BOTB RESULTS: 2020, OCT. 1 (Or, SANTANA VERSUS TODD SNIDER)

.

. 

2020, OCTOBER 1st BOTB RESULTS (Or, SANTANA VERSUS TODD SNIDER - STMcC's VOTE & THE FINAL TALLY) 

. 

First of all, my sincere apologies for being 5 days late with this BOTB Results post. Part of the problem is that my "real" fake life has me so busy that I just never get caught up on anything - phone calls, Emails, trips to my favorite cocktail lounge, etc., etc., etc. 

. 

And there was probably also a bit o' reluctance to force my butt into the chair and get this blog bit written because A) Blogger has become such a pain in the butt to deal with, and B) I knew that this post would be my swan song for... at least the rest of 2020, and perhaps forever. 

. 

My brother, Judge Al Bondigas, suggested that I not write a Results post at all, and just leave this final Battle open-ended. I'd thought about that already but had dismissed the idea. I need closure to things. 

. 

Secondly, my most sincere and heartfelt "THANKS!!" to all y'all who made BATTLE OF THE BANDS so much fun for me for 6+ years and 153 Battles. "There's a sadness in the heart of things", and I'm feeling it as I type these words. My Friends, My Friends, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your years of loyalty to this little blogfest. I have SO ENJOYED interacting with y'all! 

. 

My last Battle took place here: http://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/2020/10/2020-oct-1-battle-of-bands-or-santana.html 

. 

It was a Christ Yeshua (aka Jesus Christ) themed contest between Santana's 'Somewhere In Heaven' and Todd Snider's 'Somebody's Coming'.

 

I was sure Santana's gorgeous song would win the Battle. I love everything about 'Somewhere In Heaven' and can fully understand why it attracted the first five votes right outta the chute. But gradually, beginning with Sixgun McItchyfinger's vote, Todd Snider staged a bit of a comeback. 

.

. 

As much as I love Santana's song, my own vote went to Todd Snider's 'Somebody's Coming'. Sure, musically, Santana's tribute to Christ far outclasses Todd Snider's tribute to The Holy King. But... Todd's lyrics, and the way he sings them, it just gets my Jesus-lovin' motor runnin'! In Todd's voice is both a sound of comfort and a sound of... WARNING! And those lyrics? Hokey-Smoke! Todd not only understands what is soon to come about (2029, I'm looking at YOU!) but he also has the extraordinary God-given talent to put it into creative & captivating words: 

. 

Tell anybody that ain't got nobody 

Somebody's coming 

... 

Tell everybody walkin' tall and proud 

That their money talks, but it talks so loud 

That there's Somebody coming 

... 

Tell everybody in the KKK, in the FBI, in the CIA 

That there's Somebody coming 

... 

Somebody's coming to change your mind 

Sneak up on all you believe from behind 

Somebody's coming who won't let you down 

Who'll turn everything you thought was right around 

... 

Well Somebody's coming 

That's gonna change everything

... 

Tell all these people at the end of the line 

Somebody's coming 

Tell all these people holding "I'll work for food" signs 

Somebody's coming 

... 

Somebody's coming Who's been here before 

If you think you're outta chances, well you've got one more

... 

'Cause Somebody's coming 

That's gonna change everything 

Somebody's coming Who don't need your vote 

{*Here in October of 2020, I think that might be my #1 favorite line!*} 

... 

Somebody's coming like a thief in the night 

Gonna stand by His people when we're too weak to fight 

Well somebody's coming 

It's gonna change everything 

... 

I say, yes, Yes, YES!!! For I know, Know, KNOW Todd Snider's words to be True!!! Christ is returning again in 2029 - give or take a year. Get right with God and His Son NOW, while you still have time. Because when He comes back this next time, He is NOT coming as a "Suffering Servant" (Google that term!), He is coming back as The Conquering King and "The Lion Of Judah" (Google that, too). You don't want to be on the wrong side of The Lion King, Who has ALL authority in Heaven and on earth, when He descends from the clouds and lands in Jerusalem! 

. 

My #1 Recommended Reading is this: 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-5&version=NKJV 

. 

FINAL TALLY OF THE FINAL BATTLE: 

. 

