BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB)
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It's July, 2020, and I think most of us can agree that, as Blue Oyster Cult said: [link> "THIS AIN'T THE SUMMER OF LOVE". (That's a good song, but "it needs more cowbell".)
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(For them what're too young to know: [link> "Summer Of Love")
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Oh, no! Not only is this damn-sure NOT "The Summer Of Love", but this is actually the beginning of the end for "this world" as we know it. You think things have been bad so far in 2020? Well, YOU AIN'T SEEN NUTTIN' YET!
The Bible tells me so: "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
(~ Revelation 12)
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If you haven't surrendered to God yet, you are very seriously running out of time. Before long, we are going to reach that point of no return, where Christ Jesus, speaking on behalf of God, our Father, will say to you in your desperate, last-gasp appeal to reconcile with Him: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
(~ Matthew 7)
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If you can't sense "this world" changing for the worst and at a supernaturally rapid rate of speed, then your Spiritual I.Q. is in Negative territory! Better quickly fix that, while you still have a little time to do so.
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But, climbing down from my xtremely-informed Spiritual Soapbox now...
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!
[link> Let's "turn on, tune in, and drop out".
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'Easy To Be Hard', 'Good Morning, Starshine', 'Aquarius'
-- three times in the life of BOTB I have used famous songs from the musical 'Hair', putting the Broadway recordings up against the Hollywood movie recordings. (Hollywood beat Broadway 2-1.)
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Rather than use recordings from the Broadway play and Hollywood movie, this time I am using the actual Billboard big radio hit songs against each other. It's The Fifth Dimension's 'AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN' (#1 in 1969) versus Oliver's 'GOOD MORNING, STARSHINE' (#3 in 1969). Based on Billboard's 1969 chart figures, Oliver would seem to be a slight underdog in this Battle, but let's see if the BOTB audience hears it the same way in 2020 as the record-buying public did in 1969.
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This most DEFINITELY AIN'T "The Summer Of Love" but, for the next seven minutes and twenty-eight seconds, let's pretend that it is:
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AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN - The 5th Dimension
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlrQ-bOzpkQ
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GOOD MORNING, STARSHINE - Oliver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E-ZkyNWzrM
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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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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
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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.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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Hey, bro, use the songs from HAIR as often as you like, they are great -- in fact, I'm a huge musical fan, so keep all of them a-comin'.
ReplyDeleteYoung Cherdo Story: In gym class (high school), our teacher wanted all of us to pair up and create a modern dance piece to a song of our choice. Know that this horrified me greatly. Apparently, I was not alone because we were all chastised about our giggles and groans as the teacher threatened our grade. Anywho - my friend, Terry B, and I did a number using AQUARIUS by The Fifth Dimension. To this day, the horror of having to do it in front of peers is burned in my (small) brain. LOL...high school angst is awesome.
Where were we...oh, yeah! I love both of these songs, but I really loved Marilyn McCoo, so AQUARIUS gets my one and only bote.
Thanks, friend!
DOC CHERDO ~
DeleteJust think... if your high school dance routine occurred today, it would be on the Internet for the whole world to see.
Aren't ya glad we grew up in the much more private 1970s?
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
Oh, Lord, you have no idea how glad I am. I'm still dealing with the horror of young dance class pictures...who would put lime green satin on a Cherdo and then photograph it? {{{shiver}}}
DeleteGee, make it easy for once. I like both these songs about the same, and they came out at a critical point in my life (I was 13 and in 8th grade), so I have strong feelings about both.
ReplyDeleteI finally went Old Testament and cast Urim and Thummim, and Oliver won. So I'm voting for him, but you realize it could have gone either way...
JOHN ~
DeleteHa! I loved your Old Testament reference.
Sadly, only a small percentage of American citizens alive today would even have the slightest understanding of what you were referring to.
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
The absolute evil and turning away from God is so evident to me of late--I'm seeing with such clarity where the near future is heading. Things are lining up like never before. Society keeps finding more ways to replace God and issues like wearing a mask and social distancing as well as all of the social justice issues at hand have become like new religions with man at the center and getting rid of our Creator. I feel sad for some people, but hopeful and excited about the future, not in this current world, but the world to come. Bring it on!
ReplyDeleteThis Battle hearkens back to the Hair Battle the early BOTB pioneers did.
