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!
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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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| EUGENE MARTONE VS. JACK BUTLER |
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After all the yakking I did in my last BOTB installment, I'm all yakked out. So, I'm gonna keep this short 'n' sweet.
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On August 1st, 2015, my BOTB contest was Nat King Cole versus his daughter, Natalie, and the song was 'Nature Boy'. Nat won by a super-slim 2-vote margin. Afterwards, I wrote: "I thought this was a great Battle. Natalie actually made it even closer than I originally imagined. (I figured she'd lose by 4, maybe 5 votes.) She may get a rematch here someday."
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Well, that "someday" is TODAY!
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I'm dedicating this terrifically colorful and fabulously upbeat song to everyone who thinks they don't like Jazz.
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| GOODNIKS VS. NO-GOODNIKS |
ORANGE COLORED SKY -- Nat King Cole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE-z3bGgvp8
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| GODZILLA VS. KING KONG |
Ha! You think this contest is already over, don't cha?
Not so fast! Not so fast!!
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ORANGE COLORED SKY -- Natalie Cole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9W2hOr-CB4
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| RIDDLER VS. BATMAN |
Question: Will Natalie Lose To Her Old Man?
MAGIC 8-BALL sez: "Signs Point To 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.
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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.
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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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Stephen,
ReplyDeleteNatalie sounds rather cute covering her daddy's song but I prefer her old man's vocals and so my vote goes to Nat. Thanks for stopping by to vote in my BoTB earlier this morning. Nice battle!
CATHY ~
DeleteI guess it takes more than "cute" to beat the legendary Nat King Cole.
I appreciate the vote, my friend. Have yourself a fanCATstic day!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I prefer the backing on Nat's arrangement, but I don't like the chorus of guys with their "flash bams"--for me it's a novelty thing that works sometimes, but to me is kind of dumb in most cases.
ReplyDeleteI also prefer Nat's vocals over Natalie's.
So weighing all considerations I'm going to go with Nat's version. But Natalie does a nice Vegas style rendition.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
LEE ~
DeleteYeah, that approach where the background singers burst out with a word or two, or a line of lyric, is an outdated arranging style. I don't think of it as "dumb", but as soon as I hear it, it seems to shout "old timey" to me. I like or dislike it depending upon the song. In this case, I like it, but I can understand how some folks would find it a bit of a turn-off.
Thanks for listenin' & votin'.
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
Rupert -
ReplyDeleteAh... that divide! It is ever present. In this case I like the song at least, but am meh or worse about the artists.
In your 2015 Cole v. Cole battle, I wrote the following in the comment section:
"I am in the minority in never particularly liking Natalie Cole's voice. I think that she is a mere shadow of her father. She gets closer to "good" than Frank Jr. and Nancy get to Sinatra Senior... but not close enough for me.
"Nat King Cole was an icon, though never a favorite in our home. Never was an UN-favorite, either. But he was certainly smooth and cool. Along with your Pop, I'm voting for him."
For any future battles involving these two, just have my comment ready to plug in and I'll take the day off.
I think that the daughter will indeed lose here as predicted by the ol' eight ball, but the amazing Sixwell predicts that your other readers will like her. It will be another close and grudging loss to Nat King Cole.
SIXGUN McITCHYFINGER ~
DeleteThanks for the prompt vote, muh bruhthuh!
Last night, when I went back to my old Nat versus Natalie BOTB installment to see what the voting results were, I re-read your comment. So I knew you would be voting for Nat in this Battle, too.
I don't really have any current plan to do Nat Versus Natalie again, but if I do, you may take the day off and I'll automatically assign your vote to Nat. [;^)
Someday, just to annoy you, I'm going to do a 4-Way BOTB featuring Nat, Willie, Mathis, and Karen Carpenter.
>>... the amazing Sixwell predicts
HA!-HA!!-HA!!!
Man, I am *STILL* laughing out loud over that. Literally!
Thanks for the laugh, man! It feels good.
[Link> The Best Of The Worst
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
[Link> But WAIT! There's more... If you order in the next 17 or 18 minutes, we'll throw in 1967, too, absolutely FREE!
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
HA HA! Those were good links, McBuddy! I loved the Carson link, particularly. In real life, for years I have been known as The Amazing Griffwell... but The Amazing Sixwell is my internet moniker.
DeleteYou have more A-List and E-Ticket pseudonyms than anyone else I know. [:^)}
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
I must give it to her Daddy Nat who has such a silky voice and then POW! In comes those trumpets and the fun style that it took me by surprise even though I have heard the song before. Natalies sings so well but she started "mumbling" a bit so the words were not as clear to me but I love her sparkly outfit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your $0.02, BIRGIT. I appreciate it.
DeleteDang, this Battle looks like it's going to be brutal for poor Natalie.
