2011 Results Use the search box below for details of every song entered and to view and print Certificates. Every entry in the 2011 contest is listed with the judges score, position reached in the contest and a link to a personalised certificate.
In 2011 Acoustic Category Winner Bloody Good Xmas by Jamie Hawkins was released as a Christmas Single and went straight to #2 in the Amazon Best Selling Download Charts - watch the video at YouTube..... world renowned record producer and contest judge Stuart Epps produced a stunning new remix of the winning song "What Love Is" by Ken Brown - listen to Stuart Epp's remix here.... Rock Category Winner, Danger Deep Water by Jason Flinter, was chosen to open and launch LABEL EXPO, the major International Awards Show in Brussels and Jason was also asked to write music for the 2012 EXPO shows in Capetown, Mexico and Chicago - "All thanks to the initial exposure through the UKSC!" says Jason.... Semi Finalists Chloe and Izzy Pinder were featured live on national BBC TELEVISION performing their entry Hide and Seek when the results were announced... Mel Shaw (Founding President of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Juno Award winning multiple Gold Album producer), produced and released multi-genre versions of the 2011 Olympic Theme Winner When You Ride A Dream and promoted the song during the 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES. Everyone who enters this contest could have similar success and could be noticed by the top industry professionals worldwide who follow this event very closely looking for new songwriting talent...
POP WINNER (re-recorded by top producer and UKSC judge Stuart Epps)
What Love Is by Ken Brown (re-mixed by Stuart Epps) The UKSC judges were unanimous in picking this as the most outstanding entry in the pop category. It was also chosen as Overall Winner 2011. The legendary producer and UKSC contest judge Stuart Epps (well known for his work with Elton John, Oasis, Robbie Williams, Led Zeppelin and many others) described this entry as "unusual, beautiful, sentimental and with poignant lyrics" Stuart immediately teamed up with songwriter Ken and set to work producing a stunning new mix of the winning song... Listen to Stuart Epps' mix of the winning song here.
OLYMPIC THEME WINNER (single released for London Olympics in 2012)
When You Ride A Dream by Marv Conan and Brian Muni
RELEASED DURING THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMESListen to the song here... There were some outstanding entries in the Olympic Theme category including some very strong instrumental themes. This entry was chosen as winner because of its relevant and positive lyric, which uses a variety of Olympic images, and because of the uplifting and memorable melody which fits the lyric perfectly. The photos show the US songwriting team of Marv Conan (left) and Brian Muni (right).
Mel Shaw, Founding President of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (and a Juno Award winning Gold Album producer) was so impressed with this UKSC entry that he signed the writers and produced multiple cover versions of this track to promote the song during the 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES. Visit the When You Ride A Dream Official Website
ACOUSTIC WINNER (Christmas single release)
Bloody Good Christmas by Jamie Hawkins
Top producer, musical director and UKSC Judge Richard Niles described this song as "Bloody brilliant!.... powerful, utterly original, articulate, heartfelt, emotional, very well constructed and superb in every way." High praise from a respected figure in the UK and international music industry. The song generated so much attention during and after the contest that it was released as a Christmas single and it went straight to #2 in the Amazon Best Selling Download Charts - watch the demo video of the song at YouTube or get your download on the official Bloody Good Xmas Website.
COUNTRY WINNER
He Only Broke My Heart by Molly Hunt / Troy Johnson / Jack Williams
This track is a powerful modern country/pop crossover song using very strong and emotive imagery. The photo shows one of the writers (and also the singer on the demo entry) Molly Hunt. Country expert and UKSC contest judge and CMA Award Winner Lucie Diamond says: "It's very now and has a modern Taylor Swift feel. It fits perfectly between country and pop and has a worldwide audience grabbing appeal. Miley Cyrus could have had a hit with this song!" Listen to the song here...
SINGER/SONGWRITER WINNER
From His Window by John Smith
A sensitive, gentle and moving song in the classic singer/songwriter tradition. This entry is well sung (this is the only category where vocals are also judged), the song is beautiful and well written, and it deals with a very difficult and emotive subject in an orignal and moving way. The judges were 100% unanimous in selecting this as the winner in the singer/songwriter category. Listen to the song here... Visit John's web site at johnsmithmusic.com
RnB WINNER
Bitch in the Bedroom by Asya Satti The judges made this song the winner in the RnB category for its original and contemporary lyric and its attention grabbing love-it-or-hate-it theme. It was also a Runner Up in the Singer Songwriter category. The hook is very strong and memorable and one of those that sticks in the mind after only one or two hearings. Although not part of the judging process Asya's charismatic performance to webcam in a very simple one-take video of the song is impressive - Watch the video hereListen only here...