I like the Oliver song okay. It's just that the 5th Dimension medley is bigger, more exciting, and better to my ears.
Give my vote to 5th Dimension.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
LEE ~
DeleteThe mask thing - aside from being bad for a person's health - is so completely loaded with symbolism that I'm not sure satan could have come up with a better emblem to represent what he is about... and what he is about to do to the foolish unbelievers!!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Oh I must give it to Aquarius because I always loved this song and the style of it plus my mom was an Aquarian
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteThe 5th Dimension were a classic (and class) act. Some of the best harmonizing ever recorded. I think they could have sung 'The Declaration Of Independence' I would have still loved it.
Oh, wait! What's this?...
They *DID* sing 'The Declaration Of Independence' and I *DO* love it!
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
Howdy, Stephen T.!
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Starshine by Oliver because it's a happy, silly, upbeat song that relays a "Don't worry, be happy" theme we could all use a lot more of.
For anyone who could use it: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in," ~ Leonard Cohen
I love that quote -- I'm using it! Thanks!
DeleteMy pleasure ;-)
DeletedIEDRE ~
Delete'Good Morning, Starshine' > "Don't Worry, Be Happy"... that's a pretty darn good comparison.
Oliver's song really *IS* bursting with simple joy. I've loved it since I was a kid... a simple, joyful kid! ;-)
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
I'm with the underdog - give my vote to OLIVER! I just liked his song better, and for no particular reason that I can find. Sometimes it be like that!
ReplyDelete<a href="https://stormsandstardust.net'>Kim</a>
KIM ~
DeleteOliver, the underdog, surely does need every vote he can get in trying to battle with the colossus that is 'Aquarius' by The 5th Dimension!
Hey, can I ask you a question?...
What the hell is going on with your Battle? Here we are on the 6th and you have ONLY 3 votes recorded?!
I'm gonna be pretty pissed off if the BOTB participants don't get their butts over there very quickly and start voting on and supporting your Battle. I will call people out if I have to. (It wouldn't be the first time.)
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Yo S-McBro,
ReplyDeleteI had to listen to each song twice. Not because they were both so good I needed more evidence to make a decision. Rather, after one listen I gave myself electro-shock therapy to forget the songs. (I put a fork in the toaster then bit it and stared at your Batman gif until I was thrown loose). They're the antithesis to the music I like. The folks in Aquarius/Sunshine seem to be trying too hard, too busy, too much going on. Good Morning Starshine is "easier" on the ears and gets my vote - that warbly voice that denotes 60's sincerity? I'm gonna bite the fork again.. .. .
For some reason I thought of, don't know if you remember him, a guy on Amazon named "The Patriarch" who was funny and sometimes took things too far. For example, he wrote a review for Billy Jack that noted how dumb the hippies were and the townsfolk were right to dump flour on their heads. And wrote a review for a Disney cartoon movie with a black princess noting that the movie was so bad it made his "adopted Afro-American daughter" cry... which led to people leaving comments that he shouldn't call her AFRO-American. And he may have crossed the line when he went on the Amazon Religion forum and claimed to be considering an abortion.. and everyone started fighting over "her." Oh boy.
We live in crazy times. Apparently drug overdoses in each recent month are much higher than last year's monthly tallies. Pascal wrote, “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” A lot of folks are having problems with solitude... which your homie Thoreau handled quite well. (And caretakers in The Shining not so much).
I think I'm starting to have hippy song flashbacks - that darn "importance of being earnest" warbly voice... back to the toaster and Deion Sanders' funk song "Must Be The Money" with his classic line, "Gonna change my library cards into credit cards." NOBODY knows what it means - it's provocative!
Cheers and peace,
G Dogg
McG DogG ~
DeleteYes, I knew that *THIS* was not gonna be yer kinda Battle. I pretty much despise what the Dippy Hippie era stood for, but I'll confess that I do still like some of the music that came out of it.
The 5th Dimension, Spanky & Our Gang, Simon & Garfunkel... and some others. They still find their way into my CD player on a pretty regular basis.
"The Patriarch" at Amazon.scum... you know, I *DO* remember the name. And, I may be mistaken, but I'm thinking that he was the so-called "Conservative" whom I once had a huge, extensive online debate with in the comment section of one of his reviews.
