About the only thing I hate more than talking about myself is whining, so all I'm gonna say is that I can't type (today, more than usual). Therefore this post will be short, sweet, and to the point.
The final voting ended up to be:
The Zombies 13 votes Phillip Phillips 4 votes , Since it won't matter one tiny bit how I vote and it's too painful for me to explain/defend my vote, let's just say that psychedelic sound of the original is still the champ.
Check out the sites of the other participants to see how their BATTLES went. I've read all that are posted, but forgive me for not embarrassing myself by trying to comment (no corrections in the comment box).
January 15, already. Time sure does fly when you’re having
fun, or something.
Due to an old ‘war wound’ that I lovingly refer to as ‘PITA’,
I have difficulty sitting in my office chair for long periods of time during
the occasional flare up. That was me yesterday, when I spent my comfortable
allotted computer time, paying bills, answering emails and doing Internet
research (basically goofing off), instead of writing my BATTLE OF THE BANDS
post. Sorry, if that was a little bit TMI.
This morning when I woke up at 3 AM and couldn’t get back to
sleep (incurable insomniac) I decided to peruse the blogs. To my surprise and
horror, I found that all of the regular participants in BATTLE OF THE BANDS had
already put up their posts. Further checking confirmed that even a new
participant Donna Hole was up and running. Holy carp! This bit of information really
kicked my insomnia into high gear, and I got up to write my post. Therefore, if
it’s any more incoherent than normal, blame it on my bleary eyed, sleep
deprived, somnambulist, condition.
During the Christmas Holiday’s one of the local grocery
stores ran an ad with no voice over and no print on the screen other than their
name. It was an interesting Holiday montage of fancy eats backed up by a very
familiar tune. The song lent itself very well to the Christmas Season, but was
just somewhere out of my being able to put a title to it. It was driving me
nuts (OK more nuts). I finally did a little google research and found it to be
a song written by Rod Argent and recorded by the Zombies in 1968 (if you
remember the 60’s, you probably didn’t enjoy them, much, or so I’m told). Anyway…This
song is often used in ‘pop culture’ to represent the late 1960’s (or so Wikipedia
says).
Enough with the yak. It’s now 4
Am for crying’ out loud. Let’s get on with the music. First up here are the Zombies
with ‘Times of the Season’.
Next a newcomer to the music
scene, Phillip Phillips; (as per Wikipedia) Phillip LaDon Phillips, Jr.
(born September 20, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter, known as the winner
of the eleventh season of American
Idol on May 23, 2012. (Man this guy is young.) Give him a listen.
So, tell me, as far as this
BATTLE goes ‘Who’s your daddy’.
Now you should know the drill,
but if you’re new around here I’ll give you a few clues. First leave me a
comment with your vote as to whom you prefer. Also, please tell me a little bit
about why. Next head on over to my partner in this particular crime Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy and
see what he has cooked up for you in his BATTLE. There are also four other
regular participants who are listed (links included) at Mr. McCarthy’s site
(You really didn’t expect I would be able to get all those links correct at
this hour in the morning, did you?) Please visit each site and leave a vote and
comment there also. Don't forget Donna. Go back on up and click on her name for a link to her site (I hope). FINALLY, come back here (and at the other sites) on the 21st
of January to see my vote and the winner of this BATTLE OF THE BANDS.
This post was written yesterday and due to computer problems I was unable to publish it. I can only hope blogger will publish it as written today.
Already 2014 is getting away from me. Today is the seventh of January and I'm pretty late in the day with my BATTLE OF THE BANDS XI Results. That's probably because I was so surprised at the outcome. For the very first time even at my place we have a tie. The final tally, BEFORE my vote is:
Ricardo and Esther 8 votes Willie and Norah 8 votes
I even had a little help from some new people who stopped by to vote this time.
I liked both versions in this BATTLE. The original from the movie 'Neptune's Daughter', by Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams was fun and lent itself well to the video clip from the movie. It's a cute song, aside from the 'date rape' implications mentioned by one of my voters. BUT, I have to cast my vote for the version by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. I really like both of these performers on their own, but it is my opinion that they have an incredible chemistry when performing together. Each lends portions of their distinctive sound and technique to the presentation and I think the diverse styles and backgrounds that they come from add an excitement to this tune. All that said, basically it's their version that really moves me.
