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Welcome back, my friends, to the "Battle" that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside!
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This is 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS' ('BOTB') where you listen to different recordings and vote for the one you like best. A new Battle gets posted on the 1st of each month and on the 7th, I place my own vote, tally 'em all up and announce the winner.
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Friend? Foe? Stranger? No matter, ALL are welcome. So pull up a chair, pour yourself 24 oz. of DOG BITE High Gravity Lager (or the poison of your choice) and turn it up to Eleven!
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[NOTE: Links to the first year of 'BOTB' (#1 - #24) can be found at the very bottom of this page.]

Thursday, December 8, 2022

BOTB RESULTS: DEC. 1, 2022 (Or, JOHNNY MATHIS VERSUS JOSH GROBAN)

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I thank each and every one of you who took time this Christmas season to participate in my Battle Of The Bands (BOTB) contest which took place HERE. The song was the classic 'O Holy Night' and the two excellent versions of it were by Johnny Mathis and Josh Groban. Funny thing is that I created this match-up with the idea that Groban was going into it as the underdog, but he quickly amassed a 6-1 lead over Mathis. Groban definitely wasn't any underdog!
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I think the Groban version is one of the best I've ever heard, but my vote went with Mathis because his rendition sounds so genuinely reverential and because the way he sings that last word "Divine", it really does sound Divine to me. Groban definitely has a tremendous voice, but personally I feel that he is "showboating" it a wee li'l bit. That is to say that I feel Johnny's version is more about humbly worshipping Jesus. But that's just me.
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Despite Groban's early and large lead, this turned into quite a good BOTB installment"
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FINAL TALLY:
Johnnny Mathis = 5 votes
Josh Groban = 7 votes

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As always, I appreciated everyone's participation. My friends, I hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas and a Merry New Year. Stay safe and let's do this thing again on January 1st, 2023, eh?
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Oh, and one more thing... On Christmas Day, please don't forget to drop a coin into a body of water (even a glass of H20 will do) and Make A Wish For Tiny Tim. We're asking that he somehow manage to get one more Top 40 hit song before "this world" comes to an end.
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Take it away, Tiny!...
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May You Bless & Be Blessed!!
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy

Thursday, December 1, 2022

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: DEC. 1, 2022 (Or, JOHNNY MATHIS VERSUS JOSH GROBAN)

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Yes, it's Christmastime
and, yes, it's also time for.....
Battle Of The Bands (BOTB).
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Shoop-Shooby –
Shooby-duh-Dooby-Doop-Dooby-Dooby-Doo-Wah –

Buh-Doo-Wah!

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In doing a little personal research attempting to decide what Holiday song to use this year, I was doggone shocked to discover that in over 8 years of BOTB, I have never once used Johnny Mathis in a contest. So, I'm going to fix that right now.
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Alright, let's get on it. Let's get ON this thing!
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Below are two really excellent versions of the classic 'O HOLY NIGHT' for you to 
*close your eyes and listen* to, and then vote on. And when you're done voting here, please visit the other BOTB participants and cast a vote in their Battles as well.
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And by all means, get you a Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday!
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I'll return on or about December 8th to add my vote and announce the winner.
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Johnny Mathis - O Holy Night
Link> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S5mMg15228
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Josh Groban - O Holy Night [with lyrics]
Link> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17kiIIxSdC0

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My Friends, Bless And Be Blessed!!
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy