Here we are in the midst of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, halfway to the end, in between the days of the fourth month of 2017. So far so good for me and a good many of you who are participating in this eighth Challenge. A few I've seen fallen by the wayside which has been something we see typically happen every year. But this Challenge is about stamina, commitment, and the sheer stubbornness of not giving up. I've always been stubborn since I was a kid. Sometimes that stubbornness has paid off for me.
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 twice each month on the 1st and 15th. 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.
"In Between Days"
Originally released in 1985 by The Cure (click link to hear that version, but please don't vote for it), "In Between Days" caught on quickly with fans worldwide. Over the following decades the song has been performed by numerous other artists. I first picked up on the music of The Cure in the mid-eighties and became a fan. I'm sure there a some of you who don't care much for the group, but I hope you'll indulge me a bit for this Battle. After all, this song just seemed kind of appropriate for my It's About Time theme that I've chosen for April A to Z. See which of the following contenders you think does the better version of this song.
Ben Folds "In Between Days" (2003)
Keeping close pace with the original release by The Cure, Folds adds a driving piano to the song arrangement. The drumming emphasizes a sense of urgency suggested by the vocals. This one should get you at least moving in your chair a bit.
Cementerio Club "In Between Days" (2004)
Originally I had planned using the Spanish version of this song as performed by the Argentine group Man Ray, but then I figured that maybe it would be better if both versions were in English. When I found this slowed down version of the song as performed en Inglés by Peruvian punk rock group Cementerio Club, I felt it was time to stop looking for other song versions. Here is contender number two...
Time To Vote!
Between these choices do you have a preference? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. Which version do you like the best? Do you prefer the frantic pace of Ben Folds or the slowed down tempo of Cementerio Club? 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
‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
The Doglady's Den
Angel's Bark
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Winner of this Battle Announced Friday April 21st
The A to Z Challenge will be wrapping up in a couple of weeks, but God willing and the creek don't rise I'm in it to win it. Yeah, stubborn old me finishing A to Z and cranking out these Battle of the Bands posts. Might as well have what fun one can find in life don't you think? And I'm having fun. Hope you are too. Please come back for the winner announcement on Friday April 21st and if you have the time, stop in to read and comment on my daily posts till then.
Are you a stubborn person? Do you tend to quit early if the going is tough or persist even to the annoyance of others? How quickly has your month been going?
Having listened to them all ,with great difficulty I chose Ben Folds. Hard choice this time Lee.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Yvonne, glad to hear your difficulty was in the choosing and not the listening.
DeleteVoting starts out with Ben Folds
Lee
I always thought I was someone who quit early, but another friend pointed out that I had a lot of stamina. So - yes and no - some things I've given up on - like trying to make origami quidrahexiquintelihedrons (I made that up), which were in a beautiful origami book but it made my head hurt trying to make complex geometric shapes. On the other hand, I did finish a project like terracing the gulch behind my house - 3 years later, and it's functional. So I'm an early quitter and a stubborn persister. Maui Jungalow
ReplyDeleteCourtney, I'm kind of the same way as you. If I quit early I try to do it without fanfare so no one will notice, but if I want something done I can pursue it for years if need be.
DeleteLee
I fully expected to vote for Ben Folds, but upon hearing the Cementerio Club, they've taken my vote! (I hadn't actually heard this band before. Thanks for the intro to new-to-me music.)
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd say I'm persistent, which is a lot like stubborn but without the negative connotation. Ha ha.
My month is going pretty well. I've visited well over a hundred blogs, made a few new friends, and maybe even found a new fan or two. April has been exhausting ever since I met you, but twice as rewarding. Thanks for that.
#Team2017!
J, I thought the vote was cinched for me too but now I'm a bit up in the air about who I'll vote for.
DeleteI think persistence is an admirable trait much of the time unless it turns into annoying behavior or foolish waste of time.
So glad that I've help make April something special for you. I've appreciated the great assistance you've provide me in pulling of A to Z more successfully for the past several years.
A vote for Cementerio Club
Lee
#1 gets my vote, hit the right note.
ReplyDeletehaha I'm far too stubborn err umm determined to give up. Unless it makes sense to give up, beating a dead horse type thing, or whatever it is is more misery than it is worth, then see ya.
Pat, When you don't give up after the time to do so has long passed then that might be more akin to stupidity than stubbornness.
