Today, I am combining my July 1st, 2016 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' (BOTB) Results post with another installment in my 'THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE' (TSOML) series.
First off, I want to thank all you DogGs and DogGettes for taking the time to listen, watch and vote. Considering it is Summer and this particular Battle was a bit more time-consuming than most (because I was asking you to cast two votes -- one for SONG and one for RIDE), this was a nice turnout. I appreciate that. Thanks!
This became a really good dual Battle, and because of the novelty of the contest, it is one of my favorites that I've ever put together.
This was an "E-Ticket" BOTB installment, and I asked you to compare the Disneyland rides "The Pirates Of The Caribbean" and "The Haunted Mansion" and cast your vote for your favorite of the two rides, and also a vote for your favorite of the two ride theme songs: "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me)" or "Grim Grinning Ghosts".
I liked your answers 'splaining why you preferred one ride or song over the other.
I'm a big fan of both rides -- both "E-Tickets" in every spectacular sense of the expression -- and I have ridden both of them countless times. 100? 150? I dunno, but it's gotta be in that neighborhood.
My great buddy, Kelly, who killed himself in 1986, has his initials scratched into a New Orleans Square window at Disneyland, just a stone's throw from "The Pirates" ride. Now I wonder who might have done that!
One thing I knew beforehand with absolute certainty was that every former member of 'The League Of Soul Crusaders' (meaning Judge Al Bondigas, Pooh, and myself) would be voting in the Song category for 'Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me)' Why? Because one day, circa 1982, Pooh changed the lyric, and from that time on, we would cruise the Los Angeles streets in our topless, 1964 Cadillac ("Tiburon"), beer cans held aloft, and we'd belt out the new line at the top of our lungs: "Yo-Ho! Yo-Ho! A PARTY life for me!"
For us, "Grim Grinning Ghosts" never had a chance.
My favorite part of the "real" song, however, is the line: "Aye! But we're loved by our mommies and dads." Ha!-Ha!!-HilArious!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A19q7rysLs
In the Ride category though, I put my own vote in for 'The Haunted Mansion'. Both rides are fabulous, entertaining as all get-out, but 'The Pirates' ride is essentially restricted to the reality of what pirates did and would do. With the exception of a comedic exaggeration -- a fat, old woman chasing a skinny pirate with a rolling pin -- there wasn't as much room for imagination in 'The Pirates' as there was in 'The Haunted Mansion'.
In 'The Mansion', the Disney "Imagineers" were really free to "conjure up" any weird, spooky, or ghostly humorous scenario they could. And there are so many fascinating details in 'The Haunted Mansion' that I enjoy it just slightly more than 'The Pirates', even if 'The Pirates' seems more epic in size and rambunctiousness.
Due to the Johnny Depp movies, I figured that "The Pirates" would likely run away with this Battle in both categories, Song and Ride, but actually it was reasonably close in both. The final tally, including my votes, came out like this:
SONG:
'Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me)' = 15 votes
'Grim Grinning Ghosts' = 9 votes
18 votes were also submitted for the Rides...
RIDE:
'The Pirates Of The Caribbean' = 9 votes
'The Haunted Mansion' = 9 votes
My thanks again to everyone who took time to vote, and I hope to see you all back here again for my July 15th 'Battle Of The Bands' installment.
And incidentally, as much as I loved 'The Pirates' and 'The Ghosts' at Disneyland, neither of them were one of my Top 3 favorite rides. Two of my three favorites were always these...
Link: --->> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtP5bMoSfRg
And...
Link: --->> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWzGN0Bezz8
My previous blog bits pertaining to 'The Soundtrack Of My Life' (TSOML) can be found by clicking the links below:
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TSOML #1 - Prelude To An Introduction
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TSOML #2- Introduction
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TSOML #3 - First Song: 1959
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TSOML #4 - 8th Birthday: 1967
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TSOML #5 - Summer: 1974
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TSOML #6 - Outlaw: 1978
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TSOML #7 - M*A*S*H: Late 1978
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TSOML #8 - Innocence Lost: 1980
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TSOML #9 - A Friend With A View: 1980
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TSOML #10 - The League Of Soul Crusaders: 1981
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TSOML #11 - The League Of Soul Crusaders: 1981 - Part 2
TSOML #12 - The League Of Soul Crusaders: 1982 - Part 3
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For more TSOML participants, visit the blog of GIRL WONDER ('Your Daily Dose') by clicking HERE.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
What a shame about your friend who killed himself. My heart always goes out to the person who committed such a desperate act and the family and friends left behind. Can I be so bold to say that this was a nice way to honour the memories you had and a fun way at that.
ReplyDeleteThanks, BIRGIT.
