The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Results Announcement

And thus, the curtain closes on what was undoubtedly the wildest Awards show yet. We all sit on the edge of our seats, wondering which song will come out on top.

Normally, this is where we mention the four songs that ended up duking each other for the victory, but if you recall the update from two weeks ago, there was an unprecedented twist of fate. Two songs were left in the dust--"Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" and "In Hushed Whispers"--while two other songs crossed the finish line with an equal number of votes--"Cherish" and "Attack on Titan." Thus, a round 3.5 was called to break that tie.

The weeks flew by, and 10 people voted. Once again, both songs were neck and neck with each other. I was prepared to once again do something that had never been done before; in this case, that would've been to have a joint victory for the two. But then, the balance was lost. One song received a single extra vote, and thus, a winner was determined. I'll get to that in a minute, though I first want to give the other song a moment of fame too.

When I originally talked about this song, I said that "cherish" was a word not oft used these days. But to me, it was one of the most fitting for 2020. I came to realize just how much I love and need my family and friends. I think the line "I'm gonna cherish you" has kind of become my silent motto now--though perhaps I should voice it more. I do indeed cherish those important people in my family and want do it even more.

And let's be honest: a peppy, upbeat love song with a heartfelt message is going to be liked a lot of people, as evidenced by how many votes it received along the way. I definitely understand why the competition was so close for the last four weeks. It's such an impressive feat, I couldn't not give it some recognition. The song and its achievements in the Awards deserve that much.

But don't just take it from me! Let's hear what some other people had to say about this one . . .

"It's such a peppy, summery song. Cotton candy sweet, yet with a heartfelt warmth to the lyrics of the chorus. It makes me happy every time I hear it. Plus, I love the blend of CBX's voices." -Tracey Dyck

"I love their energy and incredible talent!" -Mom

". . . EXO has had my heart for a long time and the song never ever fails to make me smile and feel good. The whole vibe of the song is very feel-good and I love it!" -lostfairyart (AKA Kaitlyn Dyck)

". . . it's a comfort song for me. I love the meaningful lyrics. The word cherish isn't used often enough. It means a lot to me." -chloegraceartist (AKA Chloe Dyck)

". . . I liked the sound better." -megandrawsportraits (AKA Megan Hiew)

Looks like everyone had some similar thoughts about that song! To me, that says the message came across right. Good show!

Hope. Dreams. Failure. Regret. Death. Sacrifice. Love. Friendship. Terror. Betrayal. Power. Trust.

Those words are just a few subject matters that Attack on Titan, and honestly, that doesn't do it justice. The show epitomizes, in my mind, what a perfect story should be. It gives you well-developed characters that you love (or love to hate, in some cases), an intriguing and engaging storyline with shocking twists that foreshadowed extremely well, intense battle sequences as Titans converge on what remains of humanity, and raw emotions through the various means, including some heartbreaking deaths. And then when it's all said and done, you're left with some food for thought and messages that stick with you long after the story is over.

How does one convey this through the means of music? You might not think it's possible, but trust me, Hiroyuki Sawano's epic and stirring score for the anime more than does the job. He combines things you wouldn't necessarily expect go together: soaring choirs, German vocals, Zimmer-like orchestration, gritty electronic elements, intense electric guitar riffs, and Asian instrumentation to create a sweeping set of songs and leitmotifs. From the horror of the oncoming Titan scourge, to the wrenching dirges for the deceased, to the breathers and moments of quiet, he sets the mood for any scene perfectly.

This particular song is one of the first you hear in the show, as the enemy destroys the peace the people had for a hundred years and devours the fleeing humans. It really sets the mood of the show and makes you take the storyworld and the threat therein very seriously. And the vocals! I know I talked about this when I posted the song for the first time, but I just have to bring it up again. The main female vocalist, a lady by the name of Mika Kobayashi, is singing these lyrics:

Die Erde dröhnt und wird rot

Die Leute erinnern sich an diese Tragödie

Ist das der Zerstörer oder der Schöpfer?

Mit der Glut des Hasses schwenken wir die Schwerter

Ist das unser Schicksal oder unser Wille?

Wir werden kämpfen, bis dieser heiße Wind unsere Flügel nimmt

Was finden wir jenseits dieses Horizontes?

When translated from German to English, we find that she's saying this:

The earth roars and turns red

The people remember that tragedy

Is this the destroyer or the creator?

With the blaze of hate we swing the swords

Is that our fate or our will?

We will fight until this hot wind takes our wings

What will we find beyond this horizon?

