This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Angels Among Us (#BOTB)


      Reach out to a friend in need, or for that matter someone you don't know--not just during this Christmas season, but all through the year...

Be an Angel!
       


Battle of the Bands

      Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some blogs there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle on the 1st of the month.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Angels Among Us

       Not exactly a Christmas song, but it fits in well with the spirit of the Season.  This song was first released by the country group Alabama in 1993.  In this Battle I take the risk of putting the original artists up against an internet artist that you probably don't know.  Either way, enjoy the song and maybe let the message soak in some.  Let's be like angels during this Christmas season and then keep on doing it through the year to come...

 Alabama  "Angels Among Us"    (1993)
          
       From Fort Payne Alabama, this group touts its home state as their group name.  These fellows started playing together in 1969 under the name Wildcountry, but after changing their name to Alabama in 1977 they started hitting the music charts eventually becoming one of the biggest bands in the country music genre. 




Tutti Druyan  "Angels Among Us"  (2013)

     Tutti is a successful singer, actor, and voice-over artist from Israel.  She began her career at age 3 and now at age 25 she can be considered a veteran in the entertainment business.







Time to Vote!
      Come on!  Don't be a Grinch!  Vote!
  What's your favorite between these two choices? Which song version do you like best? You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

         Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Angel's Bark  


Debbie Doglady's Den

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 


Cherdo on the Flipside


A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday December 10th

           You'll have plenty of time to vote on this one even though I'll have an #IWSG post on Wednesday the 5th.  Busy time ahead for many of us as we head toward the New Year.  Can you believe we're reaching the end of yet another year? 

           Have you ever experienced an "angelic" encounter?   Do you do any volunteer projects that help others?   What is a nice gesture that you would recommend that others do to help someone who needs an angel?






41 comments:

  1. Hi Lee loved this especially the version by Alabama.

    Enjoy your weekend.
    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yvonne, thank you for commencing the voting...

      First vote goes to Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  2. Not a big fan of Alabama, but their version was smoother. Hers was just too high-pitched.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. L.Diane, I think some of us lean typically to the male singing voice partly for the reason you said.

      Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  3. Another vote for Alabama. Tutti's voice was just a little too shrill.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good Battle, LEE! This comment is coming to you from outta state.

    I don't think I'd heard this song before, but I liked it. (Yes, I have had at least 3 angelic encounters, but I don't yak about them much to others.)

    Considering that Alabama is a big name and Tutti is not, this was a surprisingly close contest for me. But like the others above me, I'm going to give my vote 'BAMA.

    Bless And Be Blessed, Brother.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    https://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. STMcC, yeah, I think many who have such encounters don't say much about them unless there is something about the event that seems to require talking about it.

      Another vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  5. Because I'm a purist (don't mess with something that doesn't need fixing!) … I'm going with Alabama.

    No, I've never experienced an 'angelic encounter' but keep hoping. I suppose that's not something one can force.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Myra, things just seem to happen despite what we believe or think. Don't expect anything.

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  6. Alabama. No doubt about that.

    Enjoy the weekend and thanks for stopping by.

    Blue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blue, we have a trend going here...

      Another vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  7. Hi Lee

    I have had angelic encounters before, and hopefully I will continue to have them. As for doing angelic things for others - I'm always looking for ways to pay it forward or in return for little big things that have been done for me.

    This was an easy vote for me. While Tutti has a sweet voice, I think that Alabama does a better version.

    My vote is for Alabama

    ~Mary
    Jingle Jangle Jungle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, I should probably be more active in helping, but I tend to stay reclusive.

      Yes, it's Alabama again!

      Lee

      Delete
  8. Sixgun McItchyfingerDecember 1, 2018 at 6:22 PM

    Hi Lee -

    You have been presenting some interesting and introspective materials lately. This is no exception.

    Both of these have some nice aspects, and both have some annoying ones. The "baby on helium" talk that began and kept cropping up in the Tutti version was MIGHTY awful. But so was the "talk-singing" that began the Alabama version.

    This was close to a toss up for me. But I'm going to vote for Tutti.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 6-Gun, thank you for saving me from a humiliating shut out. I know what you're saying about the kid voice. I'm wondering if that voice belongs to Tutti since she does the voice over stuff.

      A vote for Tutti.

      Lee

      Delete
  9. I volunteer as an actress in community theater and a leader in helping people to vote, do they count?

