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Whew! I almost didn’t make it here today.
This past week has been like a one-two, knock out for me. The first blow came
on Monday, when I felt like someone picked me up and threw me against a brick
wall. It seems that when you have an Auto-Immune Disease, you can be fine one
day and the next you’re flat on your back.
Needless to say I spent most of
this week in bed, and not having a bit of fun (for those of you who have very
vivid imaginations).
The second blow was actually the week before when this
‘dumb blonde’, got a notice that I needed to update and download a new media
player. I could have sworn the notification was a ‘Windows’ notice, but
apparently it was just cleverly disguised to look like one. Anyway…along with
this ‘new and not so improved’ media player came a ton of malware and my entire
computer was screwed up. It (the computer) had to make a trip down to Carson
City to the computer doctor to have its guts cleaned out. Now it’s working and
much faster, but there seems to be a problem with my router, so I’m hard-wired
into the modem with no Wi-Fi. In all honesty I have no idea what all that last
sentence means, other than I have to be plugged into my printer and I can’t get
my Netflix Streaming. Hopefully, that will get cleared up soon (but, it won’t
be by me).
I do want to Thank You all who sent me
emails worrying over where I was, and if I was doing OK, even if I couldn’t
reply. They really helped to cheer me up. I was able to keep up reading your
blogs from my phone, but the ‘dumb phone’ I own won’t let me comment, or maybe
that’s just me.
So, enough of the whining. There are some
exciting things happening with this BATTLE OF THE BANDS. First off, Mr. Stephen
T. McCarthy, the sexiest man on the planet (he didn’t like it when I called him
the smartest man I know, last time, so we agreed that this was more
appropriate), has a new blog. This blog is strictly devoted to BATTLE OF THE
BANDS. It’s called STMcC Presents ‘Battle of the Bands’ and you can find it HERE
Once you’ve finished up here, head on over
to this Exclusive New Site and see what STMcC has cooked up for you this month?
I can also trust that he will publish the links to all the other participants,
so you can visit every BOTB going on for August 1st.
The next exciting thing coming up is my
theme. At the Results Post for BOTB XXVI I promised a theme for August and
invited you to guess what it might be. I said that it was one word that might
be used to describe me. Only two of you were brave enough to guess, and you
were very kind also. The guess had something to do with BLONDE. Nope that’s not
correct. Ya’ll know I’m not really a blonde, don’t ya. ‘Dumb Blonde’ is just
one of those phrases that is kind of a catch-all for stupid human woman tricks.
In actuality my hair color is much more volatile than blonde.
ANYWAY…My theme for August is: ‘CRAZY’ An extra special Thank You to all of you for not guessing correctly.
So let’s get on with it shall we.
First up Gnarls (you don’t suppose his
mother really named him that, do you?) Barkley with 'Crazy'.
Next, Mr. Ray LaMontagne with the same
song.
Now, you know what to do and how to do
it. Leave me a comment with your vote and why. Then head on over to STMcC
Presents ‘Battle of the Bands’ by clicking HERE and casting your vote there.
THEN, visit all of the other participants. If you should feel that you want to
post your own BATTLE, please let me know in the comment box and if possible
leave a link, so everyone coming by here can find you also.
I’ll be back on the 7th – ‘if
the creek don’t rise and the devil doesn’t come for me first’ (just kidding),
with my vote and final tally.
Sorry you and your computer were both ill. Evil malware.
ReplyDeleteThe first version just felt like it had more substance to it.
Thanks alex.
DeleteGot you down for substance and Gnarls.
You are having all sorts of weird stuff going on. Hope things take a turn for the much better.
ReplyDeleteMy son-in-law was listening to this match-up with me and he immediately recognized the second artist whom I'd never heard of. We both agreed that though Ray's version was well done he did not beat the version by Gnarls. I'm not overly fond of the breathy raspy folky version of the remake. The Barkley version drives with a great beat and the vocals are superior to my taste.