As I recall, he got slaughtered, and then started whining because other commenters started leaving comments telling him that he... got slaughtered. GOL!! Ahh, the good ol' daze!
>>... A lot of folks are having problems with solitude... which your homie Thoreau handled quite well. (And caretakers in The Shining not so much).
DogG, you are the *ONLY* person I can think of who could possibly get Thoreau and The Shining in the same sentence and have it actually make sense!
Hmmm.... Well, come to think of it, that's the kind of thing that would also be right up SigToo's alley. Sadly, he doesn't visit much anymore. But I'd love to read an exchange between the two of you. Who'd need booze & drugs if we had something like *THAT* for entertainment?!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Every generation has its doomsday event. Maybe its every decade now. One day the bombs will fall and end it all. Or not.
ReplyDeleteAs for the sun, its hot. Too hot. I'm locked inside under the A/C as much as possible. I'm letting my daughter take care of 4th festivities.
Maybe I've been hypnotized. I'm going with Aquarius.
WILD THING ~
DeleteI've been saying that the beginning of the end would be in late 2022 or early 2023, and the end of the end would be 2029 - when Christ returns (give or take a year or two).
But, if [Link> This guy's nightmares turn out to indeed be prophetic, the beginning of the end for US in the U.S. may be coming as early as this November.
I only hope that all the chaos and Soviet and Chinese troops in America is not going wreak havoc on the distribution of beer, wine & whiskey to the grocery stores and liquor stores.
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
This was a difficult one. If it was just Aquarius on its lonesome, I might have boted for Oliver. But since it's a medley with Let the Sunshine In, and that song is feeling great right now (where the water temperature is a perfect 70 degrees), I'm gonna have to bote for Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.
ReplyDeleteJust FYI, that gif of Batman and Robin running is fantastic, and it's the perfect backdrop to either of those songs.
JULIO ~
DeleteYeah, how groovy is that Batmang & Boy Wonder gif? Far out and heavy!! ;-)
Thanks for The Beach Report, Brother! And you're right that 'Let The Sunshine In' is the right message for this time! We should all un-mask ourselves and let the Sun shine in!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
I was around for the billboard chart in 69 and Aquarius is still number one.
ReplyDeleteMIKE ~
DeleteThanks for your BOTB bote!
Yip! I, too, was around when 'Aquarius' was at the top of the charts. In fact, I recall "singing" (using the word very loosely) 'Aquarius' in a public performance given by my elementary school choir in 1970. We had some pretty hip teachers at Grant School in Santa Monica!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
And Stephen,
ReplyDeleteGood battle...both good songs with memories of my youth all over em. Heard both of those songs on a transistor radio and I can even remember the smell of that radio when you took the back off and put in the new battery. The one I'm thinking of was blue and cheap as a... Back to our regularly scheduled program. I do like em both but Oliver gets my vote as it is slightly more joyful than Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In or is it sun shine in? And with the writing in Good Morning Starshine "oobie daba diba" who could vote any other way? And finally, in my later years I was much more drawn to starshine than sunshine. So there you have it.
Be well,
JW,
Pooh
...AND POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
Delete"Transistor radio" -- I can't read or say those words without thinking of Vin Scully.
Thanks for chiming in with two cents for the BOTB kitty, McPooh!
I keep meaning to send you an online belated birthday card, but I'm so busy and so far behind in EVERYTHING that, eventually, I'll have to start looking for a 'Belated Belated Birthday Card' for you!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Along the lines of what I said in June 2 years ago:
ReplyDeleteBippity boppity boopy
Aquarius-y poopy, no no no no.
nibby nobby nooby,
Oliver more-y goody, ho ho ho ho ho.
Hippy dippy stoopy
smelly druggy dopey,
no mo mo mo mo
history will tell-y,
Revelation warning bell-y
OH NO NO NO NO!
[Link> THIS(!) for you.
Delete~ Stephen
D-FensDogG of the
Loyal American Underground
that's all ya gots? I was expecting a long, clever reply from you! I guess you are SO busy with your job (why you workin? Nobody else is. We jes collect assistance and burn shizzle) that you worked, you WATCHED, you waited... then finally wrote all your replies in one sweaty night.
DeleteBROTHER McSIXGUN ~
DeletePrecisely! I seem to be busier than I've ever been... and this is technically just a part-time job! (I'm on my lunch break as I type these words.)
