Cheap results but not shabby - results for May 1st BOTB

Welcome to RESULTS DAY for Battle of the Bands!!

There were some pretty interesting and exciting battles this time around. I hope you got the chance to participate. If not, we return on May 15th for another awesome adventure of BOTB!  I'll be looking for everyone to join in the fun!

We have two hosts for this musical event. I'd like to thank Fae and Stephen for their examples and guidance. You never know when they'll "tweak" a battle. Our other participants, (listed in my right-hand margin) bring additional surprises! You won't know if you don't go, and have a listen, (smile).

The song I featured was by Cheap Trick : "I Want You to Want Me." It was supposed to be included on their first album, titled, 'Cheap Trick," but did not make the cut. It was a country version. I've researched and discovered that this version was replaced by Cheap Trick after they heard a more upbeat version by a French Group. It is also the version they included on their second album. Therefore the original version is not available.

CMT (Country Music Television) recently aired a "CMT Crossroads" program, featuring Jennifer Nettles with Cheap Trick doing this song. Is it a country version? I don't know. All videos of the performance cannot be played due to Viacom copyright grounds. So I'm still not able to bring a country version, played by Cheap Trick. CMT's program aired March 24th. Jennifer Nettles' new album, "Playing with Fire" should be out soon. This song will be included, but I'm not sure if Cheap Trick will be on her album, with her. 

Thank you to everyone who could listen, and take part in my battle. This one brought me a few chuckles. Those who don't care for country music - a special "thanks' for toughing it out! (smile).

The results of this battle...

Dwight Yoakum @ 10 votes, including my vote.

Gretchen Wilson @ 5 votes

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!

The next battle takes place on Sunday, May 15th. I hope to see everyone then!!

I'm closing out with the song that was SIDE B of "I Want you to Want Me,"titled, "California Man."

BOTB - One Cheap "Country" Trick

WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! aka, "BOTB". This musical event is sponsored by our blog hosts: Fae and Stephen T. McCarthy. Thank you, guys!

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. Today's battle runs from May 1st to May 6th. I cut my battle off at midnight on May 6th, posting results on May 7th. 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 co- host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.

Let's go!! Today's battle song: "I Want You to Want Me," by the group, Cheap Trick.

Background noise: This song has a long and intriguing history. It was written by Cheap Trick's guitarist Rick Nielsen and recorded for their 1977 self-titled debut album, but it didn't make the cut. The song was included on their second album In Color, which was released later in 1977. Originally, this version had a medium tempo with a country feel and a honkey tonk piano throughout the song. (I have not been able to locate that particular version.) Later a French cover version ("J'attends Toutes les Nuits") by  a fairly obscure French synthpop artist named Niko Flynn, sped up the tempo and put a beat to the song. Suddenly the song was changed from Country to Rock!  Lastly, this is one of the few rock songs that starts with the chorus.

In 1978, the band had dropped it from their setlist, but restored it when they toured Japan that year, since Japanese audiences loved the Rock Version of this song. They played it on April 28th and 30th at their famous concerts that took place at the Budokan temple in Tokyo, which was a big deal because many Japanese citizens felt the temple was sacred and not appropriate for rock concerts. The concerts were released as the Live At Budokan album, which captured Cheap Trick's live energy and turned their fortunes around in America, where the album was released in February 1979 and sold over 3 million copies. The extracted "I Want You To Want Me" became their first hit, charting at #7.

Song writer, Rick Nielsen explains his perspective behind the song:

"I just pictured myself in a big, overstuffed chair, and my dad turned on the TV; there were like three stations. I wanted to watch Gabby Hayes – he was a cowboy. I always wanted what wasn’t there, so I think that’s what made me inquisitive throughout my whole life. When you wanted Gabby, Gabby’s not there; when you want your dad, your dad is not there. It was the easiest lyric I could think of. And I wish I were that stupid more often. It’s like Van Morrison – with some of his old songs it didn’t matter what the lyrics meant, it’s how they sounded."

For today's battle I'm featuring two versions with a country-rock flavor. Some of you are not Country fans - tough it out!!

Challengers:
1- Dwight Yokum
2- Gretchen Wilson

No battle today

I'm sorry I can't be with you today. Hopefully I can return for the May 1st battle. Side effects of new medications are a bit much. I need more time to acclimate/move past side effects. 

I hope you have a fun battle. I'll try to get by to vote on everyone's battle! 

Result post for "Sisters" April 1st battle

Welcome to RESULTS DAY for Battle of the Bands!!


I am dc ~ relief, and my battle featured the song, "Sisters" from the 1954 movie, White Christmas. I pitted Rosemary Clooney's version against Peggy Lee's version.


For the first 48 hours, Peggy took the lead and I thought I'd be looking at a shutout or a really bad blowout. The count was 5 - 1 with Peggy in the lead. Suddenly there was a strong turn around, as Rosemary picked up 10 votes. Two last votes came in for Peggy and the count stood at 11 - 7 with Rosemary out front - but not by much!! I enjoyed Peggy's version but my heart kept leaning towards Rosemary. In the end, I voted for her. 

Final tally: 


Rosemary Clooney @ 12 votes


Peggy Lee @ 7 votes


Thank you, everyone for taking time out to vote. I know many are involved with April's A-Z Challenge... as am I, in minion capacity this year. I can't wait to check other's battle results as there were a few hot ones that gave me a tough time.


Today's result post brings a different video but features Rosemary Clooney singing both parts. This is straight from the movie... and especially sent out to FAE... one of our two event hosts. By the way... A very special thank you to our event hosts:

FAE

and ~

Stephen T. McCarthy

NEXT BATTLE DATE: Friday, April 15th. Hope you'll be here!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDyybi7t634&feature=youtu.be

Christmas in April? You must be fooling me!