This perfectly describes the overall tone and message of the show. When the show was being made, there are at least three individuals who worked very closely together: the writer of the manga, the director, and the composer. Attack on Titan's story is complex and detailed enough that if one thing was messed up, the whole plot could fall to pieces. That's why the key players were on the same page at all times, and I think it's also a huge reason why the show has been so successful. All of the music, both lyrical and instrumental, have added so much to the story and its impact on me.

And of course, we had people in the comments section letting us know why they voted for this song! Let's see what they had to say . . .

". . . the instrumentals in ["Attack on Titan"] are legendarily chilling." -angelarwattsauthor (AKA Angela R. Watts)

"It's just SUCH a good OST." -Nicole Dust

"Though I've yet to watch the show, the piece alone portrays such a BIGNESS to it. I love the drama of it and the wide array of emotions the song pulls you through. It has a sort of end-of-the-world vibe, but a sense of hope, as well--that the heroes will stand against all odds and never give up. It's a really good song and makes me want to watch the show that much more!" -Christine Smith

"Oh man... I guess I'm actually gonna have to think of a valid reason why I chose this song other that the simple fact that AoT is just that epic.

"Well, the song really captures the dark, intense, and sometimes scary theme of AoT. I love the complexity of the track but at the same time I also like the way the vocals that repeat themselves get stuck in your head (definitely isn't a bad thing in this case).

"I hoped at least some of you enjoyed reading my fake, I mean, totally honest and in-depth review of the 'Attack on Titan' song!

"I definitely did NOT choose this song just because AoT is awesome and you should totally watch it. Watch it tho. Please. Just watch it." -Preston Hiew

And there you have it! That finally concludes the 2020 Awards. Congratulations to the both the winner and the honorary winner for getting so far! And thank you to everyone who participated! Without you and your efforts, this wouldn't have been nearly as interesting as it was. What are your thoughts on the winners and the whole show? Any constructive feedback, or have we found our footing pretty good? My thanks go out to EXO-CBX and Hiroyuki Sawano for giving us music that helped get us through 2020!

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - An Unexpected Twist

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Hey, wouldn't this post normally be titled 'The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Results Announcement?' This show is supposed to be over by now." Normally, you'd be correct, but it seems we've experienced an unprecedented event--ironically fitting for 2020, wouldn't you say?

Let's first go over what we know for certain. Four songs made it to the final round, and they are as follows:

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

"Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

"Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

"In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

We had 11 people who voted in the last round, 6 on here and 5 on Instagram. 1 person voted for "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts," and 2 people chose to give their votes to "In Hushed Whispers." While both songs are undoubtedly good, we see now that these votes had no bearing on the end result.

Here's where things took a twist. What we can't figure out is how "Cherish" and "Attack on Titan" received 4 votes each. Never before in the long and grand history of the Awards, spanning from this point in time all the way to its humble beginnings in 2018, with the '17 Awards. The obvious question here is simply this: how do we proceed?

In previous rounds, we've just used a random decision maker to see which song comes up 2 out of 3 times. But this is the conclusion, the grand finale, the endgame! After some deliberation, it was elected that using such methods this time would cheapen the experience and make the sweet victory a little more sour. That is why we must now do something we never thought we'd have to do. It's time for a tiebreaker, a round 3.5, if you will. It's time for . . .

The ULTIMATE Final Round

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

The gripping climax to the 2020 Awards begins now! You have until Sunday, March 28th to vote, and no later. If you vote for a song that you already voted for in round 3, you are not required to restate your reasoning behind it. However, if you voted for neither one of these before, please give your new thoughts as to why you picked it. And please, try not to make this another tie, or we really will have to use a random decision maker.

We will see this legendary battle through to the very end!

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 3

Would you look at that? The last matchup of the 2020 Awards has arrived at last, and boy, will it be a doozy!

But before we can begin the last phase of voting, we must first take a look at the results from the previous round. We had 11 people participating this time around, so let's see what they cast their votes for!

January, February, and March: "You Say Run" was said only 2 times. 3 people heard the "Echoes" of what was said. In the end, though, 6 people decided to "Cherish" the moment.

April, May, and June: There were 0 "Trials" in this particular matchup. 4 people were still loving that "Main Theme," but 7 others elected to watch the epic "Attack on Titan."

July, August, and September: 3 people felt the "Magic" in the air, but it was short-lived. 3 more people vacationed in the "Starshine Beach Galaxy," but it cost a lot due to a lack of popularity. However, 5 people enjoyed the thrills of being by blown away by the "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" while bopping their heads like crazy.

