Republican Vs. Democrat, Male Vs. Female, War Vs. Peace, Light Vs. Dark, Good Vs. Evil, Man Vs. Machine, Love Vs. Hate, Dog Vs. Cat, Sun Vs. Moon, Brain Vs. Brawn, Oscar Vs. Grammy, Angel Vs. Demon, Laurel Vs. Hardy, Beer Vs. Wine, TV Vs. Radio, Pitcher Vs. Batter, Paper Vs. Plastic, Reality Vs. Fantasy, Yeshua Vs. Beelzebub, Conservative Vs. Liberal, You Vs. Me, House Vs. Senate, Offense Vs. Defense, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Spy Vs. Spy, Fischer Vs. Spassky, W.C. Fields Vs. Sobriety, Harold Gimpy, Jr. Vs. Sheldon J. Pismire, Rock Vs. Paper Vs. Scissors, Islam Vs. Everything, Singer Vs. Singer, Band Vs. Band...
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BATTLE OF THE BANDS! (‘BOTB’)
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Shoop-Shooby
–
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah
–
Buh-Doo-Wah!
.
Yes,
it’s time once again for ‘Battle Of The Bands’
(‘BOTB’)
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Alright,
let’s get on it...
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| EUGENE MARTONE VS. JACK BUTLER |
But first off, I need to inform you that our friend Dixie ("Polka") of the blog DCRELIEF is feeling poorly and she told me that she won't be able to participate in 'BOTB' this round. Perhaps not on 11/15 either.
If you're a believer, please say a prayer for Dixie's quick and complete recovery. And let's all hope she's at least able to rejoin us BOTBers in time for the December celebrations and the festive BOTB installments that always occur. I thank you.
.
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Alright, now let's get on it, FOR REAL...
Wackypedia sez:
"The Look of Love" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by English pop singer Dusty Springfield, which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It also received a Best Song nomination in the 1968 Academy Awards. [...]
Sérgio Mendes' hit rendition on the Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 album Look Around reached #4 on the pop charts after their performance in the Academy Awards telecast in March, 1968.
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| GOODNIKS VS. NO-GOODNIKS |
Alright, now let's get on it, FOR REAL...
Wackypedia sez:
"The Look of Love" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by English pop singer Dusty Springfield, which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It also received a Best Song nomination in the 1968 Academy Awards. [...]
Sérgio Mendes' hit rendition on the Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 album Look Around reached #4 on the pop charts after their performance in the Academy Awards telecast in March, 1968.
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| GODZILLA VS. KING KONG |
First up is Nina Simone. It was Nina who won the very first BOTB contest, which was posted by my friend FarAwayEyes (FAE) on July 10, 2013.
In that first BOTB, Nina Simone clobbered Matthew Bellamy and his band Muse (8-2). Let's see how Nina does against her second White boy. This time it's trumpeter Chris Botti.
NO, SCRATCH THAT!
I've changed my mind. It's a man's prerogative to change his mind. (That's right, womenfolk, we're all on even footing now, eh?)
I've opted for Diana Krall, instead of Nina Simone. (Heck, they're almost the same person anyhow, amIright?.)
Normally, I don't like to match a live performance against a studio recording, but in this case, I thought this live performance by "Ms." Krall was 1,001 times better'n her studio recording of this song.
But remember, videos still don't count. It's ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC!
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'THE LOOK OF LOVE' by Diana Krall
album: 'The Look Of Love' - 2001
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDsq555PrUc
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| RIDDLER VS. BATMAN |
'THE LOOK OF LOVE' - by Chris Botti
vocalist: Chantal Kreviazuk
album: 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' - 2003
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjebfGnCwyg
Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whoever you are) to vote for your favorite of these songs in the comment section below. And feel free to tell us WHY you chose one song over the other.
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After voting here, I suggest - actually I insist - you pop over to the blogs of the other 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' participants to see which songs they have chosen and vote there also. (If their ‘BOTB’ blog bits aren’t posted yet, pour yourself two shots of ‘Grand Marnier’ over ice – do it twice – and then return to their blogs to
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Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'NOVELBREWS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS AND HOLLERS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' by clicking HERE.
