Lover Come Back (I Kind of Miss You)
I'm missing an old lover of sorts. It's not a person, but partly a state of mind. Of being.
In a sense I'm missing the internet while it's also blogging the way that it used to seem. Is it just me who's lost the magic? Or is it because the community and the participation is shrinking that some of the excitement and novelty has worn off? Several bloggers who were very active a few years ago are not so much now. Some just don't blog any more.
Best if I let summer pass before I start back into blogging full steam. And that's assuming that I can get stoked for full steam. Besides, the internet has become a stranger, meaner place that it seemed like it was when I first discovered the magic of being online. Maybe I've just found out for myself a darker part of social media that was always there and I just hadn't fallen into the mire.
Don't get me wrong, but I'm hooked. I'll be checking in on email and other social media things at least up until mid-August, but I just might not be on as much. And I'm not going to disappear over summer, but I'll be doing other things. And when mid-August arrives then we'll see what will happen next.
Does the "magic" of the internet seem different to you in recent years? How did you first stumble into the cyberworld? Do you still have hope for blogging?
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.Lover Come Back to Me
Holy déjà vu, Batman! (R.I.P. Adam West)
A year ago on this same date I used this same song in a Battle of versions done by Gaucho and Brenda Lee. It's such a great song with so many outstanding recordings done by numerous artists that I thought it was worth revisiting. In fact, considering the multitude of great versions of the song, I could make this particular Battle a yearly event for years to come. So bear with me as I revisit this lovely song in a couple of jazzed up versions by two very well known female vocalists. If you want to refer back to my first Battle using this song in order to learn the background of the song then please click here.
Aretha Franklin "Lover Come Back to Me" (1962)
Barbra Streisand "Lover Come Back to Me" (1964)
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 Queen of Soul" or the other singer? 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 Wednesday June 21st.
That announcement post could be my next post unless I get a hankering to do another one before then. Gosh, I guess summer's really here! Whatever I do I hope you'll try to stay with me. And I guess you'll probably want to see who comes out the winner of this grand battle of two iconic divas of our time.
I can relate to losing something other than a person, I won't say what it is but let's just say I "Hurry Past The Mirrors" nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI choose Barbra Streisand version of this lovely song.
Have a good day.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, I think mirrors must be lying to me. I feel like the same old guy I used to be.
DeleteFirst vote goes to Barbra.
Lee
Aretha all the way.
ReplyDeleteBlogging has changed. I guess it depends on what someone blogs about and how well connected they are whether they are still going full steam or not.
Alex, there are some that are going full steam I suppose, but there are a lot more who seem to have slowed down.
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
Good Battle, LEE. This was tough for me to decide as I liked both versions.
ReplyDeleteNormally, I am no fan at all of Aretha Franklin. When she was young, she was mentored by Mahalia Jackson and I've always thought of her as a much inferior version of her mentor -- "Mahalia Jackson Lite". And I didn't like her Soul / R&B stuffs any better than her early Gospel tracks. But she rocked this song big time. Probably the best that Aretha has ever sounded to me.
I really rather detest Barbra Streisand as a person, but there's no denying her voice is a gift from God and she ranks right up near the top of my "Best Female Vocalists Of All Time" list. And she does this song terrifically, too.
I had to listen to both songs twice before deciding that (shockingly to me) I am voting for ARETHA FRANKLIN.
About Blogging:
Yeah, to a large degree, the thrill is gone for me. I needed a break from online stuffs and walked away from my FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS blog. And when I returned to it about a year and a half later, my readers did not return with me.
I don't know if people just got tired of my style and subject matters, or if I just lost my touch, or... what? Something else? Either way, it ain't the same. I don't get the many great, extensive comments like I used to which would develop into full-blown, ongoing discussions in the comment sections.
I think the political atmosphere has also been responsible for a good portion of the negative changes. Everyone is so divided now that you can hardly have a discussion with people unless they generally view things in a similar way. And frankly, I'm not the least bit interested in having discussions with communists anyway (whether they know they're communists or not).
The Times They Are A-Changin', and I think the Battle lines are now being clearly drawn in anticipation of a gigantic -- even S/spiritually based -- showdown. So, the lighthearted fun and community spirit that we once had has given way to warring factions preparing for that final, cosmic confrontation.
That's the way I see it, anyway. And so be it.
Again, excellent Battle, Lee. I've really been digging your song choices lately.