ADULT CONTEMPORARY WINNER
Forgotten State by Kevin Edge
This is an outstanding and hauntingly original entry that fits the Adult Contemporary label perfectly. The song's theme is how people can become separated from each other and whether they can ever become "all as one again". This is not an obviously commercial song but its sincerity, its originality, its musicianship and feeling, and its haunting melody and lyrics made it a clear favourite and first choice with the judges and a very worthy winner in this category. Listen to the song here...
FAITH/CHRISTIAN WINNER
My Sanctuary by Melvin Lijih
My Sanctuary, written by Melvin Lijih, is a unique and refreshingly different entry from Nigeria. The recording is basic and acapella with no musical backing and just a simple click track on the second and fourth beats. The acappella vocal is sung very well but the judges were very clear that this song would still have won this category even with a much less accomplished vocal because of the well written and constructed melody and lyric. This entry was described by one of the judges as "simply georgous!".Listen to the song here...
LOVE SONGS WINNER
If This Was The Last Night We Had by Paul Stiegler and Rob Crosby
A classic country style love song from the talented songwriting team of Paul Stiegler and Rob Crosby from Wisconsin USA. The touching and heartfelt lyric stood out from the other competing entries in this category this year and the gentle melody and simple guitar accompaniment compliment the theme perfectly. The photo shows Paul Stiegler, the other co writer Rob Crosby is also the singer on this entry. A well crafted and engaging song. Listen to the song here...
OPEN CATEGORY WINNER
Eastenders by Andrew Estaphane
An infectious and upbeat novelty rap song about life in London's East End complete with cockney rhyming slang. Those of you from outside the UK might not get this, but for those people familiar with the lifestyles, people and history of London this has great lyrics and a memorable hook. Videos of entries are not judged (nor was the Eastenders TV Theme musical reference in this song). There is an entertaining video of the song available from the writer on YouTube... Watch video here
ROCK WINNER
Danger Deep Water by Jason Flinter / Jackie Spindley / Charlie Hodson
This year the judges went for a heavy metal song intentionally written in the style of AC/DC. This is the first time a heavy metal song has won this category and this well crafted entry has all the components you would expect from this classic genre - a genre that currently has a massive following worldwide. The photo shows writer Jason Flinter. The writers have also put together a great video for the song - watch it here...After winning the category this song was chosen to open and launch LABEL EXPO, the prestigious major International Music Awards Show in Brussels and Jason was also asked to write music for the 2012 Capetown, Mexico and Chicago Shows - "All thanks to the initial exposure through the UKSC!" says Jason....
SHOW TUNES WINNER
Do You Hear It by Laarni Matta-Macaraeg
The judges thought this was an outstanding, tender yet attention grabbing song that could easily be imagined as part of a hit musical show. It is a very professionally written and capable composition and the judges agreed that this songwriter shows impressive potential as a writer for the musical theatre. It is a great example of the genre from Laarni Matta-Macareaeg, a songwriter from the Philippines. This entry submitted was well produced but it still sounded great when deconstructed by the judges and played on a piano with a simple vocal. Listen to the song here...
JAZZ/BLUES WINNER
Relativity by Kate Ockenden
This song was the firm favourite and first choice of the top producer and undisputed jazz expert Richard Niles who picked it as the most outstanding entry among all the jazz/blues finalists this year. Kate Ockenden is a pianist, singer and songwriter from the UK and this winning song Relativity is the title track of a new compilation of her jazz/funk compositions.
