So as I was saying, I'm here and doing this thing. You know the thing. It's the post to tell how the votes came in for my Battle of the Bands. I call this post...
Battle of the Bands Results
My most recent Battle of the Bandswas between the groups Microdisney and Dave Clark Five with different songs having one word titles that are conjunctions. Coming as no surprise to me is that Dave Clark Five won this Battle. However, I did not expect the overwhelming sweep that comprised this win. I really thought there might be a few more votes for Microdisney. Thanks to Cathy (the Curious) for saving this Battle from being a shut-out.
My vote would have prevented the shut-out as I chose the Microdisney song as my favorite. Keep in mind that it was a very close choice for me as Dave Clark Five was among my favorites of the British Invasion groups of the sixties. And "Because" is one of my favorite songs in their catalog. It's a charming song with a lovely melody, but it is a bit trite as romantic pop songs often tend to be.
When I first obtained the Microdisney album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs on cassette in the mid-eighties, I was initially a bit off put by the strangeness of the album, but I was also so intrigued that I kept it in regular rotation on my cassette player until it became a favorite of sorts. Then I set the album aside for thirty years or so until this Battle. I like it more now than I did back then.
The song "And" not only has a unique sound, but I like the production of the male and female vocals relating a narrative that comes across in a conversational manner. The loping dreamy pace of the song is almost trance inducing. Maybe that's why I always liked listening to this song and the rest of the album late at night. There is a haunting nature to the group's sound.
That being said, Microdisney lost this round and Dave Clark Five was the big winner.
Final Vote Tally
Microdisney "And" 2 votes
Dave Clark Five "Because" 13 votes
Next Battle????
Probably on December 1st unless I get inspired to do a midmonth Battle. The Battles on the 15th haven't been doing so well so right now I'm not too enthused to do one this month. But, whatever. And. Because.
No trick. It's a treat. Two posts in one: Battle of the Bands and Insecure Writer's Support Group wrapped up into one themed package. What better way to get more views for each post? Please indulge yourselves as you indulge my homogeneous blogging mash-up. It's all connected...
The Insecure Writer's Support Group
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh'sInsecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.
November 3 question - What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?
What's in a Name?
They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but I'll take this a step further in saying you can't judge a work by its title. Still, I'm drawn to titles. How about you? Have you ever wanted to read a book or hear a song because the title lured you?
Titles are often enticing enough to do more than merely catch my interest. I like titles so much that sometimes I'll just think up titles that I like enough to want to expand them into something bigger. Several book ideas in my notebooks are little more than titles. Likewise I've come up with a number of song ideas that started with what I thought was a catchy title. No problem with me coming up with titles.
On the other hand, I might prefer writing some droll essay to writing a blurb for a book I'd written. Of course, if I had actually written a book I might be more interested in writing a blurb. However, if I just wrote a blurb for some sketchy idea I had come up with then maybe I'd be more fired up to actually write the book. Sounds like a chicken and egg conundrum perhaps, but results are the consequences of focused actions.
For now I'll keep thinking up titles. My list keeps getting longer.
Anyone want to buy a title?
Or how about a Battle of the Bands between two songs with simple titles that might not seem particularly inspired? Let's go Battle...
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bandsisthe blogging event started byFar Away Seriesand now hosted byStMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month. My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months. 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.
Name That Tune!
Do you ever buy a recording not having heard any of the music, but with a title that intrigued you? I have. In my days of buying music I would peruse the recordings in a store studying carefully the info on the outside package. More than once I've been intrigued enough by a song title to buy the recording. Sometimes I was disappointed while other times I made some wonderful discoveries.
At times I'd be drawn to a topic--dreams for instance. I don't know how many recordings I bought because there was a song listed with "dream" or some related term in the title. Same with "magic" or "mystery." Bland words usually won't be enough to catch my attention even though many great songs have rather plain simple titles.
For this round of Battle I've chosen two songs with one word titles that are common conjunctions. Not words that would seem to inspire much interest at first look, but delve deeper and a couple of words like "because" and "and" can be the inspiration for some interesting songs. Listen and see what you think...
I don't quite recall how I came across the group Microdisney, but I picked up their album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs shortly after it was released in 1985. The songs fascinated me in their oddity and the album was in regular rotation with me for quite some time. The song "And" I find rather strange, but evocative of memory and the essence of the passing of time in our lives. Such a simple title for a haunting song...
This sweet song scored slots on the hit charts in 1964. The Beatles later had another song with the same title, but because it was the Beatles I thought it best to avoid it for this Battle. And besides, this song doesn't get much airplay these days. At least I haven't heard it in a long time until I chose it for this Battle. And that's why I used this song--just because...
Time to Vote! It's simple to play along with Battle of the Bands. I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite. Which 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 'MIKE'SRAMBLINGS' 'Curious as a Cathy' Sound of One Hand Typing Jingle, Jangle, Jungle Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday November 8th
I don't seem to get much response on my "results" posts, but I do it anyway. Just because. And. Well, whatever.
What kind of title captivates your attention drawing you to read a book or story (or listen to a song)? Do you think it would be easier for you to write the blurb for your own book or someone else's? Do you like long complex titles?
Are you ready for Halloween? I'm not sure that I'll participate this year, but I haven't been doing Halloween at my house for several years now. It will probably be another sour puss darkened house blocked doorway Halloween for me. But in the community I'm not sure what folks will be doing about trick-or-treat. Lots of decorations to be seen. But on a Sunday night? I'm sure someone will be looking for candy.
And now for the last "Weekly Song Challenge" of 2021...
This ongoing Challenge comes from Mary at Jingle Jangle Jungle. She provides the categories of the week. Here's what we've got for this week:
Also from Canada and an artist I also found out about when I was working in Canada during the eighties, Bruce Cockburn is one of my top favorite singer/songwriters. I like the color green a lot, but traditionally blue has been my favorite color since I was a kid.
Do you know any of the songs I chose? Which songs would you pick?
