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Welcome back, my friends, to the "Battle" that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!
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This is 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB') where you listen to different recordings and vote for the one you like best. A new Battle gets posted on the 1st of each month and on the 7th, I place my own vote, tally 'em all up and announce the winner.
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Friend? Foe? Stranger? No matter, ALL are welcome. So pull up a chair, pour yourself 24 oz. of DOG BITE High Gravity Lager (or the poison of your choice) and turn it up to Eleven!
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[NOTE: Links to the first year of 'BOTB' (#1 - #24) can be found at the very bottom of this page.]

Thursday, October 8, 2015

BOTB RESULTS (DAVID AND DAVID VS. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) / 25 FAVORITE MOVIES

STMcC’s Vote On '2015, October 1st: Battle Of The Bands'
(Or, 'David & David Vs. Red Hot Chili Peppers')
And The Final Tally:

Sorry I'm late, y'all. I was sick for about a day and a half. (I've been a vegetarian for 30 years, and I think I accidentally ate some meat in a noodle dish at a buffet on Sunday. My system said, "What are you? I don't recognize you. GET OUT!" And believe me, it "got out".)

And then they screwed with my work schedule. (I'm mad and ready to quit. I won't be pushed!) So I'm way behind on my comments to everyone. I'll get there... eventually.

First of all, my gratitude to EVERYONE who took the time to listen, watch & vote on this "special" BOTB installment. I got 25 voters, and that ties my all-time record, I believe. You people are GREAT! I thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! 

I've already explained how I got the idea to make this Battle theme-based (the excesses and broken dreams of Tinseltown, the underbelly of life in Los Angeles) rather than song-based. It wasn't until I did a little research into the song 'UNDER THE BRIDGE' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that I had the idea to make this a dual duel - requesting separate votes for Song & Video. I found the following at Wackypedia:

The members of the band respected Van Sant both as a person and an artist and were elated when he agreed to direct the video for "Under the Bridge". Flea credits the video as "the thing that really made us break through the mainstream of American and worldwide pop culture".

MTV placed the "Under the Bridge" video on heavy rotation. At the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards the Red Hot Chili Peppers led the nominations, which included the categories of "Best Video", "Best Group", and "Best Direction." "Under the Bridge" won the group "Breakthrough Video" and "Viewers Choice Best Video".

I thought to myself: "Doggone it, are you kidding? The themes are similar, but the David & David video is a godzillion times better'n the RHCP video. So, I'll make this a contest between songs AND VIDEOS." And that's how this "different" Battle was conceived.

This will surprise many: As much as I like 'Welcome To The Boomtown', I voted for the song 'UNDER THE BRIDGE' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was super-close for me (my vote was like a 52%-48% decision). But any song that can get stuck in my head as quickly as 'Under The Bridge' can is a song I really dig at some mysterious level. 

Note, however, that 'Boomtown' by David & David is one of my favorite Rock albums ever recorded, and I sincerely believe it's the most underrated of all time. There are 9 tracks on the album, and 3 or 4 of them I like even better'n the hit 'Welcome To The Boomtown'. That gives you a clearer understanding of how much the 'Boomtown' LP appealed to me, and still does.


If you follow this blog on a regular basis, you will encounter David & David here again, when I resume posting blog bits about 'THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE'. 

I was astounded by the voting outcome. I was sure that David & David would clobber da crap outta the Chili Peppers in the Video category, and they did... and then some. But since 'Under The Bridge' went to #2 on the Billboard music chart, as compared to 'Welcome To The Boomtown' at #37, I figured that the Chili Peppers' hit would edge out David & David's hit in the Song category. But, you know, the only thing one can really know about 'Battle Of The Bands' is: You never know.

Song:
'Welcome To The Boomtown' (David & David) 
= 13 votes
'Under The Bridge' (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 
= 12 votes

Video
'Welcome To The Boomtown' (David & David) 
= 19 votes
'Under The Bridge' (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 
= 4 votes

I feel the Video vote is a total no-brainer, and it seems so did most of all y'all. 'Welcome To The Boomtown' is superior in 101 ways, and one of those ways is how some images were synchronized with the song's recurring percussion "BANG!" That cleverness ALONE makes the David & David video better'n its competitor in this Battle.

