Montrealer singer-songwriter Alejandra Ribera has been awarded the SOCAN Songwriting Prize for “I Want,” a soulful, Shakira-like ballad.
Ribera,who describes the number as “a song about hope, joy and gratitude,” will receive $5,000 as well as an assortment of musical equipment as a prize for edging out four other Canadian challengers.
One member of the SOCAN brass described Ribera’s tune as an “achingly great song.”
Ribera sings a heartfelt list of her desires in the award-winning lyrics, which include: "I want the ocean open up before me, I want the aching of a melody, I want a comrade to share this with me, I want to want just to want just a little something,"
SOCAN, which has 120,000 members, gave out an equivalent French award to Quebecer Patrice Michaud for his song, “Mécaniques generales.” The award has existed since 2006.
Ribera cites Rufus Wainwright among her musical influences and says that she divides her time now between Montreal, Paris and Malaga.