But, if you want a mo' better reply... remember, you axed for it:
Unless you really, truly, absolutely DESPISE these songs - based entirely on their vocals and music - then it seems to me you went to Xtreme Political response mode, and dropped the dial to "0" on the Music side o' things.
While Judge Al Bondigas is undoubtedly in full agreement with your political / cultural view of the era in which this music was created, and the dippy hippie ignance expressed in the lyrics, he still managed to dial down on that scale and dial up on the objective Music side o' things.
And if you really *DO* hate all the music and singing so much that you couldn't possibly vote for either song, then that non-vote is a COMPLETELY VALID response, and I have no complaint about it.
BUT(!)... you might want to re-listen to 'Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In', keeping in mind that you are hearing The Wrecking Crew at the height of their powers. And that's Wrecking Crew member Joe Osborn on bass in 'Let The Sunshine In', and Joe is playing that bass like a freakin' BEAST! It is quite likely my all-time favorite bass workout, and I will have plenty to say about it in my BOTB Results post.
~ Stephen
D-FensDogG of the
Loyal American Underground
Thanks, no reply required on this re-reply.
Delete1) my mind is indeed ALWAYS in full political mode. I cannot help it. Because NUTTIN is fun anymore. I can't listen to music without thinking of who might approve of it or cancel it... whatever. I have a GIANT list of bands that I SIMPLY WON’T LISTEN TO ANY MORE because they are just self-important political hacks. SHUT UP ALREADY. The left has taken the fun out of everything. I've about had it. You can't watch sports - any of them. You either get kneeling, the new black national anthem, the new black flag, SJW causes on the jerseys instead of names, fake nooses from garage doors at NASCAR, even moments of silence in golf. JUST PLAY THE GAME. I DON”T CARE WHAT YOU THINK ON EITHER SIDE.
2) The music: back in the day, I listened to both of these of course; they were on the TRANSISTOR radio all the time. They were fine. They are catchy. I liked 5th Dimension pretty well. But ANY music from Hair kinda bothers me; as you know from previous chats... I was never a fan of the musical and especially the subject matter. "Oklahoma," "My Fair Lady," "The Music Man" - the older musicals are the ones I like. If the 5th Dime came up on any radio station these days I would hit the button and leave, Wrecking Crew or not. They were great at everything they did, but that doesn't mean I like it all.
3) The Oliver number I would NOT hit the button. It is not something I could listen to a lot, but it has an infectious, happy quality about it. After I hear it, my mind is literally rhyming just like I wrote in your comment section. It has me making up silly rhymes for everything I’m doing for at least half an hour. I can’t get the song outta my head for a while, so I’m begging you: please don’t use it again!
4) Because nothing in public discourse is fun any more, maybe I should stop commenting at BOTB. I was light in my comment on your battle; on Lee’s I went on a Masters Thesis length political rant. Of course, he DID use a band with the name Confederate in it, so he has nobody to blame but himself, ha ha.
5) your LOSC name was “Mr. Intense.” I could give you a REAL run for your money right now for that name, but I’ll stick with Sixgun McItchyfinger.
BTW - I just detected that you thought my comment was a NON vote. Oh no no no no. "Oliver more goody."
DeleteMcSIXGUN ~
Delete1) It's the new normal. But don't worry, be happy! Because it's not going to last too long. 2029 at the latest, and then we'll never see another Antifa or BLM Marxist ever again. satan is enjoying his time because... "his time is short" now. He and his warped minions are about to get kicked out of the pool forever.
2) I'm sure I would have hated the Broadway version of 'Hair'. But the movie directed by Milos Forman is pretty damned excellent! I even own it on DVD and watch it every couple of years. But, overall, I am in agreement wid ya. My kinds of musicals are really 'Scrooge', 'Singin' In The Rain', 'My Fair Lady', and 'The Wizard Of Oz'.
3) No worries. This is my very final 'Hair'-themed BOTB. And I knew this at the time I posted it. I have now done all the HAIR-y Battles I ever intended to do. Broadway Versus Hollywood, 1 to 1, and then rubber match; 'Aquarius' (the radio hit) Versus 'Good Morning, Starshine' (the radio hit). I wouldn't even know what other 'Hair' match-up to put together.
