There's nothing like a big fat cigar to bring folks together. Cigar smoke is guaranteed to put everyone in a celebratory mood. Or some kind of a mood.
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| 1890s caricature of athletic bloomers (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The A to Z Reflections have been delivered on many sites and I'm offering a hearty congratulations and a big fat cigar to all of you who finished the 2017 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. And while I'm at it let me wish all you mothers a belated Happy Mother's Day and hand you a big ol' cigar as well.
A cigar for mothers you might ask? Some of you might think of cigars as kind of nasty and nothing that any mother should be smoking. I've never been a cigar smoker although on a few occasions I've tried smoking a stogie when one has been given to me. I don't think I've ever finished one, but I probably wasn't smoking them like they're meant to be smoked. They are kind of nasty in my opinion, but maybe they are an acquired taste.
When I think of cigars I'll think back on the time when my mother was smoking a cigar. This would been around 1955 or so when I was about four or five years old. My younger sister and I were both quite concerned when we found my mother very upset and crying because my father had left on a trip to Las Vegas with a friend of his. We kids began crying along with my mother because we were worried about her and afraid that my father was gone for good.
My mother's tears turned to anger and later we found my mother doing something that baffled us and at the same time amused us greatly--she was smoking a cigar. Our fears vanished in a cloud of smoke so to speak. My sister and I giggled with glee at the spectacle of our mother smoking a cigar. Soon my mother was laughing too. Her anger hadn't completely gone away, but she softened at our giggles and began blowing smoke rings. Her skill at blowing the rings amazed us and she played her cigar smoking role with all she had to give. It was one of those funny life moments that has stuck with me ever since.
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.From Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here, "Have A Cigar" has many cover versions. You can listen to the original here if interested, but please don't vote on this version since I won't count it in my final tally. No voting for Ron Paul either.
Instead I'm offering the following two contrasting versions:
Atlantis Becoming "Have A Cigar" (2012)
First we have an acoustic version by a Cincinnati, Ohio rock band.
Little Virgin Experience "Have A Cigar" (2014)
Next a band from Crete performing their psychedelic disco take in the style of the 1979 cover as originally released by the band Rosebud.
Time To Vote!
Do you have a preference between these two choices? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. Which version do you like the best? Do you prefer the acoustic sound of Atlantis Becoming? Or would you rather rock out to the beat of Little Virgin Experience? 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 on Monday May 22nd
The BOTB results post will be my next post so that gives us all week to vote on this Battle, but please don't tarry and vote now if you can. I'll be tallying the votes in the upcoming weekend.
Have you ever smoked a cigar? Did you ever know anyone to smoke a cigar as an expression of anger? Anyone know how the tradition of handing out cigars at the birth of a baby got started?
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI never smoked a cigar, not a stogie. It seems I may have tried the slender ones when I was a teenager. I always thought cigar smoking was a man thing but then I learned somewhere along the line that some women participated in smoking them which seemed really odd, even unladylike in my mind. I think smoking is a nasty habit regardless if it's cigerettes, cigars, or a pipe. Anger smoking, nope can't say I know anyone who did that, either. I can imagine how funny the sight was to see your mother smoking a cigar, though. Any time a kid sees his/her parents do anything out of the ordinary can be a shock of horror or hysterical laughter. I'm glad your mom calmed down to elate y'alls fears. Parents have their ups and downs just like everyone else but kids don't always understand it. I am not familiar with Pink Floyd's mewsic so this is song is a new-to-me tune. I admit this one was a bit tricky for me at first. Here's my initial impression, loved the guitar opening of Atlantis and Little Virgin didn't resonate well with me but then I went back a second and third time going between the two covers. This is my conclusion, I love the guitar opening of Atlantis vocals not so much but Little Virgin psychedelic disco grew on me and the lead singer is better earning Little Virgin my vote! Cool battle. Thanks for visiting and voting in my mid-month #BoTB, my friend!
Cathy, my mother had such a quirky sense of humor. She never failed to entertain us even into adult years. Even when she was older and not well she would think of humorous things to say or remember funny things from the past.
DeleteFirst vote goes to Little Virgin.
Lee
As Floyd is a favorite band of mine, I'm particular on covers of their song. Atlantis Becoming is closer in style and retains the haunting aspects of the melody. I vote for them.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, Floyd fans are often fanatical about their music. Hard to out-Floyd Floyd.
DeleteA vote for Atlantic Becoming.
Lee
That's tough. Both do a decent job although neither really stands out to me. I like acoustics so I guess the first one.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I usually enjoy acoustic versions of songs.
DeleteA vote for Atlantis Becoming
Lee
Can't say I've ever smoked a cigar or seen anyone smoke one, anger or otherwise haha
ReplyDelete#1 gets my vote, although both weren't bad.
Pat, I've seen plenty of cigar smoking, but smelling it can be really bad.
DeleteA vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
I love the smell of cigar smoke but I've never smoked one. My ex liked them. I used to buy and smuggle home a Cuban every time I went to Victoria.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, I don't recall any cigars that I thought smelled good, but I probably haven't been around them that much. I've been tempted to buy Cuban cigars when I've been in Canada.
DeleteLee
Speaking as a former heavy smoker, the smell of cigarettes and cigars nauseates me now. Good incentive not to go back to it! That's a heartwarming story about your mom and how a cigar improved her mood. ☺
ReplyDeleteI love this song and enjoyed both covers. Overall though, the vocals and arrangement presented by 'The Little Virgin Experience' sound better to me.
Debbie D, I was a pretty heavy smoker for a while and I am far more tolerant of tobacco smoke than I was before I became a smoker. Now at times the smell can be enticing, but I find it nauseating in close quarters or places where there is heavy smoking like most casinos. Now I hardly ever see or smell smoking.
DeleteAnother vote for Little Virgin.
Lee
Loved your remembrance of your mother!
ReplyDeleteCaneyhead: My Handsome Man
Barbara, so many great memories of my mother and my father. I miss them both.
DeleteLee
As far as I can tell, men shared 'smokes' on special occasions before they even wore pants (indigenous people). Though nowadays men are more involved in childbirth, smoking a cigar 'back in the day' calmed the nerves of hall-pacing fathers :-)
ReplyDeleteNever have and likely won't smoke a cigar myself, but I love the smell of the cigar aisle in stores.
You mom was a real trooper! What a fun and lasting memory.
Atlantis Becoming is already there for me!
Diedre, you make a good point about the ritual of smoking. Now I don't think you can even smoke near a hospital. I think unsmoked cigars smell better than the ones being smoked.
DeleteAtlantis Becoming
Lee
I kinda liked both of them, but Atlantis Becoming's acoustic take was definitely my favorite. They get my vote here.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I chose both of these because I like both versions. I'll say which I prefer next Monday.
DeleteAnother vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
That is kind of a funny story, even if it started out by way of sadness. Humor is always great therapy. Cigars... no idea. Never tried one.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both versions, but Atlantis Becoming had a particular charm to it that I really appreciated. Give my vote to them.
ABFTS, laughter is great medicine.
DeleteA vote for Atlantis Becoming
Lee
There was a time when I could distinguish what brand of cigarette was being smoked. Now I can't stand the smell of them or cigars.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for Atlantis Becoming
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Mary, I've never been enough of a tobacco connoisseur to distinguish between brands, but I smoked a variety of different cigarettes when I was a smoker.
DeleteAnother vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
A Facebook vote from my cousin Tom for...
ReplyDeleteAtlantis Becoming.
Lee
Well, I have been sadly negligent on BOTB posts lately, and I need to get with it. This match...
ReplyDeleteHmmm...
Once they got wound up, I enjoyed LV better. At the start, I thought I'd be going the other way, but the instrumental break kicked butt. LV, to be crystal clear.
CW, I hear you on this--kind of the way I saw it too.
DeleteA vote for Little Virgin.
Lee
I really like Little Virgin Experience because they made that song their own with the unique styling. Atlantis is great...their guitar playing is mesmerizing but I have to give it to Little Virgin because I found it...groovy:) Your story about your mom made me smile. Did she smoke cigars on a regular basis or only this once? I did smoke a cigar a couple of times but never inhaled.....my brother got me to inhale a cigarette when I was young and I turned various shades of green and coughed up a lung. The last time I smoked a cigar was in the Dominican and it had a fruit rum flavour. I have no idea how that tradition started regarding handing out the cigars
ReplyDeleteBirgit, to my knowledge my mother never smoked cigars other than that time. She did smoke cigarettes before she married my dad, but he insisted she quit if they were going to get married. Maybe the cigar was all she could find at the time and she was smoking to get back at him. A fruit rum flavored cigar sounds kind of good.
DeleteA vote for Little Virgin.
Lee
I preferred Little Virgin Experience. The pacing and beat were more my style.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I've ever smoked is hookah. It's so relaxing, flavorful, and fun, and is meant to be done socially, over several hours, instead of by yourself in a short period. I bought my own hookah and some tobacco for it in Tzfat, Israel, on my first trip there.
Carrie-Anne, I've tried a hookah. It was interesting, but I wouldn't want to smoke like that too often.
DeleteAnother vote for Little Virgin.