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As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th and 21st of each month to post my own votes and announce the winners in the comment sections.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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Holy crap, this is a tough one! I love Diana Krall's version and she does some mighty fine piano but I am crazy for Chris Botti's version. The trumpet seduced me into giving him my vote... Yes, definitely my vote goes to Chris. Mm, mm, mm!
ReplyDeleteGreat battle for sure.
Michele at Angels Bark
Oh, yeah, Yeah, YEAH... you women are always "seduced" by a man's "trumpet".
DeleteHa!-Ha! I'm sorry. Please forgive me!
Sometimes I just can't stop myself. I'm horrible, and I'm the first to say it!
Sorry... again, Michele.
At least one of the Davids of David & David would forgive me. Can't you do the same?
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Are you kidding? I'm roaring over here! That was so funny and so well placed!!!! Good one Stephen, good one. Still laughing...
DeleteHa! I'm glad you have a sense o' humor, Michele. It's pretty much required for a person to be around me.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Nina Simone and Diana Krall almost the same? Not hardly! LOL
ReplyDeleteNice to see two famous Canadian chanteuses battling it out here. As much as I enjoy a man's trumpet, ;) my vote goes to Diana Krall. Her rich, alto vocals please me more than Chantal's higher register.
Sorry! I missed the first part of your post. That's too bad about Dixie and I hope she feels better soon.
DeleteDEBBIE ~
DeleteYeah, that was meant as a joke.
I'm glad you caught the Canadian Connection (not the French Connection, but the Canadian Connection). I thought about mentioning it but... I didn't follow that thought all the way through.
~ D-FensDogG
It was a clever joke, Stephen. ☺
DeleteBeing Canadian is only important to those of us who are. ;) This is such a small country, population-wise and we're proud of our famous artists.
Sorry to hear about Dixie. Her Battle entry will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed this song and have enjoyed it done by so many artists. These were new versions for me.
I enjoyed the smooth piano and vocals of Diana Krall. Even without the sublime vocals, a piano only version would have been superb.
The trumpet playing of Botti was outstanding and the vocalist on his version was very fine. It was that percussion that kind of got to me. Maybe it was the earliness of Sunday morning. The percussive effect gave the song a slow motion at the disco feel. Good but not as pleasing to my ears as the first version.
Give my vote to Diana Krall.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thanks, LEE.
DeleteYou're never full o' surprises, Brother.
~ D-FensDogG
There are some live performances or videos that I find to be compelling. I don't think these qualify. Although, not for nothing, Michelle Obama looked like she was asleep every time the camera focused on her and The Hubz.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Diana Krall version was just fine. I thought her piano playing was better than her singing in this one. But, it didn't feel romantic to me in the way I expected this song to do.
The first time I heard Chris Botti was on FAE's BoTB many a moon ago. I shocked myself by voting for him on an instrumental piece (vs. a singer). When I saw that Chantal Kreviazuk was singing to this one, I thought, "Oh boy, I bet this is gonna be good." Turns out, I was right. I really like Botti's trumpet work and Chantal's voice. It evoked that romantic feeling and gets my vote!
GIRL WONDER ~
DeleteNot to be overly political (and this is all about music rather than politics) but... Yeah, it wasn't an angry C.P.U.S.A. rally, so Michael... er-- I mean, MICHELLE was falling asleep.
Obummer is the president, so he was required to pretend that he was interested. (Easy for him, because he's been "pretending" throughout his entire life.) I'm sure Obummer was thinking: "Wow! Just imagine what Jay Z could do by sampling this song!"
~ D-FensDogG... Z
Diana Krall is a favorite of mine and my vote goes to her absolutely! I have a lot of Krall's recordings - love her voice.
ReplyDeleteI love the horn and the images in the Chris Botti version but the girl's voice in this version rather interferes with the instrumental.
Thanks for your vote, D.G.
DeleteAnd I'm very happy to see you here again.
I hope things are going well for you these days, my friend.
