Music Contest #1

[Icy]

Welcome, welcome. I doubt anyone has heard me talk about this before, so… a little background.

I am a member on another forum: Free Lunch Design. Back in 2007 someone there started a forum game called a "Music Contest" and it took off very quickly. Already up to MC #16 there. In 2010 I took them over to another forum, Cyberscore. Up to MC #6 there. So anyway…I've finally decided to take them over to this forum. These are the rules that we have in every Music Contest, pretty much. (MC, for short) and if you have ANY questions, do not hesitate to ask in this thread.

The main reason for a MC is to see everyone's music taste, see who votes for what, and most of all, learn about new songs you've never heard before. I've found a lot of songs over the years that I've permanently put into my library, thanks to MCs.

Annd so here are the rules!

Let's try to get up to 10+ suggesters. Any less and it doesn't work as well.

SUGGESTIONS

> Anyone can suggest songs for this music contest.

> You can suggest up to 3 songs. If you want to suggest less than that, feel free. But 3 is recommended.

> This is a general music contest, so you can suggest anything from classical to hard rock. Video game music is allowed too, of course.

> A suggestion should include:

• Artist

• Song title

• Artist's Country

• Link to the song (YouTube, preferably, but anything is allowed)

> Songs will be placed randomly in the semifinals unless otherwise noted. (Meaning, if you want a certain song in a certain semifinal, then please sort them in an obvious manner so I will know.) There will be only one song per suggester in each semifinal.

> Anyone can vote! Even if you didn't suggest any songs, you can still vote for your favorites.

> Send your votes to me in a PM here on SFO, Steam chat, email, MSN, whatever. If you can get them to me, feel free to use whatever method is most convenient.

> Vote by sending your Top 5 songs, sorted.

> Additionally, you may give 1 point to as many songs as you want. After the top 5 (i.e 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 each get 1 point if you liked them enough to give them additional points)

> If a suggester votes, then he/she can also specify the amount of points that he/she wishes to give to their own song in the current round. The choices are 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. If this is not specified, then 7 points will be given by default. This is known as a Voter's Bonus. (A way to reward suggesters for voting)

> The points system is as follows: (This is also how a vote sheet/PM should look)

(Ignore the goofy CODE colors)

1. *** (7 points)

2. *** (5 points)

3. *** (3 points)

4. *** (2 points)

5. *** (1 point)

6, 7, 8, etc. (1 point each) (OPTIONAL)



Voter's Bonus: # of points.

> Your votes will be considered invalid if you don't vote for at least 5 songs (not including your own) or if you vote for a song twice. (If there is time, I will notify the voter of their mistake and let them correct it)

> Do not post your votes in public!

> Everyone's votes will be revealed following announcing the results for a round.

> If a voter knows he/she won't be able to vote in a round, they can vote earlier, provided that they contact me soon enough.

RULES

> There will be three semifinals. Following the third semifinal, there will be a Second Chance Round.

> The top 3 songs from each semifinal will advance to the finals, and 4th, 5th, and 6th from each semifinal will advance to the Second Chance Round.

> The Second Chance Round will go like this: The songs that placed 4th, 5th, and 6th in all three semifinals will advance to the Second Chance Round. We will then have the usual semifinal-type round where the top 3 songs in the SC round will advance to the finals, as always.

> The person who got the most points throughout all of the semifinals—excluding the Second Chance Round—can pick a wildcard – a song that didn't make it to the finals. This can be one of their own songs or a song suggested by someone else. The person who gets to pick this wildcard will be announced following the results of Semifinal 3, but they will choose their wildcard following the SC round.

> The winner is the song with the highest amount of points in the finals.

> The positions are determined by total amount of points.

> Tie breaking rules:

• If two or more songs are tied, the song which got the most '7 pointers' (excluding voter's bonuses) from voters gets ranked higher.

• If the songs are still tied, then the '5 pointers' will be looked at, then the '3 pointers' and so on.

• If the songs are still tied, another nonrandom tiebreaking criterion may be created if possible.

• If they are still tied, then a random draw will determine which song gets ranked first.

SCHEDULE

> Suggestions: Thursday, January 26th until Thursday, February 2nd.

> Semifinal 1: Friday, February 3rd until Friday, February 10th. (7 days)

> Semifinal 2: Saturday, February 11th until Saturday, February 18th. (7 days)

> Semifinal 3: Sunday, February 19th until Sunday, February 26th. (7 days)

> Second Chance Round: Monday, February 27th until Monday, March 5th. (7 days)

> Finals: Tuesday, March 6th until Tuesday, March 13th. (7 days)

– Each round ends at XX:XX* (GMT+0). At XX:XX*, we will have live results in the SFO chat room. Voting for the next round will open following the live results. (So technically the schedule above may seem a little off, but it gives people more time to vote.)

*NOTE: We need to work out a time for the results when a lot of the participants can make it. Suggest away.

If you still have any questions, feel free to ask. Since this is the first one on SFO, everyone will be clueless, and I doubt I did the best job of explaining it above.

So ask away.

Let's go.

I wrote this in the SFO chat after someone asked a question. Maybe it will help explain things a little more.

As soon as the suggestion stage is over (Feb 2nd) we go to Semifinal 1

During the week of Semifinal 1 I wait for all the suggesters/anyone to vote. At the deadline, I combine all the votes (of course) and announce the results in chat. Then of course make a post in the topic with the more… formal results

After that Semi 2 starts, semi 3, then the second chance round. (4th, 5th, and 6th in each semifinal)

It goes just like a normal round. Top 3 advance to finals

Then the finals come and go… And then we're done.

TABLES

N/A

[Icy]

I will go ahead and post my suggestions right now. This is pretty much what a suggestion post should look like, but I did make it look a little… pretty.

Pardon the double post, but putting it in the first post wouldn't have worked so well.

Artist: Lights

Song: Siberia

Country: Canada

Reason: (This is of course optional, I just like to do it)

I just really like this song. I'm a big Lights fan.

Link: Clicky

Artist: Coldplay

Song: Paradise

Country: United Kingdom

Reason: Coldplay is awesome. This is their latest awesome.

Link: Clicky

Artist: Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars

Song: Safe and Sound

Country: United States

Reason: Taylor Swift……… That's all.

Link: Clicky

[NayibPastrana]

Artist: The Polyphonic Spree

Song: Section 9 (Light and Day/Reach For The Sun)

Country: United States

Reason: This song has been featured on many works over time, for it's ability to make someone smile. Most recently, it's featured in the trailer for the upcoming film The Lorax, based on the Dr. Seuss story.

Link: Ladies and Gentlemen!

Artist: The Overclocked Plaid Muffins

Song: Ska Buffet

Country: ...The internet?

Reason: Overclocked Plaid Muffins are a collaborative effort from different sources known at Overclocked Remix. OC Remix is a web community of video game music enthusiasts, and very well-respected. This ska cover of Kirby's "Gourmet Race" is exciting, unique, and fun. The silly lyrics make it something you'll want to listen to again and again.

Link: Ladies and Gentlemen!

Artist: Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon (Mainly Andrew Rannells)

Song: I Believe

Country: United States

Reason: From the creators of South Park comes The Book of Mormon! This musical is the perfect blend of religion and satire. While you'd think the silliness of the beliefs of the Mormon people in the show would offend people, various churches have claimed it was "entertaining". It'll definitely make you smile.

Link: Ladies and Gentlemen!

[Vy'drach]

Artist: WoodenToaster

Song: Beyond Her Garden

Country: No clue

Reason: Sounds amazing

Artist: Original by Not A Clever Pony, extension by BlindCaveSalamander

Song: All-Powerful Trixie

Country: No clue

Reason: Sounds amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHcxc68ayBc&hd=1

Artist: Mayhem (Renard)

Song: Eggs

Country: No clue

Reason: Sounds amazing, and is my most listened to song

[NayibPastrana]

@Vydrach, OBVIOUSLY the country is Equestria.

[Vy'drach]

Touche.

[Arashikage]

Artist: Johann Strauss II

Song: The Blue Danube Waltz

Country: Austria

Reason: Not many people listen to classical music anymore. This is a very nice song, by a great legend of a composer, I'm sure when you listen to it, you'll find the tune to be familiar.

