BATTLE OF THE BANDS VII

Before I get into today’s Battle of the Bands I want to tell you a little story.

When I was a kid, that wacky duo that I call Mom and Dad used to whisk me away each summer for a couple of weeks up to the Minnesota north woods for Daddy’s annual fishing expedition, at a primitive resort, on a rather remote lake. We stayed in a lovely cabin that did have indoor plumbing, but not much else by way of modern conveniences. It was the absolute best of times. Of course, this is where I took a royal beating with a fiberglass fishing pole for calling my mother an old walrus, but that’s another story entirely that I have already told.

What I recall most about those summers up at the lake was the fact that there was no TV, no telephone or other worldly distractions. Each evening we would be down at the lodge where the jukebox had a wide collection of ‘old old’ standards, mostly by the famous ‘Big Bands’. There was something so romantic about it. Here I was introduced to tunes like ‘Harbor Lights’ and ‘Stranger on the Shore’ and the popular version of my BOTB selection for today.

I can remember sitting out on the end of the dock listening to the dreamlike sounds of this music wafting over the water as a big ole moon rose up in the night sky casing it’s searchlight beacon over the softly rippling water. As a very young girl, I recall that I felt surely it didn’t get any more romantic than this. I would imagine that one day I would be sitting at the end of that dock with someone who loved me, gently draping their arm around my shoulders while softly humming this sweet melody into my ear.

Well different lake, in a different part of the world, but I do live at the shore today. One can always hope. No matter the place, I’ll never look out over the water on a warm summer evening, without hearing this tune in my head and thinking where has all the romance in the world gone.

Recently, after hearing this song as part of a movie soundtrack a friend said to me that it was almost a spiritual experience for him. OK, I can go along with that, but first and foremost ROMANCE is what comes to my mind.

Carrying on with my theme of TRADITION I’ve chosen for my selection this time one of the most romantic songs I know. Coming to us from an era when a man took a woman into his arms and held her gently as they glided around the dance floor. They did not hold each other in a lustful clutch, but passion was obvious as they danced cheek to cheek among the beautiful strains of this song.

First up…Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with ‘Moonlight Serenade’.

Next, for the less traditional minded, we have a more modern version by another 'big band'. (my keyboard is dead, there are letters that won't type, so I am unable to name this band in print. It is the same as where I was born-got that)

Now you know the drill. Cast your vote and tell me why you chose as you did. Then get yourself on over to Tossing It Out the home of the very suave Mr. Arlee Bird and F- FFF the home of the multi-talented and effervescently handsome Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy to see what they have picked for their Battle of the Band selections.

Don’t forget to scan the comment box at each of the contest participants for others who might be posting a BOTB and vote there also. Likewise, if you are posting a ‘Battle’ at this time, leave a comment with a link so others may find you.

Following are the rules for the official 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...’)