~ D-FensDogG
I can't stand Diana Krall. Yup I said it-I don't see how she ever got so big. I did listen to both but where Diana Krall's version made me want to scream to tell her to open her mouth wider and actually say the whole word, I thoroughly enjoyed Chris Botti with his trumpet( nyuck, nyuck) and love Chantel Kreviazuk's voice much better. She actually annuciates the words. It was not making me squirm and it felt in keeping with the song and it's meaning behind it
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your "fully open-mouthed" honesty, BIRGIT. Seriously! If a person can't speak their true thoughts on one of my blogs, then all is lost (because I've been doing that myself since 2008).
DeleteI don't pull my punches, and I don't recommend that others do it either.
Thanks for the no-holds-barred vote, Birgit.
~ D-FensDogG
I like that about you. :-)
DeleteHa! Yeah, I like that about me, too.
Delete(Protly my one good quality.[:o)
~ D-FensDogG
Well, Thank ya...Thank ya very much:) I do have a habit of speaking my mind and having an opinion although I try..at times...to be careful
DeleteI was almost ready to vote for Krall without listening.
ReplyDeleteTurns out that this was a tough one that you made even tougher by using the live version. The live version is good but I've got twenty years or so of familiarity with the studio version.
I feel like the live version is paced faster than her studio version, and certainly faster than the Botti version.
So I am surprised I am voting for Botti.
LC
Thanks for the vote, LC.
DeleteI listened to Diana's studio recording of this song and was amazed by how bland it was.
This live version has a lot more piano playing and is much more interesting than that non-fat milk version she released on her album.
I'm just sorry that I had to show Barack and his husband on my blog.
~ D-FensDogG
I thought you were suddenly a supporter of the Kenyan dude.
DeleteI was playing that bar trivia game last night and a question came up "This Nobel Peace Prize winner was born in South Africa," to which I immediately called out, "Barack Obama!"
Ha!-Ha!
DeleteWell, shit, if they didn't give you credit for a correct answer... you wuz robbed, Brother!
[At any rate, we know FO' SHO that he wasn't born in Hawaii. If he had been, they could have produced a genuine birth certificate, rather than that ridiculously awful forged one that even a 12-year-old could have seen through!]
Awww, the Americonned Sheeple!
Gotta love 'em, eh?
~ D-FensDogG
Al Bondigas here. Kenya is in Central East Africa, not South Africa. Just being a bit of a smart azz. I did enjoy the humor though.
DeleteSo, would that make him a member of the 'Judean People's Front', or a member of the 'People's Front of Judea'?
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Hahahahaha. good one!!!
DeleteWell, skiddlely-doo, these two are pretty close to equal in my book. But since you're asking (you are asking, correctomundo?), I'm gonna give it to ya straight-ish.
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR MRS. ELVIS COSTELLO! I love her style of playing and though I usually am with meine Freundin, Birgit, all the way - it doesn't bother me how she holds her mouth. I'm usually scrolling down to read comments while I listen. So, I'm not even looking at her bird beak...
Sheeple? SHEEPLE? Quit paying attention to what is going on...it's un-American.
Love ya! ;-)
And I'm definitely lifting up big prayers for Dixie! Poor thing; I hope she feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteDOC CHERDO ~
DeleteCorrectomundo. I am asking. And when I ask for someone's opinion, I'm prepared to hear their honest opinion. And I don't need anyone to cloak it in a bunch of phony niceness. I can handle opinions 100% straight, right outta the bottle with no mix and no chaser.
And yer right, it's highly un-American of me to be paying attention to things in the political realm and - GASP! - actually thinking about them. I don't know what's gotten into me.
~ D-FensDogG
Don't let other's mix your drinks. They may be adding a little sumpthin' sumpthin' that will affect your views. And we can't have that.
DeleteYou're right as rain. I gotta keep on the "straight" and narrow.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
What a coinkidink (my aunt fanny) Ha! Also I have ten comments and not a one, including asked about TKOTPPH, but then maybe that's no as funny and I think. I am so sleep deprived and stressed I would probably 'laugh at a funeral'.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I scanned the comments and loved whoever said they really couldn't stand Diana Krall (I think it was Birgit), i agree. Never could understand what was so hot about her.
Need I tell you outright who I vote for. Of course, you knew where my vote would land about a month ago.
At last look, my BOTB was running almost neck and neck, not what either of us thought, eh?