October, November, and December: There were a mere 3 people who relaxed while listening to "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai." In yet another twist of fate, 4 people said "Goodbye" while 4 more heard it "In Hushed Whispers." So out comes the random decision maker with the best two out of three, and we get . . . "In Hushed Whispers" as the winner.

It's time for you to make the most difficult decision yet! Gather your courage, for it is now time for . . .

The Final Round

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

versus "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

versus "In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

I leave this up to you, one last time. You have two weeks to deliberate over your final answer, which means that you have until Sunday, March 14th. As has always been with this part of the Awards, I ask that when you vote for your favorite song, you also give your reason as to why you chose it. If that song becomes the ultimate champion, your comments will be featured on the victory post.

The end waits for no one.

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 2

Ah, the time has finally come! Round 1 is now officially over, which means the decisions are about to get a lot more difficult. That's right, it's time for round 2!

But before we can properly move on, we need to examine the results of the last four matchups! We had a total of 11 voters, though one person chose not to vote for September while another person didn't submit a vote for November. That's why the numbers will be slightly different. But enough chitchat, let's hear how things went down!

September: A rare occurrence in the Awards, both "The Simulation" and "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" received 5 votes each. You know what that means: time to bring out the random decision maker and see which one gets best 2 out of 3. All right, don't hold your breath . . . because you're gonna need it when the "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" coming blowing through!

October: 2 brave souls decided to traverse the depths of the underworld as a "Hellwalker." But 9 people chose to stay back and talk about them "In Hushed Whispers." Quite the victory for the song, but who can blame them? Quiet, eerie strings are just *chef's kiss.*

November: 1 person moved into the "Shifty Boo Mansion" as their new home--I wonder how that's working out for them? 3 people preferred to watch "Aveline's Escape" from said mansion, which must've been quite intense. In the end, 6 people said "Goodbye," because they liked haunting lyrics more than they did haunted homes or the hunted fleeing.

December: "Snowy" would be more aptly titled if it were called "Melty in the Face of Overwhelming victory." While 1 person cast their vote for it, the other 10 were unanimous in their love for "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"--which makes sense because the song is certainly a thing of beauty in a cruel world.

Now comes the hard part. Round 2 has you voting for the best song of three months. Are you ready? Will you be able to make a choice in the end? Time will tell, so let's not waste any of it!

January, February, and March

"Echoes" from Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

versus "Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "You Say Run" from My Hero Academia

April, May, and June

"Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

versus "Main Theme" from Ori and the Will of the Wisps

versus "Trials" by Starset

July, August, and September

"Magic" by Gabriel Brown

versus "Starshine Beach Galaxy" from Super Mario Galaxy 2

versus "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

October, November, and December

"In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

versus "Goodbye" by Taemin

versus "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" by Yoko Hikasa

Now it's time for you to act. The matchups are tough, but I know your will and determination are tougher! Don't forget, you have two weeks to vote, which means Sunday the 28th will be the last day that any submissions are accepted.

Try not to have an existential crisis!

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 1.3

Well, well, look at the clock! It's Music Monday Awards time again!

The last round had . . . well, the number of voters went a bit interesting this time. What happened was 6 people voted for every month on my blog, and 4 people voted for every month on Instagram. But this is where things got funky, because on Instagram, we had 1 extra person vote for May and 2 extra people vote for August. So that's why the result numbers are going to differ a bit. But the people have spoken! I give to you what they felt were the top-tier songs of the second third of 2020 . . . behold!

May: This was such a close one. 5 people would've rather wanted to live in a "Tranquility Base," but 6 people preferred "Main Theme"-- main themes are popular these days, are they not? And it's Ori music, which everyone seems to love.

June: Becoming the most divided of the four months, the numbers were split unevenly over the three songs. 2 people wanted to cruise the streets while blasting "Driving Force: Neon Fog," 3 people decided summer was "Too Hot for Pants," and 5 people wanted to face the "Trials" ahead. Can't say these results are surprising, as we have seen the pattern of voters going for a lyrical song when given the option in previous awards shows.

July: "Always Running?" More like "always never stood a chance." While 2 people gave their votes to that opening song, "Magic" gathered a whopping 8 votes in total! That's a 300% increase, for those of you who like stats. Now that truly is magical! Or maybe it's just Gabriel Brown.

August: A rare event happened in this matchup, where each song got an equal number of votes. (This happened 3 times in the 2018 Awards and 1 time in the 2019 Awards.) That means that "Summer (Tropicala)" and "Starshine Beach Galaxy" are being thrown into a random decision maker for best 2 out of 3. And the victor is . . . "Starshine Beach Galaxy!"

