit card or Paypal. Click here to enter our Kagi store.

Each entry is entered into the drawing for an IPOD

Drawing held July 9!

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: June 17, 2013
Drawing For Free Ipod: July 9, 2013
Semi-Finalists Announced: Aug 13, 2013
Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Sept 10, 2013

GRAND PRIZE

Premier Demo By

Beaird Music Group, Inc

A Premier Nashville Recording Service
(List Value $705.00)
Beaird Music Group recorded the demo of Lady Antebellum's "I Run to You" which was just voted as the Single of the Year at the CMA Awards.

See recording demo here

and a Casio PX-350 Privia Piano

Grand Prize Winner, and

1st and 2nd Runner Up Receive:

1 Yr. Broadjam Primo MoB Membership

($199.95 Value) 
Includes Artist Website, 1 Yr. Hosting

1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

Additional Prizes

1st Runner Up Receives:

1 Day of FREE high quality recording on one song,  and a night in

Merlin's Cabin at RIVER SOUNDS on the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country.

2nd Runner Up Receives:

Song Critique from Barbara McMillen, Associate Professor of Songwriting at Collin College

and recording time at Joe Musik Studio

1st Place in Each Category Receives:

$100
A 1 year Broadjam MoB Membership ($49.95 value)
A 1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

2nd Place in Each Category Receives:
$50
A 1 year Broadjam MoB Membership ($49.95 value)
A 1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

Every Winner Receives:
DSA Membership ($50.00 Value)

Judges

Rules

Need More Info?

Click Here for Song Contest FAQ -

Winners will be announced on-line

at www.dallassongwriters.org

Grand Prize Winners Announced by Elkins

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Just Me and You by Macy Medford, Jonathan George, Houston, TX

1ST RUNNER UP

That Old Shirt by Steve Chizmadia, Peekskill, NY

2ND RUNNER UP

You'll Be Back by Debra M. Gussin, Jonathan Bluth, LA, CA

4.)  Is That You?
5.)  Another Night
6.)  Holy Water
7.)  Find My Way
8.)  Liar
Others:
I Love It When You Call
Blue Room
Sing Your Song
I Like The Way You Look At Me
I Am Not James Taylor
Those Were The Days


Roy Elkins Comments still to come, but meanwhile here's a brief:

"One song, Just Me And You, caught me ear throughout the process.  Second place was a battle between 13 other songs which switched places just about everyday.  I think if you presented these same songs to me in 6 months, I might have a different list as 5 points (based on the DSA form) separated the top 14 songs. " 

Winners Announced

AMERICANA

1. That Old Shirt by Steve Chizmadia, Peekskill, NY

2. Kids These Days by Andy Hill, Renee Safier and Hardrain, Redondo Beach, CA

3. Find My Way by Chris Alvarado, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

CHILDREN'S / NOVELTY

1. Bookstore Blues by Eric Colville, The Selkies, Ipswich, MA

2. Our Gumtree Home by Glen Naylor, Bright, Victoria, Australia

3. The Monster Masher by Lanny Sherwin, Santa Barbara, CA

CHRISTIAN

1. Blue Room by Keeton Coffman, Sping,TX

2. Is That You? by Debra M. Gussin, Rik Howard, LA, CA

3. Holy Water by Spencer Clark, Saint Helena, CA 

COUNTRY

1. Abilene From Abilene by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT

2. Liar by Daniel Sumber, Josh Patton, Brandon Sparks, (Patton Sparks Band), Austin, Tx

3. I Love It When You Call by by Andy Taylor, Alpharetta, GA

INSTRUMENTAL

1. Dolphins In Love by Gavin R. Potter, Simons Town, S. Africa

2. I Need You by V. Padla Gootee, Arlington, VA

3. The Struggles Within by Diane Lekven, Jordan Perez, Rancho Sante Fe, CA

LOVE SONGS

1. I Like The Way You Look At Me by Belle Schneiderman, NY, NY

2. Believe In Love by Robert Graham, Toronto, Ont, CAN

3. Do U Miss The Heat by Debra M. Gussin, Stacy Hogan, LA, CA

POP/ROCK/RNB/ALT

1. Fade To Grey by Chris O'Neil, Heathmont, Victoria, Australia

2. Those Were The Days by Chase Thompson, Pasco, WA

3, Julie by Philip Creamer, Daniel Creamer, Tucker Cauble, Dallas, TX

HM: So Confused by Nestor Cora, Brooklyn, NY
HM: You'll Be Back by Debra M Gussin, Jonathan Bluth, LA, CA

SINGER SONGWRITER

1. I Am Not James Taylor by  Gordon Lustig, Napa, CA

2. Just Me and You by Macy Medford, Jonathan George, Houston, TX

3. Sing Your Song by Susie McLean, Mississauga, Ontario, CAN

HM  I Gave You Away by Becky Wright, Tahlequah, OK

We'll be announcing the grand prize winners soon as we know.