FAE ~
DeleteI had a reply just about finished for your comment this morning when that Re(no)tard ran into the power line pole and took out all my electricity. I was about 3/4ths finished with my reply here, too. (Now I gotta try to remember what I was sayin'...)
Oh, yeah, TKOTPPH... I was wondering what that stood for, and I intended to axe but then... I forgotted.
So, what does that stand for? (Yeah, I know the last 3 letters mean "Poo-Poo Head".)
Yeah, it was Birgit who denounced Diana, and Sheboyganboy Six seconded her opinion. Or maybe you seconded it and SBB-6 thirded it.
Yep, I'm really surprised by how BOTH of our BOTBs are going this time. I figured we both had blowouts on our hands. Hardly so.
BOTB... one just never really knows for sure. I guess that's why we run the contests, eh?
~ D-FensDogG
The King of the...
DeleteThought the LF's would like me calling you that better than TSMOTP, but you know, to me you still are. HA!
To you I still am what? TSMOTP or The King Of The Poo-Poo Heads?
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Birgit is SO right on with her comments!
ReplyDeleteI loathe Krall. She is so incredibly overrated, she makes U2 seem like the world's greatest band. Go back and listen to her off-key croaking just after the 1:00 mark if you doubt me. My GOSH is she terrible!
The perfect singer to serenade the Kenyan-in-Chief.
I bought one of her CD's years ago on a "friend's" recommendation and for some reason I've not yet throw it out. I guess it is because I'm a hoarder; there is no other logical reason.
BOTTI, BOTTI, BOTTI, BOTTI!!!!
Ha!-Ha! She makes U2 seem like the world's greatest band? Well... methinks you might be exaggeratin' some, but... I hear ya.
DeleteNow then... who you votin' for? I'm not sure I'm clear on that. [;o)}
~ D-FensDogG
If I have to let you know who I'm voting for, you've obvious never been to my blog. When it comes to Diana Krall, there is never competition as far as I'm concerned. And for the record, NO I do not believe Diana Krall and Nina Simone are almost the same person. You did ask.
ReplyDeleteThanks for using Diana Krall. You will be my best friend today. Everyone who votes against her, well. we'll see. ;)
Whew! That was a close one for me! Glad I went with Krall!
DeleteJEFFREY ~
DeleteThe one thing I was absolutely certain of when I put this BOTB together was... YOU would be voting for Diana.
It's funny that this one went through three changes before I finally settled on Diana. First it was gonna be Botti versus Grover Washington, Jr. Then I switched to Botti versus Nina Simone. And finally I went with Diana Krall... just to make you happy, Brother.
~ D-FensDogG
Thanks for that!
DeletePS - In case you missed it. I posted my top 25 films.
JEFFREY ~
DeleteI checked out your list earlier, but I've been so damned busy I didn't even have time to leave a comment... yet.
But I promise I'll get back over there and leave an A-list comment, and then copy your list for inclusion in my 25 FAVORITE MOVIES project. (Probably on Thursday.)
And a very, very sincere thank you for participating. I truly appreciate you taking the time and effort to compile a list for the 3rd installment of this long-running project.
I'll be Bach (and Beethoven), JEFFREY. Thanks again, my friend!
~ D-FensDogG
Diana Krall gets my vote! I love her voice
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote, MIKE.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
I love the sound of Chris Botti playing that trumpet. Captivated me instantly. My cohort, meanwhile, just really liked Chantal's voice. As he so eloquently put it, "She sounds hot." She does. Almost as hot as that trumpet. Once again we actually agree, albeit for different reasons. Two votes for Mr. Botti and Ms. Krasdlinvzkjsdlkaj (I won't even pretend to remember what her last name is).
ReplyDelete~6B
6-B ~
DeleteI was only half right this time.
I really didn't have much to go on, but I did think you'd go for that trumpet. And I guess I thought Brandon might be more of a piano guy. (Not one of The Piano Guys but, you know, a piano guy.)
Thanks for the votes, Beer Bros!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen, thanks for the heads up about Dixie-Chick-A. I certainly will keep her in my prayers. I hate that she's not doing well. Now, did you and Fae coordinate this or what? I actually prefer Diana to Nina on this song; I thought Diana would get my vote, but it turns out I like Chantal a week bit better ~ nice vocals and instrumental composition. Cool battle!
ReplyDeleteCATHY ~
DeleteConfession: Yes, FAE and I colluded on this one. We conspired. We were in cahoots.
About a month ago, she asked me to give her a good song to use in a BOTB. So, I got the idea that we would both use the same two artists on two different songs (one was Chris Botti and I forget who the other artist was going to be - Grover Washington, Jr., I believe).
But I couldn't find where both artists had two songs in common. So, then I got the idea to use 4 different versions of the same song.
But the surprise doesn't end there. Because on 11/15, we will conclude this experiment. These are just the Battles for the National and American League pennants. On 11/15, we will have a Battle for the World Series (of this same song). You'll see what I mean in a couple weeks.
Thanks for your vote, my friend.
~ D-FensDogG
I vote for the horn - er, Chris. I wan't too impressed with Diana for some reason (maybe cuz just visited FAE and Simone was soooo much better), but that horn sings the song expertly.
ReplyDeleteBeen in a writing cocoon lately and not feeling very social so I did not post today. IWSG is coming in a couple days and that usually wears me out from blogging for several days. I'm usually on a blog break from Nov 1 thru Jan something, but have scheduled a couple book tours in Nov. Oh, silly silly me, lol.
Anyway, just wanted to say HI MAC!
OH DONNA, you ALWAYS vote for a man's trumpet! Ha!-Ha!
DeleteThat's interesting that you liked Nina so much more than Diana, when Cathy (just above your comment) expressed the reverse opinion.
Thanks for coming by to vote. (Yer not gonna BOTB in December?! What the---?! Well... OK... if you mustn't.)
HI, DONNA!
Hey, I wanted to tell ya... I went back to Boomtown. Didn't win on your slot machine between the Prince and Princess. But on the middle machine in the row of 3 just in front of your bank of machines, I won again! Last time it was $44.00. This time it was $107.00. Next time you're at Boomtown, try that Chinese one in the middle, just in front of your Prince/Princess row. (It's the one with a spinning roulette-like wheel above the regular slot machine lines.)
I think I'm about to quit my job. $151.00 in about 25 minutes? Sheesh! Why am I workin' so hard? I don't make that much in 8 hours of my "day job".
~ D-FensDogG
Ha, its hard to beat that kind of income, occasionally. I'll caress the little guy and seek my fortune next time I blow through. Friday actually, and if you've no better offers, you should totally sock away those winnings for our first date. I'll be all alone and lonely on my way through.
DeleteI read Robyn's comment and decided she was on psychadellics. Poor child's reliving the 60's and all those J's ya know. At least we both know a good violinist when we hear it :) Ahh, sing it baby!!
OH, POOP!
DeleteFriday, I have to work from 4:00 PM to Midnight at my old job. Earlier in the day, I'll be in training for the new job that's about to begin in a week or so (you know, the second job that I want to quit so I can just play that same slot machine).
Do you ever get to pick the day you come through Reno for your job? Or is it a set schedule you can't deviate from?
In a week or so I will have a new schedule with the new employer, so hopefully we can make that first date happen the next time you come through "The Biggest Little Hellhole In The World".
~ D-FensDogG
I must vote for Diana Krall. The sound of the piano with her somewhat smoky voice is perfect. I shall most definitely pray for Dixie.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thanks, JANIE. The votes keep falling both ways. This was a more competitive Battle than I thought it was going to be.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Though Diana's jazz version was entertaining, Chris and Chantal were the perfect combo for this song. Diana's version was missing something, but Chantal's voice with Chris on the trumpet provided the right amount of heat which makes Bacharach's song stand out.
ReplyDeleteBest Bacharach songs ever were when Kristen Chenowith and the teacher on Glee sang a duet of "One Less Bell to Answer," and "A House is Not a Home."
Hope Dixie feels better soon. I miss her.
Julie
GEM JULIE ~
DeleteThanks so much for your vote and analysis.
I really dig so many Bacharach songs! I'll have to try to find those versions you mentioned. Although I gotta say, it would be very hard for me to imagine I could like any version of 'ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER' better'n The 5ifth Dimension's recording. I am a big fan of TFD. In fact, I haven't listened to them in awhile. I need to fix dat!
