[ethan]

I have everything except the essay I am so bad at covers... the "album artwork" looks really bad I couldn't find a better one though.

[Pedro]

Originally posted by ethan

I have everything except the essay I am so bad at covers... the "album artwork" looks really bad I couldn't find a better one though.

You can always try to do one yourself!

[ethan]

Originally posted by Pedro

You can always try to do one yourself!

I know, that's what I did, I'm just not very good at it but there are no fanmade ones that have the title I want.

[Pedro]

Originally posted by ethan

I know, that's what I did, I'm just not very good at it but there are no fanmade ones that have the title I want.

Ah! I see!

[Pedro]

Still only got one entry, but tomorrow's the deadline. Whoever crosses it will have some points discounts.

[Ronaldista]

have the others submitted their entries?

[Pedro]

Mickey isn't in yet, he is losing points at this point.

[castle13]

Amazing graphics!
And I love this final round!

[Pedro]

Hello ATRL!

Welcome to...

Here we are for the second time, our FINAL round.

We started off with 21 contestants and out of those only THREE are still running for that first place

This final round, just like the first one, has the three contestants that fought the hardest to make it so far, and what I'm amazed to see is the diversity we found. Our three finalists have like nothing in common, they are all so different and that what makes it interesting.

Here we go! First of all, give it up for the judges!

JUDGING PANEL
1. Pedro
2. castle13
3. Regina George

FINAL ROUND: THE EP (Extended Play)



Welcome to the sixteenth round, the final round.

This is it!

It's the moment you will prove you deserve to be here and deserve to win!

This will be the most complex round of them all and will have a extended deadline due to its complexity and "hard work".

Your final task was to CREATE an EP (Extended Play) with your album.

The EP Challenge (What was asked):

1. CREATE a cover for the Extended Play OR USE a different one (fan made for example), it just can't be official;
2. NAME the EP and explain the reason (could be the same)
3. The EP will have 5 tracks and a bonus video track;
4. The EP will have to include: 1. A strong opening track; 2. A ballad/personal song; 3. A single; 4. A more upbeat song; 5. Free Choice/Bonus; 6. The Music Video. - The 1st, 5th and 6th track are the ones that NEED to be in that order, the others may change, but make sure you point out what is what.
5. They had to write an essay that included (1) every reason for the choices (the cover, the title, the tracklisting) and (2) why they should win.

Let me introduce you to the three amazing finalists and their entries...

LANA DEL REY | BORN TO DIE
The EP

C O V E R



I made this cover myself.

this is one of my favorite pictures of Lana, I love her pose and I also love the colors in it and I think it makes for a great album cover. you can see her, which is important especially since it's her debut. so you see what she looks like and what her style is (for example with the hair band), but the way she's looking down, it's not completely revealing because you can't see her eyes. for me, that's a great representation of the mysterious/dark element to Lana's music, because she always makes you feel like there's something about her just can't grasp. in this pic, she doesn't seem happy but not exactly sad, either; but you can feel the underlying melancholy that's also present in her music, the sad happiness, and the conflict of the present and the past she's clinging to.

I kept the original font because I think it fits, it's simple and doesn't distract from the picture. I adjusted the color to match her sweater. in contrast to the pale background wallpaper, it gives me a nice vintage vibe, which also sort of reflects her music.

T I T L E

I decided to keep the original title, as it seems the best fit for me. the paradoxical combination of opposites "born" and "die" is an eye-catcher, guaranteed to pique people's interest, and it also shows best the bittersweetness and emotionality of the album, how it deals with life & death and everything in between.

T R A C K L I S T

1] Blue Jeans (a strong opening track)
this songs feel like a great opening track to me, mainly because of the intro. the few guitar notes before the song really kicks in sound like an announcement to the listener that something is about to start.
lyrically, it's also an introduction because Lana introduces the guy that she used to be in love with, how they met and what happened.
musically, it has an interesting beat and structure, with that faster part keeping it from being monotone and boring the listener. after hearing this first song, they'd surely want to hear more.

2] Video Games (a ballad/personal song)
her signature ballad and one of her best songs, so it is a must have for this EP. the outstanding use of instruments and how the music creates the mood here is incredible and makes for a beautiful piece of music, combined with the astoundingly simple lyrics and her dark voice.

