Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Viva Le Battle ~ it's July 1st!!















WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! aka, BOTB.
Our battles take place twice a month ~ on the 1st and 15th. The results come six days later ~ on the 7th and 21st. That's when I return, add all of the votes, including mine, and announce the winner. Feel free to return and see if your choice won!

The music blogging event first introduced by our friends!

Fae @ Far Away Eyes

Stephen T. McCarthy presents...


I'm dc~relief, and I'm featuring two different recordings of the same song. Listen to both, and then vote for the song version you like the best.  Feel free to leave me a comment, along with your vote.

If you would like to listen and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right margin. If you would like to join this blog-hop, click the badge in the right margin ~ it takes you directly to Stephen T. McCarthy's blog. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.

Today's song feature: Viva Las Vegas! It was written in 1963, by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, for a film of the same name, and sung by Elvis Presley. Ironically, although Presley never sang the song live, it has since become widely known, and often performed by others. Should you want to hear Elvis' version, go here > Elvis sings Viva Las Vegas This version is NOT included in today's battle.

Today's challengers:

1 - Catharina "Nina" Hagen (born 11 March 1955) is a German singer and actress. Born in East Berlin, German Democratic Republic, she's had quite the career in music and movies. Rock, punk, and some disco. Considered by some as the "godmother of punk," she turned 60 in March of this year. She also did the Bob Dylan song,  "One More Cup of Coffee," translating it into the German language.

2 - Shawn Colvin (born January 10, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter and musician widely known for her Grammy-winning 1997 single "Sunny Came Home"  . Colvin was born in Vermillion, South Dakota and spent her youth in London, Ontario and Carbondale, Illinois. She's country, folk, and early rock and roll.

44 comments:

  1. I simply must vote for Nina Hagen's hard rock sound.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Okay, Janie!! First vote to Nina Hagen, (smile).

      Delete

  2. "THE ALGIERS"!!!

    One of this lounge lizard's all-time favorite lounges. (Sadly, long gone now.)

    I'll be back to vote later.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. Take your time - we'll be around for six or so days. Ha!

      Delete
  3. Shawn Colvin is very talented. However, I was surprised by her covering this thinking the song didn't fit for her and it didn't. My vote for Nina Hagen's version.

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    1. Unusual version though... I'll log you for Nina. Thanks, Mike.

      Delete
  4. I had to listen to each song twice, as I liked them both for different reasons. In the end, I have to vote for Nina Hagen's wildly creative version. Great BOTB, Dixie!

    Julie

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    1. Thank you, Julie, they are very different! I appreciate your vote, (smile). Another one for Nina Hagen

      Delete
  5. Hi, dear Dixie! Wow, this is an exciting battle!

    The Shawn Colvin version of "Viva Las Vegas" boasts a slower, more dramatic tempo, interesting arrangement and vocal styling. However, I enjoyed the Nina Hagen version more. On her industrial dance style recording, Nina comes across sounding like a German Laura Branigan and I could easily imagine it being used on the soundtrack of Flashdance. Nina is the diva who won me over with "Viva." Please record my vote for Nina Hagen.

    Thank you very much, dear friend Dixie!

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    1. Thank you, Shady! "German Laura Branigan" - sure, now I think about it, I agree!!

      I'll log you for Nina. Thanks for voting!

      Delete
  6. Hey Dixie!! Thanks for being my first voter this morning. I love this battle!! They are so different from one another but I do like both. I will say my vote will go with Nina though. Her rock version was great! Is this the same Nina that did the balloon song?

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    1. If Dixie doesn't mind me replying to you, Holli, I am doing so because I remember the song you seem to be referring to. It's a song called "99 Luftballoons," released as a single in 1983 by the German group called Nena. Their female lead vocalist was Gabriele Kerner.

      My MTV style station played their video often:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CnDvtwYn6I

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    2. Holli - you're so welcome! Another vote for Nina!

      Delete
    3. Shady - I remember that song! I have no problems with anyone responding to another. It's all in good fun... and great link, by the way. Thank you!

      Delete
  7. Dixie-chicka! I tell you, if you hadn't told me the first artist is a woman then I'd swear it was a man. The heavy metal and screeching vocals didn't go over too well with me (but you probably knew it wouldn't with me, right?). Shawn Colvin covered the song with a slower tempo and clearer vocals. I definitely knew it was a girl singing this song, but the melody and voice didn't pair together well in the end. Neither artists stole my heart with Viva Los Vegas, but I think over all I prefer Colvin over Hagen. Interesting battle, my friend! Thanks for the fun.

