Thursday, May 15, 2014

BATTLE OF THE BANDS






For the past few months my life has been traveling down a track like a bullet train. Yesterday, there was a major derailment. There is blood and body parts all over the place, but don’t worry they are only mine.

Due to the fact that I am currently running a contest on this blog, I feel that ‘the show must go on, but I hope you will understand my need to be brief.

For information regarding the contest, please check my previous posts. You may do so by clicking HERE.

For information about other participants in BOTB please go to F-FFF the home of Stephen T.McCarthy.

As might be expected I am completely unprepared for Battle of the Bands today. A day or so ago while visiting friends in the blogosphere I stumbled upon a new artist. So, in keeping with my state of mind today here are two versions of the song ‘Roar’.


And


Now leave me a comment with your vote and your WHY. Then visit Mr. McCarthy at F-FFF and do likewise.



47 comments:

  1. I'm sorry!! My thoughts are with you. And all your body parts.
    You know, I actually like the second one best. The uniformity of so many voices is amazing and gives the song added energy.

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    1. Thanks Alex. A vote for he great energy in Alex Boye's version.

      Delete
  2. Alex Boy or the second choice with the drums. An irresistible beat in #2. Not a Katy P fan. I usually dislike group sing-alongs but the beat won it.

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    1. Forgot to say, hope your train gets back on track. . .

      Delete
    2. Got you down for that ireisistible beat.

      Thanks, I'm working on it.

      Delete
  3. FAE ~
    So sorry about your current problems, but I'm ecstatic that you managed to put a 'BOTB' together. It would have been a sad day in the Blogosphere if you'd not been able to make it to your own creation today. (Plus, as you said, we gots a Compact Disc Contest to keep up. Yep, the show had to go on!)

    As for my vote... When I saw that Alex voted for the second version I figured my vote for the first version was almost entirely assured. (I've found that Alex and I have drastically different tastes in music, and his 'BOTB' votes rarely coincide with my own.)

    Then I played the songs...

    Why was it that while listening to Katy Perry, Helen Reddy kept coming to mind? Ha!
    [:-)}

    I found the Katy Perry version extremely irritating, annoying - "Oh, please, Someone, make it stop!!!" (I finally made it stop my own damn self... at exactly 3 minutes and 46 seconds. That's all I could stands; I couldn't stands no mo'! It already seemed like it had been playing for 3 days and 46 minutes.)

    The second one was much better: "Got Sum Drum", less annoying "OH!-OH!-OHing!", and a shorter running time that didn't feel like the song had stolen a significant chunk of my week away from me.

    EASY VOTE FOR THE SECOND VERSION!

    I hope you can get those problems ironed out soon in a satisfactory way, FAE. Hang in there: EGBOK.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I pretty much figured you would say these things. Helen Reddy, Ha,ha,ha!

      Your support is greatly appreciated.

      Delete
  4. I'm sorry to hear about the health woes, and I sincerely hope you feel better soon. I'll be praying for you.

    As for the music... well, here's my 100% honest opinion. There's really no kind way to say this.

    I loathe Katy Perry and her awful, formulaic, teenybopper pop music with every molecule of my body. Any time she comes on the radio, I get the overwhelming urge to kick in my dashboard and drive off a cliff. Stephen made it twice as long as I did. I got about a minute in and had to shut it off. But my 13 year old neighbor blasts this all the time, so trust me, I've heard it.

    The second one wins without me even playing it. But for the sake of the contest, I did play it, and it IS better.

    But really though, get well soon!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I appreciate and welcome all prayers.


      One vote for Katy Perry loathing. Although Mr. McCarthy didn't quite put it that strongly, I think he agrees.

      I'm not at all surprised.

      So far Katy ain't doin' too good.

      Delete
  5. I'm not quite the loather of Miss Perry that the Beer Boys are, but I have heard that one quite enough. And I might have been tempted to vote "sight unseen" too... but not after the Rhianna/Train thing last BOTB. But I will go with #2. Hope things get better for you.

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    1. Hey don't blame me for than 'Rhianna Train Wreck', Ha! Although looks like Katy Perry is running a close second to that.

      Got you down for Alex Boye to continue the shut out.

      Delete
  6. Sorry about the derailment. Hope you're back on track soon. Music helps, so you're doing the right thing.