3] Summertime Sadness (a single)
one of my favorites from her, and a song that was very well received in those countries where it was a single. continuing the love theme, it describes the feeling of not wanting to live anymore after losing a loved one in a highly captivating way. despite dealing with such a sad topic, it's not as melancholy-sounding as Video Games, so I think it can lift up the mood again a bit after that epic ballad.

4] Radio (a more upbeat song)
it's probably the most upbeat song on the album so it had to go with it. it sounds very sweet and also addresses a different topic than dramatic love, so for once the lyrics are as light as the music sounds. it shows a different, more playful side of her imo, one that's not as grave and dark as the other songs.

5] Without You (free choice/bonus)
another great love song which I think was snubbed by being reduced to a bonus track, hence it gets its chance to shine on this EP. I feel like it's also a great ending, returning to the original romance theme and professing her love for this guy, possibly the one introduced in Blue Jeans so it's like the circle closes with this last song.

6] National Anthem (video)
this is her most spectacular video, and considering the length and script it's actually more like a short film, which makes it a great bonus content for this EP imo. the viewer gets a great insight into her aesthetic and visual artistry, helping understand her point of view even better.

WHY SHOULD I WIN?

Born To Die truly deserves to win this because it is interesting, creative and refreshing. that's what I tried to show in the course of this tournament, on the mission to show people that this album is so much more than just a girl unable to deal with heartbreak.

we've had a vast variety of themes over the rounds, and I believe that I managed to choose an appropriate entry for most of them, without repeating certain songs too much. there is only one song that I used three times and was therefore not eligible for the final, the title track, Born To Die, which I had to use in the first round about opening tracks. I had no problems using almost every single song on the tracklist and being successful with it and I think that shows the diversity of the album. it can fit into many different categories and contexts, which is something the winning album should be able to do.

musically, this album offers everything from contemporary, hip hop inspired beats to orchestral instrumentation and even mixes both, with the strings heavily influencing the emotional mood of the album. it takes you from pleasant mid-tempos to danceable up-beats to heartfelt ballads and back, Lana's sultry voice being the element that holds everything together over the monumental production.

lyrically, of course the main topic is love and the pain that comes with it and its loss, but that's not all there is to this album. Lana also criticizes society (Carmen, National Anthem) and deals with the struggles of growing up (This Is What Makes Us Girls). her lyrics might seem simple at times, but that makes them relatable, and she has a great way of storytelling that makes you empathize and feel with her.

vocally, she is not the best singer, however her voice stands out among the mass of today's singers and has something intriguing. it's versatile and not limited to one singing style or technique, it can sound dark and dramatic (Video Games, Carmen), shrill and high (Off To The Races), sweet and light (Radio) and she can also rap (Diet Mountain Dew).

all these aspects, in combination with her somewhat mysterious persona and her vintage style make this album a unique gem, something we haven't heard before in this shape and form and is refreshing among today's often overproduced, mass-oriented sounds. it's the newest album out of the three finalists and still has to withstand the test of time, but it has a shot at becoming a modern classic, and winning this competition would be the first step into that direction

T H A N K Y O U

I hope I could do this beautiful album justice with my final entry, and I'd like to thank everyone who has voted for me and will do so in this finale in advance. without the public votes I never would have gotten this far. it's much appreciated.

Now Presenting:

the BRAND NEW EP from Country Superstar Shania Twain...

Still the One!



1. Man! I Feel Like a Woman!
2. Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
3. From This Moment On (feat. Bryan White)
4. That Don't Impress Me Much
5. You're Still the One
BONUS VIDEO That Don't Impress Me Much

Featuring the hit single That Don't Impress Me Much, this EP is bound to get you moving and also to move you. With an eclectic mix of uptempo classic country pop and beautiful, breathtaking ballads, Shania proves once again that she is a bonafide hit-making machine and true artist.

The title, Still the One, comes from the final track of the EP, but also refers to Shania herself; after years in the industry, she is still a go-to for whatever your mood, be it love (From this Moment On), or just fun (Man! I Feel Like a Woman!).

A note from Shania:
"When it came time to put together this EP, it took us a long time to narrow down the track listing. We ended up going with Man! I Feel Like a Woman! for the opener because we wanted to get started with a bang and it's just such a fun song to dance and sing along to.

