UK Songwriting Contest - International Song Competition
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2013 Results
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WINNERS AND FINALISTS BY CATEGORY

POP

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POP WINNER
Running Away by Jaron Natoli
Listen to the song here
Doors suddenly opened for Australian songwriter Jaron Natoli when the contest results were announced. Within days Jaron had TV crews at his house and he was featured and interviewed on the hugely popular prime time Today Tonight TV show and seen by millions across Australia. His win was also covered in the press and online and personally contacted by legendary UK producer Stuart Epps (known for his work with Elton John, Robbie Williams and Oasis among others) who was impressed with his contest entries and is interested in working with him in the future. Jaron's father Chris said "Thanks heaps UKSC! Thanks to your competition Jaron's going to get the recognition he deserves."

POP FINALISTS
Beautiful Mess - Natalie Hiong
Say That You Love Me -  Natasha Duarte, Mick Malusa, Trevor Carter
So Long - Tara Dillard and Mitch Bell
What Can I Do ~ Martin Wiik
Beautifully Human ~ Helga Kaefer
RSVP (Come On) ~ Richard J. Hamersma & Joyce Harrison
Wondering ~ Audrey Laurencelle
  
It Only Gets Better - Victoria Celestine and Jeff Blue
Sunny Day ~ Rob Grant and Michelle Clarke
Can't Do This Wrong ~ Ross O'Reilly
Shoot For The Stars ~ Robert Dedier, Peter Natale and Andres Sierra
Some People Never Learn ~ Steve Wade
You're My Love ~ Stephen Miller
You Paint Me Blue ~ Margot de Graaff

ACOUSTIC / FOLK

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ACOUSTIC & FOLK WINNER
Pass It Along
by Scott Cook

Listen to the track here
This year's Acoustic and Folk Category winner is a song by Canadian songwriter and balladeer Scott Cook. Scott has been making a full time living from music since 2007 when he started travelling around the continent playing and singing and living out of his van. Visit his website at http://www.scottcook.net. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:

ACOUSTIC / FOLK FINALISTS
The Line ~ Kaoru Yamazaki
The Old Concrete Mattress ~ Kenny Grant
On My Own ~ Cat Maria
Fine May Rain ~ Dean Frances-Hawksley
Shells ~ Terry Penney
Far Away From Home ~ Keni Brownlow and Murray McDowell
  
Lilly ~ Phoebe Katis
Dotted Line ~ Jerome Anthony
Believe ~ Yazzy Chamberlain
Love, Life and Faith ~ Jonny Hereward
Denver Song ~ Kelly Sheridan Scollin
Next To You - Megan Slankard

SINGER / SONGWRITER
(Joint Winners)

Winner

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Bonnie Piesse
performing her original song
Ariella
Listen to the song here

Winner

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Lisa Nelson
performing her original

song
Butterfly

Listen to the song here

The Singer Songwriter category is the only category where vocals and performance are also judged together with the songwriting. In all other categories only the songwriting is judged. See the Help and Info page on this site for more details about judging. The competition in this category was very strong this year and the judges decided to award joint winning positions to two remarkable, oustanding, but very different, entries. The winning positions are awarded to Lisa Nelson, a singer songwriter from Manchester, England, and Australian singer songwriter (and Star Wars actress) Bonnie Piesse who is now living in California, USA. Listen to the songs using the links above. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:
SINGER SONGWRITER FINALISTS
Beautiful Mess ~ Natalie Hiong
Waiting On The Rain ~ Melusi Chirikure
The Record Collection - Chris Brown
When I Fall ~ John G. Stuart
Honey Pie ~ Nitanee Paris Lawson
Stay Away ~ Dale Bennett
Poetry and Words ~ Ben Hood, Guy Gyngell
Dreamer ~ Ditka
Round And Round - Marina Zettl
    
Nomad ~ Beth Prior
Tinman ~ Andy Brown
Let's Be There ~ Julie McCloud
Way Back When ~ R James Van Dyke
To See Her Dance Again ~ Chris Gill
Ritorna a Me ~ Karmelle Stannard
Running Away ~ Jaron Natoli
The Illusionist ~ Andrew Redford