DeleteI had two good friends commit suicide. If only people tempted to do that could know in advance what sort of mental torment they create in the minds of those who love them and whom they leave behind, I'm sure there would be far fewer suicides.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I guess I never saw the "America Sings" ride, but I always liked going into the whale's mouth. I think I only went to the Anaheim Magic Kingdom 3 times and the one in Orlando once. I'd go again if I didn't have to pay what they charge now. Otherwise I'm happy as can be just staying home.
ReplyDeleteThe pirate song is much more memorable than the other so no wonder that it won that battle. Good contest for the summer (or anytime for that matter).
My results are now up. I had a close race.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thank you, LEE.
DeleteI'll make my way over to see your results post this morning.
~ D-FensDogG
You voted the way I thought you'd vote. I can see giving the nod to Haunted Mansion in the ride category.
ReplyDeleteNeither of the rides you linked as favorites were anything CLOSE to my own. I used to really like the Carousel of Progress; it predated America Sings in the same structure with the rotating center (or did the seating rotate??) Another early favorite was Rocket to the Moon when I was really little. Later they changed it to Mission to Mars, and - although it was dated - I always liked it. One thing we did every trip to D-Land: at the end of a long LONG day of hitting 90% of the rides in the place, we always boarded the train at Main Street Station and took the gentle relaxing ride all the way 'round Disneyland. It was a very satisfying way to end the day.
You should take up a collection to pay for a trip to Disneyland. I'll contribute, AND I will meet you there and we will open and close the joint! INCLUDING California Adventure so we can hit Cars Land. I made a special trip the second week after it opened just to visit Cars... and it was great! Tower of Terror is always nicely terrifying, too.
SHEBOYGANBOY 6 ~
DeleteBefore I forget: I thank you yet again for the photograph of Kelly's Memorial Window in New Orleans Square! Without you, I would not have it, as I haven't been to D-Land since early 1995, and will likely never go again.
I know what the 'Carousel Of Progress' was and even have a very vague memory of being on it when I was a wee little tyke.
Yeah, it was actually the seating that rotated, and many of those 'America Sings' animatronics were later used in the 'Splash Mountain' ride. (Funny that Disney would create a ride all around the movie 'Song Of The South' but they refuse to re-release the movie itself due to political correct bullshit. It's my favorite animated Disney movie, too.)
My other Top 3 attraction was 'America The Beautiful' in Circa-A-Rama. Unfortunately, there's no way to reproduce that effect on a YouTube video. I got to see all three versions of the film, but the second one was my favorite.
That was a free attraction, as was 'America Sings' in its last years. I thought it so odd that Disney thought so little of two of my three favorite attractions that they didn't even charge for them.
The Countess and I, usually in the heat of the day, would get on the Disneyland Railroad also (preferably #3, the "Fred Gurley", if it was running at the time) and we'd just ride it around the park in circles 2, 3, or maybe 4 times, until we felt rested enough to hit the attractions again. The Countess sometimes even literally napped on the train. Me, I could NEVER fall asleep in the middle of the day -- not at Disneyland or anywhere else.
I appreciate your idea, but I am in full boycott mode of Disney. The only way I'd go to D-Land again is if I won tickets somehow and Disney footed the bill itself. And even then I wouldn't spend a dime in the park but would eat lunch at one of the nearby restaurants.
As much as I once loved Disney, that's pretty much the degree to which I now despise the company. Hell, Bruce Springsprung might as well own the company!
Nice comment, Brother 6!
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Too bad about that boycott. Understandable though. With two contributors, that's at least a day pass right there...and someone could surely FexEx you over a couple of PB&J's for the trip. You could always consider it a research trip.
DeleteThat Carousel of Progress is my favorite ride. Wifey can't understand it. It's still spinning in Orlando. I guess it was part of the 1964 World's Fair. Last time I was on it, it kept getting stuck and wouldn't rotate properly. Just part of the charm. Some people behind me were upset...or maybe that was because of that tall Mickey stovepipe hat I was wearing.
Donald Duckem if they can't take a joke.
Stephen, thanks for the fun ride, again.
Siggy Mouse
SIGST-ARRR!!
DeleteI was already well on my way toward Disney boycott mode when I read the book (Link...>>) 'DISNEY: The Mouse Betrayed'.
That was the final nail in Goofy's coffin.
But I still cherish all the memories of times I had at "The Magic Kingdom", and I still own quite a nice collection of classic Disney animated movies. Also, one of my bookcases holds several nice coffee table-like picture books of D-Land.
So, all of that combined with so many excellent YouTube videos of "The Happiest Place On Earth" now available at the click of a (Mickey)mouse, my Disney jones can be "fixed".
>>... Last time I was on it, it kept getting stuck and wouldn't rotate properly.
