Friday, February 20, 2015

BATTLE OF THE BANDS - 'A Rather Bad Idea' RESULT



Before we get too far into this BOTB Results post, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I did something here that I hope I never do again. What is that? You ask. Well, what I did was go for diversity and I posted two different versions of this song, neither of which I am terribly fond of. Let me explain.

The version by The Turtles was very popular and probably would have presented a lovely bit of nostalgia for a lot of you, and I figured would run away with the race no matter who they were pitted against. I thought the same might have happened if I used the original, solo version by Bob Dylan. Course maybe it would have been an interesting BATTLE between Bob and The Turtles, but we’ll never know for sure, now will we?

The two versions that I did use by June and Johnny Cash and Nancy Sinatra were very dissimilar to either the Bob Dylan or The Turtles versions and they were very, very dissimilar to each other. That’s what I was going for diversity of sound between the two combatants. It does seem as though I shot myself in the foot on this one, because I don’t particularly care for either version.
As stated by many of you Johnny’s voice (which I do kind of like on a lot of songs) seems way too gruff and gravelly for this tune. He not only swallows some of the words, but on others he seems to gnash them to smithereens. He totally drowns June out, and they seem to be having quite a difficult time harmonizing.

On the other hand (and also as stated by many of you) Nancy’s version seems kind of weak (someone even called her meek). There is no force or believability behind her singing “go away from my window” (it feels as though it should be followed by please, please, please!). I found that a bit surprising, because on some of her other stuff, she is anything but weak or meek (think - ‘These Boots are Made for Walkin’ or ‘Jackson’).

Truth be told, IMO, the best version is the original by Bob Dylan, by himself. I will admit that the version I posted here with him and Joan Baez was not too good, but ‘hideous’, I don’t think so. (Well there is just no accounting for some people’s taste.) It was, after all, a live performance and they seemed to be having a little bit too much of a good time.

Anyway…my vote really won’t matter here because the Cash’s ran off with this BATTLE. I certainly don’t think their version is the ‘best one ever recorded’ of this song, but in keeping with the general voting here (choosing the lesser of two evils), I would grudgingly give them my vote also.

The final tally is;
                
                Johnny & June              13 votes (including mine)
                Nancy Sinatra                6 votes

If you have the time here is another version that I like quite a bit. It's from an album this duo recorded (in 1965) titled 'Folk and Roll.

Here is Jan & Dean with 'It Ain't Me Babe"


Yeah, yeah, I know; this would have been a much better choice for this BATTLE.

Try not to hold this BATTLE against me and come back on the 1st of March where I will try to give you two better selections (with at least one that I can really get behind). Until then ‘Happy Trails to You!’

ALSO, I’m trying real hard to pick up the pace on my blogging, so don’t write me off until the 1st of March. I’m gonna try real hard to post something that I hope will be of interest in between then and now.

22 comments:

  1. Hold it against you? Why? You didn't sing the songs for them. So it wasn't the best matchup, but there's nothing in the rules to say it HAS to be. Yeah, yeah, I know I said I woulda voted for the Turtles. But if the idea is to intro someone to something you haven't heard before, the pop hit can't be in all the battles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YIKES! I can only imagine what the comment box would look like if I posted something with ME singing.

      Delete
  2. Personally I still think what you offered was excellent. Providing a contrast allows for making a better choice as opposed to keeping the versions too similar. I liked both artists that you presented so that made the choice tougher for me though in the end I had to opt for the Cash option which had sentimental value for me, greater familiarity, and I still think he provides a emphatic power in the delivery that fits the song lyrics. The original studio recording is outstanding though the live version you presented was pretty darn good.

    I've never heard the Jan & Dean version of this song. Having been a big fan of theirs in my junior high years I quite like what they did with the song. I also like the way the Four Seasons did it--I own a copy of their Dylan tribute album. But even if you'd put these or the Turtles or Dylan himself against Cash, I still would have but my money on Cash. Just my preference I guess.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Wrote By Rote

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops I stand corrected about the version by the Four Seasons. That song is not on their Dylan tribute album, but if it had been I'm sure I would have liked it having been a fan of the group.

      Arlee Bird
      A to Z Challenge Co-host
      Wrote By Rote

      Delete
    2. I had no idea that the Four Seasons did a cover of 'It Ain't Me Babe, but then who hasn't.

      My big problem here was that I really didn't care much for either version I used. I simply went for the diversity of styles and felt that these two were very different and that I most likely would not have a shut-out.