"Oh, wait! What's this?..."
(as Mark Dice would say).
I spoke too soon. There might possibly be one more 'Hair' Battle ('Black Boys' Versus 'White Boys').
But, rest assured, Oliver's 'Good Morning, Starshine' won't be playing on this blog again.
4) If you ceased boting in my BOTBs, it would sadden me. And, worse yet, if you let the leftists piss you off to the point that you stop participating in previously fun endeavors, then the leftists (brain-dead, pansy-assed, low-IQ, Marxist phuqtards) win, and YOU lose!
5) I'm older and grayer, but I'm no less intense than I ever was.
(I keep praying to God, asking Him to mellow me out and grant me His Peace which surpasses all understanding. But so far... I'm as pissed-off and intense as I've ever been. Maybe God don't listen to drunkards? But if I ever sobered up, I'd leave a trail of dead bodies behind me that even Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could follow!)
6) I thank you for clarifying your BOTB bote. This one was so close that your bote actually changed the outcome. The "Oliver more goody" got lost amidst all of the No, No, Nos. Thanks for highlighting it for me!
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
Al Bondigas here. I've always liked the 5th Dimension even though I abhor with a passion all of the 60's phoney baloney hippie bullshit. I like almost all of their music and have it as a favorite on Pandora and others. However, for today anyway, I'm making a rulin' fer Oliver's "Good Morning Starshine". That song always puts me in a good mood. It gets the nod ever so slightly. Now go ahead and tell me how SHOCKED you are about my rulin'. So that's it, that's muh rulin'.
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteYer rulin' don't surprise.
I know that feeling. 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.
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
I always been in love Aquarius, so my vote goes with that.
ReplyDeleteI hope you a great 4th of the July. I am taking July off for BotB, need a break. I will be back in August though.
AMY ~
DeleteI'm pleased as spiked punch that you stopped by with your input.
Actually, I really *DID* have a good 4th of July! All things considered, it was the best one in over a decade.
I will leave your links up on my pages and see ya again in August. Take care o' you!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteI'm not participating this round but will play along on the 15th. I appreciate your call to those who know not the Lord to heed the signs of time and get their affairs in order before the door of opportunity is forever sealed shut. I enjoyed the break from the madness with your season of love song picks for this showdown. I love both songs and take me back to a simpler time.
Did I ever tell you that DH's cousin went to high school with Oliver? 'Good Morning, Starshine' is a great but I'm going with 'Aquarius' in this round!
Stay safe and be well, my friend!
CATHY ~
DeleteI appreciate you coming by to play along with us, and I'll definitely return the visit during your July 15th BOTB (if not sooner).
Yeah, I hear ya, Sister! Both of these recordings remind of a much simpler, more innocent (and certainly more colorful) time in my life!
I've always thought Oliver was English. Or... did DH's cousin go to school in England? Or did Oliver leave England and go to school in the U.S.? Or... am I wrong, and Oliver just weren't English?
Inquiring minds wanna know!
~ D-FensDogG
'FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS'
Well that was a fun trip down (earliest) memory lane. I was four when these two songs were hits and they've been staples in my head ever since.
ReplyDelete"Aquariouse" had a kind of stiff, milky white production I didn't remember, as good as the song is, but the "Let The Sunshine In" outro finali resounds with all the the stirring gospel grandeur I expected.
"Starshine" had interesting, propulsing guitar rhythms I wasn't aware of as it pads the bright, friendly vocal and lyrics.
I have to go with "Aquariouse" though. Hard to beat late sixties-early seventies soul for my ears
Hello, UNKNOWN ~
DeleteAre you, by any chance, the original "Unknown"? If so, can I have your autograph? I've always admired your work!
I'm pleased as spiked punch that you enjoyed this stroll down Amnesia Lane! I was 10 or 11 when these songs were blasting out of transistor radios everywhere in sunny Southern California. But, as with you, they are permanently etched into my memory bank.
I've got your BOTB bote (aka vote) recorded, and this Battle was so close (the width of a gnat's eyelash) that your last-second bote actually altered the outcome.
Thanks for playing along, and feel free to do so in the future. Or, if you have a blog of your own, feel free to join us and become an actual BOTBer!
~ D-FensDogG
'STEPHEN T. McCARTHY REVIEWS...'