DeleteA vote for Ben Folds
Lee
I am very stubborn....although I think not as stubborn as my husband is! hahaha
ReplyDeleteJoJo, sometimes a marriage can look more like a contest in certain arenas of the relationship. I've been there too. My father could be very stubborn at times and my mother used to say so.
DeleteLee
Quitting is for...quitters! Not me. Sunday tomorrow, no A-Z. Boo! Roll on Monday
ReplyDeleteClick to visit Keith's Ramblings!
Keith, A to Z is not for quitters! I like your stick with it spirit.
DeleteLee
I'm flagging a bit at this point, way behind with comment responses and running out of pre-written posts. Doesn't help that this is a holiday weekend, but I will rally! ☺ Determined to see this through, as always.
ReplyDeleteInteresting battle! Ben Folds' frenetic pace is infectious and I thought surely he would be the one. Turns out, my ears preferred the mellow stylings of the Cementerio Club. Please give my vote to the Peruvians.
Debbie D, I'm in the same A to Z boat as you. I'd like to think I'll get some posts caught up over the week end. I will likely get more and more behind with blog visiting, but that happens every year.
DeleteA vote for Cementerio Club
Lee
Okay. I don't feel so bad, then. Good to know I'm not the only one. ☺
DeleteI grew up during the Cure's era. Never cared for their hyper hits, but a few years back, I was reading about how dark their early album, "Pornography" is, so I bought it and it's really, really good.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Cementerio Club because it varies up the original well.
Harry, not sure if I have the Pornography album but I likely do on cassette since I bought just about every one of their albums back in those days. Now even have a few on CD.
DeleteA vote for Cementerio Club
Lee
Ben Folds gets my vote. I guess I am stubborn, press on until it is done.
ReplyDeleteMike, it's best to get things done and done well in my opinion.
DeleteBen Folds.
Lee
Lee, I'm stubborn when it comes to getting something done - working through a tough situation or finishing what I started kinda gal but not where people are concerned if that makes sense. This song is new-to-me. Both artists did a good job but this morning the slower version of contender two captured my mood more, so I'm giving my vote to Cemeterio Club. Thanks for stopping in to weigh in my round two of #BoTB and sneaking a peek at Art Sketching Through the Alphabet "M" (Mermaids) post earlier. Have a good weekend and Happy Easter, my friend!
ReplyDeleteCathy, I've left more unfinished projects behind me than I like to think, but it's something I hate doing and they often nag me later.
DeleteAnother vote for Cementerio Club.
Lee
At one time - for a short time - The Cure was my favorite group. When I first saw your contenders today I fully expected to vote for Ben Folds. Then after listening to them both, I realized that Cemetario Club's version was better.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am stubborn, so I am voting for Ben Folds.
SBBB6, that's a novel approach to voting, but I think I've done that before--because I can be very stubborn.
DeleteA vote for Ben Folds.
Lee
Well, I always see my stubbornness as a negative trait - but in this case I guess it's a positive one. I planed to write a good deal of my posts out in March - but then the flu ran through the entire household and my peeps needed me. I almost gave up the challenge - but I decided to just do it. My posts aren't perfect and I'm practicing just getting it done each day. It's a challenge to not let the resistance in my head ruin me. I've decided it needs to sit down and shut up. I don't have time to listen to its negative chatter. I am excited to be half way done!
ReplyDeleteNancy, I don't see stubbornness as always negative--only when it becomes a detriment to oneself or those around you. I'm glad you've stubbornly persisted to finish out this A to Z for 2017.
DeleteLee
I do not think I am unduly stubborn, but I can persevere with things that matter.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Cementerio Club. Loved their version, though the other two are superb too.
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
Nilanjana, perseverance is a fine trait to have I think.
DeleteAnother vote for Cementerio Club.
Lee
LEE ~
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard this song before and didn't know either of the contenders. But I really dug that frenetic piano and drumming in the BEN FOLDS version. I'm afraid the C Club kind of bored me after awhile.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
STMcC, I could have sworn you'd mentioned Ben Folds before, but apparently I'm mistaken. He's been around awhile and played with a number of other artists.
DeleteA vote for Ben Folds.
Lee
Well, this is an interesting experience. I played the first video, and thought. Hmm, not bad. Played the second one, and completely forgot that I was supposed to be voting on the battle. In the meantime, I had also forgot what the first one sounded like.
ReplyDeleteSo, played them both again. First one, same thoughts. Second one.. and I nearly forgot again.
My vote is for Ben Folds.
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
#AtoZChallenge 1970's Billboard Hits
Mary, that sounds like a losing track of time experience.
DeleteA vote for Ben Folds
Lee
I'm not a little surprised I made it this far, as did so many of those I promised to faithfully follow. It takes quite a bit of time, but the download of knowledge to my brain is stunning.
ReplyDeleteJacqui, glad you've managed to hang in this far at least.
DeleteLee
You'll kill me, but I actually like the Man Rays' version of this beest. Now, having said that, I'll go with Ben Folds's cover, though I didn't like his voice. The other was too slow.
ReplyDeleteI've tried to change about this, but my motto through life has been "If at first you don't succeed, the hell with it."
John, the Man Ray version is what inspired me to do this song, but I don't know if it would have been as popular with most listeners. But I like their version.
DeleteI agree that sometimes our time is more valuable than proving we can finish something successfully. I've done the say as you before.
A vote for Ben Folds.
Lee
Yes, I'm not the kinds who gives up easily. I'm a fighter all the way. This challenge has pushed me beyond my limits but I'm loving every bit of it and sticking on.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had worked as hard in school too��
Thank you for A-Z Arlee ��
Blog: natashamusing
Theme: Travel Epiphanies
Luxuriant-Countryside
Natasha, in retrospect I think most of us had worked harder in school and other endeavors, but then if we managed to where we are now than that counts for something.
DeleteLee
I used to have a lot of unfinished projects once upon a time. I was in the habit of quitting easily. But then something changed. I actually got around to completing a lot of those projects! Oh yes, I remember! Things changed after my first attempt at month-long daily blogging (NaBloPoMo)!
ReplyDeleteBtw, I'm lagging behind this time. (Was unwell last few days.) So I skipped 'L' for now. Will do it next Sunday. Will probably back-date it! ;-)
Happy AtoZing!
Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com
Chicky, I still have unfinished projects, some dating back 50 years or so, but that doesn't mean that I've quit on them. But like you I should just buckle down and finish them.
DeleteI'm lagging too and don't have any good excuse.
Lee
I'm definitely stubborn - but also lazy. LOL! Quite a combination - it leads to procrastination to the last minute. But this year, I was ready. I'm busy writing a novella with a 5/1 deadline so all my posts were done ahead of time. All I need to do is post my links and visit/comment a dozen or so blogs daily. Phew!
ReplyDeleteTheme: Oh, the places we will go!
M: Montana & Mexico
DB McNicol, author & traveler
Donna, it's a good idea to set a deadline I think.
DeleteLee
Lee, This was a pretty close battle, but in the end I like Ben Folds' version better, so he gets by vote. Glad you're enjoying another A to Z, and I'm impressed that you're as focused and full of energy as ever! You are still the host with the most!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Julie, who, me? Full of energy? I wish I could say I had more energy. Thank you for the kind words though.
DeleteA vote for Ben Folds
Lee
I would add that I think you have to be a little bit in love with the sound of your own voice to hang in there! That sounds a little conceited, I know. But if YOU don't like what you blog about, who else will? ;)
ReplyDeleteCalen~
Impromptu Promptlings
A to Z Challenge Letter M
Calen, I think you're absolutely correct. I write for myself first because if I don't like it why should anyone else and I can't predict what other people will like so I just have to put what I like out there and see what happens.
DeleteLee
I know this song well and I will go with Cementerio Club because they did a different take on this song. I have danced to this song many a time in clubs back in the 80's. Anyone who knows me knows that I am very stubborn! It can grate on people because I do plant my feet firmly on the ground and I don't give up until it is done. Sometimes it s a good thing but sometimes.....
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I also used to listen to it a lot though I don't think I ever danced to it (not much of a dancer usually). Sometimes stubbornness can be a very good thing and other times it can indeed be annoying to others.
DeleteA vote for Cementerio Club
Lee
I vote for Ben Folds I like the tempo better. Hard choice tho.
ReplyDeleteStubborn aka persistent when it matters not so much when it doesn't.
A Piece of Uganda
Leslie, two very different approaches to this song.
DeleteAnother vote for Ben Folds
Lee