Now we proceed to the final four months and their songs. Will this round prove to be even more difficult than its predecessor? Only one way to find out!

September

"The Simulation" from OneShot

versus "Sand 'n Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

October

"Hellwalker" from Doom

versus "In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

November

"Shifty Boo Mansion" from Super Mario 3D World

versus "Goodbye" by Taemin

versus "Aveline's Escape" from Assassin's Creed III: Liberation

December

"Snowy" from Undertale

versus "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" by Yoko Hikasa

You know what you need to do now: vote for your favorites in the comments below! If your favorite songs haven't won in previous rounds, maybe they will this time. As always, you have two weeks, which means that the 14th is the last day that you can vote in this particular round.

Enjoy making tough choices yet again!

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 1.2

And we're back, one and all, to the greatest music awards show ever since the real ones became trash!

In our previous round, 10 people voted for what they thought was the best song for each month in the first third of 2020. We have the results for you now, and they are as follows!

January: Though 3 people who enjoyed the festive spirit of "Toy Day," 7 others preferred the emotional "Echoes" over it. I mean, those hauntingly beautiful vocals, man! How do they not stir up deep emotions within you?

February: 6 people relived the lovey-dovey mood of Valentine's Day through "Cherish." It's really fun and upbeat, but at the same time, it's laden with absolute sweetness. Being cherished by someone else is pretty powerful.

March: "You Say Run," said 7 people, which nailed this track the victory. The song gets your blood pumping and may have even make you want to punch someone in the face--though we don't recommend this unless said person is a villain.

April: 4 people held on to the hope that "Hope (Xavier's Theme)" would win, but those hopes were broken down by "Attack on Titan," much like the Colossal Titan broke through Wall Maria. 6 votes went to that heavy-hitting track in the end!

Now it's time to move on to the next four months and vote for our favorites. Will the decisions be easier or harder for you, you wonder? Well, you're about to find out!

May

"Tranquility Base" from Starbound

versus "Main Theme" from Ori and the Will of the Wisps

June

"Trials" by Starset

versus "Too Hot for Pants" by MDK

versus "Driving Force: Neon Fog" from Katana Zero

July

"Magic" by Gabriel Brown

versus "Always Running" from Meta Runner: Season 1

August

"Summer (Tropicala)" from Stardew Valley

versus "Starshine Beach Galaxy" from Super Mario Galaxy 2

All right, it's up to you now! Submit your votes in the comments and cross your fingers in the hopes that your favorite songs will end up moving on to round 2! Don't forget, you have until the end of the 31st to vote, so try not to spend the entire two weeks despairing over which ones you should choose.

Have fun, and do tell me how this round compares to the last one in terms of difficulty!

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 1.1

Would you believe it's really that time again? That time for the greatest competition in the entire known universe, where 26 songs butt heads with each other in order to see which one was the greatest of the year? That time where people toss and turn at night as they attempt to make a decision as to which song they should vote for, knowing it all hangs in the balance? That time that occurs at the beginning of every year for four years now? Though it may be a bit dramatic, this awards show has always been about the drama! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you . . . the Music Monday 2020 Awards!

Though we've been doing this since 2018, when we went over the songs of '17, I understand that we may have some fresh faces participating this time around, so let me explain. Every other week for a year, I take the opportunity to share songs that I love on my blog, in the hopes of expanding people's tastes and horizons. I then host the Awards, so that we can see much song shared the previous was the best one, according to the general consensus. That is done by voting through the process of elimination over the course of several weeks, in which there are three rounds. Each round lasts for two weeks, but once those two weeks are up, any further votes for that round will not count--unless I find some reason to make an exception, which does happen on occasion.

The first round focuses on bringing forth a best song for each month, and because it deals with the abovementioned 26 songs, I broke it up into three separate parts to make it easier for everyone. Simply choose a favorite for every month and leave your votes in a comment. Very simple and easy, yes? You might be tempted to think so, but this show has been notorious for giving people difficult choices to make . . .

I think that about covers everything, so enough blabbering on my part! Let's get to the nitty-gritty already!

January

"Toy Day" from Animal Crossing: New Leaf

versus "Echoes" from Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

February

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "Atragon" by Audiomachine

March

"You Say Run" from My Hero Academia

versus "8PM" from Animal Crossing: City Folk

April

"Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

versus "Hope (Xavier's Theme)" from X-Men: Days of Future Past

It's officially begun, the fourth annual Music Monday Awards! Sunday, January 17th, will be the final day for voting in this particular round. I leave it up to you . . . and me too, I suppose, since I'm voting as well. Thank you in advance for your participation, and may the best song win!