COUNTRY

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COUNTRY WINNER
I'm So Blue by Rob Cariddi
Listen to the track here
The very worthy winner in the Country Category this year is I'm So Blue by songwriter Rob Cariddi from South Carolina, USA. Rob does not sing and this outstanding song entry was recorded for him by a female session singer at a local demo studio. This well crafted classic country/blues song is in standard AABA form. It is very memorable and the judges agree that Rob fully acheived his ambitious aim of writing a song with a "timeless classic" feel. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:

COUNTRY FINALISTS:
If I was Elvis ~ Greylan James
Rewind ~ Gary Quinn and Phil Haywood
Make It All Come True ~ Jamie Vizard and Ric Neale
Dodge Your Bullet ~ Gary Quinn
Mama Don't Cry - Nitanee Paris and Dale Effren
Wandering Lonesome Traveller ~ Bill McCutcheon
Show Me The Way Back To Your Heart ~ Jim Davidson
 
Your Love's a River ~ Alan Bryden
Guitar Players Get The Girls by Debra Gussin and Marty Dodson
Lie With Me ~ Hannah Ellis, Cameron Bedell, David Smith
Can't Put You Down ~ Michael "Max" McGee, Scott Miller, Lee Johnson
The Other Side ~ R Mack Harrell
The Next Thing That You Hear - Allan Caswell
All Part Of Our Love - Kevin Reardon

CHRISTMAS  SONGS
(Joint Winners)

Winner

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My Favourite Time Of Year
by
Leigh Haggerwood

Listen to the track here

Winner

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Jingle Jangle Christmas
by
Rob Cariddi

Listen to the track here

2013 is the first year the contest has had a dedicated Christmas Songs category and the variety and standard of entries was outstanding. Song entries were in a huge variety of genres including country, choral, rock and roll, jazz, pop, ballads, comedy, children's songs and more and the judges have had a very difficult task. Joint winners were chosen - Leigh Haggerwood from London, UK (who performed his own entry) and Rob Cariddi from South Carolina USA (who does not sing and entered a demo made by a session singer at a local demo studio). Both these songs, along with other selected Christmas themed entries, will be featured and promoted by the UKSC in the run up to Christmas 2013. The finalist Christmas Songs and songwriters are listed below:
CHRISTMAS SONGS FINALISTS:
Mama Made Christmas - Maddy Rodriguez
Joy ~ Jules Anna Jones
The Way We Feel At Christmas ~ Kate McGrade
Ghosts of Christmas Past ~ Les Bassett
This is a Happy Christmas ~ Bill McCutcheon
Christmas For Everyone ~ Cornelia Brown
Prince Of Winter ~ Susan Muranty, Ritchie Neville, Sven Tydeman
   
Wondrous, Mysterious ~ Miriam Jones
Mister Snow ~ Dennis A. Westgate
Christmas State Of Mind - Beth Walker and Richard Howland
Joining Hearts ~ Phil Hennessy
Rockin' Christmas Party ~ John Dowman and Mike Leedham
If Christmas Was Mine ~ Steve Perry and Steve Mansfield
Sentimental Song ~ Carolyn Victoria Mill and Reid Jamieson

LOVE SONGS

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LOVE SONGS WINNER
Unravelling
by Natalie Hiong

Listen to the song here
Natalie Hiong is a talented singer songwriter from Singapore who lived in London and studied at the London School of Economics. After a brief career in finance she decided to give up the rat race to follow her heart and pursue her dream of a career in music as a songwriterand also as a singer. She has been a UKSC finalist in past years (and has finalist songs in other categories this year). This year her perseverence has paid off, and she is 2013 Winner of the Love Songs category with her charming song Unravelling.

LOVE SONG FINALISTS
I Never Knew Till I Met You ~ Vembriona Edy
How Much Do You Love Me? ~ Ailie Blunnie
To See Her Dance Again ~ Chris Gill
Morning Star Gently ~ Susan Muranty, Robert J Sedky and Phi Turcio
Hold You in My Heart ~ Jamie Vizard and Ric Neale
Over Space And Time - Nitanee Paris Lawson and Roy Bemelmans
 
Reachin out ~ Jason Mark Yates
Let Me In ~ James Brose and George Belanger
Love Eternally ~ Paul Ewing
Souls Collide ~ Jim Bennett, Megan Conner
Gone ~ Lilla Ivánfalvi, László Bozó


ADULT CONTEMPORARY

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AC WINNER
Sirens
by Lucy Mason