Here's the video for a repeat performance. Watch for that synchronized image / sound device:
0:32 - Person dives into swimming pool.
2:04 - The gunshot.
2:32 - The boxer's left jab.
3:03 - David Baerwald and the drunken man high-fiving.
3:23 - The wrecking ball striking the abandoned building.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97wvwuHUMCw

Once again, I thank EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU for participating, and I hope to see you here again for my spooktacular Halloween BOTB installment on October 15th.


And now, a special message to YOU from my friend Kevin (and me)...

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 25 FAVORITE MOVIES EVER MADE?

I was hoping that YOU would participate in a fun survey a friend and I have done a couple of times in the past (1994 and 2004) with people all over the USA. The survey is NOT going to be published or distributed to the general public, but if you want a final copy we can send you one when it is finished in late 2015 or early 2016. 


My friend Stephen T. McCarthy and I are asking folks to come up with their Top 25 Favorite Films of all time. Not what you believe to be the 25 greatest, but what films are your all time favorites? 

It is really fun to participate in, read the final results and see what films were popular in the final tally. I would also encourage you to get as many friends and family to join in as possible. The more, the merrier!

There are a few simple rules and requests if you decide to participate (and I hope you do because I included you hoping you would take part)

What you need to include:

YOUR NAME

STATE
FILM TITLE & YEAR
When listing the film, make sure to include the year of the film, so if the movie you have chosen is a remake we will list the RIGHT version. A great place to verify film years is the Internet Movie Database: 

Also, the year included will help us determine WHICH movie in a series the person means, when they get lazy and write "Alien" instead of "Aliens", or get lazy and don't add a number, like, I, II, III, IV.
 

Top 25 lists should be in TWO PARTS: The Top Ten, and The Next Fifteen. You don't need to order them as #1, #2, #3, etc. You can alphabetize them if you want (that's helpful), or you can just list them in any random order, so long as we can tell the Top Ten from The Next Fifteen (because 'Top 10' movies will receive 3 points, while 'The Next Fifteen' movies - in your Top 25 list - will receive 2 points).
And, according to our old rules, a person can list singly a movie from a series, or they can take the ENTIRE SERIES and list it in one spot. But they CAN'T pick and choose installments and then try to lump them all into one slot. Examples:
These are OK:
1: "Back To The Future"
or
1: "Back To The Future" Trilogy 
But THIS is NOT acceptable:
1: "Back To The Future" and "Back To The Future" III 
In a case like that, we would count BOTH of those movies ("Back To The Future" and "Back To The Future" III) as separate entries, and whatever is last on your list is going to get dropped off. 

I really hope YOU will participate in this fun survey. Take your time thinking about it. No rush, but I would say a good due date to have this completed would be October 31, 2015. Again, feel free to pass this along to anyone else you know who enjoys watching movies. We have had people participate from east to west, even outside the USA, in the past. Husbands, wives, sons and daughters can ALL participate. We look forward to your response!

Sincerely,

ZooKeeperKevin, and...
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=invnCfdq-fk

26 comments:

  1. ~ D-FensDogG -

    Booming Bridges! What a battle (smile)!

    That was some tally on the song vote - almost a tie. I voted for the song winner here; not sure if I responded in time to change my video vote. No problem.

    As for the videos, looks like the fully-clothed, D&D fared much better than the RHCP's singer. So much for Red Hot! He's got straighter hair than me, but I have better pecs. Go ahead - ask Ricketts. (TMI?)

    Sending prayers, for needed resolutions, regarding your health and work.

    SuperBattle - great twist!

    ~ Dp
    Postscript: Still working on movie list! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PIGTAIL POLKA ~
      Good to hear you're working on your movie list. I 'spect to get that before Halloween. Jus' sayin'.

      Ha! Yeah, so much for "Red Hot". It seems several of my female voters did not find that Chili Pepper red hot, but you're the only one who mentioned hunky David Ricketts. That surprised me as I thought several women would think he was red hot... or darkly sexy, or ... sumpin' along those lines.

      I have no doubt I'd vote for you over Kiedis in the "Pecs" category.

      Thanks! Glad you liked the twist in this BOTB.

      ~ D-FensDogG
      'Loyal American Underground'

      Delete
  2. WoW! I feel let down! First, YOU convince me that David and David had this great album that I'd never heard of... and then you go and vote for RHCP??? Well, boil my underpants and call me Shirley! What a disappointment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SHEBOYGAN SHIRLEYBOY 6 ~
      Sorry to disappoint, but at least everyone knows my BOTB votes are always straight up honest.