Gnarls (Cee Lo) it is for me (and Tom, my S-i-L.).
Lee
Tossing It Out
Thanks Arlee.
DeleteIt seems your S-I-L has some pretty good musical knowledge, at least with the current stuff, or was that you alone who knew about the CeeLo/Gnarls connection.
At any rate, I'm going to credit you with two votes here (Sorry, C.W., but you know a woman's perogative - I changed my mind.) for Gnarls.
Tom probably knew the Gnarls Ceelo connection but I've known it for a while. My sister was obsessed with this song after it came out and then somewhere along the line I read about who Gnarls really was. My S-i-L is quite knowledgeable about music.
DeleteLee
Tossing It Out
FAE ~
ReplyDeleteThank you for describing me more accurately this time. (Eat yer heart out, George cLooney!)
I have heard of Gnarls Barkley before, but this might be the first time I've heard his (their?) music. First off I gotta say that I have a hard time taking very seriously a person (or band?) that names themselves ("punny" but not "funny") after the screwball former basketball player Charles Barkley.
However, the video was pretty cool. The song was... OK. Better than I would have expected, but helped by the fact that I do naturally dig Soul / R&B music.
I had never even heard of Ray LaGayParee (where do you learn about these new peeps?) but I liked his version quite well and he gets my vote easily.
He sounds like a grungier, scratchier, hungover version of Gordon Lightfoot (whom I like quite well). He's definitely from that 'Old School Singer-Songwriter' genre, even if he's a newer edition.
At a shade over 4 minutes long, I think Ray LaGayParee's version could have used a brief instrumental break in there somewhere, to kind of momentarily change the pace. (If I had been the producer, I would have suggested a brief harmonica or Hammond B-3 Organ break.)
Nevertheless, Ray gets my vote. I felt his approach to the song made it seem more personal and heartfelt.
So, what do we get for your August 15th 'BOTB'? Patsy Cline with 'Crazy', or Heart with 'Crazy On You'?
Good 'BOTB', FAE!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Glad to hear you liked this intro better, although it appears Larry may never recover.
DeleteIf you've come back and read the other comments and replies, you now know who and what Gnarls Barkley is.
I've been a fan of Ray LaMontagne for quite some time, I admit he's not very mainstream, but then 'you know me'. I had not really thought of comparing him to Gordon Lightfoot, but now that you mention it, I can see it.
Here's a little tidbit that really endeared Ray to my heart. I saw an interview, where the interviewer asked him about being kind of a hermit. He replied and said he really wasn't a hermit; to which the interviewer came back and said, 'but it's reported that you really don't like people'. Ray answered - and I love this - Oh, I like people alright, it's just a$$holes, I don't like.
Anyway...got you down as a vote for the guy who 'just doesn't like a$$holes. Glad you enjoyed this BOTB.
P.S. I guess you'll just have to wait until the 15th to see.
I vote for the second version, just because I like his guitar strumming, and his delivery. The first has a Motown sound to me, which I don't mind, but I prefer the second one. My vote for Ray Lamontagne.
ReplyDeleteHope the 'feeling better' feeling stays with you.
Thanks D.G. I certainly hope things on your home front are improving, and you and your husband are looking at some smooth sailing.
DeleteGot you down as a vote for Ray and his guitar strumming.
Love the song! Gnarls gets my vote. Ray's version wasn't bad but Gnarl's had a bit more energy.
ReplyDeleteCan't argue with you about the energy.
DeleteGlad to see you back and glad to see you're making BOTB a permanent post at your blog.
Gnarls has the voice and the energy. Hope next week picks up for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Samuel, and thanks for stopping by and casting a vote.
DeleteFAE-
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I can stop laughing at your description of Stephen T. long enough for me to type my response to this BOTB post....
Truth be told, I almost voted without listening-I was all set to vote for Lamontagne, as I am a fan...but it dawned on me that I was not ever sure I had ever actually heard anything by Gnarls Barkley...so I thought I'd get the pain over with, fully expecting the version to be some kind of rap version.