    #BOTB Star Spangled Banner Showdown ~ Spirit VS #MadisonRising

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    1. Curious Cathy!! I looked hard to find a version that wouldn't actually show Nina. I feared her crazy looks might costs her votes. Ha!

      I think Colvin has a smooth style. I'll record your vote for her.

      Delete
  8. Las Vegas is all about the party! Therefore, I must vote for the one that had a little more 'pep' than the other.. My vote goes to Nina Hagen.

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    1. Mary - did you get the impression that maybe Shawn's version was sung during a hangover? Ha!.

      A vote for Nina!

      Delete
  9. What a great idea! These two are awesome artists and both the versions have merit. I've always love Shawn Colvin, but I gotta go with Nina Hagen on this one! Great post!

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    1. Thank you, Dah'ling! I think one is having drinks and the other is having aspirin!

      Gotcha for Nina, Cherdo!

      Delete
  10. DIXIE POLKA ~
    Wow! I absolutely loved the old school images of Vegas in the videos, especially that great shot of The Algiers sign. That was such a cool, old school lounge located just a wee bit North of The Riviera Hotel and Casino. (I remember nearly ALL of the signs in those old videos. Great!)

    ELVIS never sang this song live? Really? You sure? It's astounding to think that of all those years he was playing in Vegas (pretty much permanently) that he never once sang 'Viva, Las Vegas' for a Vegas audience. He must have secretly hated that song, I guess.

    As for the Battle, Nina Hagen sounds like a cat and a chihuahua in a blender together at High speed. I find her utterly unlistenable!

    I wish the SHAWN COLVIN version had been just a shade more uptempo, but she gets my vote with ease regardless.

    Very interesting song to BOTB, dp.

    ~ D-FensDogG

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    1. ~ D-FensDogG,

      I'd forgotten you'd spent time in Nevada before now. Yes, then this would be a waltz down memory lane for you! Cool; we don't always aim to please, but... glad this made you smile or at least stare!

      I know I couldn't believe he never sang it live either. Makes me wonder what date was on the web site I found that information on. Or, was it referring to live at the time of the 1963 movie? Now I'm curious to search further. I could not find a live version of him doing it though.

      >> "He must have secretly hated that song, I guess." I read his explanation that it never was him performing, but his dead twin brother, Jessie. He said that in 1972 at his comeback in Vegas. He felt like Jessie took over his body. Strange, huh?

      >>"As for the Battle, Nina Hagen sounds like a cat and a chihuahua in a blender together at High speed. I find her utterly unlistenable!" Good thing I didn't post either of her live performances! That definitely would have verified what you've said. And ~ what a description it is!!!

      Shawn is doing her version after a hangover - it has to be slower, right? I'll log your vote for Shawn Colvin.

      Delete
  11. I was fully expecting to like Nina Hagen until I listened to Nina Hagen. I agree with Stephen on how she sounds. If I want my animals to run and hide I would put her version on. So I go with Shawn Colvin because it was more in keeping with that song but still had a uniqueness to it. I still prefer Elvis. I am also shocked to learn he never performed it live. I wonder why since he was a Vegas act later on.

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    1. Birgit - I wish I had answers too. He got more violent in Vegas; I suspect the drugs that were given were affecting him.

      Shawn sounds a bit haunting to me... almost like a tribute. I'll log you for Shawn. Thank you for voting.

      Delete
  12. Elvis will always be King of Rock And Roll in my book!

    Shawn Colvin has such a sultry voice, nice range to it. I sort of wanted a nap through her version though. I did like Nina's music and gravelly voice, so I'll vote for Nina. Not sure I would listen to either willingly though.

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    1. >>... "Elvis will always be King of Rock And Roll in my book!"

      DONNA, that is... ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!

      And truth be told, I'm really not even an Elvis fan. Other than the song 'MEMORIES', my favorite Elvis songs were the earliest he recorded, when it was Rockabilly and foundation stones for Rock 'N' Roll.

      But without question (and even though I don't own a single Elvis album and don't count myself a real fan), Elvis was "The King Of Rock 'N' Roll". And if anyone doubts that, I can provide all the statistical evidence to prove it in an objective way.

      Long Live The King!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
    2. Donna - you're right about Elvis! I have to agree, again, that I might never listen to the song - any version, really. But this match up was a quirky place I went to... and maybe I'll return by July 15th's next battle. Ha!

      Got you for Nina Hagen.

      Delete
    3. >> Long Live The King!

      ~ D-FensDogG, these two versions are lounge lizarettes!

      Delete
  13. I'm discovering that I just don't dig that hard rock music. I never was a big fan, but it takes a lot for me to perk up and say, "I really like that!"

    So, Shawn Colvin is the winner for this girl.

    Congrats on pitting two extremely diverse versions of the same song!

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    1. >>"Congrats on pitting two extremely diverse versions of the same song!" Hey, Robin, thank you. We do go there, right?? Ha!

      Good, I'll log you for Shawn Colvin.

      Delete
  14. Wow, great versions of both! I like how Nina sang the song and I liked the music but I've always been fond of Shawn Colvin and I like her version much more so my vote goes to her. Great battle. So different, both versions and equally unique.
    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Thanks, Michele! These two really amaze me. They're both strange.

      Shawn for you!

      Delete
  15. I'm very familiar with Nina Hagen, plus we're the same age. ☺ Her gritty vocals have always appealed to me and I also like the tempo of her version the best. Viva Las Vegas doesn't lend itself that well to the slower pace of Shawn Colvin's rendition, in my opinion.

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    1. Ah, Debbie - I love diversity!! Your opinions are welcome here, (smile). I'll log a vote for Nina from you.

      Delete
  16. I like both versions and I wonder how I would have voted if I were not familiar with Elvis' rendition.
    But I am familiar with it and I have never liked cover songs that stray too far from the original. I thought Nina's performance was distinct enough and yet true to the original.
    Cast my vote for Nina.

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    1. Ooh, Jeffrey - you go for originals, and covers that are close? Hmm, I'll have to put up a special battle for you sometime.

      Jeffrey votes for Nina Hagen!

      Delete
  17. This was a unique choice of a song I don't recall having been covered before. I was pulled between these two very different versions as they both had something interesting to offer.

    In the end I'm more drawn to the Nina Hagen version as she gives the song the energy that seems more appropriate.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Hi Lee. I was into the 'more energy, the better' today as well. We do love to pull the BOTBers with quirky versions!

      I'll log you for Nina!

      Delete
  18. At the risk of sounding really negative I have to say I didn't like either one of these versions of Viva Las Vegas. Give me Elvis any day, and Zi'm not even a fan.

    Shawn was way to slow and drawn out and she seemed almost off key on the chorus, but Nina really hurt my ears. Guess I'll go with the least painful and give my vote to Shawn.

    I did love the videos of 'old' Vegas, though.

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    1. Fae, my friend, negativity is welcome here, long as we're not discussing my blog header choice. Ha! It's almost like a fast poison versus a slow poison > who wants to wait for it to work?

      I'm so happy you enjoyed the old Vegas videos! Makes it all worthwhile, (smile).

      I'll put you down for Shawn.

      Delete
  19. I like Punk. Really, I do. But... Viva Las Vegas just sounds odd in Punk. Sorry, Nina. My vote is for Shawn, too.

    Thanks for the visit over at Quiet Laughter earlier, and for the warm welcome. I'm loving being a part of the BoTB family :)

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    1. Hi Guilie. It's great having you participate! Makes me happy to hear you're enjoying it. So, the 'godmother of punk' didn't do it for ya? Ha! No problem! I'll log you for Shawn Colvin!!

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  20. Stephen McCarthy: As for the Battle, Nina Hagen sounds like a cat and a chihuahua in a blender together at High speed.

    I couldn't have said it any better. And actually, that's why we both loved her version. It's wacky, it's uptempo, it's batshit crazy... pretty much everything to love (or hate) about Vegas.

    Shawn Colvin's version, meanwhile, makes me want to take a nap. And that's not very Vegas-like. Two out of two beer boys agree - Nina and her cat/chihuahua cocktail for the win.

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    1. Gentlemen ~ Okay, that makes two for more beer, er, um, no... two votes for the cat/chihuahua cocktail for the win!

      Yeah, McCarthy keeps asking, "Am I funny or what?" I'd say this remark of his should win a prize... but what?

      Thank you for participating!

      Nina & Nina!!

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