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
STMcC, shortly after I started exploring the cyberworld is when I discovered your Amazon thread. I began communicating online at your thread and other interesting places. Before I knew it I was on Facebook and the like and it was so cool to rediscover folks from my past and catch up on things. It was fun and fascinating.
DeleteYou're right about the political climate. And it's not just U.S. politics but also climate change and so many other controversial topics that not only divide people, but stir up extreme animosity. Things online have become annoying and sad in many ways. But you're right about the "so be it". Let God's will be done.
I was surprised to find this classic tune from back before Aretha became the Queen of Soul. I never cared much for her soul stuff either, but she hits all the right notes in this BOTB cover. And the other singer does pretty well with it also.
Another vote for Aretha
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteTwo artists I'm not wild but clearly have excellent vocals which explains why they've been around the business for so long. I gave each a fair listen and decide I preferred Arthea Franklin best. Good battle!
I'm still hooked on blogging. Summers are the worse for participation and I usually notice change in the community once the weather warms. I think it started earlier this year than usual but maybe as you pointed out some of the magic is gone. I think everyone should step away as needed to regroup so their passion die. That's why I'm taking it easy this summer in Blogosphere only committing to hosting and dancing with the Monday's Music Moves Me crew. People just need to give themselves permission to walk away and live life to breathe life into their blogs. That's when they'll find the magic isn't gone but revitalized!
Thanks for voting in A Father's Day Tribute #BoTB Showdown!
Cathy, you've been among those who have retained a consistency with your blogging and I'm glad you've been doing this. You are an inspiration. Summer has always been slower, but I've always tried to keep a normal blogging schedule. This year I think I need that recharge.
DeleteLee
Oh, and a vote for Aretha from Cathy.
DeleteLee
Lee,
DeleteFirst let me say, Happy Father's Day! I hope you had a lovely time spending it ever how it made you happy. We enjoyed our by taking a nice drive out in country. It always amazes me just that 30-45 minutes north east of town feels like we're in southern WV and south western Virginia. The weather was beautiful making for an extra special day.
An inspiration, you say?! That feels good. Thank you! Blogging gives me a lot of joy. It's really been nice to slack off and not worry about things in Blogosphere. I know by the time September rolls around I'll be ready to get back to a normal routine again. I've never allowed myself to pull away like I'm doing for more than a couple of weeks and I'm finding this refreshing in so many ways. I can't believe June is winding down so quickly. A new month will be here before we know it and you'll be on vacation. Let me dash for now. It's a humid and hot day in East Tennessee with Thunderstorms this morning and more expected. It's just that time of the year. Have a good afternoon!
Cathy, we have a heat wave rolling in this week for us too, but probably not much humidity. That's one thing that I can be thankful about the California weather.
DeleteLee
Having only been blogging for a couple of years, I can't really judge a loss of magic because I still see it. Just not as often. It's as if an angry owl has perched in the woods and quieted all the birds. It won't last forever, the owl will starve or move on.
ReplyDeleteI'd never even heard of blogging until I stumbled onto yours ;-)
Tough battle, but I'm going with the Afro-Cuban jazzy beat (bongos) and Streisand's dynamic voice.
Diedre, glad you found blogging, but how did you happen to first find mine? My first few years of blogging I was on fire, but that diminished as time went by. The online nastiness that started a year or so ago has really caused some blogging disillusionment for me. I think there is a herd of owls and other nasty animals lying in wait. I hope you're right about them moving on.
DeleteAnd it's a vote for Barbra.
Lee
I've often wished I could find that first blog I read. I'm not even sure what you blogged about, except that I commented on how driving around with a missing hubcap made me feel as if I had a run in my stocking ;-)
DeleteBoth are excellent versions of the song, and both are iconic divas, and as such make this a tough choice for me.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to give my vote today to Babs.
Regarding the downfall of the blogosphere: I have felt a decline of participation and bloggers blogging since late last year. Myself, I have slowed down after the AtoZ Challenge, cutting my posts to just twice a week. I have a feeling that now that summer is upon us, traffic is going to slow down even more.
I had the pleasure of meeting Adam West. I lived in the Wood River Valley in Central Idaho for about a decade. He had a home there as well. He was one of the nicest celebrities that I met during that time. I loved how he is listed in the local phone book:
West Adam....... See Wayne Bruce (Millionaire)
Wayne Bruce (Millionaire).... Please consult Crime Fighters In the Yellow Pages
Crime Fighters.... See Batman - White Pages
Batman..... See West Adam
~Mary
Mary, very cool about Adam West. I'd heard he was a nice guy and always seemed to have a good sense of humor.