    I wouldn't have gone with Perry, except I love the video! It sold the song to me for the first time.

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    1. I'm working on getting myself together and you're right about music.

      Well, you ended the shut out with the first vote for Katy Perry.

      Delete
  7. Hopefully the train hops back on the tracks for you soon. Hmmmm I think I will have to go with the second one, Perry can get on my nerves.

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    1. Thanks Pat.

      Apparently, you're not the only one annoyed.

      Delete
  8. All positive wishes and prayers your way. Dragon Hugs. I think I like the second version better.

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    1. So nice to see you here Al. Thanks for the well wishes, hugs, and the vote.

      Delete
  9. I was getting worried when I kept checking today and no post. Glad you made it and hope your woes get turned around.

    The second version adapts the song very well to the marching band sing along style. It's quite catchy.

    But unlike the majority so far, I'm kind of a sucker for Katy's catchy song performances. I actually quite like her singing and I like this song. I'm going with the Katy Perry version. But the second one gets an honorable nod.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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    Replies
    1. Never in about a million and one years would I have expected you to be a Katy Perry fan, but she scores her second vote off of you.

      Thanks for the well wishes. I'm working on it.

      Delete
  10. Hello FAE -

    I sincerely hope things go better for you soon than it seems they are going now.

    Not my favorite KP song, but those complaining about her know not of what they speak. She is excellent on many levels. The second version is just a bunch of people fooling around and having fun... not a serious version of a song that has earned Billboard No. 1 status.

    A vote for Katy.

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    1. Thanks for your sincere well wishes.

      Looks like Armageddon is averted yet again. I gotta admit I'm a bit surprised (by your vote, not about the Armageddon thing).

      Delete
    2. Ha ha! You should NOT be surprised! Since StMcC voted first and since you can almost guarantee that we disagree about music (and not much else), then you should have known I'd vote for Katy.

      Actually, I love Katy Perry. I was listening to her BEFORE her first album came out (as Katy Perry... she had one under her real name in 2001), and bought it the first day of release. It is pop-rock, and while each successive album has drifted farther from my musical interests - veering into hip-hop, electronic music, etc. - I still find much to like about her.

      I was discussing her once six months ago with StMcC, and since he does not follow current popular music, he did not know who she was. I sent him a provocative photo of her and said "you're welcome!"

      Delete
    3. Oh, goll-danged! I ACTUALLY REMEMBER that! I had NO IDEA who she was. And you know what? I didn't like her LOOKS either!!! (I was thinkin': What does 6 like about this boring, common little tart with the brains of a breast?)

      Of course, I did not Email that thought to you because I didn't want to slander your taste in 21st Century tarts. But... my honest belief about Katy Perry is a bastardization of lyrics from a famous Elton John song:

      There's plenty like Katy to be found:
      D-Cups who ain't got a brain cell
      Sniffing for contracts like yours on the ground


      Katy Perry, Lady GagGag, Lady Madonna, Marilyn Monroe...

      When is America going to say, "Enough! We want some brains in those D-Cups!"

      Just one-sixth joking, Six.
      (Now, back to the Email I'm composin' for ya.)

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    4. Well, StMcC - you must not like actresses Emily Blunt or Zooey Deschanel either, since those two could be triplets with Perry.

      I guess we have different tastes in women as well as music. I am not alone in liking both her looks and her music. She's the only person besides Michael Jackson with five #1 singles on one album.

      I don't know about Monroe, but those other large-chested ladies DO have brains. Katy has the low IQ of 127, Madonna's is 140, and Lady Gaga (the one artist here which I indeed have no use for) tops the list at 166. You will now respond with something about IQ not necessarily relating to common sense or rationality... which is true. But in measurable ways they HAVE brains! (Not regarding politics, of course.)

      Sorry to hijack the comment section here, but we kinda just drifted into it. And arguing 'bout women is just as fun as about music. Perhaps you all should consider a "Battle of the Women" contest after the BOTBs play out?

      Delete
    5. >>... you must not like actresses Emily Blunt or Zooey Deschanel either...

