Tuesday, September 15, 2015

BATTLE OF THE BANDS OR How long can you tread water?






September 15th, and time for another BATTLE OF THE BANDS. I have to admit that right around the first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue or not, but with a lot of encouragement from my friends and a little bit of help; here I am and ready to go.

I’m sure that somewhere before on my blog I’ve mentioned that I consider myself a ‘water person’. I love the water and do some of my best thinking ‘neck deep’. When it’s cold outside and all else fails, even the shower proves to be a great ‘think tank’ for me. Therefore, when this song was suggested it really spoke to me and some of the things I’ve been feeling and going through lately.

My selection is a song that I’m very familiar with, but had not thought of using it in a BOTB, until it was suggested by a friend. Thank you very much, Mr. SB6. I’m in your debt.

‘The Water is Wide’ – There is a lot of history surrounding this tune and the lyrics. I’m not going to take your time by reprinting all or any of it here, but I do suggest you go HERE, if you’re interested to learn more.

This song has been covered a lot. I dare say there are probably hundreds of covers available at YouTube alone and probably hundreds more that never made it to that musical site. I’ve debated for about a week now about which versions to use. I hope you’ll enjoy the two I’ve chosen. I really like them both( I like a lot of the versions I’ve listened to recently!)

First up Karla Bonoff with a little help from her friends James Taylor and JD Souther



Next the ladies from the Lilith Fair tour – Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, and Indigo Girls. (I may never forgive Sarah for those Humane Society commercials she does, but all the same, I like what she has done here.)




If you like this song and are looking for something really special click HERE to hear an instrumental version by Mark Knopfler recorded as a tribute to Chet Atkins following his death.

 OK now, get on down to the comment box and vote. Then tell me why you chose as you did. Once you’ve finished up here, head on over to the home of TSMOTP and see what Mr. McCarthy has cooked up for us. STMcC Presents Battle of the Bands After you vote on his BATTLE, check out the link and please visit the other participants.

I’ll be back on the 21st or thereabout (I could be a little late, because I’ll be traveling over that time.) to cast my vote and give you the results. Until that time…Happy Trails!

46 comments:

  1. Hi Fae!

    Wow, all of the battles I've been to, have been tough like this one. Both versions are great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. pushed 'publish' too soon!! oops.

      Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, and Indigo Girls. This is also a lovely version, but still not the harmony my ears want to hear. Okay... wow, all of the battles I've been to have been tough like this one. Both versions are great.

      Karla Bonoff, James Taylor and JD Souther- beautiful and tender. Love that soprano accordion background. I wished they'd have brought more harmony in, and sooner.

      Log me for Karla, James & JD, please

      DC.

      Delete
    2. Hey Dixie, I'm glad you enjoyed this BATTLE and thought it was a tough one. I figure the tougher time you have deciding the better I put the BATTLE together. There are so many choices with this song. I had a hard time. I have to admit I too thought both of these versions were very good and for different reasons.

      Counted you up for Karla and friends. Thanks.

      Delete
  2. I think I like the simplicity of the first one best. Karla's version sounds more heartfelt.
    And really sorry if you still can't comment on my site...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Going for simplicity. I'm OK with that.

      I thought I left a comment at your site last week, therefore I figured whatever the glitch was, it got fixed. As soon as I finish up here I'll head on over and see if I can leave a comment on this weeks post. I'm out of town, so I'm a wee bit behind.

      Delete
  3. Yes, water. Showers usually work best for me as I like water hot. I will be travelling in the next few weeks to some hot springs. I've never been to one so I'm excited to get into some hot natural water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey lady, I haven't seen you in awhile. After a peek at your blog I can see why. Glad you stopped by. Hope to hear from you again when you finish up your most recent tour.

      Delete
  4. The first one comes off as more perfect sounding I think, so #1 gets my vote

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK Pat, a vote for the more perfect sounding tune. As always, I appreciate your loyalty to my BOTB.

      Delete
  5. Both versions are pretty similar. Lilith Fair singers gave the song a kind of Hootenanny feel and I'm not much of a fan of that folk movement. The group version seemed to last forever with a bit of tedium to my ears.

    I much prefer the spare presentation by Karla Bonoff with accompanying instruments. So peaceful and relaxing.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another vote for the simplicity presented by Karla and friends. Thanks Lee.