    I really like the Alabama version better. I am a sucker for ballad, especially from the 90s.

    http://aisasami.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AI, I think any kind of volunteer work counts since volunteers are sometimes hard to find.

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  10. Well, that's a tough choice! Going strictly by their voices/songs, they are both so very lovely. But add their videos in, and Alabama wins, for me. Really well done and brought tears to my eyes. A wonderful message...Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, Alabama has the pro force behind them, but Tutti apparently has some good creative force behind her as well.

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  11. Tutti, I am going with her. There is a sweetness in her rendition, gentleness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan, the female touch I guess--I thought Tutti's version was sweet as well and she needs more votes.

      A vote for Tutti.

      Lee

      Delete
  12. I'm going for Alabama as in this case the female touch didn't work for me *or my wife).

    All the best for December.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roland, that might count as two votes but I'll just call it one since poor Tutti is so far behind...

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  13. Alabama gets my vote on this one!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mike, this is becoming a bit repetitious...

    Another vote for Alabama.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  15. A pair of votes came on Facebook:

    My sister, Joni votes for Tutti

    My cousin, Tom votes for Alabama.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is not a song I care for because I don't like the country vibe and I don't care for the typical American idol/The Voice style. Her voice is nice but I can't stand the kids in the beginning. I will give it to the Country style since they seemed to give more heart to it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birgit, I hear what you're saying about "the kids" but I guess it's part of the Christmas spirit of the song.

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  17. Hi Lee,

    I’ve been a fan of Alabama for longer than I should mention, and this is by far my most favorite song! While Miss Tutti has a beautiful voice, Alabama had me at “I believe,” because I do too ;-)

    At the grocery store one day, I was already annoyed by having to pull a fifty pound bag of dog food from a shelf as high as my shoulders and hoping to simply let it drop into the buggy I had carefully position below. But the bag stuck on a piece of orange iron; requiring me to get under it before it ripped and spilled all over the aisle. Out of the blue came two hardly able hands to help me muscle the dang thing into the cart, and soon I was staring into the kind face of an elderly man who had dropped his cane to assist me. I thanked him profusely as I reached for his cane. He then, took my hand and kissed it before he sauntered slowly away. Oddly, there had been no one else in the aisle when I reached for the bag in the first place.

    “They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places…”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diedre, that's a sweet story you tell. I've helped a few people shorter than me in the grocery store get things off of high shelves. You never can tell when help will arrive.

      Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  18. Tutti gets my vote.

    PS- I replied to your email on Oct 21. Just checking if you ever got it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J, sorry I did get your email reply and I keep meaning to respond. I'm so bad these days...

      A needed vote for Tutti.

      Lee

      Delete
  19. Lee,

    I think your challenge to be an angel beyond the Christmas season is an excellent commission for each person to do and hopefully it'll catch fire. ;)

    I'm giving my vote to Alabama. It's more heart-touching but the Tutti does a beautiful job. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy, I also need to take my own advice.

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  20. Replies
    1. Lisa, voting is still open until the week-end, but I think Alabama will have a big win in this Battle.

      Lee

      Delete
  21. I just left Cathy's blog and explained that I am more pop/rock than country, but there are exceptions.

    Both of your contenders do a fine job...that said...

    Once again, I gotta vote for Alabama! You have to admit that Alabama always had their act together when it came to delivering a solid country tune. This is no exception.

    Happy holiday, Lee!
    Cherdo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cherdo, Alabama needed that vote, but I understand your reasoning why. I don't Tutti will make a last minute win in this Battle...

      A vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete
  22. Both versions have their own appeal, but I overall prefer Alabama. The vocal stylings seem to match the lyrics best.


    When I was in Brooklyn for my rabbi's oldest daughter's wedding last April, I saw a little boy, being carried by his mother and with another woman, drop his teddybear as they were crossing a street. I had to call after them for awhile until they finally realized what had happened. The boy's mother was so happy, profusely thanked me, and blessed me with a wonderful rest of the day. Since I've had so much luck over the years with having my own lost objects found or returned to me, I enjoy being able to return the favor when I can. This past Yom Kippur, I also found the lost wedding ring of the wife of the guest cantor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carrie-Anne, I think a lot of people just don't want to get involved even if it something as simple as bringing something to someone's attention. We all appreciate it when someone does this for us so why wouldn't we all reach out to help someone else?

      Another vote for Alabama.

      Lee

      Delete

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee