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HAPPY MARGARITA DAY!
"A Tradition Since 1986
(...Except For 1994)"
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A couple of announcements before The Main Event:
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1) Remember that Mary, Mary, Quite Extraordinary (MMQE) is now bloggin' & BOTBin' at this site:
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2) For the foreseeable future, I am reverting to my original practice of posting my BOTB Results at the bottom of the comment section of the actual contest, rather than creating a separate BOTB Results page.
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BOTB's 2025 Margarita Day
Battle Of The Booze
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My Pa experienced his first-ever Margarita on New Year's Day in 1986, thus beginning the 'Margarita Day' tradition. Pa went Home in 1996, but I carry on the tradition in his absence. And, as most everyone knows, the primary booze in a Margarita is tequila.
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This blogfest, Battle Of The Bands (BOTB), began 11.5 years ago. There are no real "rules" in BOTB, except for this: There should be, at the very least, some tenuous theme that ties the two (or three?) combatants together. I mean, we don't want to see a Battle between 'How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?' by Patti Page & The Sex Pistols' 'God Save The Queen'.
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Nevertheless, anyone who's been participating in BOTB for awhile knows that there are some unwritten forewarnings in the unwritten 'Book Of BOTB Forewarnings'; and the very first unwritten forewarning is this: #1: One should not put (or, "Thou shalt not pit", as it's worded in the unwritten Prince James Version) a cover version of a massive hit song against the original massive hit song... unless one seeks a massive blowout or even a complete shutout.
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Therefore, I know perfectly well that what I'm about to do in my first BOTB installment of 2025 is playing with fire. However, I enjoy the challenge of messing around with matches and a bottle of 190-proof Everclear. Call me crazy MISTER Crazy.
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'Tequila' -- The Champs' original recording was a #1 Billboard hit & has been heard by everyone many times. So, putting a relatively unknown cover version against it is simply BOTB insanity, no? Here ya go...
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TEQUILA
by The Champs
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TEQUILA
by The Button-Down Brass
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Please vote in the comment section for the recording you like best, and then please visit all of the other BOTBers and "bote" in their Battles.
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I'll return here on or about Jan. 8th with my own vote and the Final Tally.
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
Happy New Year Stephen!
ReplyDeleteWhile the calendar starts with a WTF this year, just like it did in 2020- I am hopeful 2025 will prove to be a much better year.
The Button Down Brass was good, but they sounded a tad muted.
Therefore I am voting for The Champs.
Have the happiest of happiests and I will catch you later!
-MMQE
MMQE ~
DeleteHow lovely to find you here again at the center of the universe!
Hey, think nut'n of it, as my entire life started with a WTF. (When it got to the point that I was 3 weeks late, my Ma figured out that I was clearly stating: "No! I don't wanna do this!")
The Button-Down Brass sounded a tad "muted"? Really? OooooKaaay.
I got some Eddie & The Hot Rods cranked up to eleven while I'm taking down the Christmas decorations... and I feel fine.
~ D-FensDogG
Happy Margarita Day, Stephen! ☺The Button Down Brass certainly put their unique stamp on this iconic song, but, I have to be predictable and go with the original. It had much more vim and vigour. Cheers! 🥂
ReplyDeleteDEBBIE D'DOGLADY ~
DeleteThank you for the nice Margarita Day wish! It was a goot juan. Went to my favorite casino for Margaritas & video poker.
Always a sadness in the heart of the evening, though, because it's all uphill after Margarita Day is over. ;^)
~ Stephen T.
Okay, I'm going to blame it on the Rose Parade which I was watching briefly before I came to my computer. The Brass version made me picture them marching down the street with the organ player on a float. The Champs were all just playing on their own float without much flair in presentation.
ReplyDeleteThis song is to me a novelty song and the second version was like a novelty version of a novelty song. But it was really cool arrangement and all. I really started digging the percussion part as well. In all, I think the Brass was quite the tour de force and I loved it.
I keep gravitating toward that original version though.
Okay, give my vote to Button Down Brass because they work better for parade day.
Lee
R. LEE BOID ~
DeleteWow! I can't even remember the last time I saw The Rose Parade! That seems like two lifetimes ago. (The Thanksgiving Day Parade, too!)
Yeah, I suppose 'Tequila' is something of a novelty song, but one that's musically much better'n most.
~ D-FensDogG
Great song! Button Down wasn't bad but I'm voting for the Champs because you never forget your first ;-) I danced to this song before I was even allowed to wear make-up - ha! Hard to believe this song is old enough to have one at the first Grammy Awards.
ReplyDeleteHappy day and year, my friend!
Won. They WON at the first Grammy awards. Sigh. ;-)
DeletedIEDRE ~
DeleteYip! Great song indeed. It's hard for me to imagine that there are people out there who don't like it (even though I'm sure there are).
>>... "I danced to this song before I was even allowed to wear make-up - ha!"
My parents drilled it into my mind that I should avoid wearing make-up because it led to dancing.
~ D-FensDogG
Happy New Year, Stephen ole pal! I don't drink as you know but I do have a sugar hang-over. Actually, I've had one throughout the holiday season with all the goodies I've made. I really need to not make so much but we both have such a huge sweet tooth that's hard to satisfy sometimes, DH more so than me. Anywho onward to your battle. I listened to both songs three times. In the end, my The Champs got my vote. Button Down did a great job but they seemed a bit too loud or showy in their presentation. There you have it another vote for The Champs! May the good Lord bestow many riches upon you in body, soul, and your bank account this year!