Lee
Never smoked a cigar and I mostly think of them as ways to establish character in movies. Smoked my share of cigarettes, though.
ReplyDeleteI am biased on the music because I love Pink Floyd. Tonight, in fact, I'm listening to (Floyd leader) Roger Waters' new track "Smell the Roses," which sort of sounds like a "Have a Cigar" cover...
I love the music behind the Atlantis Becoming's version, and even though I'm not crazy about the vocals, I'm going with that one.
Harry, I had to go to listen to the Waters cut and you're right about the similarity. Certain rough edge character actors are great with a cigar although a dignified gentleman with an expensive cigar in hand works well too.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
I like the acoustics of the first one.
ReplyDeletePoPTart, acoustics it is...
DeleteAtlantis Becoming.
Lee
No voting for Ron Paul?! Well, that cramps my style and puts a crimp in my chimp.
ReplyDeleteLEE, I've always liked this song (especially that line, "Oh, by the way, which one's Pink?") and I own the CD it's on, 'Wish You Were Here'.
Of course neither cover comes close to the original, and the singing on the first one, in my opinion, was downright b-a-d.
I'm casting my vote for LITTLE VIRGIN EXPERIENCE. Not only did I like it better, but they also scored points for altering the song some to make it their own.
Now I'm off to see what ye olde folks above me had to say...
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
STMcC, if I can find any clips of Ron Paul singing a song then maybe we'll have a Battle where we can legitimately vote for him.
DeleteA vote for Little Virgin.
Lee
I'm not going to vote this time, but I am going to bed thinking about your mom smoking a cigar and giggling along with her kids.
ReplyDeleteC.Lee, I wish she were still here to retell the story. It's one I never tired of hearing. I'll need to call my sister to see if she can remember this. She would only have been about 3 or 4 at the time.
DeleteLee
My grandfather smoked one or two Bering cigars every day. He dressed as a gentleman, wore a silk ascot, and smoked a cigar every evening while he was drinking just one Tom Collins. I miss the cigar smell very much. Although I don't smoke and never have tried, I've looked for that brand to buy but it is no longer made.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Pink Floyd, as I've said in several comments before.
I'm voting for Ron Paul anyway. He DOES sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYmtueN2HWQ
But - although I cannot believe that you would truly be THAT much of a spoilsport - if you do disqualify my vote (which I'd not have made this time if you hadn't told me I couldn't) I guess I'll vote for the first video. Voice bad, guitars good.
SBB6, maybe I've been smelling bad cigars all my life. There are a lot of high quality folks who vouch for cigar smoking so I guess there must be a good aspect to it.
DeleteCan't say much for Ron's vocals, but his back up was interesting. Still don't see a Paul battle on the horizon. And I think his political running days are over as well. Maybe you need to find a new hero of the Constitution to run for office.
Thanks for not insisting on a Ron Paul vote.
A reluctant vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
Where I lived as a child there used to big a couple of cigarettes and cigar factories, I have never smoked but to each their own. I enjoyed your wonderful write.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Pink Floyd.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, the factories often smell better than the smoke of the products they produce. I like the odors wafting from cigar stores.
DeletePink Floyd would likely get everyone's vote if they were in the running, but they're not.
Care to cast a valid vote?
Lee
My paternal grandfather used to blow warm cigar smoke into my ear when I had an earache. Not that that has anything to do with anything...
ReplyDeletePatricia, I've never had a smoke cure administered to any of my many earaches as a child, but I have heard of this. Haven't heard any mention as to the effectiveness of doing this however.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee. That's a sweet memory of your mom smoking a cigar. I have smoked cigars in the past, last year with my brother being the latest time. Like you, I've never finished one. It was okay but certainly not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteGreat battle today! I like both of them. Actually having a hard time deciding. I'm going to go with Atlantis Becoming. I like an occasional acoustics and they did a nice job with this one.
Michele at Angels Bark
Michele, I guess cigars are worth a try to say you've done it, but not a habit that I'd likely take up on a regular basis.
DeleteAnother vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
Another vote for Atlantis Becoming - definitely liked that one and decided to listen to it twice. I'm more of a Floyd fan like Diane and less of a fan of the "disco" sound even though it's interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have never smoked a cigar. I've always found it interesting when characters in novels do and that is a fun story about your mom! :)
Tyrean, a cigar can be a great character prop.
DeleteAnother vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
Never smoked one; never had the desire.
ReplyDeleteHR, the desire for smoking a cigar opens up a different angle on the question. There are a lot of things we humans do that one might wonder why we do them.
