USoS 2021: State Song Selection Results!

Today, the results of the four state song selections shall be announced. As always, thank you to those who voted, and to everyone who contributed entries. We have a small but powerful group of devoted and interested people involved in this contest, and if I could, I'd give you all a big hug! We've tallied the votes, and in the spoilers below are the winners. We hope you enjoy them; it was a close call in a couple of them.

CALIFORNIA: Will Jay - "Lies" - 60 points

Will is a former member of the boy band IM5. Born in Los Angeles, he is of Chinese and German descent. With a background in stage performance and boy-band fame, Will admits he has lied in his past. Jay says, "This is a song about the lies I've told everyone in my life, and the even bigger lies I've told myself." For example, he sings "I didn't go to college, what would I know about student loans" - which is a reference to his 2018 song "Broke" where he sings "Spendin' all this paper on student loans". ----------------- 2nd place: Ella Vos, "Burning Bridges" - 44 points

3rd place: The Anix, "Die With You" - 28 points

MINNESOTA: Graveyard Club - "Dreamland" - 56 pts

Graveyard Club are an synth rock/pop band from Minneapolis. They represented Minnesota in 50 States of Song 2017 with "Nightcrawler", but failed to even qualify. Now they will automatically qualify to the Final! Lead singer Matthew Schufman taps into the 1950's crooner style of singing while Amanda Zimmerman's bass and vocals combine for the modern answer to The Cure.

2nd place: Buffalo Fuzz, "Too Young To Die" (Derek) - 39 points

3rd place: Ashley DuBose, "Love Tingz" (Greg) - 31 points

NEW YORK: Gregory Dillon - "Plastic Ferrari" - 52 pts

Gregory Dillon is an LGBTQ artist from Brooklyn, originally from New Hampshire. He is out and proud, for sure - I found an article that asked him to describe himself in four words, and he responded 'Cries after sex often'. He also self-describes his music as 'euphoric pop' which I think is appropriate. The video is a bit amateur-ish but probably due to stay-at-home. It's still a bop!

2nd place: The Knocks & MUNA - "Bodies" (Thorir) - 44 points

3rd place: Overcoats - "Fire & Fury" (Greg) - 35 points

TEXAS: Jessie Frye, "Ocean" - 48 pts

Similar to last year, the Texan state selection was hotly contested. There were four or five songs that all had a solid chance of winning. The voting came down to a few points here and there, and a couple of you really swayed the vote. But this winning song did receive at least 1 point from every juror.

Jessie is a pop singer from the Dallas area. She lost by one point last year, placing 2nd in the 2020 Texas #USoS selection with the song "Fantasy". Now she will get her chance to represent her state!

2nd place: PRIZM, "All Night" (Derek) - 44 points

3rd place: Tayla Parx, "Dance Alone" (Derek) - 42 points

After today's announcement, the rest of this year's chosen songs will be featured starting this Tuesday. Expect to see five fresh songs! And by the end of the week, we will announce the running order. I cannot promise any other dates, but we should be on pace to start Semifinal One in April.

Congratulations to all the winners! -Greg