Link: Right here

Artist: Coheed and Cambria

Song: The Velourium Camper II: Backend of Forever

Country: United States

Reason: Coheed and Cambria is a great band, every song follows a continuing space epic that takes place within all of their albums. In this particular piece, It's about this one-sided friendship between Al and Newo that is the "relationship that makes no sense." The ringing phone in the opening is likely Claudio calling to check up on Newo. Al wakes up from a fitful sleep and overhears Newo, whom he trusted, telling Claudio that she thinks Al is going to try to rape and/or kill her. In Al's eyes, Newo may have seemed like his ideal woman, a person that would understand and accept him for what he was, but she turns out to be just as frightened as the rest. Al also seems to have discovered a diary Newo was keeping in which she states her fear of him, prompting Al to lose his temper. He knew he didn't love Newo, but he found himself caring deeply enough for her that it hurt him. And, considering his unstable mental state, Al response to Newo's 'betrayal' is to lash out, leading into the events of "Al The Killer."

Link: Right here

Artist: Steve Lee

Song: I Like Guns

Country: Australia

Reason: I like guns, do I NEED another reason?

Link: Right here

[LoneWolf]

Artist: Avicii

Song: Levels

Country: Sweden

Reason: Biggest electronic anthem of 2011. Hands down.

Linkity Link

Artist: Queen

Song: Bohemian Rhapsody

Country: Great Britan

Reason: It's Queen. Why not. BIZMILAH NO! WE WILL NOT LET YOU GO!

Linkity Link

Artist: The Protomen

Song: Will Of One

Country: America

Reason: HOPE RIDES ALOOOONNNEEEEE- These guys are so rocking live they could make Justin Beiber's balls drop. Saw them in August as a PAX afterparty. Wicked sick and very theatrical show, just blew the crowd away. My boner for The Protomen almost ripped apart spacetime.

Linkity Link

That's my contributions.

[Icy]

I thought this would be more popular.

Anyone else interested?

[conaly]

Hi,

I'll give it a try:

Artist: Amon Amarth

Song: War Of The Gods

Country: Sweden

Reason: Because this song finally got me to get more of their albums and listen to more songs - and all of them kick ass! In August I will see them live for the first time and I absolutely can't wait it!

Link: Link

Artist: Majesty

Song: Metal Law 2006

Country: Germany

Reason: This was the first song I ever heard of this band and since then I'm a huge fan of them. Fast riffs, pressing drums and an awesome singer. Besides that the band members are all totally nice and friendly, you can chat with them like with any other person.

Link: Link

Artist: SYNC.ART'S

Song: Rondo of Fantasy

Country: Japan

Reason: I really like all of the Touhou music. And this one is just different from the music I listen to normally (as you see the two suggestions above^^). The voice of the singer is great and the song is somehow dramatic.

Link: Link

[Icy]

We only have six suggesters. I thought this would be way more popular. Was expecting 15+ since SFO is so active. If we don't get a few more (10 or more total) before the 2nd I may extend the suggesting stage, but if we still don't get much more interest I'll just call the whole thing off.

SFO, I am disappoint. :-P

[chaos_Leader]

Okay, i'm getting in on this...

Artist: Reuben Kee

Song: Metal Gear Solid arrangement 'Legend of the Snake2: Snake versus Dragon'

Country: Singapore, apparently

Reason: In short: sheer awesomeness. In more words, it's an expertly crafted piece of music that could arguably surpass the original.

Link: http://iterations.org/files/music/remixes/Metal_Gear_Solid_LegendoftheSnake2_SnakeVersusDragon_OC_ReMix.mp3

Artist: NemesisTheory

Song: 'Polar Groove', a remix of 'Ice Cap Zone' or something from the Sonic games

Country: Netherlands

Reason: Also sheer awesomeness, and the fact that it's awesome music that

Link: http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/78865

Artist: The Wingless

Song: Star Fox 'Godspeed'

Country: not sure/doesn't say/the internet

Reason: Sheer, unrelenting, awesome. But also, this was possibly the very first game 'remix' or 'arrangement' I've ever listened to, and it blew my socks off back in 07, still does to this day actually.

Link: http://iterations.org/files/music/remixes/Starfox_Godspeed_OC_ReMix.mp3

I guess a theme for all these works is that they're video game remixes. They also blend orchestral and synthesized elements together in a way that just works. That's what I got.

[Icy]

……… I guess I will extend the suggestions stage a few more days. I won't edit the schedule or anything. If we get enough suggesters, then I will fix it up and start the MC.

Can we get at least 3 more people?

Whatever, though. This doesn't have to work. Just thought it would be fun. ;)