In her last Battle against her Pa, she started out 0-3 but ended up losing by only 2. But this time she's already 0-5. Not a good sign.
Too bad for Natalie that it's not Battle Of The Outfits.
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
Natalie Cole has a great voice, but Nat's voice was unique, and this was exactly the kind of song that shows just how unique it was. Give my vote to Daddy Nat.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JOHN.
DeleteIt looks like the Magic 8-Ball and the Amazing Sixwell have predicted this BOTB outcome accurately, even though there's a long way to go yet.
I'm thinking maybe Nat, Frank, and Satchmo should just be retired from BOTB. They are almost too hard to beat.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Stephen Darlin'
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Natalie Cole. I have her Take A Look CD that I have worn out in past years. My favorite of her renditions being This Song
That being said... I fear this is going to be one of those fateful shutouts that we all dread in BOTB. Because, I too, must vote against the beautiful Natalie Cole when she is trying to take down dear ol' Daddy.
My vote is for the one and only Nat King Cole
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
HiYa, MMQE ~
DeleteThat's a beautiful rendition of 'CRY ME A RIVER'. You oughta use that in a BOTB someday. There must be a godzillion and two versions to choose from to put it up against.
After 102 BOTB installments, I'm happy to report that I have never once had a shutout. And I'm not the least bit concerned about THIS Battle being a shutout, either, even though Natalie is currently 6 votes down.
I give you my iron-clad, money-back guarantee that Natalie is going to get at least one vote. ;^) (BTW, did you actually pay any money that I would need to reimburse should I be wrong?)
In my opinion, Natalie Cole is one of the rather rare times when the offspring of a famous artist really does have a special gift in her or his own right. Most of the time, the offspring gets record and movie contracts based almost entirely on their famous surname and nepotism in the entertainment world. It's really a river-crying shame how many truly gifted people have never "made it" because there's so much "Who You Know" that dominates the arts.
Thanks for the bote, Mary!
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
You might be on to something here, lil buckaroo!
DeleteI had thought I had used 'Cry Me A River' in a battle previously, but after consulting the Master list of battles... it turns out I have not. In fact, the only person who used the song was John back in October 2014. Perhaps I will put Ms Cole up against his contenders or even just his winner in one of my upcoming battles.
~MMQE
Jingle Jangle Jungle
That sounds like a good idea.
DeleteAnd speaking of BOTB ideas, I'm thinking I may go ahead and do that Joan Jett Battle myself. I'm genuinely nervous about a shutout though. (There's no Q in my mind that it'll be a blowout, but that I could live with.)
I may need some liquid courage (aka Cold Mojitos) to click "Publish" on that one. :o)
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
While I DO think Natalie has some great pipes and a ‘way’ with a tune, I still can’t wrap my head around he being better an her daddy. There are things to like and not like so much in each version, but the smooth tones of NKC do it for me every time, so I gotta give the Ole Man my vote.
ReplyDeleteNow, if I have the time I’ll look back and see how I voted in the last Cole vs Cole match, but I’m guessing it was for the daddy. Sorry, Natalie, no help from this corner.
Aww, you're no help at all, MISS BORA BORA!
DeleteYou'll find that old BOTB post [Link> HERE. You voted first (and for Nat there, too) and left a beautiful comment about an old friend of yours.
I thank you for your vote in this Battle. (Natalie, not so much.)
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
I don't like that Nat King Cole beat up his kids. However, I separate the artist from their art and think his song is a kick, a flip, daddio.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Natalie Cole's version. On the one hand she does something that gets "easy" applause - playing a cover of her dad... on the other hand, inviting comparisons... perhaps, because of that, a weight on her shoulders. She makes the song soar. That's nature and/or nurture and/or Free Will. She did it HeeerRrrRRRR Wayyy.
Hold on.... Correction: It was Bing Crosby who beat his kids not Nat King Cole. Hold on.... Nat King Cole was a gentleman. I'm surpised that though he often enough wasn't allowed to stay at the hotels he performed at he still kept his cool.
And another thing!
"In August 1948, Cole purchased a house from Col. Harry Gantz, the former husband of silent film actress Lois Weber, in the all-white Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Ku Klux Klan, still active in Los Angeles well into the 1950s, responded by placing a burning cross on his front lawn. Members of the property-owners association told Cole they did not want any undesirables moving into the neighborhood. Cole retorted, 'Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain.'" That's COOL.
Separating the artist from his art, I still prefer Natalie Cole's version. Class.
PIGEON HEAD... er-- I mean, TONY CLIFTON... er-- uhm... I meant, G DOGG!
DeleteDamn, man, I almost feel like an important person. I've got the Amazing Criswell and the legendary Tony Clifton visiting my blog now!!
At first, I thought your reference to Nat King Cole beating up his kids was alluding to the fact that he's beating up on Natalie so badly here.