DeleteMaybe after summer passes things will start getting more as they used to be in blogging. Maybe some new bloggers are needed to rekindle some excitement. But I hope all our old friends stay active and in good spirits.
A vote for Barbra.
Lee
I am with Barbra. Altho Aletha Franklin has a marvelous take on this classic, I like how Barbra mixes it up.
ReplyDeleteBlogging? I have had to cut back on it due to self issues. But I still love it. Writing is like a burst of adrenaline. Even tho I will be gone to see my daughter, I brought out some old posts many have not seen. Hate to be gone.
Yes, I have seen some bloggers stop. Things happen. Lives change.
Susan K, when I am in the zone for blogging then it's wonderful and not much else like it in the world of writing. I've become lazy and somewhat dispirited, but when things are right then I'm okay. Blogging is still my main means of expressing myself to the world.
DeleteAnother vote for Barbra.
Lee
Barbra for me...but it was close. And yeah, I've been absent from blogging for a while. There are some blogs that the author just leaves a sentence or two. I guess it's easier, but I have so many thoughts in my head they have to go somewhere and my blog is the perfect forum.
ReplyDeleteEm, I've tried the short blog post approach, but then like you my mind starts working away and I will start writing. I doubt whether I'll totally stop blogging for a while, but one never can tell for sure.
DeleteA vote for Barbra.
Lee
The blogging thing could fill a post by itself, depending on the mood at the time. The song? Boy you make it hard on me because if you were going to ask me for my least favorite singers, you just hit 1-2. I'll give it to Babs by a nose (see what I did there?).
ReplyDeleteCW, yeah, I get the nose thing and you are on the nose with your comment. Not my favorite singers either, but this is an example of some good stuff that they did. And they are actually both very good singers. But I hear you.
DeleteBy a nose, it's Barbra.
Lee
I know a lot of great bloggers who quit and now just vent on facebook. I think I'm in it for the long haul.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to beat Aretha. It's not Barbra's fault. I mean, c'mon, it's Aretha.
Harry, I don't think you'll see much of me on FB other than to promote my blog posts. FB was where some of the most unpleasant online encounters were for me. I'm sure there'll be a lot of bloggers hanging in there.
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
I sure do agree that the political atmosphere of hate is permeating everyone and everything. People are getting so much bolder to get in your face on all types of social media. I started blogging just to practice writing and read a lot of the excellent stuff that's everywhere on here. Then I discovered something. I came to believe that a ton of people start blogging for the simple reason that they're lonely and need to make connections. So that's what I started doing. Visiting blogs and getting to know folks. I don't have a huge following on mine, but the folks that come by consistently have become good friends. Everyone needs a kind word now and then. Everyone is fight a hard battle we don't even know about. So I just get out there and love and appreciate folks. I hope you don't stay away long, Arlee. I was just getting to know you! (Calen -- promptlings.wordpress.com)
ReplyDeleteCalen, I'll be here, but just on a summer schedule whatever that schedule might be. An uneasiness is everywhere I think, but we all express it in different ways. These are interesting times and I'm not going off to hide in a cave yet.
DeleteLee
Yay! Cause we gotta all stick together. You know in the medieval times after the harvest was gathered in, the villagers would have a great bonfire on the green. They would put out all their hearth fires and then one person from each household would take a torch to the bonfire and bring back fire to rekindle the hearth. It was a way of showing solidarity as a community against the coming winter, a way of committing to be there for each other. I think that's such a beautiful custom. And in some ways summer is a kind of winter for blogging as we get caught up in so many other outside things. So maybe we need to have a bonfire blog at the beginning of the summer each year dedicated to knowing we're all coming back in the fall! :D
DeleteThe bonfire is a wonderful symbolic tradition. I wouldn't want to see all bloggers stop for the summer since there are still many folks who do enjoy that online contact with others, but it would be probably wise for those taking a step away to announce their intentions and a symbolic blogging event might be interesting.
DeleteLee
My vote goes to Barbra. I know that politics has a lot to do with why I am not on Facebook as much. As for blogging, I am relatively new (about 3 years) so I can't tell if there are less or more bloggers out there. I am hoping it is not really dwindling because I am having fun! I'll keep looking for you, Arlee! By the way, I am posting my "S" that I skipped on the A to Z. Then I just have the "V" left. :)
ReplyDeleteJanet, I think the blog community that I've been in is shifting and now I need to look at connecting with new blogs. Definitely politics have tainted FB and other aspects of social media.
