People have become so divided that it seems like some chasms may never be crossed. We can look across the wide rivers of disparate ideologies and see others who look similar to us and yet so radically different in thinking. But are we really so different? I wonder...
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| Chilhowee Lake (Photo by Arlee Bird) |
Crossing Rivers
Rivers have always fascinated me. There is the metaphor and symbolism of rivers that can get me to thinking, but then there is the beauty and mystery of the river. It's good to have a bridge when an expedient means of crossing is necessary, but other methods like ferries have a certain charm. As long as we can cross the river when we need to then it's good to have whatever means available to make the crossing.
A couple months ago I watched a PBS music show called Lost River Sessions where a female duo who call themselves "The Other Years" performed a set at the Shaker Village in Auburn KY. One song in particular captured my imagination and started to haunt me. This song "Bridges" had such a mournful dreamy sound such as the kind of music that often appeals to me.
After finding the recording of the song on YouTube I listened to it a number of times and an idea for a Battle of the Bands began to formulate in my mind. As I considered the ways to cross rivers I came across a song about ferries. There's more than one way to cross a river...
Battle of the Bands
The Other Years "Bridges" (2016)
This duo comes from Louisville KY. There aren't too many recordings I could find of the duo, but they do have some samples on the Bandcamp music site if you'd like to hear more from them. But for now the song "Bridges" is enough for me...
Gaz Brookfield "Ferry Song" (2015)
Gaz is from the United Kingdom and plays acoustic folk as well as rock. He plays solo as well as in bands. He gets around. Sometimes he travels by ferry...
Time to Vote!
Music doesn't have divide us, but we can have preferences in what music we want to listen to. Which song version do you prefer? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. 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
‘Storms and Stardust’
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
The Doglady's Den
Angel's Bark
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Cherdo on the Flipside
A I Love Music
Winner of this Battle Announced on Wednesday July 22nd
Yeah, I'm back for a mid-month Battle. It's difficult for me to be away for long, especially when I have all of these Battles lined up waiting to take their turn on the Tossing It Out stage. So I'm here again and I'll see what I'll do the rest of the summer. For now, I'll do what I'll do and I guess that's what I've always done...
Would you rather cross a river by bridge or ferry? What is the scariest ferry ride you've taken? What is the scariest bridge you've crossed (in reality or metaphorically)?
(typos in prev version, so deleted it!)
ReplyDeleteCrossing a river is most fun via a footbridge. You can stop and contemplate things. If you are crossing on a ferry, it moves the way it must to reach the terminal on the other side. I've crossed the Columbia River that way within the last year. River crossings are short, as opposed to, say, crossing Puget Sound. Driving over a river on a bridge is usually only fun for the passenger. As driver, you have to watch the road.
Obviously I've never heard of either of these acts. The girls are a little too "lack of energy" for me. The second version is a waltz, and I always like songs in 3/4 time, so I'll vote for Gaz.
6-Gun, the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island is the one I've taken across the Puget Sound and I really enjoyed that one. I've taken a lot of ferry rides and usually had a good time doing it, but some of the small ferries can feel a bit perilous. I don't mind driving across a bridge, but you're right about it being more fun if you're the passenger.
DeleteThe song by the girls is also 3/4 time. It was the similarity of the two songs that drew me to using them in Battle.
First vote goes to Gaz Brookfield.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of division in our world but really we aren't all that different when you think about it. We are created in God's image, so why that's not good enough for most I have no clue. What gets in the way is human influences - the way we're raised, who we interact with, how are emotions click, but the golden rule still stands and we should all live by that to treat others as we want to be treated. We aren't seeing much of that with all the evilness orchestrated across America and across the globe. Truly a sad, sad mess.
Now on to your battle. I'm going with OVER THE YEARS. I liked their sound best. Thanks for stopping by earlier to vote in my BoTB. I had all but forgotten I put one together. lol Have a good week, my friend!
Cathy, the absence of God has allowed Satan to step in to influence a lot of people in this world. But it's to be expected from what I read in the Bible.
DeleteA vote for Other Years.
Lee
Amen! The absence of Light...
DeleteLee, you're right absolutely. This world serves the Prince of Darkness. That's why its in such a mess. When my MIL was alive she'd often say, "This world has gone to hell in a hand basket." Now, I think she hadn't seen anything like we've seen going for the past four years. Evil keeps going until it has its way completely ruining and controlling people at every level. It won't be until Jesus appears in the sky that those blinded by the lies will come to see they picked the wrong team to be on. We don't know the hour or the day of His return but it sure looks like it could be anytime, though. I pray for the lost before it's too late.