I thank you for finally getting poor Natalie on the scoreboard. (She deserves better!)
No kidding, I think that after this Battle I'm retiring Nat, Frank, and Satchmo from any future Battles here. They HAVE lost before (well, Frank and Satchmo have) but it's more rare than finding a good driver on the Reno freeway!
I remember reading the same thing once about Sammy Davis Junior. There were times when they wouldn't let him stay at the hotel where he was performing. We've come a long way, Baby! (John Wayne! John Wayne!)
It always makes me nervous when people speak of getting rid of the "undesirables". I immediately think: But where will I go?
Sir, I 'spect I shall be meandering over to your neck of the woods tomorrow. What time is Happy Hour? ...I wanna see if I can drink some Red Rye Lager while wearing that pigeon head. [;^)}
Thanks for visitin' & votin', McBrother!
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
Awesome, I hadn't seen the video before of Kaufman and his "protégé" - he says it twice,what the. Thanks for the vid, McBrother. Pigeon Head seems a fancy Reno brew... I'm a Coors Light pleb. Quick story: IwasinRenojustonceworkingnextto train tracks with a shovel (gotta start somewhere) helping mechanical trenchers dig ditches to get a fancy fiberoptic cable to Reno. For every one worker there was an inspector because if we screwed up "millions" of peoples' phone lines would go out. Okay, boring story.
DeleteAnyway, I don't like people calling Nat King Cole "Uncle Tom" - and they did - because he played all-white clubs. It would be akin to people calling Jackie Robinson "Uncle Tom" because he joined an all-white league. I understand that all the fans of baseball weren't white and the club attendees were all white. But how else are white people at clubs going to know a black singer - a black somebody with talent unless they see him. He had both sides on his back and was still suave.
Put out your cigarettes and cigars so as not to disturb the singer's voice.. as the singer smokes a cigarette. It's okay to drink. Lager Cheers!
G McDOGG ~
DeleteFar be it from me to tell a man what to drink, but my philosophy has always been thus: If one is going to wreck their liver with hooch (and everyone should), it ought to be top-notch hooch. Should one sacrifice their own liver to anything less?
Now, I know you live in Sierra Nevada Brewing Company country, so here's what ya do: This Fall, when they come out with their new Oktoberfest beer, give it a try. It varies from year to year but is always good hooch. Drink two of those and call me in the morning. Hopefully they will have driven that Coors Light virus from your body.
>>... Anyway, I don't like people calling Nat King Cole "Uncle Tom" - and they did - because he played all-white clubs. It would be akin to people calling Jackie Robinson "Uncle Tom" because he joined an all-white league.
Well, like you wrote: "gotta start somewhere".
"I would permit no man, no matter what his color might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him."
~ Booker T. Washington
I always felt that way, too.
(Then I moved to Reno and started driving this thing they call a "freeway", but which I call "two lanes and an offramp". I thank God for giving me two middle fingers -- one for each lane, and a raspberry for the offramp.)
Pigeon Head Lager Cheers to you, too, Bud. Stay hydrated so you don't catch sobrietyitis. I hear it's going around and very nasty this year.
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
And Stephen,
ReplyDeleteGood battle indeed. I liked em both and it is a tough choice. I think the background singers on the Nat version put me off a little so I'm voting for Natalie. I was indeed surprised. Now regarding the orange colored sky....i believe there was a young punk on the pier who saw one in the early enin once. Hope you are well and ready for Spring Training.
JW,
Pooh
AND, POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
DeleteOh, you mean that sissy, Iris?
Yeah, I've been doing multiple sets of my One Pint Curls. Put me in, coach; my liver's ready to play!
Hey, thanks for the bote, Bro! I'm happy to see Natalie has picked up a couple in a row.
If things go according to plan, be sure to stop by again on March 15th. You'll get a chance to vote for some Irish lads making their first ever BOTB appearance.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Al Bondigas here. John Holton is right, The Nat Man does have a very unique voice. I tend to like most of his songs, but, this one didn't really do it for me. I hate to rule agin The Nat Man, but, I preferred Natalie's version. Anyway, rulin' fer Natalie. That's it!! That's my rulin'.
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteNatalie and I thank you for your vote!!
Sadly, it took Natalie way too long to gain any traction here. Now she's got three botes in a row but the war has already been lost. It looks like a case of closing the barn door after the horse got out.
I expected Nat would win, but NOT by this huge of a margin. Especially since Natalie came within two votes of her old man in their last face to face.
At this point it's just a matter of trying to put some fresh paint on the slaughterhouse.
Oh, well. My next one will be better. (Actually, no, it really won't. It will likely be even worse. I'll be flirtin' with a shutout in my March 15th Battle.)
~ D-FensDogG
Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
ATTENTION 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:
https://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/2018/03/3-1-2018-botb-results-nat-vs-natalie-or.html
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'