Following Man! I Feel Like a Woman! is another upbeat song, Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You) because, at it's core, it's a love song, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the lyrics! It's just a really catchy tune that I love performing.

The third track on the EP is From this Moment On , featuring the immensely talented Bryan White. The ballad of the EP, this track is about eternal love, something I desperately believe in. It's become a staple at weddings all across the world, which is such an honor to me. A fun fact about this track is that I actually recorded it in one take! It is one of my favorites, and definitely earned it's space on this EP.

Next is That Don't Impress Me Much, which is the lead single of the EP and such a fun track. It's obviously not based on real experiences (you can call me anytime, Brad Pitt!), but I think it's a message a lot of women and even men can relate to; it's not about what's on the outside or how smart you are, it's how much you care! I'm so lucky to be with a man who has both, haha! Already a Top 10 hit on Billboard, I think this song is the perfect way to get interested in the EP. It's quintessential me!

The final track of the EP is You're Still the One, another love song, and probably the most honest song I've ever written. Written about my husband at the time (we've since divorced, ironically), it perfectly expressed the way I felt about him; after all the flack we received for our relationship and all the silly disputes, he was the one I wanted to be with (until I caught him cheating with my best friend... but that's for my next EP!). It's a really sweet song that I hear a lot of people use and enjoy, so it definitely needed to be here.

Also included in the EP is a bonus music video for the single, That Don't Impress Me Much. After filming in the desert for three days straight in a leopard print outfit, I'm going to make sure as many people see that video as possible, haha! It's a fun video that I think will entertain my fans.

The cover of my EP features me, looking down, with really sexy hair. It was so fun to shoot that cover! You can't tell on my face, but I was laughing and smiling all day. I wanted to go with a classic-looking cover, something that will still look good in 10 years, unlike my first one (what was I thinking?! haha). It's simple, but I think it will be something that interests people in the music.

I truly hope you enjoy the EP as much as I enjoyed making it. A little piece of me is in every one of these songs and I think you'll enjoy every single one of them.

Love always,

Shania xoxox

A note from ethan:
"Beyond this EP, Shania's album, Come on Over is such a fantastic album, and that's truly why I deserve to win; not because of the way I've played necessarily, but because this album deserves it. It is the best selling album ever by a female artist, with over 40 million copies sold and 12 of the songs released as singles. It spent 112 weeks in the Top 20 of the Billboard Top 200, more than any album ever, and was in the #1 spot of the Candian Country albums chart for over two years. It's universal, everyone can relate to at least some of the music, and it's empowering; there is one sad song on the entire album, and all of the other songs are about having fun, being in love, and growing into a stronger person.

Blending country and pop worked to create a lively and irresistible combination that artists after Shania, including Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, have used, also to great success. There's a reason artists like Taylor and Carrie list Shania as one of their biggest influences; Shania set the standard. Along with her husband, she wrote all of the songs on the album. Her voice is beautiful, and when you hear her live performances, you know that she has the talent to back up all the success; live performance sound nearly identical to the studio versions, and the energy she emits is undeniable. If you go to a Shania concert (or have a Shania concert in your living room ala Youtube), you will laugh, cry, sing, dance, and love with Shania. You can't help it. She is such a unique and talented woman, and she uses her talent to spread messages of positivity and empowerment.

Shania proves that positivity is a way of life and not something that is handed to you; Shania was born to an extremely poor family in Canada, with an abusive father and a mother that suffered from depression. She lived in a homeless shelter with her mother and siblings for a few years, and then after her parents divorced, she rarely spoke to her father. Her mother and step-father were killed in a car accident when Shania was 20, leaving her to take care of her younger siblings all by herself. It would have been easy for Shania to become an artist that created depressing, somber music, but instead, she chose to pursue being happy and making other people happy. Come On Over comes from a very real place in her soul, and I think it shows. It is truly a remarkable album, and I would be so happy to see it earn the title it deserves as winner of this tournament. My fellow contestants both have very strong albums, but when you look at the three, Shania's is the album that stands out, and I think it does so for all the right reasons.

