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, Stephen T. McCarthy Vs. Sobriety, Rock Vs. Paper Vs. Scissors, 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!
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Yes, it's time once again for 'Battle Of The Bands' ('BOTB').
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
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Friends, it being only a week and a half now from Christmas Day, this is a Christmas-themed BOTB installment. I'm using one of the lesser known Christmas songs yet one that a lot of people greatly love (me, too!)
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However, the final line of lyric in the song might need a brief explanation. The line is: "This sleeping Child you're holding is the great I Am."
Obviously, the Child referred to is Jesus. But Who is "the great I Am"? The 3rd chapter of Exodus tells us this:
Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
So He [God] said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
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And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'”
So, "I Am" was the first name for God that God ever revealed to mankind. Got it? Alright then, let's move on to the Battle. BOTH of these competitors are well known for their versions of this particular song. Let's listen to them singing it live and find out who does it better...
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KATHY MATTEA
This next version comes from an old recording of a TV special so, unfortunately, the sound quality is a bit ragged. Please try not to let the less-than-stellar audio track interfere with your evaluation of the performance. Also, you'll want to fast-forward to the 4:40 mark for the beginning of 'MARY, DID YOU KNOW?'
JUBILANT SYKES (with The Boston Pops)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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Question: Will Jubilant Sykes lose this Battle
Magic 8-Ball sez: "Yes"
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Alright now, “you know the gig”... I welcome you (whether I know "you" or not) 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.
Voice Your Vote...
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@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ 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
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'YOUR DAILY DOSE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'BOOK LOVER' by clicking HERE.
As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 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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Hiya Stephen.
ReplyDeleteHappy December! Wow, where has the time gone?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song so much. It's one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs and I'm so glad you've chosen it for your battle. (Speaking of battle: I didn't do one this month. I took a fall a week & a half ago and have been a mess since. I'm taking a break from my ice packs right now to come over and check out a few battles before I get back in the recliner. Honestly, I didn't even give BOTB a thought until last night and I said Shit! I don't have anything! Oh well. Instead of making myself crazy trying to put something together and having to deal with everything else that I had to deal with today (a lot), I just decided to push it til January. November and December have been insane with sick dogs (Picasso had major surgery (tumor removal) and Luca got sick and needed vet care), getting in routine end-of-the-year doctor appointments and then emergency appointments, getting my Mom through all her appointments and tests (another one on the calendar for tomorrow) and on and on it goes... I've blown off all the Mondays music posts and now this battle so I'm just writing off the rest of the year. I should have emailed you to touch base but, ya know. I'll get back in the groove next year).
Anyway, I'm done whining now. Back to YOUR battle: Jubilant Sykes teaming up with the Boston Pops was nice. He has quite the voice and I loved the energy and symphonic power at the 6:40ish mark. But my vote is going to Kathy Mattea. I think I prefer this song with female vocals for some reason.
Hope you're having a good month. Seems like forever since we've connected. Feel free to drop me a line over the holidays...
talk soon,
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi, MICHELE!
DeleteVery sorry to hear about your fall and injury. I'm going to do you a favor and just automatically assume the fall was alcohol-related and NOT old age-related. ;^) (Ain't I a brat? That's what my Sister calls me.)
Yeah, sounds like you're doing the right thing by blowing off the rest of the year blogging-wise and getting a fresh start in 2018. Not to worry -- a link to your blog will remain on my site.
Thanks for checking in with a vote. I appreciate your participation even when you don't have a Battle of your own running.
In case we don't yak again before Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful one!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Wish I could say it was alcohol related, but no, it was boring...and incredibly irritating. I took a flower arrangement outside on the deck to shake the dust off it before hosing it in the shower...and tripped coming in the back door. Stupid flower arrangement! I don't know how I ended up on my back but when I fell, my shoulder crashed into the fireplace bricks. OUCH! So yeah, not a happy camper here...
DeleteYou have a great Christmas too Stephen... Idon't know how fun mine is going to be: I just looked at the weather forecast and the next two weeks look to be a lot of rain, which is going to be HELL with a house full of dogs, so many muddy paws to wipe and all... I just hope the forecasters are wrong!
talk soon.
Wow! Injured by flowers. It's a little know fact that flowers have a mean streak. They probably deliberately tripped you, MICHELE.
DeleteDEATH TO FLOWERS!!!
Seeing as how the weather forecasters are right only about 1/3rd of the time, your Christmas may have better weather than you're anticipating.
Heal, drink, and... drink some more! Brandy and Eggnog -- it's Dr. Kris Kringle's prescription for a Merry Christmas. :o)
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I first heard this song sometime in the 90s when some young guy at the church sang it as a solo. I was so moved by the song and impressed by it as well. I has become among my favorite Christmas themed songs.
