orchestral arrangement is lovely, and I like that you drop back to the intimate vocal to let the lyrics stand out as they're really interesting - and I feel like the arrangement could have pushed this into overwhelmingly theatrical / corny territory if you'd gone all out, you find a sweet spot that really works. Good idea to stretch out into a post-rondel coda - the vocal layering in that section is maybe a little too busy but it's a smart way to develop the song and I really enjoyed this.

I have to admit, when this started I was half expecting My Heart Will Go On to kick in. I'm so glad it didn't and very pleased with what came instead.

I was reminded of Crash Test Dummies in parts, probably because of the Mmm Mmm Mmm and then I could hear comparisons in your vocals.

This is a really pretty song and the uncertainty that you mentioned in your liner notes is something I think adds to this track. Would it have been as delicate if you hadn't of done it with no uncertainty?

You hit the challenge and then added a coda. The song is better for it, but the ranking is not. I felt I could tell that there was a poetic form being used in this song even if I was unaware of the challenge.
I like the texture, the arrangement. The flute and the.. oboe? clarinet? are nice touches. I love the hit on the third stanza. The layers to end were done well. I liked this song.

Shadows:

You rightly wondered what you'd done wrong here. As I'm sure you noticed, I didn't have you in my top half, but I was still really surprised to see your name at the bottom of the stack this round. It's a real pity. As far as I'm concerned, the biggest mistake of this song is that I spent most of it waiting for it to make the leap from "ballad" to "power ballad." And it never quite gets there. But I think that's a me problem; I had to adjust my expectations to what the song was actually doing. I really love the blending of the piano, acoustic guitar, and clarinet. The part with the clarinet and flute before the third verse is especially lovely. It's an ambitious arrangement choice, and it's bold to have such a nakedly sincere lyrical approach and arrangement. I still think some percussion might have pushed this over the edge for me.