tournament Song of the Season 3 ? WINNER ANNOUNCED (pg. 137)

[Hug]

1 hour ago, keshaspearsxo said:

Also, I want to bring this up, and I don’t know what anybody else thinks, but isn’t it better for this to end sooner rather than later, at this point? I know that it’s meant to be 12 rounds so that means we’d have 3 more left, but every round has been taking like at least two weeks, so that puts us finishing at around mid February? That’s 6 months from when this first started. So I’ll just be honest I don’t know how much drive exactly still exists from everybody to keep it going for that much longer. Again I haven’t spoken to anybody else so I don’t know how the rest of you feel but I figure it’s worth maybe thinking about and discussing. I don’t mean it in a bad way at all, but, this has been going for quite some time, and still might. 
 

Personally I’m down for a final with more contestants, as opposed to any more drop outs and extended waiting. I’m sure everybody has their own thoughts though, if anybody else feels like adding. 

I was thinking about this yesterday. I'd genuinely be okay with a 5-person finale just to get the season over with at this point. I personally am not burnt out (and it's kinda hard to be with how long we've had between rounds) but I might be in a minority in opinion on that one.

[fountain]

3 hours ago, Hug said:

I was thinking about this yesterday. I'd genuinely be okay with a 5-person finale just to get the season over with at this point. I personally am not burnt out (and it's kinda hard to be with how long we've had between rounds) but I might be in a minority in opinion on that one.

I wouldn’t say I feel burnt out per se either, but at the same time definitely not specifically energised either, especially with however much longer is left. Just a thought, anyway. I don’t think that it’s impossible to get back on track and have everything as intended, either, but I am wondering what people think is the best or easiest way forward realistically, eliminating stagnancy. 

[8thPrince]

14 hours ago, keshaspearsxo said:

I wouldn’t say I feel burnt out per se either, but at the same time definitely not specifically energised either, especially with however much longer is left. Just a thought, anyway. I don’t think that it’s impossible to get back on track and have everything as intended, either, but I am wondering what people think is the best or easiest way forward realistically, eliminating stagnancy. 

Yeah I think the turnaround for rounds has creeped out too long (Ideally it’d be a 7-10 day turnaround for each round but this season has averaged 14-20 day periods between each round). Agreed that I’m not burnt out but I’m not energized either. We are at a sweet spot in the competition where we COULD do 3 more rounds as intended IF they were around a week long or so. But if we can’t wrap it up by the end of January I’d be ok with a 5-person finale. Personally I’d like to play as intended, with maybe a double-challenge as the finale if we need to wrap early.

[ughgabriel]

gabe's shortest reviews of the season  

 

 

@Hug - Honestly, I still don't know if this song was based on a true story of yours or if it was pure fiction because I actually felt like the emotionality here was so genuine and I was really moved by it. I related to a lot of things in a great degree even though I haven't experienced those things. It was very beautiful and it might be one of your most vulnerable and moving songs to date. I was very impressed and I think you really benefitted from the challenge

 

 

@funnellegs - Well, this was incredibly relatable because I've gone through this as well. Honestly, the death of a family member is really hard and there's an indescriptible feeling of emptiness that fills the room when something like that happens; I felt that throughout the whole song. The Christmas lyric is one of the most relevant for me and I believe that most people who have experienced something like this can understand how deep it is. The closing line is a really great conclusion and also one of the best one liners of the season.

 

 

@Rence - Something that caught my attention since the beginning is the medieval feeling this song had and it was cool to see that your intentions were to emulate a bard's song. I feel like this song was very clever and crafted in a very meticulous way. In the beginning it seems like it's only the description of how the story unfolds but as it progresses, the song gets its message across. There's a setting that you were slowly building up until its climax and it was very well executed. Seems very well thought and artistic. I honestly really related to its final message; people from our lives tend to tell us what we should be and when we try to fulfill those expectations it can lead us to a very dark place, mentally. But at least we achieved what they wanted us to do, right?

 

 

@keshaspearsxo - I don't know if the themes of this song have been touched before. But I have to say that this is the song that has surprised me the most, throughout the season. The thought of looking back at all the people that have left a mark on our lived that might not be in them anymore is very overwhelming. It almost feels like when you think about death. It scares you but there's so much to think and wonder about it. So much what ifs and what could've beens. The memory of these people has shaped the person you are today and it's important to remember them. This is a great tribute to all those people and a great ode to the person you are thanks to them.

 

 

@8thPrince - Well, this was really heavy. It was a perfect way to close the round and I believe that this is one of your emotional entries as well. The source of inspiration was so interesting and I loved the way you executed it. The way it all started and your storytelling were very engaging. I was very invested since the beginning but I will say that after you started to talk about the thought of knowing you're going to see someone for the last time, is brutal. It destroyed me a bit. The whole misty eyed stanza and that closing line. Why are you guys doing me this, this round?


