tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post7860920769897522746..comments2024-03-26T20:35:39.291-07:00Comments on STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS': 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS: 2014, August 1' (Or, 'FRANK SINATRA VERSUS RAY CHARLES')Stephen T. McCarthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-45811132515818516972014-08-07T20:01:53.218-07:002014-08-07T20:01:53.218-07:00STMcC’s Vote On ‘BOTB - 2014, August 1
- Frank Si...<b>STMcC’s Vote On ‘BOTB - 2014, August 1 <br />- Frank Sinatra Vs. Ray Charles’ And The Final Tally:</b><br /><br />My thanks as always to ALL Y'ALL who voted.<br /><br />This was probably my all-time favorite 'Battle Of The Bands' installment due to the greatness of both recordings, the closeness of the race, and my own very personal connection to this particular song.<br /><br />Truthfully, at the beginning (and long after the beginning) I was planning to flip an 1884 Silver Dollar minted in Carson City, Nevada, that I happen to own, in order to determine my own vote. That's how tough, how close this one was for me.<br /><br />In the end though (as Sheboyganboy Six predicted) I managed to make a decision without the 1884 Silver Dollar's say.<br /><br />I genuinely think BOTH versions are damned excellent. The arrangement (thank you, Mr. Nelson Riddle the great!) with those horns in the Frank Sinatra version really dig deep. And, although I'm not normally big on Ol' Blue Eyes (with the exception of a few songs that I really do dig big time) I genuinely like his vocals on 'We'll Be Together Again'. In my op, this was Frankie at his best (except for when he appeared as a singing sword in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', which was outrageously epic!)<br /><br />Musically speaking, the Ray Charles and Betty Carter version doesn't have a lot going for it - except for some tickling of the ivories, which I like a lot. But the vocal performances are stellar, and the tone of those vocals strike me as sadder, slightly more melancholy, as if the singer(s) really doesn't believe what he/she is saying - which makes it sadder still.<br /><br />I also like the fact that, being a "breakup song", the Charles/Carter version included both male and female voices in it.<br /><br />When push came to shove and slap came to biff, I finally had to admit to myself that, to my ears, the Ray Charles / Betty Carter recording of this song had the very slightest of a slight edge over the Ol' Blue Eyes / Chairman of the Board version. So, I made up my mind, finally, in the eleventh hour, to vote for Brown Eyed Soul over Blue Eyed Class.<br /><br />But... just to see if I had made the correct decision after the fact, I decided to flip my 1884 Carson City, Nevada-minted Silver Dollar anyway. I was thinkin': “I gots to know!”<br /><br />Well, guess what! Had I left it up to the Silver Dollar, Ray and Betty were STILL going to get my vote. <br /><br />However, Meatball's late vote and my own, weren't enough to win this contest for Ray and Betty. Here's the final tally:<br /><br /><b>Frank Sinatra = 9 Votes<br />Ray Charles = 8 Votes</b><br /><br />I've had 'BOTB' contests that were closer (i.e., there have been a couple of ties), but this one was as close as I figured it would be, as several voters also expressed the difficulty they had in attempting to decide which way to roll with it.<br /><br />Again, I thank Y'ALL for participating by “voicing yer vote” here at my blog, and I sincerely hope to see each an' ever' one o' yaz back here again for the next 'Battle Of The Bands' on August 15th. I've already decided what it's going to be, and again, I “got a goot one”!<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-37717824502818441502014-08-07T14:33:44.415-07:002014-08-07T14:33:44.415-07:00AL BONDIGAS (You Meatball!) ~
Thanks so much for g...AL BONDIGAS (You Meatball!) ~<br />Thanks so much for getting your rulin' in on time (this time). I'm sure Sheboyganboy Six 'preciates it too.<br /><br />For me, this has truly been the most difficult 'Battle Of The Bands' installment ever (and I can't imagine any one being tougher in the future). There are things I really like about BOTH versions (and that's not even counting the "supernatural" connection I have to the Sinatra version).<br /><br />I have finally made up my mind who I am voting for - and that's sans a coin toss.<br /><br />However, I will wait until about 7:45 tonight before posting my vote and closing down this 'BOTB' installment, just in case an eleventh hour vote comes in.<br /><br />Yak Later...<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-16293806849066831912014-08-07T13:54:59.664-07:002014-08-07T13:54:59.664-07:00Al Bondigas here. You were right about this being...Al Bondigas here. You were right about this being a coin flipper. I never got the Frank Sinatra thing; I always considered him a minor league emperor showing off his birthday suit, if you know what I mean. However, that orchestra really made the song great and the connection with this version to you and mom made it very difficult, but, I go with Ray Chaz because of the aaccompaniment. That's it. That's my rulin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-71727946528665525572014-08-07T13:52:50.679-07:002014-08-07T13:52:50.679-07:00Howdy, CATHY! ~
Hey, it's GRRREAT to see a new...Howdy, CATHY! ~<br />Hey, it's GRRREAT to see a new face here. <b>Welcome!</b><br /><br />Yeah, 'Moonlighting' was so cleverly written, so witty, and the characters had fantastic chemistry.<br /><br />For the last week I've been watching old 'Moonlighting' episodes on my DVDs, and what strikes me now, all these years later, that even if one were to disregard the main characters' chemistry, and all the clever bantering and wordplay, the puns in the dialogue, one would find that the stories themselves were really good. I mean, the stories could stand alone. There were tons of great plot twists and surprises. As television mystery stories go, these were some of the best. They'd sucker me in to the point where I thought I knew where the story was going and then suddenly - BAM! - everything changes, and the story does a 180.<br /><br />I was watching one last night that cracked me up. Maddie and David are arguing about a case while driving in the car (nuttin' new in THAT) and then Maddie says, "I have just one question..." and then Maddie and David say simultaneously, <i><b>"WHO'S THE CLIENT?!"</b></i><br /><br />Another running joke, because they so often wound up trying to solve a mystery when no one has actually hired them to do so.<br /><br />Anywayz... thanks so much for your vote! <br /><br />And I'm sure I speak for ALL THE BOTBers when I say: Yes, by all means, please do join us in the 'BOTB' fun. We'd LOVE to add a new participant - "the more the merrier" (to coin a phrase).<br /><br />The next 'BOTB installment takes place on August 15th. And if you intend to join in and post your own 'BOTB' installment (do it, Do It, DO IT!), please be sure to let me know ASAP so I can add a link to your blog so you will get more "traffic". And I'll let the other participants know they should add a link to you as well.<br /><br />Nice to see you here, and please do come back now, yuh hear?<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-33222990013743907672014-08-07T13:25:15.595-07:002014-08-07T13:25:15.595-07:00SBB-6 ~
ADDENDUM:
I recall you saying that you nev...SBB-6 ~<br />ADDENDUM:<br />I recall you saying that you never saw 'MOONLIGHTING', but I think you would have liked it.<br /><br />If you go to the blog bit whose URL Brother Martin dug up for me (see below), you'll find that back then I included a 10-minute YouTube clip of 'Moonlighting' found at YouTube.<br /><br />It's the last 10 minutes of the show's life (the last 3 of those 10 minutes I posted in THIS blog bit, because it includes this song we're all evaluating).<br /><br />But if you watch that 10 minute clip (with the 7 minutes that preceded the playing of this song) you will get a good idea of some of the types of jokes they used - breaking the fourth wall by referring to the audience, and mixing nonsense with real life - and I think that little clip really does display "The Moonlighting Way" very well.<br /><br />You'll find it here:<br />http://xtremelyun-pcandunrepentant.blogspot.com/2013/05/one-for-flippin-squirrel-or-better-many.html<br /><br />The one full episode that you really SHOULD see (if you only see one) is 'Atomic Shakespeare' - the episode when they "Moonlightingized" the play 'The Taming Of The Shrew'. I would say it's probably the best episode ever, or at least amongst the top three without a doubt.<br /><br />Unfortunately there's a lot of inside jokes that you wouldn't get because they were not just spoofing Shakespeare's play, but spoofing 'Moonlighting' at the same tme. There were references to things that any longtime 'Moonlighting' fan would "get", but would go unnoticed by first-timers. Even so though, I think you'd really dig that episode, even as an outsider.<br /><br />Let me know if you ever see it. (I'd guess the full episode is probably available at YouTube.)<br /><br />~ D-FensDoggStephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-13571611311270547472014-08-07T13:08:58.481-07:002014-08-07T13:08:58.481-07:00SHEBOYGANBROTHER SIXGUN ~
Ha! You made me laugh.