Carlos Santana = 9 votes 

. 

Todd Snider = 6 votes 

.

. 

Not a bad Battle / Swan Song at all. Thanks again to all of you who took the time to listen and cast a bote in this contest. And my sincere gratitude also to every single person who ever voted - even if only once - on any of my Battle Of The Bands installments. You are ALL truly appreciated, and I hope we can stay in touch in comment sections and/or via Email. 

. 

{*Thanks also to Larry C. for turning me onto Todd Snider so many years ago.*} 

. 

May you all...

.

BLESS AND BE BLESSED! 

. 

Beee! 

.

. 

This is Stephen T. McCarthy 

(aka D-FensDogG) 

signing off... 

Over & Out. 

.

2020, OCT. 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, SANTANA VERSUS TODD SNIDER)

.. 

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... 

. 

BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB) 

. 

. 

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). 

. 

Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!... 

.

.

But first, an announcement:

.

Sadly - VERY sadly - in all likelihood, this is probably going to be my final BOTB installment. For as long as BOTB survives on the Internet, I will ALWAYS be supporting it with my personal votes (aka "BOTB botes"). In other words, if YOU put up a Battle, I WILL be there to vote on it. I promise... so long as my memory remembers.

.

However, unfortunately, the most recent "improvement" to the system made by Blogger (aka "Evil Google") has finally killed off my blogging (ALL of my blogs). Even using my Brother's very modern laptop - as I'm doing now - Evil Google's new bibbidi-bobbidi-boo has made creating even a simple blog installment, like this one, extremely difficult & time-consuming for me! 

.

I won't bother explaining all the minutiae. Just take my word for it, that the time & effort now necessary for me to continue blogging has reached and gone way beyond "the point of diminishing returns". So, THIS Battle Of The Bands installment, and its BOTB Results post, will probably end my own BOTBing. But I'll still be around as a "voter" or "boter". 

. 

.

At my "real" blog, on November 28, 2016, I posted a blog bit titled [link> WHY I BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST WILL RETURN TO EARTH IN 2029 (Or, R U READY?). There are almost countless reasons to believe that The Holy Bible was indeed inspired by God, our Creator. For example, the first appearance of Jesus Christ fulfilled at least 300 prophecies written in the Old Testament lo-ooo-ng before He was born. At the website [link> InCaseNoOneToldYou.com they specifically point out 300 of these prophecies:

.

300 Prophecies

.

Over 300 prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus’ life when He came the first time 2,000 years ago. The Bible is both verifiable & supernatural.  

.

The probability that even a very small number of these prophecies could be fulfilled is extremely low - to the point of absurdity and impossibility - unless the source could see into the future.  God created time and space and exists outside of them.  For this reason, He can easily tell us what is coming hundreds, and even thousands of years in advance.

.

https://www.incasenoonetoldyou.com/post/300-prophecies

.

Jesus Christ promised His believers that He would return again to the Earth after 7 years of tremendous Tribulation, and that He would then rule the world with Love, Righteousness, and Justice for 1,000 years. The time of His return is drawing near - VERY near!! Yes, Somebody's coming, and "He doesn't need your vote"!!!.

.

By now, you've undoubtedly figured out that this final BOTB installment is about Christ Yeshua (aka Jesus Christ). I am using 'Somewhere In Heaven' by Carlos Santana versus 'Somebody's Coming' by Todd Snider. I already know that Santana will run away with this victory because... Santana versus "who?" But I truly LOVE both of these recordings. 

.

I consider Santana to be one of the greatest guitarists in Rock history. And I consider Todd Snider to be one of the greatest lyricists in Rock history. So, in a sense, this Battle is almost 'Guitar Versus Lyrics'. My friends, my brothers and sisters, see whatcha think & feel about these songs. And... if you haven't yet surrendered your soul back to its Creator - God - and its Savior - Christ Yeshua - please consider it while there's still a brief amount of time in which to do so. The End is indeed very near. In "The Good Book", your personal Savior said that He [link> stands at the door and knocks. All you need to do is open the door and invite Him in. 

.

.

SOMEWHERE IN HEAVEN -- Santana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YxwANaLnVA

. 

.