General thoughts for everyone

This is definitely my favorite round of the whole season and I'd honestly name any of you the winner of the competition after your entries this round.

They are all so beautiful and I'm seriously impressed, not because of the quality because we all know what you are capable of and I'd never doubt your talent, but because you continue to grow and surprise us judges with new tricks you have under your pen.

I seriously hope you all continue to write after this competition ends, cause you have a great gift.

I'm genuinely blown away. 

 

This top 5 is seriously amazing.

[Rence]

Thank you gabe 

[ughgabriel]

Dear contestants:

 

I want to let you know that I read your posts above and I agree with everything that has been said. I sincerely apologize for the rollout of this game.

I initially wanted to create an enjoyable, amusing and liberating way for you to express your feelings and be in touch with your creative side. I love this game. This competition means a lot to me. And sadly, I have not accomplished what I first intended when I volunteered to host. 

Maybe i just didn't think it through enough to be aware whether my real life responsibilities were going to be a problem between my commitment with this competition or not. So the consequences of this was an act of neglecting from my part and I sincerely apologize.

 

You are all seriously amazing contestants, I have a panel of amazing judges and sadly I, as a host, can't say that I've been up to par. 

I completely understand your opinions on this and agree on them. My intentions were never for you to feel unmotivated, to lose interest, to make you feel like this was not of my interest anymore; I just want to let you all know that I never wanted to make this an unpleasant experience for any of you.

 

I did mess up. Big time. And I can't express how sorry I am.

This might sound melodramatic, but this game has taught me a lot about myself, who I am and what I want to be. So, to me, it just feels like I haven't been giving what i've been receiving. And reciprocity is key in life.

It just sucks that the only thing that I can do is apologize because I wish I could just make it up for my actions.

 

I'm sorry and ashamed.

 

 

I've talked with the judges and we've compromised to post critiques/results the day after the deadline at the latest. So we'd like to continue as planned for this round. If after results you don't feel like waiting any more and want us to conclude with the game, we'll do it that way and we'll have a 4 person finale. 

 

Again, I'm sorry we had to go through all of this.

[ughgabriel]

 

@Hug @keshaspearsxo @Rence @8thPrince @funnellegs

 

 

As you know, we had a dropout so there'll be no elimination

We'll go ahead and post the final placements for this round

[ughgabriel]

 

 

#5

 

Spoiler

@funnellegs with "10th of august 2008"

 

[ughgabriel]

 

 

#4

 

 

Spoiler

@8thPrince with "7 Month Calendar"

 

[ughgabriel]

 

 

 

#3

 

 

Spoiler

@Rence with "ballad of the warrior"

 

[ughgabriel]

 

 

 

#2

 

Spoiler

@Hug with "We Can't Be Friends"

 

[ughgabriel]

 

 

 

#1

 

Spoiler

@keshaspearsxo with "S"

 

[ughgabriel]

Huge congratulations to the five of you. You are all amazing writers.

[fountain]

1 hour ago, ughgabriel said:

 

@keshaspearsxo - I don't know if the themes of this song have been touched before. But I have to say that this is the song that has surprised me the most, throughout the season. The thought of looking back at all the people that have left a mark on our lived that might not be in them anymore is very overwhelming. It almost feels like when you think about death. It scares you but there's so much to think and wonder about it. So much what ifs and what could've beens. The memory of these people has shaped the person you are today and it's important to remember them. This is a great tribute to all those people and a great ode to the person you are thanks to them.

Thank you 

I think overwhelming is a good word to describe how this song feels to me personally too. To be honest, it’s quite hard to read through on that level. But these are really interesting moments to have, and revelations to think about, so I’m still really proud of that song to put all of these things down in words rather than just existing in the head. But it’s kind of brutal, at the same time, so I can’t pretend like I sit here happily reading it over and over again. It’s pretty specific and sensitive.
 

And just in general, I can obviously say having hosted myself too that it is hard, like genuinely hard. Your words are really appreciated but I don’t think you need to feel bad. We are all here to have a good time and I certainly think we can and will make that a reality. In the end everybody is here for the game, right? I mean that’s why we all joined or took part as judges or hosting in the first place, to continue to provide a place to write and gather together, and ultimately have the game play out. So I can say personally that I’m here to do that either way, like you can eliminate me next round but I want to have this be a memorable experience so there’s no way that I wouldn’t see it through to the end, regardless. You’re special people and it’s a joy that this exists. 

[Rence]

Thank you so much. And congratulations to y’all  a slayful top 5 me thinks

[funnellegs]

Thank you @ughgabriel I can’t imagine the work that goes into this, I’m just thankful to be going into the next round and excited to see what’s next. 