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know, I tend to like presentations with orchestra or strings so the Sykes version seems like an obvious choice for me. Too dramatic and drawn out for me though.
The Kathy Mattea version rang clear as crystal and got the point of the song across better. I also more prefer her vocal style.
My vote goes to Kathy Mattea.
Lee
Tossing It Out
LEE ~
DeleteThe first time I heard this song was Christmas of 1994. And it was actually Jubilant Sykes singing it live at the church I'd attended in the L.A. area.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'
Good day, Stephen! ☺ This song is one I've never heard before, so,no preconceptions. It's beautiful! I was blown away by Kathy Mattea's vocals. Please give my vote to her! Jubilant Sykes had an impressive voice as well, but it was more operatic, which I have to be in the mood for and I'm not, just now. Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteHiYa, DEBBIE!
DeleteThanks for coming by with a vote for Kathy Mattea.
Yes, this is a wonderful song and I'm glad you enjoyed it, too. A lot of people feel Kathy Mattea does the definitive version of this. And so far, my BOTB boting seems to indicate that she's preferred over Jubilant. But there's a ways to go yet...
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteYou put together a good battle using. Jubilant has a powerful voice but too formal to suit my ears this morning and while it was good, it felt like a performance instead of a song from the heart. Kathy Mattea on the other hand sung with emotion moving me. Give my vote to Kathy Mattea, please!
CATHY ~
DeleteThanks for coming by to vote. And I understand what you're saying. It's true that Kathy Mattea's rendition seems more "conversational" or "intimate", while Jubilant's approach is more of a performance, with a focus on the power of the message rather than the tenderness aspect of it. Probably the natural difference between a male and female approach to the lyrics.
Cathy, have yourself a merry little Christmas!!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'
I's sure you already know how I'm voting on this. Sykes BLOWS AWAY Mattea. To me this is one of those "The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody had decided not to see" sorts of things (quote: Ayn Rand). Most people will prefer Kathy, and I am sure you like both versions since that is your M.O., unless the B-52s are involved. SAY! Maybe you can pit THEIR version of this song against Mattea when she wins. I think the Eight ball may have stumbled into correctness for once, though it makes no sense to my ears.
ReplyDeleteMcBROTHER SIXGUNBOY ~
DeleteYou are very perceptive! Indeed, I knew with certainty that you would vote for Jubilant, just as I knew Lee would vote for Mattea. I had no worries about this Battle being a shutout. I knew that you two alone would prevent that from happening.
I like that Ayn Rand quote. I may use it in a future F-FFF blog bit.
And you're also right that I do like BOTH versions quite a bit. In fact, this one's a bit of a challenge for me and I don't relish having to vote AGAINST either of these recordings.
Ha! The B-52s -- I think they are as likely to have recorded a version of 'MARY, DID YOU KNOW?' as B-1 Bob has.
I believe there were only 3 times in my BOTB history where I deliberately used recordings which I strongly disliked: The B-52s, Pete Seeger, and Whitney Houston.
You know, it's kinda funny... I got to thinking about how, in BOTB, the MAGIC 8-BALL nearly always predicts the winner WRONG! And then it dawned on me that perhaps I was using it 180-degrees WRONG. That instead of asking it who would WIN, maybe it's really designed to predict who will LOSE!
So this time I reversed the way I asked the question and... LOOK HOW GOOD THE MAGIC 8-BALL IS DOING!! Ha!-Ha! By jove, I think this is the (E-)Ticket!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'
Very nice selection, Mr. McCarthy, I like this song. Kathy certainly has the advantage here...better recording, well known Country star, and a beautiful rendition of this lovely song, but I like Jublliant. The richness of his voice and the orchestral backup lend a majesty to this song and although a simple tune, it deserves all the grandeur given in his version.
ReplyDeleteSo, consider yourself saved from a shut out, early on. I vote for Jublliant!
FAE, it looks like you and Sheboyganboy were saving me from a shutout at about the same time.
DeleteI'm sure glad you enjoyed the song selection and the renditions I used. As I mentioned to Lee above, I became aware of this song when I heard it sung live in a church by Jubilant Sykes. I knew from the earliest days of BOTB that someday I'd use this one in a Christmas installment, and I also knew I'd use Jubilant. I needed to find someone whom I thought could give him a good run for his money, and when I eventually heard Mattea's version, I said: Eureka! I have found it!! Let the trouble begin.
Jubilant got dog-piled on early, but methinks this race will tighten up by the time we get to the homestretch.
~ Stephen
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I am usually for a symphonic treat but I didn't care much for Jubilent's voice and the way he styled the songs so Kathy gets my vote. It was clear and sweet
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT, thanks for stopping by with a vote. I appreciate your contributions to my BOTB installments, and I wish you a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Both versions of this are wonderful. I preferred Kathy Mattea's cover of it, because I think of this as more of a woman's song, and besides, it's *Kathy Mattea*...