SOMEBODY'S COMING -- Todd Snider

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ECzRiLY4BM

.

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. 

. 

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. Vote your vice... Vice your voice... Voice Your Vote...

. 

@ TOSSING IT OUT by clicking HERE 

@ MIKE'S RAMBLINGS by clicking HERE 

@ THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING by clicking HERE

@ CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE by clicking HERE 

@ CURIOUS AS A CATHY by clicking HERE 

@ AI LOVE MUSIC by clicking HERE 

@ STORMS & STARDUST by clicking HERE 

.

As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th of each month to post my own votes and announce the winner. 

. 

~ Stephen T. McCarthy 

.

BOTB RESULTS: 2020, SEPT. 1 (Or, STUBBY KAYE VERSUS DON HENLEY)

STMcC’s Vote On '2020, September 1st: 'Battle Of The Bands' (BOTB) - Or, Stubby Kaye Versus Don Henley - And The Final Tally:

 . 

{*Normally, a "BOTB RESULTS" image would appear here, but... more about that just a wee bit below.*} . . . First and foremost, I very, Very, VERY (got that, Brother Sixgun?) sincerely thank each and every one of you who cared enough to take the time to visit my li'l ol' blog and cast a vote in my BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB) blog bit! Really, seriously - I thank you, every one o' youz!

 .

Secondly, a word to the wise: Vegetable Juice (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, cilantro, carrots, squash) and a shot of Wild Turkey 101 DO NOT mix!! I very nearly dumped that "cocktail" (?) down the sink, but... dern'd if I was gonna totally waste a perfectly good shot of Wild Turkey 101, damn it all to satan's domain.

.

Thirdly, with evil Google's latest (UTTERLY UNNECESSARY) "upgrade" to their operating system / our Dashboard functions, my Old School computer has been boxed out and has become useless. In the past (time and Time, and TIME again, Number 6) I have been able to find ways to circumnavigate evil Google's unnecessary and unhelpful changes. But this time (as of September NOW, 2020), "Don't Be Evil" Google has finally "fixed" everything so damned good that I can no longer compose a blog bit on my own computer. I am borrowing my Brother's (aka Nappy & Judge Al Bondigas) laptop in order to struggle through the composin' (writin') of this already overdue (a day late) BOTB Results post. This is NOT fun. This is really, Really, REALLY not FUN (got that, Sheboyganboy?) . . . So, therefore, and for that reason, and how come why, I am going to keep this painfully composd (ritten) BOTB Results blog bit short and bitter as hell!

.

As I said in the original BOTB blog bit (which it's too much trouble to link to HERE), I really enjoy both movies, 'Guys And Dolls' and 'Leap Of Faith', and I really enjoy both renditions of 'SIT DOWN, YOU'RE ROCKING THE BOAT' (Stubby Kaye's and Don Henley's). But if I *MUST* choose between the two versions of the song (as I must, since this is BOTB, and every DogG & DogGette is downright REQUIRED to choose one or anutter), I gotta go with Stubby Kaye, because (as my Bro, Judge Al, noted...) a song about "Rockin' The Boat" should actually include a good deal of rockin' energy - which Stubby provided and Don didn't - even though I still do enjoy hearing Lethargic Don's recording. To my (low-wattage) brain, the word "Rocking" equates to "Energy". But then maybe that's just the Vegetable Juice & Wild Turkey 101 yakkin'.

.

Stubby Kaye = 6 votes 

.

Don Henley = 10 votes 

.

Not a bad outcome at all. And I love every one of you who contributed to it, regardless of which o' these combatants you supported with your two BOTB Kitty cents / sense. . . . Just for the fun o' it, I'm going to (try to) post below a video clip of the scene from the movie 'Guys And Dolls' where Stubby Kaye actually sings the song 'SIT DOWN, YOU'RE ROCKING THE BOAT'. And, for the record, I recommend that you watch BOTH movies - 'Guys And Dolls' & 'Leap Of Faith' - which feature the two renditions of this song that I used in this installment of BOTB.

.

Stubby Kaye in 'Guys And Dolls'

.

Hopefully (God willing & not too much boat-rocking in the USA), I will see y'all here again on October 1, 2020 ("the terrible year") for anutter installment of Battle Of The Bands.

