It’s the 30th of August and not the 1st
of September, but it’s time to post another BATTLE OF THE BANDS. Stephen T.
McCarthy and I decided to post this one a little early because of the holiday
weekend and the fact that lucky dog, gets to take a little trip.
Anyway…as usual I’m caught with my pants down (not
literally) and am a day late and a dollar short (literally) again. (Two clichés
in one sentence, well slap my hand.)
So, let’s get on with it.
Today I’ve chosen a ‘show tune’. This one from a
Broadway play titled ‘A Little Night Music’. The production wasn’t particularly
memorable but the song was, at least I guess it was because it sure got a lot
of covers. I wasn’t sure exactly who to pit against each other but I decided to
let ‘the ladies’ wrestle it out.
Let’s ‘Send in the Clowns’
First up. Judy
Next Barbra (even thought this woman can’t spell her
name correctly, she achieved fame at a certain, shall we say, infamy)
OK, now you know what to do and where to do it. Start here
and then go on over to Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends the home of the handsome Stephen T. McCarthy and Tossing It Out the home of the ever popular Arlee Bird and vote there also. Check the comment
boxes of each official participant and see who else is posting a ‘BATTLE’ this
week (it seems a lot of people are jumping on this war wagon).
Just so you know here are the rules that will govern
the prizes included in this contest.
Find The True Purpose For Voting On ‘Battle Of The Bands’ Installments: Win Compact Discs!-Compact
Discs!-Compact Discs! Spectacular, Super-Colossal Blogosphere ‘Battle of The Bands’ Voting Contest!
Here’s The Deal: By voting on the
‘Battle Of The Bands’ blog bits here and at the ‘Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends’
blog, you can win the compact disc of your choice. Every 4 months, Stephen and
I will add up how many times you voted on our blogs, and the person who has
participated most often (i.e., submitted the most eligible votes) will get to
select one compact disc that contains any one of the songs that were included
in either of our ‘Battle Of The Bands’ installments (“Super-Colossal” expensive
boxed-sets, imports, and ‘out-of-print’ compact discs not included). In the
event of a tie, the names will be put in a Stetson and the name drawn from the
cowboy hat will win the CD.
Rules For Voting: Stephen and I
post new ‘Battle Of The Bands’ blog bits on the 1st and 15th of each month. We
also post our own personal votes for the respective blog bits on the 7th and
21st of each month (i.e., six days later). For your vote to be counted, it must
be submitted in our comment sections BEFORE we post our own votes (BEFORE we make our own votes known on the 7th and the 21st).
Every 4 months
there will be a new compact disc winner. In other words, ‘Battle Of The Bands’
#1 was posted on August 1, 2013, so at the end of November, one of you lucky
voters is going to win a CD that includes one of the songs we’ve featured in
our ‘Battle Of The Bands’ installments (you get to choose, and it doesn’t
matter if the song won or lost its battle – if you like it, it’s YOURS!)
Alright, now...
VOTE ON and ROCK ON! (while we ‘Count On...’)
I posted mine yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI've never liked Streisand's voice, so Collins wins for me.
The Collin's version is the first one I ever heard. Can't say exactly when--soon after it first came out. I remember I was driving at night on Sevierville Highway in Maryville, TN when it came on the radio and the song was so haunting.
ReplyDeleteThe two versions are very much alike. I have "The Broadway Album" on cassette because I used to kind of like Streisand--it was a stage I went through I guess. Now Barbra annoys me so much with her political affiliations that it's enough for me to go with the Collins version out of principle.
Other than that, I like the Collins version better anyway.
Lee
I totally have to go with Barbara. As a vocal performer, I'm a bit biased toward people who can interpret music so profoundly. Anyone can sing a song. Not many can make you FEEL it.
ReplyDeleteJudy Collins' voice has always soothed me - she has such a crystal clear strong voice. I loved many other songs she sang as well.
ReplyDeleteBarbra's voice is strong but sounds more operatic, which isn't my taste. Have never been a fan of her singing, liked her acting better.
Good match.
Did I say my vote is for Judy Collins, I forgot that part. . .
ReplyDeleteGiven that the song comes from a play, and I have been in a few of those, I understand how important it is for the audience to feel the music. Judy Collins version is very pretty (because her voice is lovely), but it doesn't have the feel of something that can transcend to the stage.
ReplyDeleteBarbra's version starts out very softly and builds, so that by the time it is over you really do feel how ironic and sad the whole situation is. One person has loved her for a LONG time and only when he gives up on it does she decide that she loves him, too. It is the worst feeling ever... and you feel like a cliche. The thing is that Barbra does that... I feel her pain at the end of this song. And I like the arrangement better. Hers ends with, "Send in the clowns, Don't bother they're here." Wow. So final. So doomed.
Judy's version ends with "Send in the clowns, Well maybe next year." The thing is that next year isn't going to be any different than this year, but I don't feel have the same visceral reaction to the song when she sings it. It's pretty and sad, but it isn't like a gut punch.
So, obviously, I am voting with Barbra on this one. (She was much easier to like before she started opening her mouth and airing her political opinions. Most celebs should take a hint from this and just keep it to themselves.) So, if this were a popularity contest, I would vote for Judy. Since it is solely about the song, I have to go with Barbra.