[Rence]

Personally I would love to keep playing until round 12 but I understand that this season has been going on for a long time now. I’d be fine with a top 4/5 finale as long as everyone else agrees with it. Also to gabe and the other judges you’ve done a great job hosting and judging this entire season despite your schedules  your reviews really helped 

[fountain]

I’m happy with anything as long as we just keep it moving. I want to say I think that Gabe has had great ideas as a host, I think that is where you really have shined in that way, this feels like a season with concept where you actually injected your own personality into it with all of the chapters and the round themes, so I would love to see it play out fully as you intended it and see where it goes because it’s fun and interesting. I was just throwing out the idea and starting the conversation because with the schedules and everything it seemed unclear as to what would be the best way going forward to make sure everything comes to a close nicely. But I think anything can work if we want it to. 

[Hug]

14 hours ago, ughgabriel said:

@Hug - Honestly, I still don't know if this song was based on a true story of yours or if it was pure fiction because I actually felt like the emotionality here was so genuine and I was really moved by it. I related to a lot of things in a great degree even though I haven't experienced those things. It was very beautiful and it might be one of your most vulnerable and moving songs to date. I was very impressed and I think you really benefitted from the challenge

Okay so I'm both glad and worried that you're unsure if it's fiction or not. Glad because I did want this to feel as real as possible (which is why I was quite specific in description and wording) and kinda worried because...well the round is over now and I already got my score so there's no harm in saying this now I guess, but I alluded to the person whose point of view my entry was in to, at the least, sexually assaulting the guy he was talking to throughout the entry. (That's what the "You were so beautiful and I did something ugly" part was)

 

I was considering rewriting that line (or writing an entirely different song) because I was worried I would be misinterpreted as glamorizing sexual assault, but I decided not to. I was THEN going to put a "This is a work of fiction" disclaimer so as to not make it look like I was writing from experience, but I also decided against it, as my goal with this entry was to make it as believable as possible, and a disclaimer like that ruins it. I decided I would stand wholly by my entry with no changes or disclaimers and see how people reacted. I guess nobody even considered it was alluding to sexual assault

 

--

 

I will also just use this post to talk about the "storyline" of my entry:

 

Spoiler

It was about a guy who fell in love with his best friend, but never said anything because he valued the friendship and figured the friend would never feel the same way. However, he thinks his friend might have actually fallen in love with someone else and that made him panic because he had to decide if he was truly okay with only being friends with the person he loved for the rest of his life, or make a move and potentially ruin the friendship. He chose the latter, and their relationship was a bit strained after that. I also wanted to add hints that the friend wasn't necessarily hurt by what he did, but more surprised. (The picture of them together in the friend's wallet was hinting that the friend might consider him something more.) Then I left the song on a cliffhanger because I wanted people to be able to, I guess...come to their own conclusion if any relationship could come from that situation.

 

Oh and since this post is already an essay, I will also use this post to say that I do understand how hard things have been for everyone and I don't want to shame anyone for the delays that have happened. I guess I was just more wanting something saying that the delays were for...idk whatever reason and there were still plans to go ahead or plans are changing, whatever. It was the silence that worried me more than the wait but I'm happy to see that we're moving forward as planned.

[fountain]

Hey @Hug I sent my name change request to the mod who let me know Prisoner gifting his to me was approved, but I didn’t get any reply. Are you able to do it? 

[Hug]

2 minutes ago, keshaspearsxo said:

Hey @Hug I sent my name change request to the mod who let me know Prisoner gifting his to me was approved, but I didn’t get any reply. Are you able to do it? 

I've tried looking for a way to change peoples' names before, but I'm positive I can't. That's an admin privilege. :( 

[fountain]

8 minutes ago, Hug said:

I've tried looking for a way to change peoples' names before, but I'm positive I can't. That's an admin privilege. :( 

Oop it’s okay. I will keep waiting I don’t mind, it’s just I’m sure everyone can agree the sooner this username no longer exists, the better

[Prisoner]

Congratulations to the top 5  anyone could win now tbh, good luck to all 

[ughgabriel]

CHAPTER X

HOPE WE MAKE IT THROUGH

 

 

ALERT! ALERT!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL

PREPARE FOR STAGE 37-B

REPEATING: THIS IS NOT A DRILL

 

"attention, passengers!
our spaceship is about to get into wormhole keluvie-4.

this is an extremely dangerous action, and i have to warn you all

that we might not survive

but this is the only way that we can make it to zuleen

the only other planet that has the adequate conditions for human life

 

...

 

today's the risk that we must take if we expect to see a tomorrow"

 

the infinite darkness of space and its immense silence fills the ship

everybody goes quiet

everyone knows what's coming

people interlock their hands with each other

the wait for that very moment

which could mark the end of their lives;

the end of a race

 

 

"dear passengers...

i really do hope we all can make it through

but if it isn't possible

then i must say one last thing:

 

...

 

it was a joy to have shared this journey with you."

 

 

attention!
we're about to enter wormhole keluvie-4

in 5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

 

 

"see you on the other side!"

[ughgabriel]

@funnellegs @keshaspearsxo @Hug @8thPrince @Rence

 

new round on next page <3