.

 ~ Stephen T. McCarthy

. 

2020, SEPT. 1: BATTLE OF THE BANDS (Or, STUBBY KAYE VS. DON HENLEY)

..
American Vs. Communist, Sane Person Vs. Antifa & BLM, 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...
.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
.

.
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).
.
Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
.

[Eugene Martone Vs. Jack Butler.]

.
Hokey-Smoke! "Can you believe it's September already?! Where has this year gone?! And how about this weather we've been having? Can you believe how hot it's been?!"
.
(SMH! Stop it, Peeples! Puh-leez, just STOP IT!!! Don't make me have-tuh moidah one o' you blogguhs! Next blogger who rites sumpin' 'bout the weather or time passin' quickly is gonna get an empty Wild Turkey 101 bottle shoved rite thru they're neck! If you really think yer a riter, you shouldn't be ritten 'bout silly, low-I.Q., dinky, chihuahua yak! Step up yer game, riters!)
.

[Goodniks Vs. No-Goodniks.]

.
POSTSCRIPT PRESCRIPT: My thanks to our BOTB friend [link> CAThy for teaching me how to embed videos in Blogger's new and improved vastly deteriorated format. Gotta love them I.T.-'tards who fix what ain't broken!! (Them sumbitchiz!)
.
So, this Battle is titled 'Stubby Kaye Vs. Don Henley', but it could just as easily have been titled 'Guys & Dolls Vs. Leap Of Faith'. Do any of you have any idea why that is so? ... Anyone? ... Anyone? ... "Yes, you, in the vest, is it?"
.
The song I'm using in this round is 'SIT DOWN, YOU'RE ROCKIN' THE BOAT'. The first recording - featuring Stubby Kaye - comes from the 1955 Hollywood musical 'Guys And Dolls' starring Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons. The second recording features Don Henley of The Eagles fame, and it was used in the 1992 Steve Martin movie 'Leap Of Faith', which I just recently re-watched for about the 6th or 7th time; and I've "seen" (aka "TRT"-ed) both movies within the last year.
.
Full Confession: I like BOTH movies and BOTH recordings. So it's up to you, You, and YOU (izzat better, 6gun?) to determine which recording is better. 
.

[Godzilla Vs. King Kong.]

.
SIT DOWN, YOU'RE ROCKIN' THE BOAT - STUBBY KAYE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4vSp5nSZGc

.

[Riddler Vs. Batman.]

.
SIT DOWN, YOU'RE ROCKIN' THE BOAT - DON HENLEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy8eqDEjidE

.
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.
.
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. Vote your vice...   Vice your voice... 
.
Voice Your Vote...
@ TOSSING IT OUT by clicking HERE
@ MIKE'S RAMBLINGS by clicking HERE
@ THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING by clicking HERE
@ CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE by clicking HERE
@ CURIOUS AS A CATHY by clicking HERE
@ AI LOVE MUSIC by clicking HERE
@ STORMS & STARDUST by clicking HERE
.
As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th of each month to post my own votes and announce the winner.
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

BOTB RESULTS: 2020, AUG. 1 (Or, RYAN ADAMS VERSUS KENNY CHESNEY & PINK)

.

.
STMcC’s Vote On '2020, August 1st: Battle Of The Bands' (BOTB) - Or, Ryan Adams Versus Kenny Chesney & Pink - And The Final Tally:
.
First and foremost, I wish to thank all you Doggs & Doggettes for taking time to visit my blog and humoring me by listening to the Battle songs I presented and weighing in with your opinions. Y'all voluntarily tossed two cents into the BOTB kitty despite a national change shortage, and I appreciated that. Thank you!!
.
It was a 'Battle For Los Angeles' installment which took place HERE, and it was one of the extremely rare occasions when I actually used two songs that I, personally, didn't really dig. Even so, it was a very good, competitive contest. Both songs ('La Cienega Just Smiled' and 'Setting The World On Fire') prominently mention La Cienega Boulevard in L.A. I still don't quite know why the songwriters find that street, which runs through West Hollywood, so notable. I know why *I* do, but I don't know why *they* do. (Maybe it was for the same reason?...)
.