Enjoy these first eight songs!

The Music Monday 2019 Awards - Results Announcement

Yes, this moment has finally arrived--the moment you've all been waiting for! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the conclusion to the third annual Music Monday Awards!

After weeks of making difficult choices and waiting in agony, it is now time to announce the results. The song that wins here today will go down in history as the ultimate Music Monday song of 2019. Four finalists duked it out for that title, and they were:

"The Kraken" from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

"History Maker" by Dean Fujioka

"The Search" by NF

"Oliver Queen Suite" from Arrow: Season 1

Nine people voted in round 3 (two of which had to message me their votes thanks to the comments acting goofy), and here's what they chose! Are you ready? Drumroll, please!

"The Kraken" ended up not being chosen by anyone. That surprises me, as the Pirates of the Caribbean scores are widely heralded as being fantastic compositions. At least it made it to the finals. That's what counts. None of us will deny that its intense beats and gritty electric guitar make for a bombastic action track that cannot be described as anything short of epic.

"History Maker" and "Oliver Queen Suite" received 2 votes each. I'm honestly happy that an anime opening song made it this far. It gives me hope that maybe another one will perhaps claim the crown sometime down the road. I personally thought the latter was going to be this year's "Undertale"--a long track presented as the very last song of the year that steals everyone's hearts in the end. It appears that was not the case, but one must acknowledge it is a very moving piece.

That means the song that landed 5 votes and wins the Awards is none other than . . .

photo credit: me

NF isn't your typical rapper. Many members of the rap genre in the "secular" world tend to talk about money, sex, drugs, cars, etc, while dropping swear words every other syllable on top of a boring beat that sounds like garbage. On the other hand, many Christian rappers play it safe and end up sounding decent enough, but kind of boring. They don't bring life to the genre, don't make it creative, don't make it their own playground.

Nate, on the other hand, is the perfect middle ground. You won't hear him swear once, and when he does talk about his money or his car, he does it in a very self-aware way. Like, he knows that what he's doing has been done plenty of times before, and he makes a joke of it. But he doesn't play it safe either. He gets into the gritty, acknowledging that life can sometimes be extremely cruel and the world overwhelmingly dark. He should know: his parents divorced when he was young, his mom's boyfriend physically abused him, and his mom overdosed on drugs and killed herself. He's been submerged in heavy situations that no one should have to deal with.

That's why his songs aren't often pretty, or pretend that things are easy. His music is his therapy. But in putting himself out there, he's been able to help so, so many people. Others who have struggled with depression or suicide or abusive family situations or self-harm--or anything like that--can feel like someone gets it. And that's a powerful thing. He's aware of that too, and he has publicly thanked God for his gift, because he knows its source.

"The Search" is a great example of how he makes rap music his own thing. The music in this particular song is very different, dominated by strings that provide the main beat, with drums and an ethereal choir joining in for the main chorus. His flow is so unique, fluid throughout the entire track. Not one word is wasted. You need to hear the song a few times in order to catch all the lines and their meaning. He's just so freaking talented! One of my favorite parts is still what I shared when I originally posted the song:

"Just think about it for a second, if you look at your face

Every day when you get up and think you'll never be great

You'll never be great, not because you're not, but the hate

Will always find a way to cut you up and murder your faith."

NF also happens to be very underrated. You almost never hear him on the radio, and if he is, it's almost guaranteed to be his song "Let You Down." He has won only two awards. How in the world is that even possible?! I honestly don't know how he hasn't even been nominated for any Grammys or anything. He deserves to be acknowledged more. I know he's not in it for the fame or anything, but I'd like to see him become more well-known.

Thankfully, he at least won the award as the top song of 2019 on my blog. We have some comments here, actually, about what other people had to say about "The Search." Let's check them out!

"NF has been one of my favourite artists to listen to these past three or so years. Most of his songs display great lyrical talent, epic beats, and 'replayability', and 'The Search' is definitely no exception. I love how pretty much every line in the song is different, how he doesn't use a beat to rap with in the beginning of the song, and the funny quotable lines and great messages in the song. It's just an epic rap song overall." -Preston Hiew

"From the very first line--a self-addressed question bearing layers of meaning beneath its casual appearance--this song is brilliant in its technical execution, lyrical depth, and (as Preston pointed out) replayability. Some sections still hit me no matter how many times I've heard them.

