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NEW YEARS DAY 2015 WhooWeeee! What do you
say we get this party started or if you’re like me; let’s finish up the party
from last night.
Before we go a whole lot farther let me give
you the top ten or so reasons why my BOTB post is late today.
·
I’ve had house guests since
12/24 (family)
·
We’ve been having fun, mostly
(too much)
·
II burned my hand rather badly
on 12/30 (dumb blonde here AND a major klutz)
·
Went out and partied last night
(hey, I live in Nevada. These towns never sleep)
·
I’m a major procrastinator on
my best days (chose the song a while ago, but didn’t look for competitors)
·
Had a Margarita at 1:30 AM
(only one, but I’ve been on an autoimmune protocol diet for six months –
meaning no alcohol, caffeine, or sugar)
·
Came home and popped a bottle
of champagne at 2:30 AM (SEE ABOVE)
·
I just woke up and promised the
family breakfast (I don’t usually have people to cook for, so I’ve been having
fun with that also)
If I keep
going I would just be making things up, but all of the above are true. /typing
is painful and tedious, so let’s get on with it.
Today’s song
is one that was played a lot with the Christmas tunes, but I don’t really think
of it as a ‘Christmas Song’, so I’m using it for January 1, besides it’s 3
degrees outside this morning.
This is a tune
written by Irving Berlin. I’m not up for a lot of yak about it this morning, so
maybe I’ll tell you more in my results post (or maybe not; we’ll see). It has
been covered A LOT, but to keep it simple I’ve selected two instrumental
versions.
First up
And the
challenger is
Now it’s your
turn. Leave me a comment with your vote and tell me why. I don’t even care if
you go on for pages and pages with your analysis, or if you want to do your own
Bullet Point comment, but for heaven’s sake vote.
After you’ve
finished up here. Go on over to MR. BOTB himself (I’m sure my calling him
THAT will insult someone, but what the hell, let’s start the year off right,
shall we?) Stephen will give you a list
of all the BOTB participants. Please try to visit everyone. I’ll be back on the
7th with my vote and the results of this BATTLE. See ya then, or
maybe even before – ya never know for sure with me.
This has long been one of my favorite wintery songs. My mother had a 78 of the song done by a big band with a similar arrangement to the one done by Brown here, but it also had a vocal inserted like the big bands used to include. I loved hearing that song when I was a kid and have scoured to internet to find the same recording with no success. Maybe my recall is bad and I'm just not recognizing that version. After all that was nearly 60 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI like Django's music, but his take on this song cannot compete with the big band arrangements in my opinion. The song just doesn't fit his style.
It's good to hear this song with its haunting melody. I do miss the lyrics, but that's okay. I give my vote to the incomparable Les Brown and his Band Renown--or in this case his Orchestra.
Great pick for a darn cold morning.
Lee
Tossing It Out
I really debated about using a version with the lyrics, there are just so darn many to choose from and all of them pretty good. I really liked the Les Brown, so I went for another instrumental, just to keep it fair.
DeleteGlad you liked it. I kept hearing it played with the other Christmas tunes on the cable music channel, but it really doesn't strike me as a Christmas song, just winter.
First vote for Les Brown and his Band of Renown!
>>... besides it’s 3 degrees outside this morning.
ReplyDeleteIf your love can keep you warm in THAT, then that's some love you have. (Being a Southern California boy, I can't even imagine what 3 degrees must feel like.)
There's no question that Django Reinhardt was a supreme and innovative guitarist, but I just loves me that Big Band sound.
I'll take Les Brown And His Band Of Renown.
(I had to play it a second time, just for the pleasure of it, after my vote was already decided.)
Although my vote was an easy one to cast, this was still an excellent match-up.
~ D-FensDogg (TSMOTP)
'Loyal American Underground'
Thanks for the compliment on this match up. I wanted to be as fair as possible so I went for two instrumental versions. I do like them both, but that Big Band sound is hard to beat.
DeleteWhat a difference a few days can make. The temp is already 39 degrees this morning and it predicted to be in the high fifties by Wednesday. We went from a blizzard on Christmas Eve to Springtime, in two weeks or less. Gotta love the weather in the Sierras.
Django Reinhardt. I just love everything he does, and while I thought both selections were excellent, I really have to be in the mood for big band sounds.
ReplyDeleteKim @ This Belle Rocks
Happy New Year! Let's start 2015 with a little sympathy.
Ah, Django gets a vote. Thank you very much Kim. He does have a distinctive sound that is easy to love.
DeleteP.S. Feel better soon! I worked, had a glass of champagne, a hot bath, and fell asleep. I can't think of anything else I'd have rather done, though. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me. I actually wasn't feeling too bad, just tired to the bone and that burn on my hand was a pain; literally. Thanks for the good thoughts and a Happy New Year to you too. I see from comments at other BOTB that you joined the fun. I'll be stopping by soon to see what you posted for us.
DeleteI love this song and was expecting to go for Les Brown since it is from that era but I love Django's retelling of it. I love the guitar work and it kept me interested while Les Brown's version became boring near the end so I go for Django (I take it the D is silent:))
ReplyDeleteCorecto on that silent 'D'. Boring? you thought Less Brown got boring? Well OK, then. Actually, no wrong vote here because both are really nice versions of a great song. Thanks Birgit.
Delete<<<---After you’ve finished up here. Go on over to MR. BOTB himself (I’m sure my calling him THAT will insult someone, but what the hell, let’s start the year off right, shall we?)
