Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Battle 8: 'Run' for your life - for a cause - for what?




















WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!!

 **BOTB ~ where you listen to different recordings of the same song, and vote for the song version you like.  Feel free to leave us a comment, along with your vote.** There are two "Battles" per 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 blogging event first introduced by our friends: 
Far Away Eyes

Stephen T. McCarthy presents Battle of the Bands

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 contact Stephen T. McCarthy; leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.

Today's song: "Run"

Today's Battle: Snow Patrol versus Leona Lewis. 

Background noise:

This was Snow Patrol's breakthrough British single. Lead singer Gary Lightbody said of the song in Q Magazine April 2007: "I've never told anyone before and I don't want to spoil it for people because it has its own meaning for them. But in 2000 I was on a massive bender and one night I was drinking in the bar of the Glasgow School Of Art. I fell down a full flight of stairs. Jonny Quinn (Snow Patrol's drummer) found me in the stairwell with blood coming out of my head. He said I looked like a police chalk line and he thought I was dead.

I was very lucky. A fall like that could easily finish you off. I split my head open and my eye was closed and I lost a few teeth. I was put on a plane to see my mum and dad and they were terrified when they saw me. I wrote Run soon after in this little guitar I'd tried to smash up in my S--t little room near Hillhead. The words 'Light up, light up' gave this sense of a beacon. There had to be a light at the end of a tunnel."

Postscript: In recent years the band has supported the search and safe removal of landmines from many countries. Many people consider this song as a symbolism of a peaceful future.

Background noise:

In 2008 a cover by Leona Lewis was included on the deluxe version of her Spirit album. After a show-stopping rendering by the singer on the X-Factor TV program provoked an ecstatic public reaction, Snow Patrol's original returned to the Top 30 of the UK charts. Such was the sudden demand for this song that in the same week an instrumental remake by karaoke specialists Ameritz also entered the UK Top 75. A couple of week's later Lewis' version was issued as a download only release and it went straight in at #1 on the UK singles chart.

Postscript: In recent years, Leona Lewis has supported the research for cures to cancer. Many people consider this song to be their anthem of a hopeful remission and eventual cure.

Thank you in advance for your visit and your vote. Feel free to add any comments. I'll be back on April 21st to announce the results of this battle! Feel free to return at that time, and comment on the result.

Lyrics:

I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done.

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

[Chorus]
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
It makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbyes
I nearly do.

[Chorus]

Slower, slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads

Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess.

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Songwriters: Archer, Iain / Lightbody, Gary / McClelland, Mark / Quinn, Jonathan Graham / Connolly, Nathan.

Final thoughts: Did you know this is the number 1 sing along song in bars, and karaoke lounges around the world? Now you know!  Is there a cause or event to which you'd apply this song of hope?  Do videos influence you, or was the music the big draw for your vote, today?