"'Grabbin' my keepsakes, leavin' my burdens; well, I brought a few with me, I'm not perfect.'

"'The point I'm makin' is the mind is a powerful place, and what you feed it can affect you in a powerful way...' Etc." -Tracey Dyck

"1. Because I just saw Nate perform it live last month and IT SOUNDED AMAZING

"2. Wearing coats in cold weather and hanging with friends is great advice. Balloons as well.

"3. The music video is creepy and amazing at the same time!!" -Megan Hiew

Well, there you go! The winning song was both intense and meaningful, an epic combination. Thanks for participating once again in this year's Music Monday Awards! What're your thoughts on the winner and the whole show? Any constructive criticism for me? My deepest congrats to NF for giving us music that's real and relatable in so many ways!

The Music Monday 2019 Awards - Round 3

Well, well, well. The Music Monday Awards are reaching their climactic finale. It feels like just yesterday that we were kicking them off.

In order to determine what the four finalists are, we must examine the results of the previous round. There were 8 participants, so let's not waste any time seeing what they voted for!

January, February, and March: Garnering the slimmest of victories, "The Kraken" snatched 4 of the votes. 3 people would have preferred to visit "Dragon Roost Island," and only 1 person was bopping their head to "Main Theme."

April, May, and June: "History Maker" took half of the votes, proving that anime music really is appreciated. 2 people were too busy falling asleep to "Grape Garden," and the other 2 were desperately trying to go "Beyond the Mirror."

July, August, and September: This was hardly even a contest. NF took us by surprise and gained 6 of the votes. 2 participants weren't "Brave Enough" to acknowledge his talent. Sadly, everyone forgot "Fireworks" and left it in the dust.

October, November, and December: So this was an interesting round. "Majora's Mask" and "Oliver Queen Suite" both landed 3 votes each. That means I've got to pull up a random decision maker and do best two out of three. Which means . . . "Oliver Queen Suite" will be moving forward! In the meantime, 2 people are out partying to "Just Friends."

Which of these songs will be the ultimate victor? You choose!

The Final Round

"The Kraken" from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

versus "History Maker" by Dean Fujioka

versus "The Search" by NF

versus "Oliver Queen Suite" from Arrow: Season 1

I leave this in your capable hands. Only you can decide which of these four songs will forever be known as the best one of 2019. I have but one request: when you vote for which song should be the legendary winner, please leave a little reason explaining why you think so. If the song you voted for is crowned, your comments will be used in the victory post.

Welcome to the end.

The Music Monday 2019 Awards - Round 2

Well, ladies and gents, we finally did it. We are now finished with round 1 and moving on to the round that is not only the second one, but is also the second last and the second hardest! That's right, we're on round 2!

Before we move forward, we first must take a look behind us and see who the victors of round 1.3 are. Let's the examine the results, shall we? Unfortunately, we only had 7 participants instead of 9, so we'll see if/how that affects the winners.

September: This was a very close match-up--and probably an unfair one too. "The Search" came out on top with 4 votes. Does this mean that people found the kind of good music that they were searching for?

October: Nabbing 5 of the votes, "Majora's Mask" now wears the crown for the spookiest track of the year. (Though honestly, I think it might've been more like 5 people were unwilling to admit just how much "Your Best Nightmare" freaked them out.)

November: In another intense fight for the glory, the one that scratched and clawed its way to the top was "Just Friends" with 4 votes. Seriously, who knew the anthem of the friend zone could be such an extreme bop?

December: This one wasn't even a contest. "Oliver Queen Suite" captured 6 of the participants' hearts, and who can blame them? At least "Mountaintop Secrets" got 1 vote, but "Forgotten Castle" remains true to its name.

This is where the Awards move from the "very hard" status to "quite difficult," before arriving at "nigh impossible" in round 3. You'll be voting for the best song of three months. Remember, the winners here will be the finalists in the 2019 Awards.

January, February, and March

"Main Theme" from A Hat in Time

versus "Dragon Roost Island" from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

versus "The Kraken" from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

April, May, and June

"Grape Garden" from Kirby's Return to Dream Land

versus "Beyond the Mirror" from Zelda Cinematica

versus "History Maker" by Dean Fujioka

July, August, and September

"Brave Enough" by Lindsey Stirling

versus "Fireworks" from Animal Crossing: New Leaf

versus "The Search" by NF

October, November, and December

"Majora's Mask" from Children of Termina

versus "Just Friends" remixed/covered by CG5 and Caleb Hyles

versus "Oliver Queen Suite" from Arrow: Season 1

I bet you're all loving me right now, huh? You only have yourselves to thank for this, as these songs are what you chose! Now remember, you have until the end of March 1st to vote for round 2. If you feel so led, tell other people about it. Getting more participation in the last two rounds is always great.