      Actually, the album 'BOOMTOWN' IS great. It just so happens that I slightly - very slightly - like the RHCP's one and only good song better'n D&D's 5th best song.

      But there is no RHCP album that would have a snowball's chance in Phoenix of getting my vote in a contest against 'Boomtown'. I'm hardly the Rock music fan I was in my youth, but 'Boomtown' has stood the test of time for me. It helped get me through some rough years.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  3. I'm sorry you were sick. I don't think I can limit myself to twenty-five movies.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, squat. I didn't side with the "winner's circle" on either of these. I'm still happy.

    But there's not other comments...which means you haven't okayed them on your end yet...which means you're either sick or sick-n-tired...which might mean too much worky worky.

    Hope all is well and God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DOC CHERDO ~
      I just barely got this written and posted before I had to shower and run off for work. Just now got home.

      However, I am sick-n-tired. You got THAT right, so I'll put you in the "winner's circle" anyhow.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  5. Oh my it sounds like you went through the ringer! I hope your tummy troubles are over with. I am surprised that Chili Peppers lost in the song area because that song was so popular, at least here in Canada Land. I have made my list! Now I was going to post it next week on my blog..is that aok? How would you like me to send the info you need about me(name, place etc..)? This was tough because I realized I could do a top 25 just on John Wayne Films never mind Hitchcock or musicals but I went with what I can watch and watch and watch...which can still exceed 25:) Let me know what you prefer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BIRGIT ~
      Yeah, I expected the Chili Peppers to win in the Song category, too. I think both songs are really good, so I didn't believe they would win by much, but I did think they'd win.

      At the beginning of the voting, the Chili Peppers started out with a 4 to 1 lead for "Song" and a 3 to 1 lead for "Video". But then the roof caved in on them in the Video vote, and after 12 votes, David & David had tied them in the Song category.

      This was a fun Battle for me to put together, as I felt I had really cool material to work with.

      25 FAVORITE MOVIES...

      Yeah, posting it on your blog is great. I'll just copy it from there and paste it in my own file where I'm collecting the others.

      You can submit your name and all the other info to me in a comment, but I won't publish the comment. I'll just copy the info and then delete the comment.

      Looking forward to seeing your list since you are such a music buff you have a ton to choose from. I know you'll have some great old Classics on your list. Thanks for participating.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  6. I wondered where you had gone. I was looking for the results in the previous posting. Hope you are on the mend. You've been missed.
    Even for a double vote, I picked two winners. So yea! It's a great song and a great video.
    Love the theme of 25 favourite films of all time. For that I'd probably have to look in my movie rack as I only have so many films I've ever loved that I decided to purchase it. Only a handful of videos are not on DVD so I don't have them. Honestly, in this day and age, why are not ALL movies ever made already on DVD in some form or another?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, JEFFREY! And congratulations on getting into the "winner's circle" twice.

      I'm really pleased that my Song voting was so close - I love a 1-vote margin of victory (the ideal BOTB outcome in my book) - and even though I voted for 'Under The Bridge', I'm actually happy that it was 'Welcome To The Boomtown' that won. Love an underdog victory, ESPECIALLY when I love the underdog as much as I do D&D and I generally dislike the favorite.

      I hope you WILL let me see a copy of your 25 FAVORITE MOVIES list so I can include it in my project. You can post it on your blog or just post it in one of my comment sections. So long as I can copy and paste it, I'll be pleased as spiked punch.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
    2. I think I'll post to my blog once I get it all assembled. Probably next week some time. Feel free to cut and paste any time you want.

      Delete
    3. Sounds good, JEFFREY. Thanks!
      Just please be sure you call my attention to it when it's posted, Brother.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  7. I kept watching comments to see the outcome and then I see you've done a special post! Interesting outcome for an interesting challenge.

    Hope you get a lot of responses for the film lists. I'm anxious to see how that turns out.

    Glad to hear you're better, but sorry to hear about the job difficulties.

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, LEE.
      Yeah, my life is in turmoil. Has been for the last 4 years. I don't think it's going to get much better. I've kind of lost hope, I'm afraid.

      The movie project probably won't be done until the end of November or thereabouts, but I'll make sure you see the outcome.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  8. Oh, wow... So D&D won overall, if just by a smidge in the song voting. Ah, well. Well fought :)
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, GUILIE, and I'm really happy with the outcome on both counts (even though I voted for the Chili Peppers in the Song category). 2 contests, 2 Davids: David got 1 victory and David got 1 victory. That seems right to me.