ReplyDeleteJOHN, I'm pleased you liked both versions. And your observation about it being "more of a woman's song" I can understand. There's that motherhood theme there, even though I think it can be sung from more than one perspective. But, yes, a female voice may have a slight natural advantage.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I was tempted to vote for Jubilant Sykes because his name is "Jubilant," but when I listened, I decided to vote for him because I like the classical sound of his trained voice with the orchestra. I love the song.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
JANIE, Jubilant has the perfect name for a Gospel singer, doesn't he?
DeleteWhat I like about this Battle are the differences: female voice vs. male voice; White Country singer vs. Black Gospel singer; simple guitar arrangement vs. complex Classical arrangement.
How one constructs their BOTB installments can be interesting. Everything from going with two extremely different versions (as I did this time) to using two very similar versions which force the listener to pay close attention in order to find the little nuances that really differentiate the recordings (as I've done occasionally in the past).
BOTB-IS-FUN
(Now available in a home board game version! It can be found wherever quality toys and games are sold -- entertainment for the whole family!)
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
BOTB: the new game from Milton Bradley.
DeleteI like the contrasts in this battle, too. I enjoy constructing the battles for increased enjoyment. It might only be enjoyed by me, but it's fun.
Right! It makes it much more interesting when a Battle is constructed rather than slapped together.
DeleteIt may not always look like it, but I actually put a fair amount of thought into the Battles I present.
~ D-FensDogG
Leave it to ME to set up a spur of the moment BotB, and totally forget its Christmas
ReplyDeleteWell, to be honest, my favorite Christmas song is a toss up between Away in the Manger and Little Drummer Boy. I can never decide.
MARY DID YOU KNOW is a beautiful song. I've heard it often, and for me, this is such a motherly song that I like it best sung by a woman. A man's deep voice lends a dramatic note that doesn't suit this song; as Sykes demonstrates. And I think I love this song more listening to it by Kathy Mattea.
Magic 8 ball may have drunk too much egg nog. Or not enough :)
WILD THING! ~
DeleteYeah, Christmas has a way of sneaking up on us. If only there were some clue it was coming, like, I dunno, maybe lights on houses or decorations in stores -- something like that, perhaps?
HA!-HA!! Just teasin' ya, my friend. Just givin' you the business (as Wally Cleaver would say).
AWAY IN A MANGER was also my Ma's favorite Christmas song.
In the Jubilant Sykes video above, I had everyone fast-forward to MARY, DID YOU KNOW. But if you just click it and let it play from the beginning, the first song Jubilant sings is AWAY IN A MANGER, and I think it's a pretty phenomenal version. See what YOU think, if you have a chance.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Oh, I hate to vote this way (again, if a non-participant's vote counts - if not, then just for shits & giggles!) since both are great. I really, really love Jubilant's voice, but preferred Kathy's version overall. But it was really, REALLY close!
ReplyDeleteKim @ The ReInVintaged Life
Thanks for your input, KIM. Everyone -- whether a BOTBer or not -- gets a vote. Except for people in Chicago... they get 3 or 4 votes.
DeleteThanks again. And, FYI: A lot of BOTBers have gone to just a once-per-month format (on the 15th of each month). So, if time is a concern, but you think you could do one Battle every 4 weeks, you'd be right in the overall swing of things.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Did I say Kim? I meant Kathy! ...Names, who remembers names at my age?
ReplyDelete...AND POOH, THAT'S REALLY NOT ALL!...
DeleteI get the strong impression that you submitted a comment PRIOR to the one that's showing above, but that it somehow got waylaid on the way to my Dashboard by the Internet Gremlins.
THIS is the only comment I found from you. I even checked my spam file and... nuttin'!
However, utilizing my 80-proof spidey-sense along with the deductive skills I learned from 'OH, ONE MORE THING-101' -- the class I took with Professor Columbo at Columbia University, I have detected that your vote in this Battle is going to Kathy Mattea.
If I'm wrong, please correct me so I can demand a refund from Professor Columbo.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Stephen,
DeleteI wrote some eloquent prose that I can no longer recall. What with the non-drinkin' and all. It went something like this....
Good battle again PA. I liked the orchestra and Jubilant's voice was impressive but the Kathy Mattea version tugged at my heartstrings a little harder. So she gets my vote. Since it 'tis the season..how about a little story for you.
Murray woke on Christmas morning to a Christmas morning and a realization that he had everything he needed: faith, family, friends, fitness and fun. My dear friend, I wish you a very Murray Christmas.
JW,
Pooh
Ha! True Story here:
DeleteToday at work, a guy named Murray arrived to audit different aspects of our business, the building and its operating systems.
When he got to my section, this machine I have used daily without a single problem for 2 years and 19 days suddenly failed to work properly.