...SHEBOYGANBROTHER SIXGUN ~<br />Ha! You made me laugh.<br /><br />I called El Meatballo and told him what you wrote. He says he will get his vote in before I post mine tonight and close this installment of 'BOTB'.<br /><br />I gotta tell ya, he's not really a Sinatra fan, so, yeah, I think there's a good chance he will be supporting your side in this Musical Argument.<br /><br />But at the same time, Sinatra's version of this song is definitely a good one so... who knows, maybe Al Bondigas will surprise us with his vote this time.<br /><br />We'll see.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-62067589285780981492014-08-07T09:27:21.608-07:002014-08-07T09:27:21.608-07:00Moonlighting was my favorite TV shows from the 80s...Moonlighting was my favorite TV shows from the 80s. In fact, we own it on DVD. Why can't writers write like that today? Comedy today is embarrassingly stupid stuff. *sigh* Nuff said about that. I'm suppose to help figure out which artists is the winner here, right? I guess I have to go with ole Blue Eyes. I'm a sucker for the nostalgic sound of old singers and Frank Sinatra definitely falls into that category. It's nice to meet you on the BOTB. Maybe, one day I'll join in on the fun. ;-)Cathy Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056276734145310231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-39961742747002384852014-08-07T08:24:24.559-07:002014-08-07T08:24:24.559-07:00What about Al? Al Bondigas? Surely that meatball...What about Al? Al Bondigas? Surely that meatball watched the show, right?<br /><br />We'll really be in the soup if he doesn't vote.Sixnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-80502505338320595352014-08-06T23:24:55.548-07:002014-08-06T23:24:55.548-07:00SUSAN ~
Yes, I was a damned good son. In fact, no ...SUSAN ~<br />Yes, I was a damned good son. In fact, no mother could even imagine having a better son than I was... if I do objectively say so myself.<br /><br />Ever since I posted this blog bit, pretty much all I've done is watch old 'MOONLIGHTING' episodes that I have on DVDs. The show is probably even BETTER than I remembered it. (I'm stunned to find how many really, Really, REALLY good episodes there were in that final season... when all of us devoted 'Moonlighting' fans at that time felt the show had kind of lost "it".)<br /><br />Thanks for your vote.<br />What you wrote...<br />further confirms my belief that this is amongst the toughest 'BOTB' contests ever conceived.<br /><br />I STILL haven't decided who I'm voting for, but tomorrow I (or my 1884 Silver Dollar) MUST make that decision.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-30873433800188829592014-08-06T18:49:38.619-07:002014-08-06T18:49:38.619-07:00First off, I love that you played that song for yo...First off, I love that you played that song for your mother. It's a beautiful song, and I'm sure it made for a beautiful moment for the two of you. Very poignant and meaningful. (sniff) You must have been a very good son.<br /><br />Now, on "Moonlighting." My hubby and I enjoyed that show, too, and I agree that it was a big mistake when the writers had them "do the deed" and ended the innuendos and sexual tension that made the show crackle. (so to speak)<br /><br />As for the voting? Tough choice. Any chance I can give each version half a vote? No, huh? Okay, then, I'll go with Sinatra, but I could just as easily gone the other way. (No, I didn't toss a coin.)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-66708705465719133252014-08-05T19:41:57.131-07:002014-08-05T19:41:57.131-07:00Amen, brother! I agree with both those statements!...Amen, brother! I agree with both those statements! :)BECKYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15184458949017900541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-41718452344543000752014-08-05T16:57:55.596-07:002014-08-05T16:57:55.596-07:00Thanks, DONNA!
A vote for Frank is a vote for...