      Delete
  6. Glad to know you'll be continuing on with BOTB, FAE.
    This is a lovely song I'm not familiar with. Mark Knopfler's instrumental was amazing and I'd vote for that, but it's not in the contest, so, my vote goes to the Lilith Fair version. The harmonies were perfect and I loved the guitar solo in the middle. I did like Karla's rendition as well, but not quite as much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Debbie. Yeah, I plan to stick around for awhile longer. With the help of some friends I have a renewed enthusiasm that I hope will fire me up again.

      So, those harmonies got to you, did they? Me too. I really enjoyed the ending where they set the instruments aside and go it alone.

      Delete
  7. Oh I love the Lilith Fair girls version so much! What harmonies! They get my vote. Glad you'll be continuing on with BOTB. I've thought about taking a break too but I just spent yesterday putting my next 6 battles together. It helps me to have them done far in advance. I'm all set until January 15th!
    Great battle today Fae.
    Michele at Angels Bark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holy carp! I would say you're enthused and prepared for BOTB. You really don't have to think much about it until next year. YIKES! If I ever got that organized, I think it would scare me.

      And another vote for the lovely harmonies at Lilith Fair.

      Delete
  8. Here's the thing: I really wanted to vote for the Lilith Fair ladies, song unheard. And it started off really well with Emily and Amy. And then Jewel started singing. Sometimes she has pitch issues, which seems to be part of her appeal (for many), but not so much for me. I really prefer it when she doesn't slide on the notes. And then Sarah started singing (who I also just love) and she was doing so well until she decided to show us just how high her vocal range was. This song (IMHO) is beauty in simplicity, so each time they decided to tangent off that path to showcase themselves and their style it was a loss instead of a win. The only folks in that group that I liked all the way through were The Indigo Girls.

    Karla Bonoff sung this so sweetly and tenderly... just the way it was meant to be sung. So, give her my vote.

    I'm glad you're still participating. It wouldn't be right if the one who started this thing quit doing it. Just sayin'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really expected a remark about Sarah's vocal acrobatics. Sometimes I enjoy them and sometimes, not so much. I don't think I've ever heard her perform without throwing them in somewhere along the line. I suppose that's her trademark 'move'.

      This song is beautiful in it's simplicity and more than one of you voters have mentioned that. Got you down for Karla and friends,

      Delete
  9. I liked the Lilith Fair version, a little more energy and I liked the vocals better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And, another voters roped in by those harmonies and energy. Got it Mike.

      Delete
  10. This is a tender and emotional song to me. For some reason it just hits a button inside.

    Both versions are well done and I liked them I loved when Lillith Fair stopped playing their instruments and went "a cappella" at around 3:10 or so; it added some emotion to a song already full with it. Also, I like all of those women's vocal abilities individually and collectively.

    But Karla Bonoff is special. She is one of my favorites, and her first album (which this number is NOT on) is one of my top five favorite albums. I love her version of "The Water is Wide" the most. She has a sweet almost-country voice (which seems to be exactly an octave below my own, so that I can sing along and belt out the tunes without pushing my range!) James Taylor's background vocals are so subtle that one almost misses them. I've wondered why they made that choice: to get a big name like that to do background but then have him come in so late and quietly. I can only think it was because it is haunting, tantalizing, and leaves us wanting more, which it does with me.

    I vote for Karla in this battle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't want to say too much and tip my hand as to how I will be voting, but I will say that I agree with you on all counts. The 'a cappella' portion of the Lilith Fair version is what won me over to using them in this BATTLE. It is definitely charged with emotion.

      I had to listen to Karla's version three times to finally pick our James there in the background. His portion is very subtle but I agree with you that it is haunting.

      This turned into an excellent BATTLE, my friend, and I have you to thank for that.

      Delete
  11. Lillith Fair 1997 gets my vote, such a melodious blending of voices that I loved hearing. I'm not usually a fan of girl groups, but some are exceptional (also not so crazy about Sarah Mc, but in this grouping, it works.) This seems such a melancholy tune to my ears.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you read my other replies you'll see that I pretty much agree with you about Sarah. Some of her stuff I really like and some gets a resounding NO from me, but here she is superb,

      It is a melancholy tune, but pleasantly so, does that make sense? I love this song.

      Delete
  12. FAE ~
    This one was easy for me...

    The first version nearly put me back to sleep (which wouldn't be such a bad thing, because I'm way behind in that department).

    But the second version had more life to it and made me appreciate the melody much more. So I think it's only fair that my vote goes to Lillith Fair.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I pretty much figured you would enjoy the harmonies in the Lilith Fair version. I also figured, that since the world was not really about to end any time in the very near future, you most likely wouldn't vote in step with our mutual friend (the real sponsor of this little post). Ha!