      2 votes in 1 and I got away without a tie in either category. WOO-HOO! Winners, winners, chicken dinners!

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  9. That synergy probably attracted me to the video, even subconsciously. I notice these subtle things. Overall though, the video was just superior, showing much more of the city, and its problems.

    Sorry Dudes, don't think I'll be able to put together that list for you. Take too much time, and I don't plan on blogging from Nov thru about Feb.

    sorry to hear you've been sick. I hate being sick. I try to pass it off to someone else as soon as I can.

    I'm yawning; been a long day, and too long a trip home. Be well; get some rest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OH DONNA! ~
      I just Googled "Boomtown". I had no idea it was so close. I'm gonna go there soon for a beer and a gal. (Do you have any idea what the going rate is there for prostitutes? Never mind. Why would YOU know that? I'll find out for myself. How can a guy say he's lived until he's had a whore in Boomtown? ...Ha! Actually... I did. My first time was a whore in the "REAL" Boomtown, just a block South of Sunset Boulevard. Sheesh! You wouldn't think a guy with my tremendous looks would have to pay for it, would ya? Of course, that was a long time ago, back when I wanted it.)

      You're right, you DO notice subtle things. You're the person who mentioned that the David & David video was shot in an empty house for a specific reason. (Me, I'm the guy who noticed the Venetian blinds which automatically made it Film Noir.)

      You're gonna stop blogging from Nov. through Feb.? NO! (Well, I hope you're going to continue voting on my BOTBs during that time. If not, the romance is done. Stick a fork in it. There are plenty of gals in Boomtown, sistah! I don't needs you.)
      [:o)}

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  10. Sorry you were so sick, Stephen. I hope you've made a full recovery! I'm also surprised about the results of the song, but was glad to see D & D won best video.

    Take care of yourself, and I hope things improve at work.

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, GEM JULIE!
      Yep, I'm back on the bar stoo--- er... I mean, I'm back in the saddle again.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  11. Ya Hoey! I picked the winner on both counts. I figured you for a RHCP vote on the song. I didn't think you would have used (posted) one of their tunes if you didn't really, Really, REALLY like it. Me? I liked it just fine (yeah, I'm surprised too), but not in comparison to the D&D number (which BTW I heard on the radio the other day. Yeah, that's right. I keep telling you to listen to The X 100.1 FM in Reno. Glad to see how this one turned out.

    One of the reasons I thing 'Boomtown' might have edged out 'Under the Bridge' is it has a more universal appeal, any of us who were raised in 'big' cities knows the feel. Although the video was particularly of LA, the sentiments could easily describe my 'little ole cow town' of a hometown. Whereas the other was more specifically LA. Make it relevant boys, make it relevant.

    As for the 25 favorite movies, that's a bit harder. I'm working on a list and putting it in the notes on my phone every time I think of one, or something else trivial jogs my memory. This is going to be a tough one. I admit a lot on the list are not going to be 'GREAT' flicks, but more likely than not, my guilty pleasures. Maybe, I don't want to publish my list as it just might reveal too much about me. Ha, ha, ha! You know me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, the lists are tough to put together when one has seen as many movies as we have. But you've got the right idea about making it your personal favorites and NOT necessarily what you think are great or important films.

      OK, now I gotta try that radio station. Any station that plays David & David has to be pretty good.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      Delete
  12. I haven't been feeling well, either. I think it's going around.

    Interesting that the song was so close. That's a really good battle, my friend.

    I will think about the 25 movies. I suppose I need to start thinking about my list NOW.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GIRL WONDER ~
      Thank you! And, yes, I was really happy that the Song battle was so close (as I knew the Video battle wouldn't be). I was also glad that MY vote didn't give the RHCP a win in the Song category. That would have really bummed me out if my own vote had cost David & David a victory!

      Yes, I definitely want your 25 FAVORITE MOVIES list. I'm going to finalize mine and post it on Bish Denham's 'Listing Blogfest'.

      ~ D-FensDogG

      POSTSCRIPT:
      I got your phone message and will get back to you soon'z I can. I actually had a reason for texting but our timing has been off. I'll get in touch with you pretty soon... "one if by E, two if by Phone".

      Delete

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