Friday, March 21, 2014

BATTLE OF THE BANDS XVI RESULTS - 'They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot'






Time for the results in BATTLE OF THE BANDS XVI. This was an interesting match-up for me. I truthfully expected a runaway in the voting. If you remember, in my original post, I said that I was unprepared. You can feel free to interpret that as me pulling this song off my BOTB list at the very last moment, cause that’s exactly how it happened.


It wasn’t until today in preparation for THIS post that I did a little research on this tune. You all know it’s an original by Joni Mitchell, but did you know it’s consider one of her most ‘covered’ songs. According to Wikipedia there are 223 covers of ‘Big Yellow Taxi’. Wow! I had no idea. Aren’t ya glad I narrowed it down to two? The competition cover by Counting Crows is one of the newer, if not the newest, cover recorded.


I found some of your comments to be rather interesting if not downright hilarious. Arlee bird said, “It’s like she’s trying to imitate some Jamaican accent or something—it just sounds kind of weird to my ears.” Then Robin said, “Joni Mitchell sounds odd on this track. Clipped maybe. I’m not sure what is going on with her…” Both Arlee and Robin voted for Counting Crows.


Finally Stephen said, “It just sounded like Joni Mitchell to me. (And, by the way that’s one reason I was never a real fan of hers; she had such a distinctive voice and singing pattern or lyrical rhythm that most all of her songs always seemed to sound the same to me.” Stephen did vote for Joni because he didn’t feel that Counting Crows, scored a knock-out over Joni.


Well I didn’t really hear no Jamaican accent, but I agree that she does sound odd on this track. I’m not sure if her voice is clipped, but I do agree that basically it just sounds like good old Joni; distinctive – yeah, lyrical rhythm – maybe, but certainly her ‘signature sound’ that contributes to all of her songs sounding, at the very least, similar.


No matter what any of us think, I for one, have to give this woman credit for being incredibly prolific and an amazing poet. Can’t say I agree with all of her politics and I think some of her messages are quite ‘off the mark’ but none the less, she exhibits enormous talent is more than one art form. I do personally feel that most of her songs are better served by other artists. Therefore, is should not come as a surprise that my vote goes to Counting Crows. ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ may be Joni’s song, but I enjoy it more performed by others.


It seems most of your agreed with me. The final tally, including my vote, is:

                                                
                                    Joni Mitchell                       5 votes

                                    Counting Crows                  8 votes


On another note today is my very best friend’s birthday. I want to dedicate a song to them. It’s one you’ve heard before in a previous BOTB. Sit back and enjoy or pass on through to the comment box. This one’s for you Boo Boo, Happy Birthday! I love you.





Thank ya'all for participating. I’ll be back on April 1st with another BATTLE OF THE BANDS.


25 comments:

  1. I love that version of Over the Rainbow. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thanks Donna. I think I could post IZ's version of 'Over the Rainbow' monthly and nobody would complain.

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  2. The part I really didn't like on Joni Mitchell's version was the end.... that last "put up a parking lot." I think I am repeating myself, but no matter. I've done that before. Good battle, FAE. It was pretty close.

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    1. Poor Joni really took a beating here, eh? Well, no matter, she gets mucho points for writing the song and a great song it is. I mean 223 covers; are you kidding me?

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  3. Yeah, a pretty close contest. Not as close as mine was, but still purdy dern close.

    I'm looking forward to the 'April Fool's Day' Battle Of The Bands. This one's definitely going to be... different.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Undeground'

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    1. Yeah, you finally pulled off a tie, and with a great song too. Makes you feel good doesn't it. It sure did me.

      April 1, should be fun, but I'm not saying any more, so I don't let the cat out of the bag.

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  4. Either one winning would have been fine in the end I think

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    1. Yep, I agree. Neither was too far off the mark, just a matter of personal taste.

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  5. Joni has done some great songs, but "Taxi" is not my favorite. Maybe it's been overdone, but I had no idea there had been that many cover versions. Now I'm going to go look to see if Streisand has done a version--that would have to be annoying.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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    1. If you find that she has, please don't tell me.

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  6. Always nice to be on the "winning side." Also, I see from Stephen's comment above that the next BotB is going to be an April Fool's post. Hmmm, this should be fun. I can't wait.

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    1. Well, yeah...we always post these BOTB on the 1st and the 15th. right?

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  7. I like both versions, I like the Counting Crows version best. In fact, I love that version, and did before I visited, so my opinion might be skewed. :)

    I like the "Somewhere over the Rainbow" version you have up. Happy Birthday to your friend.

    I'm visiting today from Pat's place. :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Double thanks for alerting this lazy blogger to the Birthday Celebration going on yesterday, else I might have missed in completely.

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  8. He sang that song so well, so heartfelt. I've always liked his version. Happy Birthday to your friend. :)

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    1. Thanks Mary. Back a few months ago I hosted IZ against Judy Garland in a BOTB. It was awesome. I personally love his version.

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  9. The bitter-sweet of Izzy's version always lifts me up and feel the joy of the son.

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  10. I dropped in to visit from Pat's birthday rhyme. I like your blog.

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    1. Thank you very much. Appreciate you guys who came by from Pat and the Cat's place. It's nice to see some new faces and I really appreciate being alerted to his Birthday post, which I might have otherwise missed completely.

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  11. To all of you who so faithfully come by to say 'Hey' a thousand Thank Yous. My whole weekend was kind of lost and yesterday was an absolute day from hell. I lay in bed this morning considering just pulling the covers up over my head and staying there indefinitely. I simply could not imagine how I would disentangle myself from the current mess I find myself in. Then I picked up my phone and scanned my emails. I saw comments coming in on this post from some unusual (and I mean that in a good way) people. After a little study I found that in a very different way I was kind of featured on two different blogs. I went and read one post for the first time and reread the other.

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  12. After sending one email I came here to reply to these posts. I clicked on the video to listen to IZ while writing and midway through decided life ain't so bad after all and there will be a way out of the woods. I trust God to show me the way and I trust Jesus Christ to take my hand and lead me home.

    Thanks again for all the love your show, even those of you who don't know me.

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  13. I'll stop by to check our your space, just as soon as I have a chance.

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