...Thanks, DONNA! <br />A vote for Frank is a vote for...<br />....Frank.<br /><br />~ D-FensDoggStephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-9849142587385390352014-08-05T16:56:09.590-07:002014-08-05T16:56:09.590-07:00Yeah, I probably highlighted them both. I'm us...Yeah, I probably highlighted them both. I'm usually pretty consistent (and consistently awesome).<br /><br />~ D-FensDoggStephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-86938365240796367802014-08-05T12:50:14.812-07:002014-08-05T12:50:14.812-07:00I knew you'd remember it! :)
And I also love G...I knew you'd remember it! :)<br />And I also love Glenn Miller, but I can't even think about choosing between the two of them....Way too different! I think I mentioned Miller twice in my memoir? Did you highlight both?! You're awesome, mannnn! :)BECKYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15184458949017900541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-61641647280189894092014-08-05T11:32:51.937-07:002014-08-05T11:32:51.937-07:00Ok, trying this reply again. Blogger does not work...Ok, trying this reply again. Blogger does not work well with my tablet. I vote for Frank this time.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-24365731805569901452014-08-05T09:43:41.971-07:002014-08-05T09:43:41.971-07:00BECKY-O! ~
Alright, I went back and reread that ch...BECKY-O! ~<br />Alright, I went back and reread that chapter. Thanks for jogging my memory. Once I started it, I remembered it from before. (By the way, I found that I HAD highlighted "Glenn Miller" on page 176, but not Ray Charles on the preceding page. I'm definitely more of a Miller man than a Ray fan.)<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-59691032764631279072014-08-05T09:40:11.584-07:002014-08-05T09:40:11.584-07:00DONNA ~
Twenty-five years ago? That last 'MOON...DONNA ~<br />Twenty-five years ago? That last 'MOONLIGHTING' episode seems more like ten years ago to me.<br /><br />Hey, thanks for your comment, however... sorry to have to point this out, but... I believe you forgot something... something kind of important, something kind of crucial to the whole 'Battle Of The Bands' concept.<br /><br />Uhm... like... who you voting for? You can't vote for Bruce Willis nor James Garner, I'm afraid, because this was between Frank and Ray.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-43754272455130792592014-08-04T21:49:51.001-07:002014-08-04T21:49:51.001-07:00What a wonderful walk down memory lane that was St...What a wonderful walk down memory lane that was Steve. I remember watching Moon Lighting. Gads, do you realize Bruce Willis really hasn't change all that much in all these years. A little more maturity to his looks, buffer, bald; but still the same look. James Garner is that way for me too.<br /><br />Hmm, now I want to go watch the entire last episode again. I know I watched it, but was it really only 25 years ago? Seems so much longer. <br /><br />Hmm, it smells like rain outside, I think I'll go check it out.<br /><br />Later dude.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-30416764079404615232014-08-04T18:20:18.278-07:002014-08-04T18:20:18.278-07:00The chapter is "My Sister, My Mother, My Frie...The chapter is "My Sister, My Mother, My Friend" and begins on page 175, I think. (That's cool that you highlighted parts of it. Send me an e-mail sometime and tell me more about it. I'm curious to know!)BECKYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15184458949017900541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-50455129902548401772014-08-04T16:27:50.119-07:002014-08-04T16:27:50.119-07:00BECKY-O! ~
Thanks for coming by and voting.
>&...BECKY-O! ~<br />Thanks for coming by and voting.<br /><br /><i>>>... Whew!! I'm getting a bit perspirin' just thinking about him!</i><br /><br />Ha!-Ha!<br /><br />Actually, I don't recall the "Ray Charles Connection". I just now flipped through my copy of your book to see if I had highlighted it, but apparently not. Do you know what page it's on, or what chapter it's in?<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-49306467764995311642014-08-04T12:27:55.070-07:002014-08-04T12:27:55.070-07:00Howdy, ~ D-FensDogg! AKA Mr. Stephen T! I definite...Howdy, ~ D-FensDogg! AKA Mr. Stephen T! I definitely choose RAY CHARLES. I do love Frank, too, but not his rendition of this song. (And as you probably remember from my memoir, Ray Charles and I have a "connection" similar to you and your Ma with Frank!) ...AND, I too, LOVED Moonlighting! I couldn't get enough of Bruce Willis! Talk about a guy bursting onto the scene with smoldering sex appeal, Whew!! I'm getting a bit perspirin' just thinking about him! And yes, he and Sybil had amazing chemistry. And yes, I think whoever decided on "the way" they would finally "get together" totally ruined it! Thanks so much for reminding me to stop by and leave a comment! AND, this also reminded me of something I need to include in my sequel ~~ Have a great week!BECKYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15184458949017900541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-3010135241792549302014-08-04T08:04:19.451-07:002014-08-04T08:04:19.451-07:00>>... So you burnt your house down and ran t...<i>>>... So you burnt your house down and ran through the street bathed in flames after each episode?</i><br /><br />No, not after EVERY episode. Only after the LAST episode. (I mean, it's not like Dick Pryor did that EVERY night either, ya know?)<br /><br />Yeah, regarding the votes... thanks for nuttin', youz guyz!<br /><br />Well, at least your votes did confirm what I suspected: that this is one of the toughest 'BOTB' installments ever BOTBed.<br /><br />I'm STILL not really sure who I am voting for. (It might be this 1884 Silver Dollar's decision to make.)<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-79806361086208891002014-08-03T21:05:09.619-07:002014-08-03T21:05:09.619-07:00I was hooked like Richard Pryor on crack cocaine!