~ D-FensDogG
Al Bondigas here. Sorry to be so late to the dance, but, had a busy week and didn't feel much like getting on the computer. I guess I go for the Chris Botti version. I liked the video a lot, and not having to see Odumbo in it gave it an additional 100 points. That's it!! That's my rulin'.
ReplyDeleteYeah, neither Odumbo nor his husband, Michael.
DeleteOK, thanks, Judge Al. Got yer vote recorded. Looks like yours is the last I'm-a get for this installment of BOTB.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen, my vote goes to Diana Krall, first I kind of have had a quiet crush on her for some time now. Second, she can hit those keys pretty nicely in addition her nice voice. On top of that she's married to Elvis Costello, who is no longer much of a punk, but then again neither are we.
ReplyDeleteJW,
Pooh
...AND POOH
DeleteYou made it, Brother! You got yer vote in just under the wire. Now, don't you feel good, having voiced your vice? Er... I mean, having voiced yer vote?
I had you figured as a vote for Botti, because of the man's trumpet.
You know how every group of good friends includes one closet homosexual who doesn't tell the others about his sexuality for fear of being suddenly rejected? (At least that's what the movies tell us.) Well, I always suspected that The League Of Soul Crusaders' secret gay guy was you.
But now, seeing you voted for Diana Krall (admitting to having a crush on her), and remembering that you're married to a woman, I realize that you weren't The League's gay.
And with horror, it suddenly dawns on me that I'm the only League member who didn't get married.
DOH! I must be the closet homosexual! (And to think I was always looking for signs to identify our gay guy and I never even realized it was... ME!)
Ha!-Ha! But no, but no, but no!
Seriously, I did quess you would vote for Diana.
And if I'm a gay guy, I'm the worst one of all time, being a poet who don't know it.
Hollywood would never make a movie about The League Of Soul Crusaders because we didn't have a token homosexual in our group of crude, vulgar beer-drinkers.
Thanks for the vote, you slow, old Pooh.
~ D-FensDogG
ReplyDeletePart 1 Of 2:
STMcC’s Vote On '2015, Nov. 1st: Battle Of The Bands'
(Or, 'Diana Krall Vs. Chris Botti')
And The Final Tally:
My genuine thanks to everyone who voted in my 55th BOTB installment!
This one really surprised me a great deal. Why? Because I believed this was going to be a pretty massive blowout. I knew for sure it would NOT be a shutout, as long as Jeffrey Scott didn't get sick and die. (Actually, I suspect he would have even managed to get a vote to me from Heaven for the love of his life, Diana Krall.)
But, really, projecting my own opinion on this Battle, I didn't see much of a battle here at all, and was prepared for a terribly lopsided result.
In the end, it was much, much closer than I could have imagined and hoped for. It wasn't a "blowout" (one more vote for Chris Botti would have made it that), but it was a decisive victory for one of this era's greatest trumpet players.
However, to my happy amazement, this BOTB installment was actually tied after twelve votes - 6 to 6. After that, Botti began to pull away.
There were some very strong anti-Krall sentiments expressed in the voting. I voted for Botti, obviously, and I don't feel quite as strongly about Krall as some of my voters do but (with all sincere apologies to my friend and fellow BOTBer Jeffrey Scott) I kind of dislike her somewhat.
On a musical note (pun intended), I fully agree that it's a wonder she's as popular as she is, because I see no real reason for it. Oh, her singing is pretty bland to my ears, but her piano playing is fine - that's easily her strong suit, musically.
Nevertheless, there's nuttin' the least bit original about Diana's playing. Everything she does has been done before. Just as I wondered why anyone would listen to Harry Connick, Jr. when they could be listening to Frank Sinatra, I've wondered why anyone would listen to Diana Krall when (for the piano work) they could be listening to the "Maharaja of the keyboard", Oscar Peterson, or Count Basie or Duke Ellington or countless other Jazz masters.
And if it's the vocals we're yakking about, well why not instead listen to Ella, Dinah, Keely, Peggy, Karen, Nancy Wilson or others?
But I guess each generation wants to have its own Jazz heroes.