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

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

Fae

and,

Stephen T. McCarthy

Details, and how we play:

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.

Today's song: "SISTERS" from the movie, WHITE CHRISTMAS. 

For many years I believed Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen did the duet, "Sisters,"in the movie, White Christmas. April Fools! My research proved otherwise. Here's the inside scoop from Wikipedia:

"Sisters" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1954, best known from the 1954 movie White Christmas. The movie White Christmas also starred Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Both parts were sung by Rosemary Clooney (who served as Vera-Ellen's singing vocal dub for this song, while Trudy Stevens dubbed Vera-Ellen's other songs in the film). Surprisingly Vera Ellen did not sing in the movie or on the soundtrack.

It was not possible to issue an "original soundtrack album" of the film, because Decca Records controlled the soundtrack rights, but Clooney was under exclusive contract with Columbia Records. Consequently each one issued a separate "soundtrack recording": Decca issuing Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas, while Columbia issued Irving Berlin's White Christmas. On Decca the song "Sisters" was recorded by Peggy Lee, while the Columbia label featured the song was sung by Rosemary Clooney. 

So what we have is Rosemary Clooney singing both parts on Columbia Records, while Peggy Lee sang both parts on Decca Records. Fooled again!

Later Rosemary recorded the song with her real sister, Betty. The Clooney sisters' version, which was also released as a single, was the most popular recording of the song, charting in 1954. 

Today's challengers:

1 - Rosemary Clooney with Rosemary Clooney

2 - Peggy Lee with Peggy Lee.

 I'll be back on the 7th with the results.

#MWA - Music and Words Award

The following is quoted from the blog belonging to, Mr. Shady Del Knight :

"The Music & Words Award" was created by music fan Andrea aka Miss Andi. The purpose is to acknowledge and bring together music-loving bloggers from all over the world, and sharing info about artists and music of all genres." Thank you, Shady!


No one is obligated to accept the MWA, but those who do are asked to follow these five steps:

1 -Link back to the person who nominated you .

2- Answer the questions with words AND music

3- Pass the award on to 5 bloggers who inspire you with their posts about music

4- Tag your post with #MWA, for Music&Words Award so that we can all find you down the line. Tags are not my specialty - sorry.

5- Quote these 5 steps and the award icon in your post. You can display the icon on your sidebar as well. 

I accepted this award from Stephen T. McCarthy, even though I was later nominated by others. Thank you, Stephen!

Here we go with the Q & A:

Q1: What does music mean to you? 

I use music as  a part of me, for reflection, expression, or simply,"a do-nothing day." Wherever I go, music goes. I allow lyrics and melodies to impress me. As an example, I had the urge to "go west, young girl". "The Mamas and the Papas" had a song I loved, and it has stayed with me all these years. Of course I've yet to see California, much less L.A, however, for this post I would like to share "The Beach Boy's" cover of it. A young girl stays East but still loves the western artist(!) Poor baby!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3VBoE3g4k&feature=youtu.be

I love movie soundtracks. I'll feature two that inspired me at a young age. Both are works of Mr. Henry Mancini. Ironically both songs are rather haunting-sounding to me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3VBoE3g4k&feature=youtu.be

Q2: What is your first music-related memory?


My first musical memory was my Mom's musical jewelry box. Children were not allowed to wind the key to play the little song. Every time she'd open it, I'd beg her to wind it up. After her passing in 1997, I received the jewelry box from my Dad. Unfortunately, the mechanism no longer worked. I'm left with a memory of the tune... "Around the World in 80 Days."


  Q3: What was the first album you’ve purchased yourself?

 My family loved the beach, and this song played quite a bit. I saved my allowance for 'The Drifters'. I was still in elementary school. I called this my "Motown Era", even though I didn't know then what I know now. It was simply a time of great tunes!

 Q4: What was the latest music you purchased? (No online streaming or free downloads, I’m talking about cash here!)


There's a question! Offhand, I'd say a 'Johnny Mathis' CD in the last eight months. It replaced an album someone had taken from me many years before. A former babysitter gave it to me the day before she committed suicide. I was eight years old then. I never tire of hearing it.

 Q5: Which song did you listen to last? (No cheating, come out with the dirty pleasures!)

How funny! My neighbor operates his own construction company. He and I are working out a "swap" for his services on home repairs for my house. (Nothing dirty, though). He looks like a gray-haired Jon Bon Jovi. Whaddaya think? Should I hire him??


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CeX5VEo10c&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32YPozK5Y-0

Nominations - So many have already been named within the BOTB group. So, I ask, "who would like to do this?" I open the floor to any, and all takers. Just leave me an "ACCEPT" notation in your comment. Thank you :) 

BOTB: Results of March 15th Battle

Welcome back for the result post. My battle song was, "Game of Thrones". Challengers National went against duo, Ben & Dan. It was a blowout but not as bad as I expected.

But first... I extend a big 'thank you' to our music event hosts:

Fae @ Far away Series

and

Stephen T. McCarthy

I'm pleased with the battle. Many of you stated you liked both versions. I did too, and wasn't sure until the last moment where my vote would land. In the end I went with Ben & Dan's Western because it was a funny version to me. (it also eased that 'blowout' thingy!) 

Here's the final vote:

National @ 14 votes

Ben & Dan's Western @ 7 votes


Thanks everyone for listening voting. I enjoyed the comments. I hope too see you back for the next battle - April 1st. Some of you will be doing the A-Z Challenge. Good luck with that.

I'm posting in early due to sporadic Internet issues. My ATT service thinks my Gateway modem is going. They'll be out for repairs some time on Monday.(hooray!) 

Today I'll close out playing the version from National.