Until next time!

The Music Monday 2019 Awards - Round 1.2

It's time to return to the Music Monday Awards, folks!

In the previous round, we had nine people submit their votes for the best songs of the first four months of 2019! Let's check out the results, which may or may not surprise you.

January: It was close, so very close . . . but 5 people preferred A Hat in Time's "Main Theme." But c'mon, what's there not to love about an upbeat song that'll get you pumped for an adventure?

February: It appears that 6 of the voters would prefer to visit "Dragon Roost Island" over riding a dragon. The song just makes you wanna visit a quaint island and go exploring while it sets the mood in the background.

March: Another close win with this one. 5 out of the 9 participants thought "The Kraken" was the better choice. I mean, if it grabs onto you, it's definitely not letting you go, so the track kind of covers both bases.

April: Yet another hairsbreadth of a victory. "Grape Garden" was slightly more popular with 5 people. Who can blame them? It's an absolutely gorgeous and relaxing piece of music.

Your participation so far is greatly appreciated, but the show is far from over! The time has come to move on to the next four months. Why don't we check out the competition?

May

"Beyond the Mirror" from the Zelda Cinematica album

versus "Instruments of Cyanide" by DAGames

June

"Venice Rooftops" from Assassin's Creed II

versus "History Maker" by Dean Fujioka

July

"Pursuit - Cornered" from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

versus "Rainbow Road (Synthwave Remix)" from the Mario & Chill album

versus "Brave Enough" by Lindsey Stirling

August

"Yoshi Village" from Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

versus "Fireworks" from Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Well, it's back in your hands! Which songs will you vote for? Don't forget, you only have two weeks to vote, which means that February 2nd is the last day you can submit any votes for this round. Thanks for your continued participation!

Enjoy! Do tell me if you think this round is easier or harder than the last one. (I definitely think it's more difficult, and I already know I'm gonna have to make some tough choices . . .)

The Music Monday 2019 Awards - Round 1.1

Oh ho ho! Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the greatest music awards show that hardly anyone knows about! It's running for its third year now, and it's renowned for its incredibly difficult decisions, according to those who have participated in the past. Yes, it's the Music Monday Awards, the 2019 edition!

We will be doing this like we have the previous two years, but for those who are new, allow me to explain. The Awards will run for the course of the next several weeks. During that time, you vote for the top song of 2019 through process of elimination in three rounds (the first of which is broken up into three separate parts so as to not overwhelm you). Each round runs for two weeks, and two weeks only. Any votes placed after the two weeks will not be counted toward the grand total.

For round one, we'll be choosing the best song for each month. That is why it's divided up, so that you don't have to listen to 26 songs all at once. Just compare the songs and comment which one is your favorite for every month. You can leave a comment here or on any of the other social medias I'm advertising this on (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Discord). If I had a preference, having them all on my blog would be simplest. But if having those other options available means getting more voters, so be it.

Enough explaining! Let's get into the action!

January

"Main Theme" from A Hat in Time

versus "Stronger Faster Braver" from the Two Steps From Hell album Battlecry

February

"Dragon Roost Island" from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

versus "Dragon Rider" from the Two Steps From Hell album Archangel

March

"The Kraken" from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

versus "I Won't Let You Go" by Switchfoot

April

"Grape Garden" from Kirby's Return to Dream Land

versus "Iron Man 3" from Iron Man 3

And there you have it. The Awards are now in your hands. As was said, simply comment with your favorite song for each of these four months. (In case you were curious about it, yes, I'll be voting too.) Sunday, January 19th, will be the last day to vote for round 1.1; once it's the 20th, there will be no more eligible votes for this round.

Like I've said in years past, feel free to share this on social media with anyone who might be interested. The more people who vote, the more fun the Awards become as the uncertainty of which song will win rises. I, of course, will do my part, but I always appreciate you all chipping in and helping out. Thanks in advance for your participation!

I hope you enjoy the first eight songs!

The Music Monday 2018 Awards - Results Announcement

Welcome, one and all, to a most momentous occasion! We have reached the finale of the second annual Music Monday Awards!

