BOTB RESULTS: 2022, APRIL 1st (Or, EDDY VERSUS TRINI)

.

.

First and foremost, I want to thank all my friends who took the time 'n' trouble to stop by, listen, and vote on my latest 'Battle Of The Bands' (BOTB) post which appeared [link> HERE. The song was the early 1960s hit 'WE'LL SING IN THE SUNSHINE' - the cover versions performed by Eddy Arnold and Trini Lopez.

.

.

I like this earworm-y song and really didn't know what to expect with this Battle. I figured it could possibly go either way, and to my mind there wasn't any clear favorite or underdog. And that is EXACTLY the way the Battle played out! That's right! It was a tie:

.

FINAL TALLY:

Eddy Arnold = 6 votes

Trini Lopez = 6 votes

.

.

I like both versions very well and honestly could have felt satisfied voting either way. However, I sided just slightly with Eddy Arnold and essentially for the same reason that Arlee Bird did. He wrote, "Trini's version is just too--ah--sunny?" Yeah, I feel that the underlying current which belies the cheerfulness of the melody kind of gets lost in Trini's super-upbeat happy-happy approach. But even so, I still really do like the Trini recording. This Battle was a Win-Win in my opinion.

.

.

Although it picked up later, the voting started out so slow in this Battle that for several days I was beginning to think this may be my final BOTB installment. I sed it before and I seds it again: If one of my BOTB voting tallies ever falls below double digits (i.e., less than at least 10 votes, counting my own), THAT will be my final Battle. I just feel I put too much thought & time into these contests to justify anything less than double digit feedback. Happily, however, this Battle got into double digit "boting" late in the game, so I'll be back with another BOTB installment on May 1st. I hope to see all y'all here again then.

.

.

In what is a first for me, I actually have ALL of my Battle songs and contestants lined up for the remainder of the year (excluding the December Christmas theme, which is yet to be determined). Until next time, may you all...

.

BLESS AND BE BLESSED!!

.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy

.

.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2022, APRIL 1 (Or, EDDY ARNOLD VERSUS TRINI LOPEZ)

.

.

Yes, it's time once again for Battle Of The Bands (BOTB). 

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

.

About 5 weeks ago, I was meditating (which I do daily as a part of my Spiritual upkeep) when I heard my Brother playing a song in the other room. I vaguely recognized it and it rekindled memories of the early 1960s for me, even though I hadn't heard the song since I was a child. 'We'll Sing in the Sunshine' was a 1964 hit song written and recorded by Gale Garnett and, for me, it's quite an earworm! 

.

When I finished meditating, I sought out my Brother and asked him, "What was that song you were playing? Something about SUNSHINE?" When he told me the title, I immediately decided that it would be my April BOTB song.

.

.

I became a (Maverick) Christian after having a profound Spiritual experience in the afternoon of April 6, 1994 on the second floor of this Los Angeles apartment:

.

.

Yeah, that's (stuffed) Muddy McDogg waving from the second floor window of the room where Jesus Christ converted me from a sinner into a... sinner who is going to Heaven.

.

.

God literally sent me back to Los Angeles from Arizona because of how often I used to tell people, "God doesn't exist in L.A.". God disagreed. And He sent me back to L.A. for the sole purpose of discovering Him there. Uhp! I was an idiot!!

.

.

'We'll Sing in the Sunshine' is an odd song. The verse lyrics seem to belie the cheery chorus and the overall cheerfulness of the melody. Even so, somehow, there's something in me that Spiritually responds to this song. If I don't focus on the verses too closely, this feels to me like it's a Gospel song. And that's why I'm presenting it in the month that represents my 28th-year anniversary as "a surrendered rebel".

.

The Sidewalk Cafe (exterior), Los Angeles - Venice Beach Boardwalk.

.

The Sidewalk Cafe (interior), Venice Beach boardwalk.

.

Full Plate @ The Sidewalk Cafe.

.

Happy Plate Face @ The Sidewalk Cafe.

.

Below are two cover versions of this song for you to choose from. I wanted to go in a different direction with this song, so I selected two male performers, even though the original hit was written and performed by a female (for those who still believe in distinctions such as "male" and "female"). 

.

We'll Sing In The Sunshine -- Eddy Arnold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgQI2D6-HZU

.

.

We'll Sing In The Sunshine -- Trini Lopez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTqdQ-0vh8

.

Please vote for your favorite of these two recordings, and then please be sure to visit the other BOTBers list-linked in the right margin of this blog. Pssst! Over there somewhere ----->

.

I'll return here on the 8th of April to cast my own vote and tally the Results for ya. Sing in the sunshine and Have A Nice Day

.

.

~ Stephen T. McCarthy