DeleteAnother vote for Barbra.
Lee
From Facebook, my cousin Tom agrees with my assessment of the state of the internet.
ReplyDeleteHe also casts a vote for Barbra.
Lee
This month apparently you and McCarthy agree. Next month another two of us will agree. But hardly ever do we each find ourselves in harmony.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked Aretha Franklin. I have never liked Streisand. YUK. This battle is no different for me: I vote for A.F.
Adam West always seemed like a nice guy to me, but I was never impressed with his acting. I liked him, though.
Belieb it or not, I think the internet grows more vile by the minute. It was always a cesspool, but as the bile of envious, unethical non-producers grows, the discourse has become just a stream of hate. The forces of evil grow, and those that are not watchful are caught in their gravity well.
Six, I don't know that anyone would hold Adam West as an exemplary acting icon, but he became a highly recognizable figure in the world of sixties pop culture and that lasted until his death. I'm not even sure what other acting roles West did besides Batman. For Adam West I think it was more a matter of who he was to his fans and not what he accomplished.
DeleteAnonymity opens the way for all sorts of nasty behavior. After all, it's difficult to make weird or threatening phone calls unless one knows how to spoof numbers or whatever. But online you can say things you might never consider saying to someone else's face and not worry about repercussions. The internet does has beautiful and highly beneficial uses, but the darker side of humanity is difficult to eradicate especially when so many people have such vast ideological disagreements. Evil is always a pervasive force with which we must contend.
Once I might have called myself a Streisand fan and not so much a fan of Aretha. Now things are reversed although I'll probably never own an Aretha recording since I don't care for much of her music.
A vote for Aretha
Lee
Yes, Lee, the internet is a different place from when I first started using it...but change is normal so I'm trying to roll with it. I avoid the mean parts and search for the good parts, and they're all there (bless Google searches for helping us find them). I use the "unfollow" option on social media to avoid cruelty and hate because that's not my thing. As for blogging, it's changing too, so maybe we just need to be aware and try to adapt (as one of the good guys, not the meanies).
ReplyDeletePatricia, there are so many old friends whom I've been tempted to unfollow, but I keep hoping that maybe the nastiness will go away. These are dear old friends from school days so I do like to keep up with them--I think.
DeleteMaybe by summer's end I'll be feeling better about blogging. We'll see.
Lee
I still enjoy visiting blogs and doing mine when I have something interesting to post. I'm pretty sick of the fake news that is rampant on the internet now. The lies, stuff taken out of context, etc. Facebook has become a real drag. I spend a lot of time hiding political stuff & animal abuse.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, these days I don't immediately take all news as real. The news disseminators skew things so much that one needs to use a healthy dose of reason and common sense to extract the truth or something closer to the truth.
DeleteLee
I don't think the country has been so divisive since the Civil War. Before Pearl Harbor I was finishing high school school and believed we should be fighting Hitler. My father and most older people were isolationists, remembered WW1, and believed that we should stay out of Europe's wars. However, our discussions did not descend to insults and hostility, although we believed strongly in our positions. Obviously, we need to respect and consider the other side's position and not hint at violence as a solution. If Hillary had won, we could just as well have had a right-wing nut using his gun on a Democratic Congressman by now.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot depend upon a second Pearl Harbor to unify us. Our potential enemies know us too well to give us one. Nine-Eleven was not committed by a nation we could defeat in war. Pearl Harbor came before missiles and nuclear bombs. We are in a different time and will need to use our best reasoning to get through it, as we did in past wars and crises. Blogs can serve that purpose as well as hate blogs can thwart it.
Think of the Internet as a man-made invention like the automobile. Cars have drastically increased our highway deaths, but we're not going back to the horse and buggy.
Jack, I agree that there is no turning back from the internet. We do need to return to civility and willingness to reason together if we want a more unified country. I'm not sure that this will happen because so many people have grown accustomed to disrespect and rudeness toward others. It mostly starts at home with family and in the schools, but I'm not sure where we are heading in the future on either of those accounts.
DeleteLee
I vote for Aretha!
ReplyDeleteAs for blogging, I've been here since 2011. The A-Z pulled me right in and there was no turning back. My main reason for blogging has been to jumpstart a writing career, connect with other writers, improve my writing skills, and occasionally get things off my chest. It's worked for me. It seems some have gone to FB, which I dislike a lot, but publishers like it because it stirs up chatter fast I suppose. The hardest thing for me is finding time online. I'm not getting any younger and need to concentrate on publishing my work. I do enjoy visiting your blog from time to time :) I hope you stay with it. You're kind of the guru of blogging!
Sharon, Facebook can have some merit no doubt, but there is a randomness about it where you never can tell where something will go and whether or not it will all go awry. I like it for seeing pictures of family and general greetings, but not so much for expressing political beliefs. I appreciate your kind words. It is mostly because of the other bloggers that I keep at it.
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
Arlee, your comment about "lost the magic" has stayed with me for a few days. Over time I have looked over my reading list and followers list. Some readers are now focused on finishing books and getting them published. That is not my goal or plans. Basically we are "divorced". And some followers no long have sites. In short, my joy is in writing and reading other writers.
ReplyDeleteTrying to expand by reading unknowns, pulling their writing up, is best we can do.
As for politics in a blender, the only things that can be said (in my opinion) are get over yourselves and try to improve this country, not destroy it.
Susan K, we all must adapt to the changing times. Sometimes that will involve our own personal changes. Currently I have mostly drifted away from writing, but maybe that my upcoming summer vacation whispering to me. I still enjoy visiting other bloggers and posting my own stuff, but not with the same fervor and commitment to time as I had a couple years ago. I've got things on my mind these days and those things don't pertain to my writing interests--at least not directly, yet.
DeleteLee
Ahhh, yes, the Internet. I became enamored hardcore in 2007 when I got stupidly involved with chat rooms. I didn't start blogging until 2008 when a good cyber friend suggested for me to do so so a to avoid censorship issues.
ReplyDeleteI mostly blogged about life, work and writing. I found a blogging to be a fantastic way to grow as a writer (at one point had about 150 subscribers to my 1st blog). However, after 10 years of using the Blogger platform, I closed up shop and moved my blogging activities to both Tumblr and Facebook.
Burnout is a terrible thing and I had a double whammy as I was performing a very long downhill slide to nothingness for blogging while at the same time going steadily uphill with my writing (found my mojo and my ju-ju for it) so it made sense for me to stop my general purpose blogging and concentrate on blogging about writing (my blog is mostly a steady stream of consciousness that has writing as its anchor).
I still miss some of the blogging friends that I have made over the years, but sometimes, people drift away, circumstances change and ultimately, you have to close the chapter an move on to the next.
GB, I got into blogging in a similar way as you did. First I was surfing, then chatting, and then an online friend started his blog and I eventually did the same. I'm here for a while now and doubt that I'd ever get back into chats as intensely as I once did as with the blog I have a speaking platform for whomever will listen. I'd probably serve my own needs better by getting into actual writing and that may still come.
DeleteLee
I find blogging still rewarding and enriching but I stay away from politics and religion unless I joke around a bit. It doesn't mean people may not know what I think but people, in general, can't keep their heads when someone disagrees with the others' views. I do commend others for stating their beliefs and sticking to it. Now as for tha musik....I love both but I give it to Aretha because she made it her own style whereas Babs went all Broadway which didn't appeal to me this time.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, politics and religion are indeed difficult topics for some, ones that I think are important to discuss and understand. But the opinions can lead to bad feelings sometimes. I do what I feel compelled to do.
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
I think blogging was more fun before. Now there are landmines all over social media. No one respects a differing opinion. Discussion is becoming a lost art. I don't spend much time online at all. Part of that is due to feeling better and getting back out into the "real" world, and part is the thrill is mostly gone.
ReplyDeleteAnd still, I value my blog friends above all other friends I've made on social media. So, I can't leave forever!
I preferred Are that Franklin on this one. Barbra'o version sounded like a "number." Not sure if that makes sense. Less authentic maybe.
Enjoy your summer break. I am going back to camp again this summer. Looking forward to the change of pace.
I love autocorrect.
DeleteVote: Aretha Franklin.
And that should have been Barbra's.
Robin, so glad to see your comment here. Have missed your posts, but I can appreciate your situation. Hope you have a great summer and return with a renewed fervor for blogging.
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
This is truly a great song and I enjoyed both Aretha's and Barbra's versions. But I'm giving my vote to Barbra as I enjoyed it a tad bit more. But it was very close for sure.