Continued Below...
Part 2 Of 2:
DeleteNow one more negative about Mrs. Costello and I'll stop (before Jeffrey starts hating me)...
When I went looking for a video of Diana Krall doing 'THE LOOK OF LOVE', the first I came across was the official video for the (greatly inferior and pretty bland) studio recording. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr8xDSPjII8
Wow! That was a total turnoff for me! Never mind that I am not the least bit attracted to Diana (there's a kind of self-satisfied smug look to her mug, it seems to me, anyway). I know some guys think she's hot, but maybe not as hot as SHE thinks she is. Could she have had any more huge close-ups worked into that video? Is it just me, or is that video a bit overly self-absorbed? Sheesh! ("All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-upS.")
Now, CHRIS BOTTI... Those who know me best might think I wouldn't care for him much (a rather pretty boy) but hokey-smoke can that guy play that trumpet! And he has quite a musical pedigree that I wasn't aware of prior to putting this BOTB together (check out his Wackypedia page).
My ol' friend MelNel burned me a copy of Botti's album 'A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP' way back about 2004 and I fell in love with it instantly. Man, that guy has a unique, highly-passionate and... SEXY... sound! I believe 'A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP' must be one of the very best modern Jazz albums released in the last dozen years.
I'm long past "romantic evenings", but lemme tell ya, if I were to jump back into the dating pool and brought some woman over to "see my place"... and if I poured us each a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to sip on the sofa (if I had a sofa)... and if I put on some low music to sip wine to... that music would definitely be the album 'A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP'.
Believe me, it would get hot in my place real quick (I thank you, Mr. Botti!). ...And then I would call a cab for my date, because I would certainly want to be alone with myself.
Diana Krall = 8 Votes
Chris Botti = 13 Votes
Don't get the wrong idea. Musically, I think Diana Krall is OK - I wouldn't object to listening to her. But I think her popularity is out of proportion to her talent. And Chris Botti deserved to win this round. Nevertheless, I ESPECIALLY THANK EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR DIANA (particularly you, Jeffrey - I hope yer still a blog buddy of mine). Y'all kept this one pretty close and made it a much better BOTB than I anticipated it was going to be.
I hope to see y'all again when I present a new Battle Of The Bands on November 15th. "Happy Trails To You, Until We Meet Again"... after that, yer on yer own.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Well, I don't know how 13 people can be so wrong to vote for slow motion jazz disco over the golden tinkling of a golden haired girl--or a lady if you prefer. Let's see, some guy blowing a trumpet over a passable fine looking woman tinkling on her keyboards. Well I don't know what else to say.
ReplyDeleteFor me the truly definitive version of this song will always be the soft singing of Claudine Longet. She's the first one I ever heard sing that song. When I was in high school I saw her sing it on TV and I fell in love with her at that moment. Thank goodness I wasn't a famous skier and she fell back in love with me.
Nevertheless it was a good Battle with an interesting conclusion after some engaging debate.
Arlee Bird
Wrote By Rote
Well, LEE, as you have said countless times, music is not a Right or Wrong thing, but a matter of personal preference.
DeleteOr, as I have said countess times: What can ya do? Some people just prefer Bland and Unoriginal to Unique, Highly-Passionate, and Sexy.
~ D-FensDogG
Ha, ha, ha! For a woman who really isn't 'all that', and a video that showcases the o-idiots, she did pretty well; especially when you consider she came up against some of the sexiest music around.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering what Mr. Bottis gonna do on the 15th.
Botti probably won't do very well on the 15th. After all, he's just "some guy blowing a trumpet".
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen, you are hilarious. And yes, I would have made sure I voted, somehow, after I died. But after the beating she took in your comments, I'd definitely be haunting you the rest of your life. LOL ;)
ReplyDeleteNo hard feelings, we are still blogging buddies. You've got your tastes and I have mine.
Ha! Glad you take things like this in stride, JEFFREY.
DeleteI don't mind letting you have Diana, so long as I can have Karen (and Astrud).
See ya on the 15th, Brother. Diana might be getting a form of revenge in my next BOTB.
~ D-FensDogG
I'm looking forward to it. ;)
Delete