Wow, time for BATTLE OF THE BANDS results post already. This
past week just flew by and left me in the dust. I did finally make it back to
my BOTB post and leave a reply for each and every one of you, but it was so
late in the week, I bet nobody (unless you link to my post with the ‘Notify me’
button) even saw them.
I also left you, what I thought was a very funny Christmas song
video on my last 'results post', and not a one of you commented on it. BUT, almost everybody wanted to
give some justification for that ‘vocal acrobatics’ remark. Go figure. I hope
my reference to ‘vocal acrobatics’ didn’t offend anyone, cause I was really
just joking around. I knew what you guys meant.
Anyway…enough of my insecure blabbering on. I love Christmas, I
really do, but there is something about it that always makes me feel kind of
insecure. Probably something from my childhood. I do think that Christmas sends
us all back to childhood memories; good, bad, and indifferent.
Back to BOTB. I think that ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’
is one of my favorite Carols (who am I kidding, they are all ‘one’ of my
favorites). I love the sentiments that Longfellow expresses. He fully
acknowledges that there is no peace on earth, in his time (or ours). BUT, then
he reminds us that ‘God is not dead, no doth He sleep’. This is His world,
created by His Son, and no matter what men may do, He is in charge. How
important is that?
In the end the finaly tally is:
Burl Ives 7 votes
Casting
Crowns 10 votes
You might have noted that I didn’t count my vote yet. At this
very moment I’m still having a bit of a hard time. I love both versions. I grew
up singing the more traditional (Burl Ives) tune, but there is a whole lot of
power and emotion in the newer version by Casting Crowns. Since, my vote won’t
matter either way, I’m gonna do something that I would probably scold you for
trying in the comment box (OK CW, feel free to have at me on that) and declare
my vote a tie. I still wanna sing the traditional version (don’t think I could
master that newer one without an entire choir to back me up), but I love the
raw power and feelings evoked by Casting Crowns.
I’m currently (yeah, I know at 4AM, when I have nothing else to
do) working on a Short Story for a contest that happens to have a Christmas
flavor. If I can get it cleaned up enough (no time to get it to CP’s for help)
by Christmas Eve, I think I’ll post it here, but on the more likely chance that
this does not come to pass – I want to wish each and every one of you a most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (actually, I have a post
that I wrote a few months back, that I plan on posting 12/31 New Year’s Eve, so
if you have time, drop by).
I sincerely want to thank all of you who stop by and support
BOTB here, and at the home of all the other participants. This has been a fun
project for me, but it wouldn’t be half as much fun without your comments. I do
hope to organize my life better in the coming year and visit more of your
blogs, but one way to get be to stop in for a chat is to join BOTB. I do make a
sincere effort to visit each and every participant on the 1st and 15th.
I’ll for sure be back on January 1, to kick off 2015 with
another BATTLE OF THE BANDS. See ya then, I hope!
We sang the more contemporary version of the song in church this morning.
ReplyDeleteHave a Blessed Christmas, Faraway!
Hey, I'm not mad. I actually want to thank you for using that term 'vocal acrobatics.' It's now a part of my everyday vocabulary. I really do hope you post that story. And until next time, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and hell, enjoy all the days in between, too. No sense in wishing you well on just 2 days of the next week and a half.
ReplyDeleteTight race indeed, have a merry christmas
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Burl Ives lost, but... BOTB often concludes surprisingly.
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I liked both versions, too, but this was one song where I ended up voting for the updated version instead of the traditional.
ReplyDeleteI added my results post to my own BOTB today, and also announced that I won't be posting any BOTB posts in 2015 -- I'm trying to focus more efforts on my writing and music on my blog. But I WILL be still visiting and voting on your BOTB posts! Just want to to make that perfectly clear. :)
Have a wonderful, joyous Christmas! And a fabulous New Year!!!
I've voted ties before... sometimes it deserves to be a tie. No having at here.
ReplyDeleteI still prefer the Ives version, but oddly the Crowns version has been playing in my head a lot lately. I think it's starting to catch on with me.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Sorry, sometimes I skim through a post and don't click on every video. And often I don't return to read the responses (yes, I will today). I go through bouts of posting a lot, and reading lots of posts, then lose interest all to soon again.
ReplyDeleteyou and your hubs have a Merry Christmas FAE. Enjoy the beautiful scenery.
I read this yesterday, but was distracted by going back to the older post and reading your comments.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you have a wonderful Christmas FAE!
Merry Christmas! It might even be a white one here.
ReplyDeleteI responded to your comment. Thank you for taking the time to write it. It meant a lot.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture of red roses with the candle!
ReplyDeleteI haven't returned to read your responses, but I will this week. I am babysitting a bird who likes to sit on my hand while I type(yes, help).
Hope you days are filled with kindness! See you on Jan 1st, BOTB!