My first instinct was that I would vote for Scrappy over Babs, but I said, now Chris, you've never heard it before, go on and listen. So I'm listening now, and what I hear is a self-indulgent Hollywood expert on everything oversinging yet another song. Judy in a landslide.
ReplyDeleteCW - You are now officially redeemed from that comment on my last post (earthquakes) and the subsequent jocularity is caused some of my commenters. This comment went a long way a making my bummer of a day a little bit brighter. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCollins has such a smooth voice. I like that she stuck with the more traditional version. Such a sad song though.
ReplyDeleteYeah Barbara is blah to me, so #1
ReplyDeleteFAE ~
ReplyDeleteI don't even need to say what I think of Barbra (sp!) Streisand the political commentator.
But, I believe in honesty... and honestly, I think Barbra (sp!) has a terrific voice - one of the best female voices I've ever heard, in fact. There are some Streisand songs I really like, especially because of that voice (although I would never buy one of her records, which would be like donating money to the DNC of Marxville, U.S.A.)
I'm pretty sure I'd heard both of these versions before. Technically, I think Barbra (sp!) has the better voice, BUT... she sings 'SEND IN THE CLOWNS' at such a slow pace that you kind of lose the melody. Also, I come away thinking that Barbra (sp!) is more interested in showing off her pipes than she is in really conveying the emotion of the song.
On the other hand, Judy Collins has a nice, clear voice, she doesn't bury the melody in hushed words and extravagant vocal flair and, frankly, I FEEL the "sadness" more in Judy's version than in Barbra's (sp!) version. (It seems my friend Robin feels 180 degrees different from me on that particular point.)
Barbra's (sp!) voice was a "gift", but Judy sings the song better, retaining the haunting melody and conveying the deep hurt expressed by the words.
Therefore, I'm voting for...
Karen Carpenter.
Oops. A wee bit o' confusion on my part. I meant to say that I'm voting for "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes".
By the way, this is totally irrelevant to this BOTB blog bit but, I remember when Judy's version of 'BOTH SIDES NOW' was a Top Ten hit in 1968. I liked it well enough but didn't think too much about it.
Over the last 6 or 8 weeks I've heard that song played on the radio twice, after decades in which I did not hear it.
Now, with all this life experience under my belt, and at the ripe old age of 54, I gotta say that I think Judy's 'BOTH SIDES NOW' is a wonderful song and it really struck that "melancholy" chord in me. I just sat there in my vehicle, listening to 'Both Sides Now' and REALLY "getting it".
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I remember when Judy's version of 'BOTH SIDES NOW' was a Top Ten hit in 1968. I liked it well enough but didn't think too much about it.
ReplyDeleteAbout the same time I remember Frank Sinatra singing the same song. It was pretty light fare, but I enjoyed his version as well. He'd probably been the same age as you, Stephen, when he recorded it. Talk about contrasts and perspective. In fact, a lot of people have recorded this song--it's a good one.
Lee
Tossing It Out
ARLEE BOIDMAN ~
ReplyDelete>>... In fact, a lot of people have recorded this song--it's a good one.
Yes, it IS a good one. And, yes, I've heard at least a few different versions of it in my lifetime (but not sure if I've heard "Ol' Blue Eyes" sing it).
Of course, 'BOTH SIDES NOW' was written by Joni Mitchell, but it was Judy Collins who turned it into a Billboard hit.
So, Lee, in which BOTB blog bit will you be presenting us with 'BOTH SIDES NOW'? (You can fight that one out with FAE, as I already have 4 years' worth of potential BOTB match-ups in mind.)
I'll be voting for Judy's 'Both Sides Now' (unless I vote for the OTHER version).
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Dogg: I'll leave "Both Sides Now" someone else. I too have a ton of other pairings in the hopper. Judy would get my vote of the ones I remember. I think Joni's sounded almost the same, but Judy's is the one I'm most used to.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Oh Boys, no need to fight anything out with me, remember I'm easy, take what you want. Step on my toes and I'll just - well, I'll just 'send in the clowns'.
ReplyDeleteBTW - IMO - Joni is a fantastic songwriter, and since I've had to live with every recording she's ever made, in my house, on every medium possible, for a few decades now, I've gotten somewhat used to her. BUT, comparing she 'nails on a chalkboard' voice to the clean, clear, crystal, quality of Judy Collins; Are you kidding me?
This is a song that really takes me back. Like Arlee, Collins was the first I heard do this and we tend to prefer those. The two performances are similar but I vote for Barbara because her voice is just so fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI have decided to go on and play this time. So, if/when you get a chance stop in and vote.
ReplyDeleteJust because you're a better singer doesn't mean you'll sing a song better. I'm looking at you, Christina Aguilera.
ReplyDeleteNever been a fan of Barbra, and for my tastes, I think she overdoes it here. Definitely Judy.
I agree with the masses that Barbara has the better voice, but in this case, Judy's is the better version....
ReplyDeleteLC
I hate this song...never liked it. I like Streisand, she put the kind of feeling into this song that I would have if I would have ever performed it.
ReplyDelete