...<i>I was hooked like Richard Pryor on crack cocaine!</i><br /><br />So you burnt your house down and ran through the street bathed in flames after each episode?<br /><br />Prepare for two of the most useless votes ever. So, like many of the others, we both had trouble deciding which we liked better. Neither of us could really pick one over the other. Both versions have their draws, and it's so damn close, we ultimately ended up voting one for each. Who voted for whom? Well, we can't tell you. Because we liked them both.<br /><br />So one for Frankie, and one for Ray. And ultimately nothing that will help decide this contest.<br /><br />~6BA Beer for the Showerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029139745335325356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-14400832936620782702014-08-02T19:48:46.661-07:002014-08-02T19:48:46.661-07:00Ha!
ROBIN, I'm so pleased that you loved '...Ha! <br />ROBIN, I'm so pleased that you loved 'BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW' - that you took my suggestion and didn't feel let down by doing so.<br /><br />Yeah, I just read your excellent comment at Donna's 'BOTB' blog bit, and I seconded what both you and FAE had to say. I also recommended 'BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW' to Donna as well.<br /><br />Yeah, I'm not big on coincidences either. (Have you read the F-FFF blog bit that BROTHER MARTIN left the URL for?)<br /><br />I kind of flip-flopped (did "The Romney") several times when thinking about which song I wanted to use as the debut post here on my new 'Battle Of The Bands' blog, and finally decided on THIS one because it has such strong personal meaning for me.<br /><br />I think I was probably Divinely inspired (or at least "Momly" inspired) to go with this one, because it's interesting how everything regarding this event was finally made clear for me.<br /><br />Remember now that "The Glitch" took place back in 2005 and I've always remained mum about it until just now. The fact that I was finally able to open up about it is proof that to my mind the TRUE meaning of the thing has finally been understood by me, and so I don't need to keep it under wraps any longer.<br /><br />Yeah, I think it took a few different things happening in a short period of time for me to finally piece it all together so that I felt confident and peaceful in the knowledge of its authentic interpretation.<br /><br />[Mo' big things be goin' on in my mind lately too. I have also come to some OTHER Spiritual understanding as well, and that will be revealed in my very last blog bit at 'Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends'.]<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043167264059951487.post-70043398107111192652014-08-02T12:10:50.591-07:002014-08-02T12:10:50.591-07:00I read your reply to FAE and I think you were on t...I read your reply to FAE and I think you were on the verge of this "discovery" when I wrote that blog bit because you obscurely referenced what happened in your ma's room. I guess it took writing this post to bring it from the back burner to the forefront. And maybe I needed to write that post before you could post THIS battle so that it would all come together for you. Yeah, I don't believe in coincidence.<br /><br />I wrote a comment on Donna's BOTB bit that I think you might find interesting. The song is Personal Jesus and I just finished the Beautiful Outlaw book. I really wanted to savor it instead of tearing through it at a galloping pace. Anyway, I feel like Emily Bronte ("I have dreamt in my life dreams that have gone through me like wine through water and altered the colour of my mind.") Sub in books for dreams and there it is. The colour of my mind, or maybe my heart - or both, have been altered and the world doesn't look the same any longer. And that is a good thing!<br /><br />I look forward to your numerology response.<br /><br />Lastly, you give a whole new meaning to "keep your pants on."Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.com