Jan. 1, 2016: "We Must Say Goodbye" (or kicking out 2015!!)

WELCOME TO 2016's BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! 

Hello and a 'rowdy howdy' to 2016... I hope it's better for all of us. First, I'd like to say 'thank you' to our blog event hosts... (yep, they've signed on for another round), Ha!

"FAE"

Stephen T. McCarthy

Also, 'thank you' to all BOTB participants and voters!!! Hope you'll hang with us this year!

We feature 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. 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. 

If you would like to listen, and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right hand margin. If you would like to join this bi-monthly blog-event, visit the blog host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.

I'm kicking off 2016 with something different; a movie soundtrack I totally love. Today we're visiting South Korea. Since we're saying goodbye to 2015, I thought it appropriate to introduce a song to send us along!

Today's song: "We Must Say Goodbye"

This song was written by a Hong Kong composer & singer, Kim Hyun Chul. This 46 year old from South Korea is a composer, actor, singer and loves skiing! His version was featured in the movie.

Movie Soundtrack Information: 

Il Mare, (venue: "time-transcending love") is a 2000 South Korean film, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae. The title, Il Mare, means "The Sea" in Italian, and is the name of the seaside house which is the setting of the story. The two protagonists both live there two years apart in time, but are able to communicate through a mysterious mailbox.

Warner Brothers acquired the rights for an American remake, titled The Lake House, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. It was released on June 16, 2006 and was co-produced by Sonny Mallhi, Amit Walia, and Chris Krapek. To reference the original movie, "Il Mare" was used as the restaurant's name where Kate and Alex are supposed to meet.

Today's challengers:  1- Kim Hyun Chul sings it in English with full orchestration. (There's a minor mistake on one line of lyrics.)

                                    2- "Pianoheart" - makes, produces and markets music in original arrangements and modern orchestra pieces. We are based in Finland and our international projects have already involved over 90 countries worldwide, including today's featured version, from Korea. This is a haunting solo instrumental. (There is no specific artist listed on this video or on the "Pianoheart" website.)

Which one will you choose... the vocal or the solo piano? Enjoy!

Results post of December 15th ~ Sing We Now of Christmas

Welcome to RESULTS DAY for Battle of the Bands!!

I am dc ~ relief, and my battle featured, "Sing We Now of Christmas." The piano arrangement of Damon Criswell, challenged the bell choir of Purdue University.

Up until the last day it seemed I had a decent blowout going. BUT - suddenly four votes including my vote, changed that tune.

Final Tally:

Damon Criswell - 9 votes
Purdue Bell Choir - 7 votes

Thank you for your participation! Let's not forget...  a very special Thank You to our event hosts:

Fae

STMcC presents

NEXT BATTLE DATE: January 1, 2016

Now here's the winner of this battle...

Dec. 15th ~ Sing We now of Christmas

WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! aka, "BOTB".


A big shout out, and thank you to our blog hosts:

FAE

Stephen T. McCarthy

We feature 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. 

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!

If you would like to listen, and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right hand margin. If you would like to join this bi-monthly blog-event, visit the blog host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.

Please excuse my lateness in posting a battle. It was almost cancelled due to personal, ongoing issues. I won't take time to explain now... maybe later in the month... I have some decisions to make.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone will have a peaceful holiday!

"Sing we Now of Christmas." was written by Bernard de la Monnoye in 1957 in Burgundy, France. Today I will explore the world of musical instrumentals again. Here are my challengers:

1 - Damon Criswell : American composer for film and television. This link to see some of his work.

2  - Purdue University Bell Choir : The university tours with a large group of students. This group is responsible for the bells.

Thank you for stopping by to vote!

Results: Tchaikowsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"

Heads up!! The Banner painting (above), was done by me! Maybe I should call it, 'The Sugar Plum Forest'?

I am dcrelief, and my battle featured  Tchaikowsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Any hesitation to go this battle route was quickly erased. Thank you for the many joyful compliments.

Husband and wife team,  Glass Duo, challenged William Zeitler. Their using individual glasses, was pitted against Benjamin Franklin's invention, called the Armonica. 

I have a short clip with Mr. Zeitler explaining this unique instrument. To me it's like playing a glass piano (hmm). Benjamin Franklin's Armonica

This battle might be called a 'blowout' - definitions escape me!

My vote was cast for Glass Duo, for the same reason, so many of you enjoyed them. They work beautifully together, like 'poetry in motion.'

RESULTS: Glass Duo - 15 votes/ William Zeitler - 6 votes

As always - thank you for your participation! Let's not forget... 

A very special thank you to our event hosts:

"FAE"

Stephen T. McCarthy

Your interest in joining this blogging event would be most welcomed. Please go to Stephen T. McCarthy's blog, leave your name and blog link in the comment box!

NEXT BATTLE DATE: Tuesday, December 15th.

I'm playing the winner's version again... and offer another song by them, that surprised me. If you have time, have a listen to both. See you next time. ~ Dixie

Dec. 01, 2015 BOTB ~ Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! (aka, "BOTB")

I would like to thank our MUSIC event hosts ~ 

FAE

Stephen T. McCarthy

How we Battle:

We feature 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. 

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!

If you would like to listen, and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right hand margin. If you would like to join this bi-monthly blog-event, visit the blog host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.

It's December, and the Battle of the Bands participants will present 'themed' music for our enjoyment. This first contest, I chose to present a secular song. One of my favorites since early childhood. A favorite ballet that is considered a part of this season. I love to watch the elementary age perform it; they are so cute. One of them might get tired in the middle of the song to rest. No problem - everyone else takes their rest when they're ready, (smile). This ballet is the much loved, "The Nutcracker." (You knew, right?) The photo of the plate (above) is one from my collection. (Firing date: 10-13-81). Today I bring you the 'glassic' interpretation of a classic.

The featured song for today is: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,"  from "The Nutcracker," written by Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1862.

Background of the challengers:

1- GlassDuo was founded by Anna and Arkadiusz Szafraniec. They are the only glass harp music group in Poland, one of few professional ensembles worldwide. They perform both solo concerts and concerts with additional musicians. 

2- William Zeitler was one of the few professional players in the world on the ‘glass armonica’ — an instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761 (it works on the ‘wet finger around the wine glass’ idea). William has performed on the glass armonica internationally, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and with the Blue Man Group at the Hollywood Bowl. He is accompanied by a harp and a bass clarinet. (I'll post a clip about Ben Franklin on the battle result page.)

Ready, set, go. Vote for the one you like, and let me hear from ya!

Sweet Potato Pie

Today's song feature:

Sweet Potato Pie

Ray Charles & James Taylor

November Sky

No battle today! However I found a photo and a song, both titled, "November Sky". It's quite possibly my favorite month. Having just celebrated a birthday, and Thanksgiving a day or so away; it doesn't take much to excite me, (smile). Every seven years my birthday falls on Thanksgiving - that's always a real treat. I get to play, "Big Bird." Ha!

One of my favorite instrumental artists, Yanni, hails from Greece. I've never seen him perform live but it ain't over until the big bird says it is. Enjoy!

To those who celebrate, please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. See you on December 1st.