Wow.
WOW!
I like Gnarls' version better. Guess you can't judge an artist by their silly name.
I still like Lamontagne's version, but the Barkley version has a little more zip to it, and a little Motown flavor.
A vote for Barkley....
Larry
So. you're saying I should stick with 'the smartest man I know' as an intro for STMcC (dang him, adding that extra 'C', makes it hard for me to type). Apparently, he's a little behind the times, because Clooney as 'sexiest man on the plane't was about a decade ago. today I think it's the tatted up Adam Levine - hopefully that won't give STMcC a stroke.
DeleteOK, on to BOTB. If you have come back and read the other comments you now know who Gnarls really is, and why all the production behind his version. If you want to hear something else of his - go to YouTube and look up 'Fu*k You', (be careful because YouTube will card you before you can listen )another cheerful little motownish sounding tune, written by Bruno Mars)
Without saying too much I'm a big fan o Ray's also. I keep wondering why he doesn't get much air time on the radio (that said by someone who drives a 20y.o. vehicle with nothing but the radio). Although one eclectic station in Reno has picked up on his new release.
Got you down as a vote for the big guy, CeeLo/Gnarls and his motownish version.
I like this song. But "Gnarls Barkley" isn't a "him" any more than "Pink Floyd" or "Jethro Tull" were. It's a "them" -- a duo of "CeeLo Green" (aka Thomas DeCarlo Callaway), probably familiar as one of the judges on "The Voice" and composer/producer "Danger Mouse" (aka Brian Joseph Burton). CeeLo does the vocals and I enjoy them, but it's the mix of beat and production that makes the song for me.
ReplyDeleteThe version by Ray LaMontagne is more intimate and sparse. His breathy vocals are compelling and focus attention on the lyrics of the song. Unfortunately, I think that also emphasizes one of the weaknesses of the song. It's extremely catchy, but stripped of all the arrangement and uniqueness of CeeLo's vocals, the lyrics end up being a bit mundane and bland.
So for overall interpretation of the song, I'll vote for CeeLo and DangerMouse, aka Gnarls Barkley.
Everytime I visit your blog I learn something. Between you, STMcC, and Disconnected I'm gaining a real musical education. But, on this one, I knew exactly who and what Gnarls Barkley was or is. I was kinda saving that information for the results post, but no matter. If you note Arlee Bird (above-second comment) already outted CeeLo (I don't have commercial TV in my home, so I know CeeLo more infamously from his non-radio hit' Fu*k You'-written by Bruno Mars) as the vocals of Gnarls.
DeleteTheir version of 'Crazy' is certainly a 'production'. Got you down as a vote for Gnarls, or CeeLo/Danger, or the techno production number. However you want to call it.
Glad to see you back joining BOTB. I hope you can stick around. Your posts are always an in-depth analysis of the music and the artists, and I really do enjoy them.
Blah to the computer issues and you issues, both can sure be a pain, one literally haha
ReplyDeleteI have to go with numbers one, seems more in sync to me.
Thanks Pat for your vote and your continued support of BOTB.
DeleteSince I can't post a picture here of me standing arms crossed, chin raised in feigned righteous indignation, I'll just say, it's your sandbox, you can do it anyway you like. Albeit I won't take advantage of the change because I'm just the surley sort who, once scolded, loses the fun of the thing.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think there was a chance I'd like the first one, but it wasn't bad. In fact, I'll give it the slight edge to Gnarls.
And the computer thing? Everyone gets burned once. Live and learn, and learn to verify. I know after I got scammed once, I don't trust anything on first blush anymore.
Awww, CW, I never meant to be scolding you. Truth be told, there was a time when I took BOTB a lot more seriously, then someone scolded me and accused me of trying to make it exclusive. As that was never my intent, I started to care a whole lot less and think 'what the hell'. I DO appreciate your continued support.