      Emily? Did you mention an "Emily"?
      Hmmm... She's mine! I call "Dibs!"
      :-)

      'BOTW'... Hey, I likes that idea, McSixgun!
      And I guess the ladies can do 'BOTM'.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    6. After getting back here and posting my replies, I proceeded to rant over at ‘Tossing It Out’ about rude bloggers who don’t reply to their comments. THEN, I blinked to dwell on a personal crisis, and just look what you guys have done, ah… err… said. Anyway…here’s my feeble attempt at a reply:

      SB-6 5/19
      Yeah, I’m aware of your and STMc’s ongoing personal BOTB. I had been thinking it was nice to see Armageddon avoided for yet a few more days, BUT now I’m not so sure.

      I hope you’ll understand if I don’t enter into the debate regarding Katy’s musical merits, but I’m saving my overall opinion for tomorrow when I cast my vote and give you the totals.

      I will say that I’m not totally surprised that your vote seems to be somewhat swayed by…shall we say, some of Katy’s other attributes.

      STMc 5/19

      Ah…now you’re discussing THOSE other two attributes of Katy’s. Are you kidding me? How did we get to a discussion that involves cup size HERE!

      Just a side note: While I’ve known plenty of men who claim to be feeling around for a woman’s intellect, it’s important to check other places that what might fill out those D-cups.

      SB-6 5/20

      Oh now here we go…

      First, I do know those three women you are comparing and IMO, one has some acting ability, but I can’t see the triplet comparison on any level or are we talking about sextuplets here? I get confused easily and you have to remember MY appraisal of another woman’s assets probably isn’t going to be the same as yours.

      Now you’re comparing Katy to Michael Jackson. Oh…OK, but I think your digressing.

      Now we’re onto IQ. Oh yeah, I’m loving the turn of events here. Regardless of anything else, I’m going to give you and some of these gals credit for an incredible ‘marketing’ sense. They certainly have taken material gain (OK, that’s a really cheap pun) to new levels with their ’performances’ and the use of their many and varied physical assets (however engineered they might be).

      No problem with the hijacking whatsoever. I’m getting some perverse pleasure out of this, and it’s taking my mind off the stress of my personal crisis. Nothing like discussing another woman’s breast size to have me completely forget my troubles.

      BOTW and or BOTM are you sure you really want to go there?

      STMc 5/20

      Oh look you saw a chicken…. You had better be careful there, because it looks like SB-6 knows how to completely divert your attention. If you don’t keep your eye on the prize, or as it may be prizes, in this case, he’ll veer you off in a direction you might not want to go, or at least one where you might be so bedazzled, you’ll forget the final destination.

      BOTW, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha, (are you getting the picture here?)

      Now, let’s talk BOTM. First you referred to letting the ‘ladies’ complete here. Well, apparently you gents have never sat around with some ‘ladies’ and listened to them get down and dirty in their discussions about men and their, ah…err…attributes over a few martinis. I can promise you that it would give you a whole new definition of raunchy. While men seem to have the opinion that they have cornered the market on this type of ‘talk’, you ain’t seen nothing yet. I promise you in this type of strictly female interchange neither of you is likely to use the term ‘ladies’. This is of course, something I actually know very little about. (Ha,ha,ha!) Anyway…it’s something far too dangerous for the fragile libido of most men.

      Now, before anybody gets too excited (OK, another cheap pun), keep in mind that, of course we’re all still joking here, right? Also, keep in mind that regardless how this exchange might sound, I am still a lady.


      Delete
    7. >>... "...what might fill out those D-cups."

      Originally, I switched from contacts to glasses because...
      ...contacts didn't hold enough beer.

      Now I'm switching from glasses to D-cups...
      ...for the same reason.

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    8. Au contraire, mon ami FAE -

      My vote is NOT influenced by Katy's visual charms. But I am not blind, and assumed when I sent the photo to StMcC that he was not either. Wrong-o.

      I noticed the triplets thang on my own... both my sons noticed the triplets thang, too. Apparently others have too:

      http://www.fashionfoiegras.com/2010/06/hollywoods-triplets-emily-blunt-katy.html

      You and StMcC can vote on the Battle of the MEN... I'll vote on the BOT Women! Obviously, I have better taste there, anyway.

      Delete
    9. In the 'BOTM' I am voting for Davy Jones.
      Even 2 years dead I'll bet he's still really cute.
      [;-)}

      ~ D-FensDogg
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
    10. SB-6

      Ok, you found my weakness. NO, it's not Zooey, Katy, or Emily, but keep talking French and I just might follow you anywhere.