You all did your part and voted for the song that will forever go down in history as the Music Monday of 2018. Things got intense as people chose between the four finalists. Do recall that they were:

"The Tale of Tormak" from LEGO Legends of Chima

"Overworld Adventure" from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

"Say" by Gabriel Brown

"Undertale" from Undertale

We had eight votes for round 3, which was about our average for this year. (Here's to hoping that next year's Awards will be more popular!) It's time to give you all the numbers . . . Drumroll, please!

"The Tale of Tormak" and "Overworld Adventure" both tied with 1 vote each. These were both epic songs, heralding adventure and peril and all that quest stuff. It is unfortunate that they did not proceed further, but let us not downplay their achievement. The fact that a song from a LEGO show and a track from a DS game (albeit one that's part of a popular franchise) is, frankly, a little astonishing.

Coming in second place is "Say," sung by none other than Mr. Gabriel Brown himself. Considering that he won last year with his song, "So Far Away" (with Michelle Creber singing with him), it's no wonder he made it to the final round. He appears to be a fan favorite, and he deserves it.

Nay, the song that snatched the victor's crown this year is . . . the one from an indie game created largely by one man, who composed the score. It's the one that received 4 votes, and its name is . . .

original art found here; I claim no credit for it

From the moment the acoustic guitar starts to gently play, you know this is no ordinary song. It is brimming with emotion, which really kicks in when the piano joins the guitar. It's just a thing of beauty, a heartbeat worthy of bearing the game's name.

Toby managed to blend so many emotions into six minutes of music: hope, sorrow, longing, peace, joy, and a quiet determination. It's bittersweet, like the sadness you feel when you finish a really good story, but the thrill of a new adventure that you can dive into next. It tugs on my heartstrings.

In the context of the game, it's quite powerful. You're headed for the end of your journey, and instead of intense or suspenseful music that would typically play in a video game when you're nearing the final boss, this song plays. You discover King Asgore's home, which leads into the city. The streets are filled with monsters who begin to tell you their story: where they came from, where they are, and where they're going. But even though their tale is a heartbreaking one, they aren't sad. They trust their king to bring them to daylight again. At the end of it all, they ask you, "Aren't you excited?"

"Aren't you happy?"

"You're going to be free." If you time it right, you'll get these words as the last piano notes play (since the song doesn't loop), which heightens the emotion of it all.

Another powerful moment that happens when this song is playing is when you're inside Asgore's house. At the start of the game, when you're in Toriel's home, there's a mirror that you can look into. When you do, this message comes up: "It's you!" Cute, but nothing special, right? Well, fast-forward a harrowing trip through the Underground, where you met monsters and befriended them . . . or perhaps killed them. You've done and seen crazy stuff, and now you find this quaint home. You look into the mirror, and the message says: "Despite everything, it's still you." Talk about strangely inspirational.

What about a way it speaks to me personally? I remember how I used this song for my college experience playlist to represent my feelings at the end of the year. College was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my entire life, and by the time grad was approaching, classmates and teachers began to feel like a second family. I'd had so many fond memories, ones of conquered trials, strengthening of character, chatting and laughing with friends, and so much more. As the year's conclusion drew near, I was a mess of emotions. This song basically encapsulated everything I felt, and even now, thinking about it all, my gut still knots.

Indeed, the closing of one book to open another.

To finish off, let's look at a few comments that participants left regarding the song:

"'Undertale' is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It combines two of the game's major themes and blends them perfectly. The fact that it's played by real instruments also makes it stand out. And while it's absolutely beautiful and emotional within the context of the game itself, it also means a lot to me outside of the game." -Josiah

"I like how the piano builds right to the end! I may not be a fan of the entire soundtrack, but this is a good one." -Tracey

"I'm gonna have to go with Undertale . . . [it's] just so heartfelt." -Christine

"I’m going to have vote for Undertale. Why? Well, it’s so nostalgic for me. I have so many memories when I listen to it. I first paid attention to it when I was driving in the dark with you, Josiah, and our two sisters. It was past 10:30pm and I was watching the dark world pass by me. Then Undertale started playing. As I listened, it stood out me to. It started off simple and quiet but then gains confidence and gets more beautiful.

"Then, I watched you play the Pacifist route in Undertale and there was a ton of emotion as this song played in the game. Every time I hear it now, I think of how gorgeous the game is and how thoughtful that moment in the game was." -Kaitlyn (AKA Lostfairy)

Looks like the winning song resonated with a lot of people in a lot of different ways. Thank you all for voting in this year's Awards! What'd you think of the winning song and the Awards as a whole? Have any constructive criticism for how to improve next year? My sincere congrats to Toby Fox for composing a song that really drives powerful emotions straight to the heart!