DeleteThat said I'm wondering who don't you join in the fun and post your own BATTLE along with everyone else? You're a faithful follower of this gig and seem to have a vast musical knowledge. Come on along for the fun.
I've counted your vote for Gnarls. Thanks to some of the early votes this won't be a shut-out, but it appears that Gnarls has taken the lead.
I've learned my lesson on the computer deal. I admit I don't really know what I'm doing here most of the time and from now on out absolutely nothing gets downloaded.
I just don't get the traffic to warrant it is one reason. Plus, between MWN, Time Machine, and lately the This Week In WWI posts, I've got enough "static" posts and it gets hard to slip in Scrappy stories and deer pictures. And... I don't wanna get POed when someone tells me my favorite sucks, lol!
DeleteFirst, I had to go back and listen to the first one again after reading the comments. It is so obvious, once you know it, that this is CeeLo. Ha. Yeah, I know that most things are obvious once you know them....:D
ReplyDeleteWell, I am afraid that I am not going to help Ray make up the distance here. I really like the peppier, R&B sound that CeeLo, I mean Gnarls, brings to this tune. It had my toe tapping twice and even got some neck bobbing. So, chalk up another one for ole Gnarly.
Yeah, it's all in the knowing. got you down for some toe tapping, neck bobbing Gnarls.
DeleteSo sorry you've been feeling so bad. Having a hubby with Fibromyalgia, I can sympathize with you, having watched him suffer for nearly 25 years. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteYou need to try Super Blue Green Algae. That made a huge difference for him. ;)
Thanks Donna. I am finally getting some help from a group of Chiropractors in Reno. Things are improving, but when I get hit with a 'bad day' I am easily discouraged.
DeleteI've always liked CeeLo. Mainly as himself, but even so, I think the original still shines above Ray's version. Another vote for CeeLo Green, uh I mean Gnarls Barkley.
ReplyDeleteOK a CeeLo fan by whatever name. Got you down.
DeleteGotta say Ray. I love his voice and adore his song Three More Days.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your song choices. Hope you're now feeling up to snuff!
I Ava Nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by and casting a vote.
Deleteanother one for Ray! Yeah!
Yep, that's pretty much my life. One day, I'm full of awesome, the next, I'm flat on back not even able to lift up my head, without feeling like I'm about to die. I'm so sorry that's how you've been feeling. I can, without a doubt, relate and sympathize. I will be praying for you FAE.
ReplyDeleteI'm also very sorry to hear about the whole computer virus/Malware. I have been hit with a few over the years that wiped out my entire system. Gah! Total nightmare.
After to listening to both versions here, I have to say I actually really liked the Ray version, but there is a richness and depth to CeeLo's voice that just draws me in, and places his version right over the top. So, it's another vote for CeeLo!
Thanks Jen, I know you understand. I really don't think I suffer as badly as you do and I feel a little guilty complaining to you. I truly appreciate yours and all other prayers.
DeleteAnother vote for the big Gnarly man.
There sure is lots of "crazy" going on here FAE. So sad for you.
ReplyDeleteI loved the kaleidoscope inkblots in the first video. That was cool. I liked the song too :)
But, My vote goes to the subtler tones of Mr. Ray.
Hope your weekend gets better.
Glad to see you made it by, Donna. I'm also glad to see another vote for Mr. La Montagne.
DeleteYeah, I've had a lot of 'crazy' lately, but I figure 'this too shall pass'.
Malware is horrible! So glad you got your computer straightened out. This song is new to me, but I liked both versions. However, a winner must be decided, eh? So, I think my personal preference between the two would be Garls Barkley. It's nice to meet you through BOTB. I may try to participate in this little hop...someday! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHey Cathy, nice to meet you. I sincerely hope you do decide to join the group and participate in BOTB. It's a fun little hop with no stress what so ever. Hop on board on the 15th. If you do, please leave me a comment to that effect, so I can be sure to stop by your place.
Deletegotyou down as one more vote for Gnarls.