      BUT, your welcome! On those sleepless nights, just log in here and let Karla sing to you sleep (no extra charge).

      Delete
  13. Beautiful song, FAE! I'd never heard it before, which is always a treat :) My vote goes to Karla; as much as I love Indigo Girls and the voice of Sarah McLachlan, the arrangement felt more like a choir — which it should, given the incredible vocal talents to showcase, but... I'm not a big fan of choirs. Karla's came across as more heartfelt, more personal somehow, and I liked that. Great battle!
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Personal is a very good way to describe the Karla Bonhoff version. There is an intimacy to her singing this very intimate and heartfelt song. Glad to expose you to something new.

      Delete
  14. Karla was good, but that version from the Lilith Fair was pure magic. I live in the Atlanta area, and I think the Indigo Girls are fantastic, and when you add Jewel and Sarah McLachlan, and have the four of them sing harmony like that... wow. Just wow. I'm going with the Lilith Fair version.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Magic - now that's a good word to use for that ending in the Lilith Fair version, when they go 'a capella'. that part is seriously emotionally charged and there is a sense of magic in the air.

      Got you down forr the girls from Lilith Fair.

      Delete
  15. Gosh this is a tough one because I k ow this song in instrumental only. I have to give it to Lilith Fair-They just sang with such harmony and i likes the style of the instruments-this was a tough one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you listen to the Mark Knopfler instrumental version? It is really special, then when you realize it as a tribute to Chet Atkins - superb.

      Got you down for Lilith Fair. Thanks for coming by. I really appreciate your loyalty.

      Delete
  16. APPRECIATE all of the votes so far and I promise to make a personal reply to each and every one of you, but unfortunately, that isn't going to happen today. I'm running around like a nut (well, more of a nut than usual) trying to finish up work, pack, and get out of town. I'll be back in a day or two to talk to each of ya.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love this song. I'm a big fan of Irish and Celtic music. It's a true and sad song.
    As for the performance, I like Karla's version much better. The concert version doesn't grab my attention. Karla's soft and melodic rendition win me over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jeffrey. This is a beautiful song and sad. Sometimes it truly is hard to get over that wide wide water.

      Got you down for the soft and melodic.

      Delete
  18. I know Karla's is a little softer/slower, but I feel like that captures the beauty of the song perfectly. The Lilith Fair version is good, just not as good as Karla's. To us anyway. Two out of two beer brothers agree - we each vote for Karla.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, well, well; what a nice surprise for Karla and friends. They are making quite a come back. Seems a lot of you do like the softer, slower style of this beautiful piece.

      Thaks guys. I appreciate both of your votes.

      Delete
  19. The vocals on the second version knocked it out of the park... but I liked the music to Karla's better. Vote for Karla.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That a capella portion in the Lilith Fair version is pretty special, but you came back and voted for Karla anyway. Well, OK then.

      Delete
  20. Gosh, making it hard on me. I just don't dig the harmony in the 2nd one, but the first one was just way too slow for my liking as well. I don't know! Uh... I guess I'm going to go with Karla's version. Mostly because I finished listening to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's my opinion that the best BATTLES are supposed to make it hard on your guys, but I'm always hoping that you like both versions so much, that you have a hard time deciding. Sometimes, it's more the other way around, and that seems to be what happened here. Oh well, a vote is a vote. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  21. Fae, good song choice with two good cover artists. My vote goes to Karla because I loved the simplicity of the voices and soft guitar playing over the competition. Nice battle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cathy, glad you like it. Again, a vote for simplicity. Sometimes that's what works best, especially in a beautiful song like this.

      Delete
  22. That is a beautiful song, and both versions were exquisite in their own fashion. I have to give the Lilith Fair ladies the vote though, this song lends itself well to the group, and all their voices bring out the emotion to the song. Deep and humbling.

    All the versions were well rendered.

    Have a good weekend FAE.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Donna. I agree that both versions are great in their own right. The Lilith Fair version is pretty emotion packed, especially there at the end. Glad you liked it.

      I am having a pretty good weekend. Hope you are too.

      Delete
  23. Though Karla's version is lovely, I started to drift listening to it. It didn't keep my attention. It was toooooo slooooooow. With the Lilith Fair ladies there was variety, not too much, but as if each was singing from her heart, and the harmonies were beautiful. Plus there was a very nice guitar solo. So I'm going with them.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lilith Fair for you Bish, and very nicely put I might add.

    ReplyDelete