ReplyDeleteRe: the blogging: I know I've lost my steam with it and I really don't know why. Could be that I just go through my phases. I don't think I'll ever give it up because I enjoy the friendships. And once in awhile I just want to post something for posterity. I know I did miss partaking in the A-Z this year but I found it to be a nice break.
Happy Father's Day Lee! Hope you're enjoying your special day with offspring...
Michele at Angels Bark
Michele, maybe many of us are going through a certain phase concerning blogging and this too will pass. I don't see me ever giving it up, but only time will tell.
DeleteA vote for Barbra.
Lee
I don't know either songs - I'm here for something completely different:
ReplyDeleteYou have been nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award! 🎖 Congratulations, let's celebrate! 🥂🍾
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/2017/06/mystery-blogger-award.html
Tamara, I really appreciate the award, but I decline to participate. Several years ago I decided to stop participating in the blogging awards as I began running out of bloggers to pass the award to and the awards started becoming repetitious for my site. They are great for the bloggers looking to expand their base so I commend you for continuing the tradition.
DeleteLee
I am new to the blogging world...so yet to reach that point of saturation! And for me and most of us from my team the blogging word is so thriving and vibrant! So now that leaves to wonder how amazing it might have been earlier!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs for the songs, I am not even an above average person on this part of the land:(
--------------------------------
Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
Rewind
Anagha, I think I am in a corner of the blogging world that is getting a bit sapped of energy or something. I'm sure there are still plenty of bloggers who remain enthusiastic and I need to expand more into those realms. I think blogging can still be pretty amazing.
DeletePlease stop by again!
Lee
I preferred the overall style of the Aretha Franklin version.
ReplyDeleteI first seriously got into cyberspace in late /96/early '97, through AOL (which I like to call aohell). There were a lot of good resources there, and I loved the daily chats in The Sunroom (later retitled The Psych Patio) in the Psychology section, and the weekly chats for converts in Jewish.Community. There were also a lot of great message boards all across AOL, with very colorful characters. I started my current blog in March 2011, shortly after I lost my old Angelfire site. A lot of people I followed seem to have slipped away from blogging since, or are blogging on much more infrequent schedules, but there are still great opportunities for networking and learning new things. Pretty much all of my posts about films, albums, books, and other things unrelated to writing are largely written with the knowledge that they'll get a lot of hits over time, from people researching those topics, not just my usual readers, within the first week or so.
Carrie-Anne, there is still plenty of good information to be found through blogs, chat rooms, forums, etc. There is a novelty factor when one first goes on line that I think for most dissipates and wanes. Some folks remain pretty hardcore dedicated, but others find things they need or want to do that isn't fulfilled by being on the computer for vast amounts of time.
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
Yep, I lost the blogging magic a while back. I still enjoy most of the posts; but it seems more about advertising than writing now. We used to have games, blogfests, information, sharing with each other. My favorite sites are still that. But most of the posts that pop up in my blog roll are advertising new releases, cover reveals, contests to win free books, requests for bloggers to advertise releases. I mean, that is ultimately what we are writing for- the recognition. Perhaps if I was keeping up with releases and production and running my own ad campaign every three months I'd feel differently. For such a large community though, the repetition is overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your break over the summer. Sometimes it helps to get back into the social media stream.
As for the battle; this was jazzy, lol. Both were lots of fun to listen to. I'm voting for Barbara though. I loved her voice. I'm not exactly a fan, but I think I have at least not-disliked everything I've heard from her. Sometimes, I can't listen to Aretha. Strange?
Dolorah, I hear you on the redundancy of promotions. I can understand a desire to promote ones products, but with moderation I'd say and maybe some new approaches.
DeleteA vote for Barbra.
Lee
Both versions quite different Aretha gets my vote
ReplyDeleteMike, viva la difference!
DeleteA vote for Aretha.
Lee
Oddly enough, I'm more reinvigorated to blog than ever. Maybe it's just because I've finally come into my art style. We still have people coming around, so that's all that matters to me.
ReplyDeleteI can't stand Barbra Streisand. With that said, her version is actually pretty good. Not Aretha good, but still good.
One vote for Aretha!
ABFTS, maybe I need to come into a new style that suits me better. Not that I'm unhappy with what I'm doing though. I think my thing is something beyond my blog.
DeleteAnother vote for Aretha.
Lee
A very good battle. I almost voted for Barbara, but my vote goes to Aretha. Her voice was a lot smoother.
ReplyDeleteChrys, thanks for the vote!
DeleteAnother one for Aretha.
Lee