Winners of 2013 Fall Lyric Contest

SEMIFINALISTS

He Didn't Need Much by Dana Young, Anthony, KS

Mr. James Brown and Me by John Thomas Lane, Monument, CO

Three Feet Tall by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ

There's Still Some Cowboy Somewhere in Me by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ

A Whole Lot More Than Strangers by Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI

The Real Thing by Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI

Too Late Now by Paul Kostal, Brisbane, Australia

Rambler From Tascosa by Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI

FIRST PLACE

A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN STRANGERS Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI

 Judge 1

This is an interesting song and I didn't change much. I'll put in parenthesis what I'm taking out and replacing with another line. I changed a few lines to make meters match.

VERSE 1

The wine was flowing freely

The band was paying loud

I guess it's true that we both knew

What this was all about

Now the party's over

There's no need to pretend

We're a whole lot more than strangers

And a whole lot less than friends

CHORUS

We're a whole lot more than strangers

The way we loved last night

Now I don't know which way to go

Or how to make it right

It's a long, long way from lonely

To get to where we've been

We're a whole lot more than strangers

And a whole lot less than friends

VERSE 2

I watch you move (around) in the room

I watch you brush your hair

And slowly go to pick up clothes

All scattered everywhere

(Could this be the beginning

Or the beginning of the end)

Is this the beginning

Or is this going to end

We're a whole lot more than strangers

And a whole lot less than friends

REPEAT CHORUS

Judge 2

 A country type song with an interesting take on a one night stand situation that make you think about what direction such things might go.  I like the comination of a tongue-in-cheek expression like "we're a whole lot more than strangers" with the expression of sadness of being "a whole lot less than friends" at the same time.  Excellent phrasing and cadence and rhyme scheme, with good originality, emotional impact, appeal, focus and form.

Judge 3

Great use of imagery and phrasing.  

SECOND PLACE

HE DIDN'T NEED MUCH by Dana Young, Anthony, KS

Judge 1

I liked the poetic imagery of this song.

VERSE 1

As I stroll through the graveyard, all is peaceful and quiet

(It puts things in perspective, watching the sunset at twilight)

I gaze at the sky, watch the sunset at twilight

The leaves swirl around in the cool autumn breeze

And I stop at his headstone and drop to my knees

CHORUS

Oh, he didn't need much, just a home and some land

Friends around a campfire and a beer in his hand

He was somebody's son, somebody's brother

He was somebody's hero, and (a country life) somebody's lover

VERSE 2

I used to sit on his porchstep while he strummed his guitar

We'd sip a little Jack from a Mason fruit jar

He liked to watch Gunsmoke with his little old mutt

If he could see me cry now, he'd say ('Hey) "cowboy up"

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE

He never cared much about fortune or fame

He'd say "rich men and poor men, they all bury the same"

REPEAT CHORUS

Judge 2 

 A country style song with excellent phrasing and cadence and rhyme scheme.  Good emotional impact, appeal,focus and form.

THIRD PLACE - TIE

THERE'S STILL SOME COWBOY, SOMEWHERE IN ME by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ

Judge 1

I loved the 1st verse but the 2nd verse needs to stick to the truck theme and the meters don't match. Remember, all the meters in the 2nd and 3rd verse need to match the 1st verse.  It's a cute song, it just needs a little improving.

Judge 2 

Good emotional impact and originality.

Judge 3

Good imagery, form. Like the cowboy wandering theme.

TOO LATE NOW by Paul Kostal, Brisbane, Australia

 Judge 2

A country style song with excellent emotional impact, phrasing and rhyme scheme, good originality.

Judge 3

This song drew me in from the start.  Very realistic subject matter, originality and phrasing as well.

HONORABLE MENTION

THREE FEET TALL by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ

I loved the 1st two lines and think you need to combine those lines with the last 2 lines in the 2nd verse.  Then make this child more interesting in the other verses. The chorus is good but in the last line, change "that's" for "who's"

 Judge 3 

Needs a chorus between vs 1&2…add a bridge?

Thanks to Lyric Contest Director Nancy Rynders and Judges, Michael Brandenberger and Gigi Gostas