DeleteI thought the ferry song was very pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt's more like an ocean separates some of us now.
L.Diane, an ocean for sure if not a mighty big river.
DeleteGaz Brookfield.
Lee
Bridges and rivers to me represents our minds, Many a time we have to cross a bridge in life to get to the other side. Most interesting post Lee.
ReplyDeleteMy choice of song is "The Ferry Song".
Keep well and safe Lee.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, the symbolic crossings are certainly devised by our minds. Too much imagination can get in the way sometimes.
DeleteA vote for Gaz Brookfield.
Lee
From my Cousin Tom on Facebook comes a vote for...
ReplyDeleteGaz Brookfield.
Lee
The Ferry Song is the one I prefer. It is very melodic and folk driven. The first one is...too but her voice is just too cutting for my taste. I have only been on a ferry twice and both times were great. They take longer than a bridge bu I like the Ferry. I am very scared of heights so bridges are not fun. I often dream of bridges and they have no protective sides and there are turns in the middle and are very steep.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, the longer the ferry ride, the better. It's nice when you can leave the vehicle and go up on deck to watch the ride.
DeleteA vote for Gaz Brookfield.
Lee
Both songs are good, and both duos are talented, so I'm judging based on sound quality. The young ladies in The Other Years chose maybe the worst venue for recording: You couldn't hear the singer half the time because her voice was bouncing off the walls. Granted, Gaz was in a pub, but the quality of sound was better. Gaz gets the vote.
ReplyDeleteJohn H, interesting--that reverberating quality of the sound of the Other Years is partly what attracted me to this recording. I think it adds to a sense of isolation, sadness, and distant memory that makes the song so haunting for me. But we all hear from our own perspectives.
DeleteA vote for Gaz Brookfield.
Lee
Both songs are great, but please give my vote to THE OTHER YEARS. Preferred their song just a bit more. I'm sad at how divisive we've become. It used to be we could agree to disagree, but some things you just really can't do that with. At least not with all who disagree with me, or with what we're disagreeing about.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week! Finally got my own battle up (and not even a day late yet!)
Kim
Kim, it really is sad about the extent of divisiveness. Some of us even find it within our own families. Very sad.
DeleteA vote for Other Years.
Lee
This is going to seem mean but... I'm being honest:
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the video of the female duo, I just couldn't shake from my mind the mental image of that boy in the "dueling banjos" scene from the movie 'Deliverance'. Uhm... is that singer his daughter? Sister? Mother? Kissing cousin?
Neither song really lifted my car across the waters, but I'm voting for Gaz Brookfield, almost by default. At least I didn't feel like I was watching 'Deliverance' again. [;-D
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
STMcC, funny you should say this about Deliverance. In the PBS show I watched, the blond to whom you refer actually plays banjo much of the time and your connection was the first thing that struck me. I think she's kind of like the cute sister of the Deliverance guy--or the daughter. I do like her mournful singing style though.
DeleteA vote for Gaz Brookfield.
Lee
Oh, man, that *IS* funny!!
DeleteI thought I was gonna come off seeming like some kind of jerk with my comment, but my reaction was SO immediate, and so strong, that I just couldn't get that 'Deliverance' image out of my mind the whole time I was watching / listening to that video.
And I haven't even seen 'Deliverance' in ages. But the resemblance (along with the music genre) made the comparison inescapable for me.
I feel better knowing that YOU had already made the same connection. Ha!-Ha! (Tha's perdy dern halairyiss.)
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
I like the "Bridges" song best. Both are quite nice, and acoustically appropriate for these unplugged days of discipline.
ReplyDeleteGreat BYOB this round, Lee!
Michael, some peaceful music appeals to me these days. So much craziness in the air!
DeleteA vote for Other Years.
Lee
Gaz gets my vote, liked it more than the first song
ReplyDeleteMike, thank you for your vote for...
DeleteGaz Brookfield.
Lee
Over the Water! Yay!
ReplyDeleteThese battles have turned into a learning experience for me, for sure. So many times I missed the first couple o'times around the sun.
Thanks!
Cherdo, I've missed a lot in my life, but I probably wasn't paying attention.
DeleteWas there a vote in there somewhere?
Lee
I liked The Other Years a tad bit more. The tempo was more my style.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually leery of crossing wooden bridges on foot, particularly very old ones. There's always that chance it might break or sway very badly.
Carrie-Anne, I too would be a bit leery and cautious on a wooden foot bridge. I've crossed several--usually on hiking trails in national or state parks and they are usually well maintained.
DeleteA vote for Other Years.
Lee