Therefore, this BATTLE will go to Wilie Nelson and Norah Jones, edging out Ricardo and Esther by one measly vote - mine. I'll be back on the fifteenth of January with another BATTLE OF THE BANDS as I expect will the other participants.
NEXT, I would like to tell you a little bit about my Christmas. I was traveling over the Holidays and spent Christmas in Idaho with family. Christmas Eve I found myself in a strange church, being sung to by a familiar choir, surrounded by many those I love. As I sat there wondering how I came to be at this particular place at this very moment, I realized that sometimes it's necessary to take the long way home.
I used to live in Idaho (in actuality I used to live a lot of places), but when I travel back there it's no longer home.There are a lot of familiar places and people, but my time there is done. The family that I have currently living there, no longer need me, but I do know that they still love me. As much as I would like to think that I have something to offer them, they are doing a fine job with their lives on their own. But, it is that love that exists between us that creates a sense of HOME. I suppose this, in part, is what is meant by 'Home is Where the Heart Is'.
Truth be told, there are a lot of people and places that hold my heart in the palm of their hand. When I think about it I suppose this is what gives me a feeling of security. Each and everyone of us has a need to be loved. I think this is what gives us a sense of security, especially in times of stress. When we feel insecure about any aspect of our lives all we have to do is draw on that love from those others and we, or at least I,am able to think more clearly, act more calmly, and get on with the necessary decisions in my life.
Since tomorrow is the monthly submission for the Insecure Writers Support Group, I'm going to let this little story serve as what I hope might be some inspiration for others. In 2014, it is my hope and prayer for each and everyone of you reading this, that you will draw your security from those you love and who love you. May you find your way home even if you have to take the long way to get there.
If you want to know more about the Insecure Writers Support Group and read other posts by Insecure Writers go to the source, by clicking here.
Can you believe it? At the stroke of midnight last night the year flipped over and, like magic, it's 2014. Man, I still remember all the fuss and worry over the -1999 deal, where everyone was concerned the computers of the world would not be able to hand that flip, and here we are, like magic, barreling towards the half way mark in the second decade of this new century.
So, without further adieu let me wish each and every one of you the HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS. May you experience peace, prosperity, and good health in this 2014.
Now, let's get down to business, shall we. Today being the first of the month it's time for another BATTLE OF THE BANDS.
Christmas is over, but I wanted to sneak in one more Christmas type tune. I'm one of those old fashioned sorts, who really doesn't like to hear Christmas music before Thanksgiving and after New Years, but there are a whole bunch of 'Winter Songs' that traditionally we only hear around Christmastime, but they really don't mention anything about Christmas. I decided to choose one of these.
My song for January 1, 2014 was first introduced in 1949 in the movie 'Neptune's Daughter', starring Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. This was not a Christmas movie and didn't really even take place in a winter setting, it's a story of a swimsuit designer and mistaken identity. I've seen and enjoyed the movie. Consider adding it to your Netflix. Incidentally, this song earned the Academy Award for the best original song in 1949. Let's start off with the version from the movie. Here are Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban singing 'Baby It's Cold Outside'.
Next up with a slightly different sound Willie Nelson and Norah Jones, who by the way, each add some musical touches that make it distinctively Willie and Norah:
Those of you who have been playing along since August know the drill. For anyone new who just stumbled in this New Year's Day, please leave a comment and vote for your preference and tell me why. Next head on over to the home of the ever exciting (or should that be excitable), extremely intelligent, and always thought provoking Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy and see what he has cooked up for you in his BATTLE.
Since it's early on New Year's Day and I'm somewhat cyber challenged, bleary eyed, still sleepy, there is absolutely no way I could give you a coherent list with links to the other sites, but I know Stephen will have a list and links to the expected parparticipants for today. Be sure to check every one of them out and cast a vote. ALSO, if you would like to join in the fun, leave a note in the comment box and a link to your site, so we can call come by for alittle New Year's cheer to cast our vote.
I'll be back on the 7th of January to cast my vote and let you know who the winner of this BATTLE OF THE BANDS is. Now, I'm going back to bed, because; "Baby, It's Cold Outside'!
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