Here is my new original called "Ordinary". Please feel free to give it a listen and provide feedback as you deem necessary.
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?id=16198
ok . . . here goes . . .
My assorted thoughts are:
There is an astonishing difference in the production values between this and earlier recent recordings. This is way better all round, and in particular, I think you really got the backing mix just right. I don't mind the sudden leap in intensity between verse and chorus. I do think, though, that the song calls for a more realistic percussion track. At the moment it has a mechanical feel to it. We don't always have access to drummers, and we do the best we can with what we have.
With a voice like yours, you have the advantage in that you make people want to listen to you. To that extent, it doesn't really matter what the backing is, because it is not the focus of attention. The harmonies complement your voice and the melody really well.
I'm pleased to see an absence of vocal popping, but the vocal track is not without its flaws. Every now and again there's something strange happening: check out, for example, the 'f' in 'find' at 1:23 and at 2:25, and the word 'ordinary' at around 2:53. This could be an artefact of compression, or possibly the result of editing to fix something.
While I liked your treatment of the backing vocals, I was less enamoured with the panning effect on them that takes place at 1:36 and elsewhere wherever the choruses appear. It sounds unnatural and is a bit gimmicky. The harmonies are good enough not to need tricks. Having said that, the echoing response effect ("you can shine", "don't let go" etc.) at 2:32 is effective, but could be made even more so by having these responses each occupy a different and definite part of the stereo landscape (rather than sweeping across generally).
I understand you've deliberately gone for the big gospel anthemic finish for the last minute, but for me, the song finishes at 3:26, and I would have been quite content for the song to have finished there on that gentle instrumental wind down. A shorter length would probably give it greater commercial accessibility.
"You can be more than ordinary" is a great hook, and lyrically I find this song more satisfying than the earlier one. However, everyone knows that, for example, things can be gone "in a blink of an eye", and I wonder whether there are other similes that you can conjure up in its place. My suggestion is in fact your hook, i.e. "you can be more than ordinary" . . . so if you heed your own very sound advice you might be able to apply this to the lyrics just to see what might emerge.
I can easily imagine hearing this song on the radio, or as the theme for a movie. That is both good and bad. A commercial environment is different to the MP3 clinic. Here I pay close attention. But on the radio, would it command the same attention from me, or would it slip by unremarked? Is there anything about it that makes it really command attention? I know that others here have commented favourably, and far be it from me to pretend to know better. But I have dwelt on this song at some length because there is, in my view, huge potential in that voice, and I (being a cranky old git) am not totally convinced that this the right vehicle. I am totally convinced, though, that somewhere inside you is the song that is really going to 'shine'.
But that's just my personal thing... An absolutely great song, and great job recording it!