I couldn't believe it, and I said, "This is Murphy's Law". And my boss said, "No, it's Murray's Law".
Life's a bitch, and then you die.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
You can't deny that Jubilant is a phenomenal performer; in fact, I listened to him first because I'm like that. Then I listened to Kathy Mattea...then I went to someone else's blog 'cause I was so torn.
ReplyDeleteHistorically, I'm a HUGE Amy Grant-gotta-be-singin'-this-song kinda gal. I love her version, 'specially with ole' Vince Gill in the mix.
I'm wrong more times than not: give this to Kathy Mattea, brudder. She convinced me she can give Amy a run for her money.
Merry Christmas, guess what? Unto you, a Savior is born...
And a "Merry Christmas, guess what?" to you, too, DOC MacSIS!
DeleteI'm not sure I've heard Amy Grant's version before. I've never paid much attention to her, thinking she was just Karen Carpenter's little transgendered sister. But I'll make it a point before Christmas to give a little listen... and always let my conscience be my guide.
[*Since I quit drinking, my writing seems to have acquired a kind of LSD-like quality. I wonder why that is. ...Oh, right! Because I've started dropping Acid, that's why.*]
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
It's just Pooh being Pooh Stephen. Ignore that Pooh behind the curtain. Believe it or not I hear this song four or five times a year, and not just at Christmas time or Easter. I've really grown to dig it. As far as the battle goes, both performers did a wonderful job, but, I feel like Jubilant just crushed it. I'll admit that I wanted to make my rulin' fer him, what with him being from our hometown and all, but I truly believe he earned my rulin' Rulin fer Sykes!! That's it, that's my rulin'.
ReplyDeleteOhh by the way, Albondigas here.
DeleteWhy I aught a.....Wishing you a Merry Christmas PA! May you wake to a Christmas Morning on the day we all wait for....the Day after Christmas when we celebrate your birth.
DeleteJW,
Pooh
Al Bondigas here. Why thank you Pooh. Of all the Poohs in the world, you’re the Poohest. Now I mean that in the best of ways. ( John Wayne, John Wayne ). John Wayne with a five o’clock shadow, straight bourbon in his hand, and a wad of Red Man chew in his cheek.
DeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteThanks for yer rulin'. Nice to see you supporting the Dogtown home team!
BTW, I think Mary knew. She certainly knew what her first born Boy could do when she asked Him to turn H2O into about 900 bottles of Thunderbird.
Man, can't you just imagine thousands of winos following Jesus everywhere He went? No wonder He needed to get away sometimes -- the poor Guy!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Jubilant Sykes... what a name. What a voice. I really liked Kathy's version, but I like Jubilant's voice more. I do like that operatic style. Great arrangement by the orchestra, too.
ReplyDeleteBut my pal, here... He's saying it's close but he's voting for Kathy. Psssh, probably just sleep deprived from the baby, clouding his judgment. I blame his vote on zero sleep and a mountain of dirty diapers.
Votes - one and one! Adding to the vote total, but... not really adding anything else.
TRAINYARD JULIO ~
DeleteI thank you and your sleep-deprived, dirty diaper-buried pal for the votes. I appreciate getting votes, even when they don't really advance things any.
Hey, have a beer for me this Christmas season, OK? I want a 395-IPA from Mammoth Brewing Company in a chilled Tervis tumbler with a dogwood flower design and an attached patch that says "Wastin' Away Again In Margaritaville". And if you won't do that little thing for me, then you are obviously no real friend of mine!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I think I just got a goose bump listening to Jubilant’s rendition. Yes, “I AM” certain. Either that or this mouse has an electrical short. Better calm my nerves with a flaming rum punch or a mulled wine, shaken not stirred.
ReplyDeleteThere you go again, Stephen, bringing the Christ back into Christmas. Well done once again!
Hee Haw and Merry Christmas,
Sig Wainwright II
SIG WAINWRIGHT, TOO!
DeleteWhat a joy and Christmas surprise to hear from you! Thanks for the jubilant vote.
Only you, sir, could conflate Clarence Oddbody with James Bond! Ha!! I love it.
Yes, I do what I can to put Christ back into Christmas. Now if only we could find someone who could [Link> Put Jesus Back In The Manger. (Thanks for inspiring my title of that blog bit, Brother!)
You and Yourn have a Merry Christmas! And drop me an E sometime. I has something I wanna share wid ya... in case I hadn't done so previously, when I was younger and better and... drunker. (For Christmas, I hope Santa brings me "a cold Mojito"!)
Hee-Haw and Happy New Year, my friend!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
KM gets my vote, I liked her vocals better and had a bit more energy. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteATTENTION PEOPLES!
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in seeing the final vote tally for this 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' installment and my closing thoughts on it, you can put the following URL into your browser:
http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/2017/12/botb-results-2017-dec-15-or-kathy.html
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'