DeleteLee
As an acoustic guitar fan I got with Atlantis Becoming. I know David Gilmore, from my work as a journalist, and wonder if that would be his choice?
ReplyDeleteNot a smoker - except passive at concerts lol - but have seen South American women smoking cigars.
Roland, I've seen photos of women in other countries smoking cigars. Maybe there are cultural aspects to consider.
DeleteMy wife and I both like the work of David Gilmore. I wonder which version he would pick?
A vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
I've never smoked a cigar. I like the smell of a good one though.
ReplyDeleteTeresa, I guess I'll have to pay more attention if I see someone smoking a cigar to see if it smells good or not. I never see people smoking cigars though so I don't know when that might happen.
DeleteLee
No cigars for me. My mom deterred me from any form of smoking since she was a smoker when I was young. I find cigars interesting though, as one of my writing buddies is part of a local Scotch and Cigars club.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of either version of the song, but I'll vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Loni, Scotch and cigars--now that sounds like an acquired taste.
DeleteA so-so vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
This was a tough pick. I really wanted to dislike the second band because it was such a different style than Floyd, but they were good. Still, my pick is the first band, Atlantis.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add my new website: Elsie Amata
DeleteElsie, no to Pink Floyd disco? Don't forget the psychedelic aspect.
DeleteAnother vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
Both versions don't seem anywhere close to the original - a PF fan here. Of the two I liked the acoustic version better - so a vote for no 1.
ReplyDeleteI've never smoked anything, but have been around smokers all my life - I remember my father smoking cigars occasionally, and my grandfather used to smoke the waterpipe, much nicer smelling tobacco than cigarettes, I still like the smell of tobacco used in the hookahs. Not a very healthy habit though.
Nilanjana, pipe tobacco does smell better than any other kind of tobacco in my opinion, but when it burns it's still smoke.
DeleteThe versions are intended to be different than the original. I tried to pick 2 of the more extreme versions.
Another vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
It has to be the right cigar. I like those dipped in some form of caffeine. They are rich in flavor. I haven't had one in years...seems not as enticing since having children.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going to have to drop my vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Shopgirl, cigars dipped in caffeine? That's a new one on me.
DeleteA vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
I must confess, years ago when I was still a smoker, I purchased a pack of rum-dipped cigars in a tobacco shop on the Riverwalk in Savannah. They came in a pretty plastic case with an image of an Indian head on them. They smelled awesome! Even my non-smoker friends liked to smell the case, HA! So yeah, I shared some of those cigars with my hubby and our friends. My fondest memory regarding cigars, though, is of a now-deceased nun, who was the sister of a good friend of ours. They all came over to visit when she was in town, and she shot pool, drank a glass of Chianti, and posed with a pool cue in one hand and a cigar in the other, just for kicks. She might even have taken a drag... I don't remember. But I still have that picture, and it makes me smile every time I see it.
ReplyDeleteAs for your battle of the bands. Ooh, tough one. I love Pink Floyd, and the second version is closest to that vibe, so I'll have to go with that one for my vote, but the acoustic version isn't bad, either.
Susan, flavored cigars or ones dipped in something like rum sound kind of good to me. I guess the true test would be to smoke one. A cigar smoking nun sounds pretty radical in a fun way.
DeleteA vote for Little Virgin.
Lee
Glad you didn't single moms out saying that they shouldn't smoke because they are women. :)
ReplyDeleteLove that your mom surprised you with the smoke rings and such. :)
Why was your mom so upset about your dad leaving? Just general "I miss him" tears … or something else? You kind of left us hanging with that one. ;)
With Love,
Mandy
Mandy, probably no one should smoke because it's bad for one's health--or they should at least only smoke in extreme moderation.
DeleteAs for my mom being upset, I left the story hanging because I was going to finish it in my next post with some related commentary.
Lee
Okay. I would have liked to marry these together. I thought the vocals on the first we're pretty terrible. The second was too repetitive. I was bored after about a minute and a half.
ReplyDeleteWhat to do?
I suppose I will vote for the acoustic one. They need a new lead singer, though...
Were
DeleteRobin, sorry no mash-up available.
DeleteA vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
Nice battle, both fit the spirit of Pink Floyd. I preferred Atlantis Becoming!
ReplyDeleteMike, in time for the vote tally...
DeleteA vote for Atlantis Becoming.
Lee
I love that the giggles softened her anger.
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa used to smoke pipes with vanilla scent. Those were nice.
Happy, laughter can cure--or assuage--just about any ill. I like the smell of scented tobacco. Someone once gave me a pipe and some cherry scented tobacco as a gift. I never took up the pipe tobacco habit, but I liked smelling the unsmoked tobacco.
DeleteLee