Listen to the track here
The winning track in the Adult Contemporary category this year is Sirens by Lucy Mason. Lucy lives in London UK and grew up in Weybridge, Surrey and she says that her songs are composed on guitar, in her bedroom, and are deeply personal and inspired by different experiences in her life. Her song Sirens was chosen by the judges as a worthy Adult Contemporary winner. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win the Adult Contemporary category this year:

ADULT CONTEMPORARY FINALISTS
What's This All For - Natasha Duarte
Television Sky ~ Mike Borok
Timeless ~ John Hawkins
Here and Now ~ Lijie Yang
Try To Understand ~ Katie Hardyman
Downstream ~ Constant van Graan
Misery Man ~ Matt Leonard Price
Ghost of the Mockingbird ~ Nitanee Paris Lawson
Lost Cause ~ Nazneen
Song of Life ~ Rowan Richards
May You Be Blessed ~ Robert King
   
One Last Time ~ Andy Johnson
Olde Fashioned Worlde ~ Gabriel Collins
White Dandelions ~ Nikki Forova
You May Be My Baby ~ Luiza
Nietszche Tonight ~ Phil Danter
Free ~ Lindsey Webster and Keith Slattery
I'm In No Pain - Megan Slankard / Eric Andersen
Feather - Shelly Bhushan
1000 Miles From Your Door - Lindiwe Suttle
We Are - James Jollis
Nowhere At All - Brian Kalinec

RnB / URBAN

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RnB/URBAN WINNER
Meant Somethin'
by Napoleon Maddox / Brian Greer / Elliott Riggins
Listen to the song here

This song was chosen by the judges as the outstanding entry in the RnB/Urban Category this year. It is written and performed by members of ISWHAT?! - a talented RnB/HipHop/HardJazz crew from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Visit their website at www.iswhat-flavor.com. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:

RnB /URBAN FINALISTS:
Who Do You Do - Tara Priya
Could've Been Precious ~ William Stewart
Cold War - Melvin Ijih
Shooting Star ~ Daryl Goldson
The Way ~ Glenn Aitken
LaLaLa ~ Calling Pluto
   
Derrion's song ~ Tavares T Lowery and Patrick J Wilcox
Too Late To Turn Back ~ Amanda Belle and Seth Dyer
Show Me ~ Richard J. Hamersam, Joyce Harrison, Gary Burnette
Being free isn't a crime ~ Paula Dukure and Edijs Dukurs
Take Your Place (feat. Mr H) ~ Alex Hills
Someone Like You ~ Duffmusiq/Reece

JAZZ / BLUES

Blues Winner

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Somethin's Wrong
by
Billy D
Listen to the track here


Jazz Winner

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Nietzsche Tonight
by

Phil Danter
Listen to the track here



There were some great Jazz and Blues entries this year and separate winning positions have been given for each genre. The Blues winner is a classic 12 bar described by songwriter William Alan Desmond (aka Billy D) as "an Original Blues Song with a wicked swampy groove ..." It is perfomed here by Billy D and The Hoodoos. The Jazz winner is an interesting composition drawing on a variety of jazz influences by guitarist and composer Phil Danter who also performs this song live with his band Straight On Red. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:
JAZZ/BLUES FINALISTS:
I Left A Part of Me by Lijie Yang
The Time Travelling Wife by Nazneen
Coming Home by Judy Slater and Gavin Cuthbertson
New Dawn by Jane Ralston Pahr
Don't Die Wond'rin' by Jacki Cooper
   
Before The Lights Go Out by Richard J. Hamersma & Joyce Harrison
London Town by Geoff Martin Preston
The Image Of You by Ingvi Thor Kormaksson
No Room For Promises by Nicola Milan

ROCK

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Down The Road  
by Jaron Natoli
Listen to the track here
This song entry is written and performed by the young Australian songwriter Jaron Natoli. Jaron also won the pop category this year with another one of his songs and through this contest he is already attracting the attention of a number of UK industry figures including legendary british producer Stuart Epps. Jaron's dream is to visit London and record in the UK and the UK judges felt that this fresh, atmospheric and original song has the makings of an outstanding rock track. Jaron and UKSC judge Stuart Epps were both featured on prime time TV on the hugely popular Today Tonight TV show and seen by millions across Australia when the results came out. After the show Jaron's father Chris said "Thanks heaps UKSC! Thanks to your competition Jaron's going to get the recognition he deserves."