An Indian Folk Song Meets Jazz by Tze (Toh Tze Chin)
This was one of the most difficult categories to judge this year with outstanding acoustic guitar, piano pieces, orchestral scores, film theme music, electronic and dance entries - many of which could have been winners. But in the end the judges chose this composition from Singapore by composer and pianist Toh Tze Chin for its originality in its attempt at fusing traditional indian music and western jazz. Listen to the song here... Visit Tze's website at tzetoh.com
LYRICS WINNER
Love Can Live For Always by Patricia Luce Chapman This well written and emotivel song lyric is beautiful and poignant, and the strong visual imagery is outstanding. It describes a real life occurance (the writer tells us she was the one with wet cheeks) and it tells a moving story using good song structure and song form with a consistent metre and regular rhythm that would lend itself to a variety of musical interpretations. This is a worthy Lyrics Only winner. The full lyric is below:
Love Can Live For Always by Patricia Luce Chapman
VERSE Me and Janie were walking on the farm late in November I was trying to find a way to tell her I'd love her forever.
We stopped to watch the white snow geese flying high above the lake Then someone took a shot at them one bird spun out of place
CLIMB Well the frightened geese flew off, but one dropped to the lake to die We saw one other circle back to float right by its side – and I held Janie, saying,
CHORUS LOVE CAN LIVE FOR ALWAYS love can live beyond life some have many playmates, some have just one mate for life LOVE CAN LIVE FOR ALWAYS
VERSE The sky grew dark, but the faithful bird swam close beside its mate keeping watch as the dying bird laid its head down on the lake
CLIMB As the moonlight shone on one lonely bird Janie’s cheeks were wet and we knew that what we saw this night we could never ever forget – and I held Janie, saying,
CHORUS I love you for always My love will live beyond life Some have many playmates but I'll have just one mate for life My love will live for always LOVE CAN LIVE FOR ALWAYS
LOVE CAN LIVE FOR ALWAYS love can live beyond life some have many playmates, some have just one mate for life LOVE CAN LIVE FOR ALWAYS
Every browser/computer and printer combination is different and you may need to make adjustments to get the certificate to print the way you want. Read the following tips for advice and ideas.
1. Click the "Certificate" link next to your song listing to see and print your certificate. 2. You won't want the web page details to appear on the top and bottom of the page when you print the certificate so in "Print Preview" and "Page Set Up" click on "Remove Header and Footers", or delete these yourself manually, to remove these webpage details. 3. In "Print Preview" and "Page Set Up" use the Margin controls to adjust the margins, and centre the certificate if this is necessary. Every printer browser combination is different and you may need to adjust these settings to get the certificate to appear exactly as you wish. 4. Print on the paper of your choice. PAPER:Try using different types of paper for different effects. There are many special certificate papers available in stores and some have attractive borders pre-printed onto the paper. We have kept our border very simple so that this will not clash with these designs. Please note that we have made the certificates so that it is possible for you to remove or change the border and even change colours and other details by saving and editing in Word.
LAYOUT PROBLEM?In some cases where there are unusual computer settings or where the name(s), song title etc are longer than average, this may effect the layout and you may need to use the "Resize" facility in Print Preview. Try resizing to 90% or experiment with different sizes.
Songs are scored between 1 and 10 but most songs in the contest will not receive a score higher than 6.
Semi finalists and finalists will receive a very high score of 7, 8 or 9. The score of 10 is reserved for the winning song in each category.A score of 1 or 2 indicates that the song was considered to be poorly written in comparison to other songs in the contest. It indicates that in the judges opinion the song needs either almost complete re writing or, especially in the case of a score of 1, abandoning. Very few songs receive such low scores.
A score of 3 indicates that the song follows accepted standards of song form and that the writer shows potential and some songwriting ability and talent. But the song is among the weakest songs in the contest and will certainly benefit from re working and re writing.Few songs receive low scores of 3 and below and receiving one of these scores is a clear sign to look critically at your songwriting style and approach.
A score of 4, 5 and 6 indicates that the writer has demonstrated real songwriting ability and understanding and songs with these scores will receive a Commended Entry Certificate. The UKSC attracts a high standard of entries and the majority of songs in this contest will usually fall somewhere in this range. A score of 6 can be regarded as a borderline semi finalist score and indicates that the song nearly made it into the semi finals.
Songs with a score of 7 or 8 are awarded a semi finalist position and certificate and are considered by the judges to be among the top songs in the contest. A score of 8 indicates that the song was a borderline finalist and almost made it into the finals.
Songs with a score of 9 are finalists and these very high scoring songs are considered for the winning positions in their respective categories. The winning song in each category is given a score of 10.