The Within Earshot Music Video Contest

 

AND THE WINNER IS.....

[drum roll]

... Dan Bossenberry of Elmira, whose video for the song Come Alive garnered the most votes in the Within Earshot Music Video Contest!

Bossenberry was an early front-runner in the online voting, and maintained his lead to eventually earn 407 votes. That means Dan will soon have an extra $1500 in his pocket, and will headline a concert at Maxwell's Music House at the end of January.  BIG congratulations to Dan and to all of the amazing musicians and videographers who participated and made the contest a big success!

Dan, an 18-year-old student at Elmira District Secondary School, has only been playing music for a few years, though his considerable talents belie his limited experience.

Bossenberry handled not only vocal duties in Come Alive, but also guitar, bass, banjo and accordion.

Though Dan's video for Come Alive earned more votes than any other, it was hardly a landslide victory. Every video in the contest had fans, and it was a close race to the finish.

Here is a rundown of the eight highest-ranked videos in the contest:

1. Come Alive by Dan Bossenberry.

2. Atlantis, by Kingdoms. This metal-core band from Kitchener trades throat-shredding vocals with melodic choruses for a powerful, emotive sound. The video features live footage shot from a rowdy show at Kitchener's King Street Theatre Centre.

3. What a Day, by Allister Bradley. An uplifting carpe diem song that showcases Bradley's versatile vocals, with a video shot at several familiar locations around Kitchener, from Victoria Park to Fairview Park mall.

4. Stray Dogs, by Saigon Hookers. These tireless troubadours of the K-W punk scene repurposed black and white film and cartoon footage for a completely original, provocative and frequently hilarious video.

5. Darker Longer, by Calliope's Radio. A wistful, nostalgic and uplifting video by one of Waterloo Region's best folk-pop outfits. An elderly woman is transported to the carefree days of her youth by the power of music and memory.

6. Big Oil, by Rough Draft. Both a lament for the spoiled environment and an attack on the oil-hungry appetites of the Dubya administration, this video combines unsettling imagery with an impassioned plea for change.

7. Pinocchio, by The Shady J's. Perhaps the quirkiest, cutest video in the contest, this submission sees a boxy robot roaming the streets and campuses of Waterloo in search of hugs and new friends. A strange, satisfying trip with a funk-pop soundtrack.

8. Redemption, by West Memphis Suicide. Cambridge's reigning metal gods crank the amps to 11 and unleash a furious blast of distorted guitars, gritty vocals and enough bass to melt your speakers.

Honourable mentions go to Ann Marie Pincivero, Torsen's Tarrow, Patrick Christopher and Personal Helicopter, all of whom fared well in the voting (several were tied with each other in the voting). Kudos to everyone who created videos, making the contest.

Check out next Thursday's edition of Nightlife for the big cover story on how Dan and his friends created the video that claimed the grand prize.

In the meantime, enjoy Come Alive.