.
My own BOTB Bote went to Ryan Adams' 'La Cienega Just Smiled'. I kinda-sorta like that ballad. Not enough to ever feel like I need it in my compact disc collection, but it does have a bit of nostalgia / melancholic mood going for it.
.
On the other hand, I feel the same way that A Beer for the Shower feels about Kenny & Pink's 'Setting The World On Fire'. He wrote this:
.

I liked Ryan Adams a lot more than I liked Kenny Chesney and Pink, but that was to be expected, because I'm not big on Kenny Chesney and I'm not big on Pink. They put together that typical poppy sound that I'm not a fan of (I'm surprised they didn't pepper a Millennial whoop in there for good measure)

.
Yip! I don't consider Kenny to be real Country music. It's that '90s Pop sound that Country became after the "Country Outlaw" style of music became long in the tooth. It ain't your father's Country music, and it ain't mine, either!
.
Nevertheless, a very slight majority of voters preferred it to Ryan Adams' offering: 
.
Ryan Adams = 7 votes
.
Kenny Chesney & Pink = 9 votes
.
I thank you all again for your participation! God willing, I will be back with a new Battle Of The Bands installment on September 1st. And I will be around to vote on all the Battles that other BOTB participants present us with on August 15th.
.
May you all Bless And Be Blessed!
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2020, AUG. 1 (Or, RYAN ADAMS VS. KENNY CHESNEY & PINK)

..

.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
.
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).
.
It's been a doggone long time since I've done a BOTB 'Battle For Los Angeles' installment, so...
.
Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!...
.

La Cienega Boulevard, West Hollywood, Calif.

.
Wackypedia sez: 
La Cienega Boulevard is a major north–south arterial road that runs between El Segundo Boulevard in Hawthorne, California on the south and the Sunset Strip/Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood to the north.
.
La Cienega Boulevard is a regular surface street and one of Hollywood's major thoroughfares. Offices for A&E Network, The History Channel and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are located on La Cienega as are the studios of Citadel Broadcasting flagships KABC and KLOS, two of Los Angeles' biggest radio stations.
.

What does La Cienega Boulevard mean to me, personally? Well... I lost my virginity on La Cienega Boulevard. And, although I looked and looked, I never found it again. 
.

.
Wackypedia sez: 
'Gold' is the second studio album by Ryan Adams, released September 25, 2001 on Lost Highway Records. The album remains Adams' best-selling album, certifying Gold in the UK and going on to sell 364,000 copies in the U.S. and 812,000 worldwide. Adams noted that "with Gold, I was trying to prove something to myself. I wanted to invent a modern classic."
.

.
Included on the album was the song 'La Cienega Just Smiled'.
. 
(Because, for the 666th time, Google has fixed what wasn't broken, I no longer know how to embed a video, so you will need to "click the link" in order to be transported to the YouTube video)
.
LA CIENEGA JUST SMILED - Ryan Adams
[link> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbrUhHdd62Y
.

.
Wackypedia sez: 
'Setting the World on Fire' is a song written by Ross Copperman, Matt Jenkins, and Josh Osborne and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney as a duet with American singer Pink. It was released to Country radio on July 28, 2016 and to digital retailers the following day as the second single from Chesney's 2016 album Cosmic Hallelujah. ... The song was nominated for the Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
.

.

Was the photographer "Drunk On La Cienega Boulevard"?

.
(Because, for the 666th time, Google has fixed what wasn't broken, I no longer know how to embed a video, so you will need to "click the link" in order to be transported to the YouTube video)
.
SETTING THE WORLD ON FIRE - Kenny Chesney with Pink
[link> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ECz0BBt8IY
.
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.
.
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. Vote your vice...   Vice your voice... 
.
Voice Your Vote...
@ TOSSING IT OUT by clicking HERE
@ MIKE'S RAMBLINGS by clicking HERE
@ THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING by clicking HERE
@ JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE by clicking HERE
@ CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE by clicking HERE
@ CURIOUS AS A CATHY by clicking HERE
@ AI LOVE MUSIC by clicking HERE
@ STORMS & STARDUST by clicking HERE
.
As I've done in the past, I will continue to return to my 'BOTB' blog bits on the 7th of each month to post my own votes and announce the winner.
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.