ROCK FINALISTS:
Breathe Again - Tiffany Sinko
You The One ~ Mogol 
Badlands ~ James Brose and George Belanger
Kissing Lips ~ Natasha Duarte, Marc Collis, Trevor Carter
Over By The Wasteland ~ Peter Evans
One Way Train ~ Andy Johnson
Our Pride ~ John Stephen Mahony
Float ~ Paul Blackwood, Stu Gordon, Adam Odoj, Jay McEwan, Mike Gray
The Iron Thumb ~ Jonathan Hall
     
Sexy Like Hell ~ Marnix Emanuel and Maryse Moerel
Better Off On My Own ~ Jaron Natoli and Chris Natoli
Be Anyone You Want To ~ Steve White
I Bite The Bullet ~ Mavis Kelly and Simon Riding
Toe The Line ~ Akshay Chowdhry and Sumant Balakrishnan
Shine - Matthew Raber
Get Higher - Remington Leith, Sebastian Danzig, Emerson Barrett
The Birds And The Bees - Jeff Turner

ELECTRONIC / DANCE

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ELECTRONIC / DANCE WINNER
Vortex Of Life
by Lindsay Hawkins (eoslinz)
Listen to the song here
The entries in the Electronic and Dance category get better each year and the judges spent a lot of time carefully considering the entries before they awarded the winning position to this remarkable and outstanding track from Lindsay Hawkins. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:

DANCE / ELECTRONIC FINALISTS: 
Chasing Stars ~ L Conibear, I McKelvey, Scarlett Quinn
I'm The Only One ~ Liisi Koikson
Party In My What?! ~ Nitanee Paris Lawson
Phoenix ~ Robert Dedier, Peter Natale, Andres Sierra and Ava Dedier
One Step From Heaven ~ Gavin Yelverton
Magical Forest - Allexander Nova
   
3,2,1 - James Hayden Gallagher
Aktiv8 ~ Lindsay Hawkins
Making Money ~ Tonii
Rockit2theMoon ~ Telepathic Cat
Jet Life ~ Duffmusiq, Gyles Natalie, Geneva Bokowski
Greenlight (You Got It Right) ~ Rachele Rhienne

INSTRUMENTAL
(Joint Winners)

Winner 

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The Sparrow and the Hawk
by
Jason Cullimore
Listen to the track here

Winner

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Corazon
by
Ed Henderson

Listen to the track here

Instrumental was one of the most difficult categories to judge this year with a large variety of acoustic works, piano pieces, filmic theme music, orchestral scores, rock and ethnic music and more. In the end the judges decided to award joint winning positions to an orchestral composition by composer and programmer Jason Cullimore written using his computer-based music studio, and an acoustic guitar piece by guitarist and composer Ed Henderson. The entries and composers listed below were also close contenders to win this category this year:
INSTRUMENTAL FINALISTS:
Inside (Valse) ~ Hugo Bechstein
Afghanistan Requiem ~ David Britton
Bali Island Of The Gods - Dewi Puspita
Storychange ~ Martyn Stringer
Chatterbox ~ Cath Baxter
Capriccio for Soprano Saxophone ~ Martin D. Bills
Cats and Mouses ~ Tom Johnson
Calypso Time Rag ~ Paul Cherrington
 
Poseidon ~ Ynyr Llwyd
Meandering Around In Open G ~ Paul Cherrington
Summer Romance ~ Tony Matthews
County Choro ~ Martin D. Bills
Sailing ~ Yrjö Mikkonen
Ben Avigdor - Tomer George Cohen
Dancing Near the Nile - Eduardo de la Iglesia

FAITH/CHRISTIAN

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FAITH / CHISTIAN WINNER
Rhythms Of Joy by Martin D Bills
Listen to the track here
This winning song in the Faith/Christian Category this year was written by british songwriter and composer Martin D Bills. Martin usually writes and arranges acoustic guitar instrumental pieces, so this gospel style song entry is very different from his usual style of work. The finalist songs and songwriters listed below were also contenders to win this category this year:

FAITH / CHRISTIAN FINALISTS:
Deep Was The Night ~ Susan Greydanus
This wonderful land ~ Bela Buchmann
It's His Love ~ Hansen Chew Chai Min
What is Love ~ Tavares Tee Lowery aka OPSOLO
The Sun Will Rise Again - Jamin Olorunfemi
  