      Well, as far as that goes it worked, but when it came time for me to vote and tell you why, I had painted myself into a corner,

      In the end, no matter who we put up or what type of music, it's about about personal taste, sentimental value, and what, how, or maybe even when, we hear a tune. Each of us likes to analyze the song choices and give our reasons in an educated manner, but I know at least for me, often I'm influenced by some very personal feeling about a particular tune or artist. No amount of listening, or education about that particular genre, style, or artist background is going to change my mind. A good case in point is your explanation for you vote at this BATTLE "the Cash option had sentimental value'.

      Delete
  3. I went back and made sure I wasn't the one who called that live performance hideous. I don't think I said much about it (I didn't... whew). Anyway, I just commented on your comment. Me and blogging... having a tough time going together these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry to hear that blogging has become difficult for you. We all go through that from time to time. At least I know I have.

      I went back and read your comment and I DID understand what you meant the first time. And no you did not make the hideous comment, but if you had and even though I would not have agreed with you, I suppose it would have just been your feeling about that choice.

      After reading Donna's comment below, I think we all need to consider some of the things we say to each other. I not saying that we shouldn't be honest, but I know I, at least (do you thin I could say 'at least' a few more times) need to try to be more positive and kind (think I also mentioned that a few times around the blogs).

      Delete
  4. Viewers getting snipish about what is posted for the battles is what has turned me off from participating. What should be a lot of musical fun gets a lot of negative comments about the participants choices.

    Ack, don't mind me today. Good thing I have a really good book to occupy my negative mind. Have a good weekend FAE.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NO, I'm definitely going to mind you (although a few days have past), because I think you make a really good point.

      I hope that maybe in the future you will reconsider. I have always enjoyed your BOTB posts and I PROMISE to be more positive and kind in the future.

      Delete
  5. FAE ~
    As with you, Dylan's original would have gotten my vote against ANY other contestant, even though this isn't anywhere near one of my favorite Dylan songs. (I think Sonny And Cher did a pretty good cover of it though.)

    I think The Turtles Vs. Jan And Dean might have been a very interesting and very close battle. True their versions weren't significantly different in arrangement, but the voices were different and the harmonizing (if I recall The Turtles version correctly) was different.

    Anyway, onward and upward to the next BOTB.

    (And I wish Donna would come back. I promise not to say anything negative about her choices anymore. ...Kidding! I don't think I ever did, because I remember enjoying her match-ups. Some of them surprised me, like the time she used Marilyn Manson and I liked it.)

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, I think Jan and Dean and the Cash's might have been an interesting BATTLE, but we'll never know for sure. I do need to put this one behind me.

      I'm definitely taking Donna's comment to heart and although I will try to be honest in my comments, I am also going to 'Accentuate the Positive' wherever I can, and that means both here at my own space and as I travel around to comment on others music.

      Sonny and Cher, yeah I just may use them in the future...for something!

      Delete
    2. You two are awesome :) I have not received negative comments from the BotB participants - at least not in the way you are thinking. Disparaging remarks about the bands is completely acceptable, lol. But, my remark is mostly due to the apologies that FAE, Lee, and others sometimes make to the viewers about posting music that most people don't enjoy. I'm all about a bog post being what the author wants it to be.

      thanks for the encouraging remarks. I will participate still, occasionally; but will not apologize for my music choices. And as I told Lee on his last results post; I enjoy the exposure to several different music genre's. I have frequently discovered something new that I like in those unpopular choices. Or at least something to talk about :) Have a good week FAE and Steve; I may or may not post on the first, still thinking :)

      Delete
  6. You know - I may be too negative in my comments. I really hadn't thought it might affect the poster of the battle, since I'm only speaking of the songs only. I'll keep that in mind from now on.

    Once again, I voted for the loser. Hmm - I'm in the wrong business. That said, congratulations to Johnny and June.

    I did think it was a clever challenge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may have voted for the loser, but I'm glad you did. Remember I have become the Queen of the Shut-Out around here and I'm trying hard to live that down.

      Delete
  7. I rather like it when two odd choices are paired up. It makes me reach outside my comfort zone. I don't think the choices reflect you personally and I can assure you I've never judged you based on your song choices.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah thank you my friend. As I try to remind everyone; 'Pleas do;t judge me because I'm...nuts.

      Delete
  8. Having some oddball choices always works for the cat, we are crazy like that. Negative nelly's can go piss up a rope lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew I liked something about you other than those long whiskers. Ha!

      Delete
  9. Diversity can be good...sometimes. In small doses, of course. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sometimes it can be as interesting making a lesser of two evils choice as a picking the best one.

    See you in March.

    ReplyDelete