It'll work just fine someday... when they make more progress on "Progress".
Thanks for your participation in what may have been my favorite BOTB installment.
See ya again on 7/15?
The Disney theme shall be continued, only it won't involve any theme park rides next time.
~ D-FensDogG
This was an interesting and fun BOTB! Yo ho ho!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteAnd a bottle of rum to you, too!
[:o)
~ D-FensDogG
Pirate song won-Yay! But, a tie in the ride, now THAT surprises me. Also, a little bit surprised by your favorite Disneyland rides, but then maybe not so much. This BATTLE, certainly took BOTB to new heights. Whaddya gonna do to top this?
ReplyDeleteFAE ~
Delete>>... Also, a little bit surprised by your favorite Disneyland rides
Keep in mind that I'm really a "little boy" in mind.
>>... "Whaddya gonna do to top this?"
Link...>> "I'm going to..."
~ D-isneyDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I think I forgot to cast a vote for the ride, but would have broken the tie with the same vote as the song...for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteI remember walking out of that pirate ride thinking I never wanted to hear that "yo-ho-ho" song again....
I just checked and, yeah, you only voted for the SONG.
DeleteBut, too late now. I hereby banish you to an afterlife of listening to "IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL", which is a godzillion times worse than "YO HO (IT'S A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME)".
Drink plenty of rum. It'll help drown out some of those singing children. Rum is expensive in hell, but pay whatever price the devil wants!
~ D-FensDogG
What about Mr. Toad? How was the Who he hoey concert?
ReplyDeleteI love, Love, LOVE 'MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE'! It doesn't make it into my Top 3. Wouldn't make it into my Top 5 either, because that would put it ahead of PIRATES and GHOSTS. Can't have THAT!
DeleteBut it's my second favorite ride in Fantasyland (after 'The Canal Boats'), and is ahead of 'The Matterhorn', 'Space Mountain', and a whole bunch of others.
How about you? How would your own Top 5 or 10 list look?
I decided not to go to the "Who He Hoey?" concert. The price was right and the venue looked fantastic, but I was pretty tired and as it got toward show time, I really didn't feel like going downtown.
~ D-FensDogG
Sorry to get back so late. I done fogot you been assed me a question. Hmmm. I like Mr. Toads wild ride and of course America sings. But I always enjoyed the Matterhorn and Space Mountain too. It would be very difficult to put them in order.
DeleteThe lines were way too long for xcelerator and I'm not sure about Supreme Scream. He did go on Montezuma's Revenge though. Truth be told he's as big a chicken as I am. I still have nightmares about Santa Cruz.
DeleteWell, at least he was able to muster up enough courage to match your own by going on Montezuma's Revenge.
DeleteTruth be told, that's still my favorite, even though Xcelerator is far more thrilling (0-82 mph in 2.3 seconds - Ha!)
~ D-FensDogG
(If this is a duplicate post, please delete the original - I hit the wrong button trying to post last time).
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed the party! This was a good one!! I was out of town, and then had the good fortune to be sick as a dog for several days. I haven't really been on the 'interwebs' much lately. Speaking of Disneyland naps...I also loved taking a nap on the grass outside of the Disneyland Hotel after one or two 'blue' drinks at Sgt. Preston's place!!! Fun (and relaxing) times.
For what it's worth, I would have chosen 'Grim Grinning Ghosts' for the song. I never get tired of listening to the golden vocal stylings of Thurl Ravenscroft! Pirates of the Caribbean is my ride of choice. It has parrots, how could I not love it!
>>... I hit the wrong button trying to post last time
DeleteHmmm.... I don't remember you being "blonde", you Ol' Bilge Rat!
Oh, yeah, that "Napping Place" is gone now. Heck, so is SGT. PRESTON'S. I still have my glass SGT. PRESTON'S beer mug though. It holds a lot of pens and markers.
Thurl Ravenscroft:
"You're a mean one, Captain Hook.
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
And as charming as an eel,
Captain Hook!"
Thurl could sing ANYTHING!
Yep, you'd have HAD to pick the PIRATES ride or risk being bitten by the ghost of Chickens past. (And believe me I KNOW, those Chickens can bite!! Damn Chickens!:o)
Hey, Bilge Rat, be sure to check in on my July 15th Battle Of The Bands installment. I'm doing Disney again. No rides next time but, trust me, one of the competitors is one of your all-time favorite Disney characters. Might even be #1, I think. And I believe you will like my 7/15 Battle even more so than my 7/1 Battle.
You want I should "textmind" you?
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
A 'textmind' is never a bad thing!!! I will 'see' you then!
DeleteOkie-dokie, Smokey.
Delete~ D-FensDogG