- ethan

Evanescence - Fallen
1. Going Under
2. Bring Me To Life
3. Hello
4. Tourniquet
5. My Last Breath
6. BONUS VIDEO: Everybody's Fool

Title: The original title perfectly captures the content and sound of the songs in the album, so I didn't want to change it. "Fallen" makes people think of fallen angels, or the fall of man - a transition from purity and light into something more corrupted and dark. This is certainly what is represented in the sound of the songs - Amy Lee's voice could easily fit in a choral setting, but she sings about dark subjects over heavy rock accompaniment. Further, the lyrical content of the many songs is about Amy Lee's abusive ex-boyfriend, and the title "Fallen" is a beautiful reflection of how she felt through her personal crises and her music.

Cover: I liked the contrast between the darkness implied by the title, and the hope from the image used for this cover. She's barefoot and clad in a white, modest dress, which represents virginity; this is paired with an image of the ocean, and the flight of birds, both of which symbolize freedom and journey. Although the ocean is pictured, the cover does not look like the album will be fun beach party music, which is a good thing because the album does not have that type of music. The birds, the storm clouds, and the colors in the cover still make the cover look appropriately dark.

Strong opening track: As I stated in the first challenge, Going Under is the perfect opening track. No doubt about it, this was an easiest choice.

A ballad / personal song: Hello is the perfect track for this, and I probably would have used it even if I had My Immortal left. My Immortal is based off of a short story, while Hello is deeply personal to the singer; the song is about Amy Lee's sister who passed away as a child. It is incredibly beautiful, especially how the vocal line gets higher and more emotional, while the piano accompaniment stays steady, reflecting how life goes on even as we go through emotional turmoil.

A single: Of course I'd choose Bring Me To Life, it's easily one of Evanescence's strongest singles throughout their entire career!

Something more upbeat / free choice: I wanted to use Tourniquet and My Last Breath, and they can both fit into either of these. They both fit the life/death theme, and certainly give a coherent sound to the EP. I also haven't used these yet this competition, and they definitely deserve it; they're amazing songs! Tourniquet being the penultimate track is much more appropriate, since the lyrics are about her crying out for salvation, and it would have been really sad if it were the last track. My Last Breath is much more conclusive, especially when she sings "Sweet raptured life, it ends here tonight"

Bonus Video: Everybody's Fool is the only video left, so of course I had to pick it... it's my favorite video of the album, and I love the message. It's great as a bonus because the song actually doesn't fit as much, thematically, with the rest.

Why I Should Win: I picked a great album, and I picked great choices every round. I've been incredibly consistent over the entire competition, and I've been in the top position for quite a few rounds. My album has a very coherent sound, but is still diverse enough that I was able to adapt to several different themes. As I've been representing the album consistently well, and it's a great album to begin with, I think I should win.

DEADLINE: All the votes/rates must be in until February, 24th.

RANK THE TOP 3
(#1 being your favourite and #3 the least favourite)

[ethan]

Mickey, did you use My Immortal too many times or something?

Great entries to both of my fellow competitors though can we vote as well?

[MusicLoverDude]

1. Evanescence
2. Shania Twain
3. Lana Del Rey

[Pedro]

Originally posted by ethan

can we vote as well?

No, not this time!

[theREALslimSHADY]

1. Lana Del Rey
2. Shania Twain
3. Evanescence

(all three names are exactly the same langth! )

[spbb123]

1. Lana Del Rey
2. Evanescence
3. Shania Twain

[Strangergab]

1. Shania Twain
2. Lana Del Rey
3. Evanescence

[SIMon1120]

1. Shania Twain
2. Evanescence
3. Lana Del Rey

[Pedro]

Here's how JUDGES RATES will be divided (every number presented is the maximum of points someone can get):

1. Cover (70 pts) + Explanation (50) = 120 Points
2. Title (40 pts) + Explanation (50) = 90 Points
3. Each track (20 pts, except the video = 30 pts); Structure of the EP (20 pts); explanation (60 points) = 210 Points
4. Essay - Why should I Win? = 80 Points.

TOTAL: 500 Points!

BUMP, by the way!

[amandatheafter]

1.lana del rey
2.shania twain
3.evanescence

[Mr. Duff]

1. Evanescence
2. Shania Twain
3. Lana Del Ray

[♥jONE731♥]

1. Shania Twain
2. Evanescence
3. Lana Del Rey