      I looked at the link and I see there is a real similarity between Katy and Zooey, but I still think Emily stands apart.

      No problem, I'm more than happy to vote on BOTM as opposed to BOTW, and gladly concede no taste THERE. I really don't like other women on just about every level.

      STMc

      OK, I'm not quite sure what else to say 'bout that

      TO BOTH of you:

      Thank you very much, for this conversation, which BTW went a long way to take my mind off my personal troubles.

      Delete
  11. My young grandkids love to watch the Katy Perry video. I recently introduced them to the Alex Boye one and they love it too--anything with dancing.

    I'm going to have to vote for Alex's version. I find it more empowering.

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    1. Ah, empowering. You're the first to mention that. I think I agree.

      BTW, I should have credited you. I lifted the Alex Boye version from your blog.

      Delete
  12. The second one I find more appealing

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  13. Body parts and blood? Oh that doesn't sound good at all.

    I have to admit, I like Alex Boye. I like the lyrics to the song but I do enjoy Ale's version because it's fun--as he is--and it was done in a good cause. So my vote is with him.
    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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    1. Well, that body parts and blood thing is mostly metaphorical.

      Alex Boye's version is a lot more fun isn't it?



      Delete
  14. OH no!! I hope everything is going to be alright. I'll be praying for you. Peace and blessings to you. My vote is for Alex Boye!

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    1. Thanks Jaybird. All prayers are welcome.

      Got you down for Alex Boye.

      Delete
  15. First, I really hope that you feel better soon. I have noticed that your posts have dwindled to these BOTB bits and then when this one came on-line so late, I was afraid that you weren't going to post at all. I know what it is like for health issues to take you to the mat. Given that is where you seem to be, I can totally understand why this song appeals to you. It is a motivational song (kind of like Eye of the Tiger back in the 80s), so I really that line in this song.

    I am with Sheboyganboy Six on this one. His comment captured the essence of how I feel. I was surprised to see all of the KP loathing. I like many of her songs. It is usually the accompanying videos that annoy me, and this one was no exception. I watched it, but I'd heard the song enough times that I could separate my dislike of the video from the song itself. My favorite KP song is still Firework, even though it is now "old." KP as person (who does outrageous things) bothers me. Her videos are often tasteless (this one was better than many), but her voice is amazing. And I really like the positive message in this song.

    The only thing that the other song had going for it was the drums. So, like Sheboyganboy Six I am casting one for Perry.

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    1. Thanks so much for the well wishes. I don't think I would have posted this, if it had not been for the contest I'm running.

      I have to admit that based on some of your own BATTLES, I'm not one bit surprised at your vote. Katy racks up another vote.

      Delete
  16. Roar had been on my shitlist...as others have commented before me "veering off a cliff" does come to mind upon hearing the first three notes of Katy Perry's awful voice.

    However Alex Boye has my attention, so much that I spent an hour googling him, his music, and I can say I am awe inspired by the man and better win this contest....or I will be purchasing his CD myself... Love his version of Royals!!!

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    1. Ha, ha, ha! Another vote that does not surprise me one teeny little bit.

      I agree some of his other 'covers' are better than this one.

      Good luck to you.

      Delete
  17. I like the second one...mostly because of the driving drum track.

    Hope things work out for you! :)

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    1. That driving drum beat seems to have gotten to a lot of folks.

      Thanks, DL

      Delete
  18. Hey you guys! I really do appreciate all of the well wishes. I really, Really, REALLY do apologize for taking so long to get back and reply to your comments. It means a lot to me that so many of you stopped by and cast a vote.

    Now I need to get around an vote at the other BATTLE OF THE BANDS contests.

    See you all, back here on the 21st with my vote and the final tally.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sorry I'm late to this party...thought I hit all the BOTB posts the other day but when Lee left a comment asking why I didn't stop by his, I figured I'd double check...

    Sorry to hear about your health problems, and hope there's an end in sight.

    "Roar" is not my favorite Katy Perry song, but between those two versions I would pick the first one.

    Hang in there!

    LC

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  20. Thanks LC. No problem with the timing, as you probably noticed, I didn't make my way around until yesterday.

    Another somewhat surprising vote for Katy Perry.

    ReplyDelete