2020, JULY 1: BOTB RESULTS (Or, THIS AIN'T THE SUMMER OF LOVE)

.

.
STMcC’s Vote On '2020, July 1st: Battle Of The Bands' (BOTB) - Or, The 5th Dimension Versus Oliver - And The Final Tally:
.
The Battle took place [link> HERE. 
.
First and foremost, as always, I want to thank you, You, and YOU (yes, every single one of you) who took the time to listen to my BOTB songs and then took enough interest to also write a comment and post a vote (aka "bote"). Without you, You, and YOU, BOTB would not exist at all! So... thanks, all y'all!
.
Secondly, I apologize for being late with this BOTB Results post. This should have posted yesterday, but I've been real busy (and not in a good way).
.
Mang, this was a really great (i.e., "doggone close") Battle! The lead actually changed hands during the voting, and the outcome was decided by a single "bote". (My very, Very, VERY favorite kind of BOTB installment!)
.
BOTH of these songs are very special in my (now packed) memory. I dig both songs (even though I detest the stoopid Hippie era and the nonsense that these songs symbolize). In 1970 or '71, I was part of an elementary school's choir (or was it junior high school?), and we actually sang 'Aquarius' in a public performance. To this day, I LOVE 'The 5th Dimension' - they are still one of the most frequently played artists on my CD player! 
.
Musically backing The 5th Dimension on 'Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In' was the legendary L.A. studio musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew". And on bass, was Wrecking Crew member Joe Osborn, who was actually best known for having impeccable timing and keeping everything tight, without getting real fancy. [Link> CLASSIC TRACKS: Fifth Dimension 'Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In'. 
.
But, for whatever reason, on 'Let The Sunshine In', Osborn switched to "BEAST MODE" and just cranked that stuffs "Up To Eleven!!" I've played "Air Guitar" countless times in my life, but I can honestly say that the ONLY time I have ever played "Air Bass" is while listening to Joe Osborn playing bass like he was Larry Csonka running through everything in front of him!
.
Meet The ORIGINAL "BEAST MODE"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azvRQ0QKUMk


.
Mang, if you can't feel Joe's bass thumping your soul like an 8.88 earthquake in 'Let The Sunshine In', you better check yourself into the nearest Soul Hospital in a Saint Hurry!
.
But... having sincerely said all that, my own vote still goes to OLIVER's song 'GOOD MORNING, STARSHINE'. There is no song that, for me, personally, more epitomizes the late 1960s; and few songs make my soul feel more serene, more happy, more carefree. As I responded to my Brother's bote in the comment section:
.
"There's just this kind of joyful innocent feeling that washes over me when I hear Oliver's 'Good Morning, Starshine'. It ain't got nuttin' to do with drugs, anti-Vietnam War protests, or The Sexual Revolution. It's a feeling that rises above all that stuffs, and it's a feeling that's intensely personal."
.
I truly, sincerely, genuinely feel bad for anyone who can listen to Oliver's 'Good Morning, Starshine' and NOT feel what it makes me feel!! (If words could put that feeling in your heart & soul, I would surely write them here: ________ .)
.
Anyone who might be mildly interested in how I acquired Oliver's song 'Good Morning, Starshine' on compact disc can click [link> SET THE "WAYBAC MACHINE" TO SEPTEMBER, 1969.
.

Muddy 'n' Me trippin' out on the Chocolate "Waybac Machine" in Reno, 2018.

. 
I actually had to count and re-count, and re-re-count the votes in this Battle to be sure I had the winner correctly recorded. THAT is how close this contest was. The lead changed hands two or three times as the votes came in.
.
In the final analysis, I voted for Oliver, but Billboard's Top 40 records chart proved to be still correct in 2020, as The 5th Dimension beat Oliver by a single vote:
.
The 5th Dimension ('Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In') = 9 votes
.
Oliver ('Good Morning, Starshine') = 8 votes
.
I thank & love you all (NOT in a dippy, drippy, hippie [commie] way!), and I hope to see all y'all here again on AUGUST 1st for my next 'Battle Of The Bands' contest.
.
~ Stephen T. McHippienot
.