ReplyDeleteFAE, I laughed out loud when I read that. I've come to the conclusion that if someone isn't insulted, then I'm not doing it right. Does that make you feel any better? I think folks just enjoy joking around (I know I do), and I wouldn't take anything folks say about nicknames seriously.... hahahaha.
Sounds like you rang in the New Year as God intended. Or at least every liquor manufacturer in the world intended. Good for you! I had two small glasses of wine, so I don't think I made anyone particularly happy (or unhappy).
I really enjoyed the first one: Les Brown and the boys. The second one was perfectly okay (I didn't dislike it), but it didn't have me tapping my toe like the first one. So, chalk another for Les Brown.
Happy New Year FAE!
I normally don't care what people think, although I don't really try to insult anyone, but you have got to respect my opinion, at least in this space, cause it's mine. I admit that Ihave gotten my feelings hurt when some bloggers discuss things that I've said here in a malicious manner. Often times I read things that others say and think; 'man that was a lot of nerve, saying something like that to someone'. But, then I'm reminded that perhaps it's some inside joke or something similar that I'm simply not privy to. Those are the times when I'm grateful that I've kept my mouth shut and not gone off about something that may be none of my business. Anyway...
DeleteI doubt I mane any liquor dealers too happy by drinking of margarita and a glass of champagne, but due to the restrictions I've been under lately, I was certainly happy or at least 'feeling no pain'.
I have to agree with you about Less Brown and his Band of Renown being the more toe tapping version of this song. Django's take on it (and just about everything) is very pleasant and I do like it, but it definitely fits the 'more mellow' bill.
Happy New Year to you also. May you have a stress free year filled with better health and fewer problems.
Excellent song to choose, FAE!
ReplyDeleteI really, really like Dajngo's version -- the guitar playing is stellar and expressive. But the overall effect with Les Brown's big band orchestra is simply too wonderful to vote against.
So In this case Les is indeed more -- give my vote to Brown.
Why thank you very much for the vote and the great play on words there. Another vote for Les and his more overall effect.
DeleteStraight up - Les Brown. We go way back. It's that swingy sound that nabs me every time. So many family have played his stuff for me - it's in my blood.
ReplyDeleteDjango has done much better stuff than this one... but it was a nice little challenge.
I don't need to know anything. Get well so you can party more!
My vote: Les Brown!
Got you down for yer ole friend Les. Thanks for your vote Dixie.
DeleteWell, the bright side is, by being late, you missed the "this is just my look in, I'll vote later" comment everyone else got stuck with! Glad you overcame to have a good time!
ReplyDeleteAs for the vote, well, I'm like STMC, more of a Big Band guy. Gimme Les Brown, please.
I saw those comments at some of the other BOTB sites. Glad you made it by here even though I was kind of a slacker on New Year's Day. Got you down as a 'big band guy' with a vote for Les.
DeleteDjango gets my vote. His version grabbed me a bit more. Happy New Year's!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too, Mike. And, another vote for Django.
DeleteAs much as I like Django, this tune works better with the full big band arrangement.
ReplyDeleteLes is more....
Another 'Les is more' man, I see. OK, the voting goes on.
DeleteI really enjoyed the tune a lot. The Les Brown version has a wonderful, "exactly-right" sound to my ears... though I like Mr. Bo-Django's also. I wonder if I might have that version in all my dad's old 78's too? I'll have to look!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that although you didn't 'xatly say it, that your vote goes to Les. I'm placing it there. That would be great to have an original recording. My dad had a collection of 78's, but their were mostly Enrico Caruso.
DeleteI liked the Les Brown arrangements, the sudden trumpet notes shook me up every time. Django was nostalgic and reflective but for early 2015 I'll go with Les Brown ..
ReplyDeletehope that burned hand is healing!
Thanks Susan, the hand is better, but the burn dried out and is starting to crack open. YIKES!
DeleteLes does kind of have that snappy New Year's Eve feel.
Happy New Year, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBack at you my friend. Hope you have a great New Year!
DeleteAh, big bands do it for me every time. I was tapping my toes and wanting to find a swing partner :) And it is perfect for ringing in the new year.
ReplyDeleteI stayed home, drank wine, and wished I had a bottle of champagne at midnight. I'm so glad you got to go out and have some fun :)
Ole Les is cleaning up here with his big band 'toe tapping' sound.
ReplyDeleteYour New Year's celebration sounds more like my norm. Had famy visiting so we did our part to support the local casinos. Hope you have a great 2015.
I got the follower gadget - finally! Thanks for your patience.
ReplyDeleteGone - Found - Followed
DeleteThat big band sound gets me every time. Les Brown's is just magic from start to finish. Consider this one a blow out.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you have 3 whole degrees? Can I have some? It was -15 here last week.
You and just about everyone else. Ha!
DeleteToday we have degrees to spare, it's supposed to reach the high 50's. I think this extreme fluctuation in the weather might be a contributing factor in my current condition. I have pneumonia AGAIN.
Actually, both are quite nice on the ear, but I like #2 slightly more. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHey Sharon, thanks for stopping by and casting a vote. Another one for Django to be sure, and I couldn't agree with you more. They are both quite nice on the ear.
Delete#1 gets my vote indeed. Has more of a get up and go for me I guess
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in the get up and go department. It's been labeled toe tapping by most.
Delete#2 Django Reinhardt gets my vote! For he played the Hot Club in France with Grappelli. Les Brown is good, but it's a big band production, where Django usually played with a quintet or less.
ReplyDeleteAh, D.G. nice to see you coming around again. Hope your Holidays were pleasant and that your new year will be filled with good health for you and yours.
DeleteAND, another vote for Django's more mellow (smaller) sound.