Jesus You Are Beautiful (Holy is The Lord) ~ Heather Buston
The Plans I Have for You ~ Deborah "DeDe" Wedekind and Don Koch
Spiders ~ Jerome Anthony
May You Be Blessed ~ Robert King
I Have A Reason - Jamin Olorunfemi

OPEN CATEGORY

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OPEN CATEGORY WINNER
Tu Amore
by
Michael Ward, Steve Hemsley & Caterina Polla
Listen to the track here
This song, Tu Amore, was chosen as the winning song in the Open Category this year. It is an original classical-crossover song written by a UK based songwriting team (photo shows one of the writers Michael Ward) with words in Italian. Open Category entries The finalist songs and songwriters listed below, which include a large range of genres from from ballads to world and ethnic music and more, were also all close contenders to win this category this year.

OPEN CATEGORY FINALISTS:
JuDa ~ Dan Harper and Juldeh Camara
Jealous Brother ~ Natasha Duarte
My First Day In Hell ~ Daisy Chute and Alice Beberman
The Emigrants Story ~ Paul Kealy and Ciaran Brennan
Flowers In The Fire ~ Gary Gray
One Night ~ David Kieran Bailey
Someone (A Different View) ~ Cath Baxter
  
Sorrow ~ John Hawkins
Catharina ~ Silvana Maria Sichi
Forever ~ John Wilson
I Wonder What Heavens Like ~ Greg J Bryant
Dotted Line ~ Jerome Anthony
My England ~ Dave Freeman & Chris Morris
Oregan - Melissa Bandura

LYRICS

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LYRICS ONLY WINNER
Morining Star Gently by Susan Muranty
Read Here (opens in new window)
The Lyrics Winner receives personal one-on-one coaching with the renowned hit songwriter Mark Cawley in addition to all her other winner's prizes. This was another difficult category to judge this year but in the end the judges chose this Lyrics Only entry by Susan Muranty. It is a deceptively simple, effective and unusual lyric (it was also entered in the Love Songs category with music written by co writers). The songs and songwriters listed below were also close contenders to win this category this year...

LYRICS ONLY FINALISTS:
Mama's Words ~ Catherine Meldrum
Paint the Sky ~ Leni Croker
Rainbows Without Rain ~ Ian Lee-Bennett
Believe ~ Yazzy Chamberlain
Paper Airplanes ~ Christina Desmarteau
Invisible Saxophone (Air Sax) ~ Richard Dames
Memory Lane ~ Cindy Else
Beautiful ~ Johnny Bowden
  
I Saw You ~ Steve Stewart
Better Than You ~ Lindsay Hamminga
Into the wild ~ Vigdis Eidsvaag
I See it in Your Face ~ Clive James Calderwood
Song For An Unknown Lover ~ Hugh Coleridge
Broken Dreams ~ Paul Glascodine
4 This Woman ~ Shanthan

In 2013 everyone who entered the contest received a gift package worth $100 (approx £80) consisting of $50 worth of songwriting courses and song pitching services at SongU.com plus a $50 six month "Film and TV" membership, including song pitching services, at Broadjam.com. This prize gift package for every entrant was worth approximately five times the entry fee. In addition, every finalist listed on this page receives international lifetime SCO copyright registrations worth $35 for each song at SongCopyright.org. Prizes for category winners and special prize winners this year included a professional studio production with world class musicians and session vocalist at MOA Studios, professional video shoot and production and personal mentoring and coaching sessions with the #1 hit songwriter Mark Cawley. All category winners received honourary Guild of International Songwriter and Composer memberships, professional music websites and full one year professional memberships at broadjam.com, plus promotion and exposure on the exclusive Best Of UKSC music industry promotional album. Every contestant also receives a frameable Certificate for each song that they enter - there are Winner, Finalist, Semi Finalist, Commended Entry or Participation Certificates for all contestants. Use the search box above to see results for every song entered and to get Certificates (see the Certificates page for printing tips). Everyone song entered is carefully examined and rated and everyone who enters this competition has the opportunity to be noticed by music industry professionals in the UK and worldwide who follow this event closely each year looking for new talent...    
  
Click here for an explanation of the judges scores

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