ReplyDeleteMerry 2025, CAThy!
DeleteThanks for the top-notch wishes. I believe my soul is in Good Hands, but I could use a new body and a generous deposit in my bank account. (Obviously, Santa didn't get my letter at the North Pole.)
Bless & Be Blessed, My Fun Friend!!
~ D-FensDogG
VOTE = BUTTON-DOWN BRASS
ReplyDeleteI liked the '60s TV theme song jazziness, and the organ solo. ~Ed.
MR. ED ~
DeleteI don't know why, but me had a hunch you might be a Button-Down Brass man. And, helck, I do know that you dig some of those '60s TV shows, so your "bote" makes a good deal o' sense. (More sense than I make a good amount o' da time.)
~ D-FensDogG
This is a goodie of a battle to start the new year... which is probably - in this mortal realm - going to be a pretty rocky one.
ReplyDeleteObviously the original song is great! But I have to go with the Button Down Brass. I had no idea that The Who went incognito with a new name, hired some horns, set the synth to "B3," brushed up on their "Magic Bus" licks, and covered this song! Even down to the Moon drum solo in the middle!
Yep... this one is my kinda version! "all gilt and flash."
Sixgun McSheboyganboy
SIR SIX-A-LOT ~
DeleteI'm pleased as spiked punch that you dug this first Battle of 2025 and that you didn't keep your lip buttoned down about it! (Yeah, I saw what you did there.)
Funny, I didn't tink a ting about The Who in connection with this recording but... but now that you mention it, I can see it coming through the haze.
Two (Count 'em: 2) FUN FACTS:
By weird coincidence, I selected my Eddie & The Hot Rods CD to listen to while responding to comments. It's the kind of high-energy racket I always listen to after a month of beautiful Christmas carols and holly jolly pop songs (IOW, it's almost anti-Holiday music). And these English blokes are very much Who-like, even to the point of doing a cover version of 'The Kids Are Alright'.
In doing a wee li'l bit o' research for this BOTB installment (I wanted to see how many weeks 'Tequila' was at #1 on the charts), I dragged out my big book of 'Billboard's Top 40 Hit Songs 1955-1995'. When I read the entry about The Champs I was shocked - SHOCKED! - to learn something that immediately called to mind the saudade / goldenshadow comment exchange we had in my previous BOTB blog bit.
Read THIS and be amazed, stunned, flabbergasted, etc. Be forewarned that if you tell me you already knew this, I shall publicly call you a liar and I may even taunt you a second time! ;^D
~ D-FensDogG
HA! Well, I knew about Seals and Crofts and Campbell, but I did NOT know that they were named after Gene Autry's horse! I only knew those other facts because two weeks ago we was yakkin' 'bout S&C and I read a bunch about them then. I was so caught up in the "Magic Bus" opening of the BDB that I forgot to mention it!
DeleteSix
Happy New Year! I think the second version is fine but it has a little too many instruments for it to be as enjoyable, so I vote for The Champs.
ReplyDeleteThat last comment was from me voting for the Champs. I don't know if it came up as anonymous or not.
ReplyDeletehttps://christinebialczak.com/2025/01/02/botbs-2025-margarita-day/
ReplyDeleteCHRISTINE ~
DeleteHey, how cool to find you here for my Battle Of The Bands - Battle Of The Booze - Margarita Day music festival! And I'm happy that you posted a Battle of your own.
I added a link to your blog in this site's sidebar, and I've got your vote for The Champs logged in. I hope you'll continue with us. BOTB still occurs on the 1st & 15th of each month (a person can post Battles on both dates or just the 1st or just the 15th - whatever works.)
May you Bless & Be Blessed in 2025!!
~ D-FensDogG
Pick another day and I might go for the 2nd but I just love the original...has a cool vibe to it. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteI thanks ya for coming by with a vote for The Champs. (They aren't called that for nut'n, ya know!)
I sincerely hope that happiness & good health await you in 2025! Although world conditions don't look promising, I like the fact that 2+5=7. Lucky? We'll see.
~ D-FensDogG
This was actually a lot harder and a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I, too view this as a bit of a novelty song, though it is one I enjoy. Also, I laughed out loud at Ed's comment above, because I had the same thought upon first listen - The Button Down Brass version sounds like it could be a 60s TV show theme song. I could easily imagine Batman ZIFFing and POWing his way through that song.
ReplyDeleteI had to play this one a few times. I love the crispness of the guitar and the Mexican flair of the original, but the layering of the instruments and that killer organ solo actually works really well for The Button Down Brass. Give my bote to them... and don't tell The Champs. My people may disown me.
~Chief Julio (sides with the whiteys today)
CHIEF BIG SHOOTER ~
DeleteHey, mang! I'm as happy as Happy Hour that you feel I got off to a goot start in my 2025 music Battles. Of course, it's said all the time: "The key to a good BOTB is starting with a good song!" It's all downhill after that. As a fake psychic once (accurately) said, "Oh, anybody can do it!"
>>... "I could easily imagine Batman ZIFFing and POWing his way through that song."
Methinx you're conflating your Zaps and your Biffs. However, your Pow was - BAM! - spot-on. :^D
And, you needn't worry about your "peoples" disowning you for failing to vote for The Champs. It seems that The Champs only had one token Paco Mendoza (who was actually named Danny Flores), and rest of 'em were a bunch of White Supremacists. (You know how those Whiteys are, they've been doing the cultural appropriation thing for as far back as the Old Testament!)
~ Jive Turkey DogG