Another successful year of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is now almost behind us. The letter posts are done but don't forget to join us in our annual Reflections posts starting Monday May 7th. And visit the A to Z Blog on May 3rd to participate in our after Challenge poll. We have some questions for you and want to know your thoughts...
Insecure Writer's Support Group
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure 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. The awesome co-hosts for the May 2 posting of the IWSG are E.M.A. Timar, J. Q. Rose, C. LeeMcKenzie, and Raimey Gallant! Please visit their blogs to say hello and thank you!
May 2 question - It’s spring! Does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?
Furthermore, with the A to Z writing comes a flood of ideas for future writing and other projects. I even started some new future blog posts. I've also been reassessing who I am as a writer and where I should take things next. And most exciting for me at the moment is that during the past week I've written a song that I think is a pretty darn good one and I'll be polishing that up over the next couple of weeks.
When I was still in college I can recall springtime calling me out to read and write on grassy lawns or in one of the student facilities geared toward studious activities. But then I think I was writing about equally in all seasons. Now I don't see any connection to writing and seasons other than the A to Z Blogging. I'm thankful that I've got that event to spur me on.
Battle of the Bands
My Favorite Things
Some of my favorite things are the Blogging from A to Z Challenge and Insecure Writer's Support Group. One of my most favorite things is Battle of the Bands which is why I haven't missed a one of these since they first started about five years ago. That's a lot of Battles with a lot of great music!
BOTB co-founder Stephen T. McCarthy (as well as others) and I have pondered the question of why some people like certain things better than others. The concept of "favorites" can be perplexing at times and probably would require a fairly in-depth study why some of us like certain things while others don't. If anyone has an answer to this question I welcome your input on this subject.
In the past few weeks I started hearing a song on a Volvo commercial that sounded vaguely familiar. I didn't pay too much attention at first, but as the song started securing itself in my brain I started paying attention to it. At that point I realized I was hearing an updated electronica version of "My Favorite Things" from Sound of Music.
I happen to know that this is a favorite song of my friend Stephen T McCarthy because we've discussed it in the past. On the other hand, as I have mentioned to STMcC, "Favorite Things" is far from my favorite things. I don't dislike hearing it, but I think it might be something about the lyrics that I don't care for. As I have conceded to Stephen in the past, I do agree that the melody is very nice which is probably why I like the song better as an instrumental than a vocal number.
Hearing the Volvo commercial repeatedly eventually earwormed the song into my head--or at least this version. The immediacy of hearing this commercial decided my first post-A-to-Z blog post. All other songs in my queue get knocked down a notch as this May Day round matches two versions of the song "My Favorite Things"...
Nora Khalif "My Favorite Things" (2018)
I don't have any info on the artist, but this is the commercial version of a recording that presumably is still in the works for a longer version sometime down the road. At least this version is very short which makes it a good pick for Battle of the Bands...
Joe Raciti "My Favorite Things" (2010)
If we're going with odd versions of an old classic, then this "creepy" version seems to fit that bill. I didn't research to find anything about the artist, but I did watch several of his videos. He's got some interesting stuff on YouTube if you are intrigued after watching this video. But first listen to his version of "Favorite Things"--and if you are able to do so you might enjoy watching the video--it's kind of weird, but good...
Time to Vote!
Please vote. What's your favorite between these two choices? Which song version do you like best? 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'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Angel's Bark
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Cherdo on the Flipside
Winner of this Battle Announced on Tuesday May 8th
Hope you'll stop by for my A to Z Reflections post on Monday May 7th, but definitely if you've voted in this current contest then you'll want to see who comes out on top. By the way, due to a death in the family I will be away from the computer until Friday May 4th on which day I will hopefully make it around to all of the other BOTB posts. Hope you'll bear with me on this, but it was not in my plans.
Will you be submitting an A to Z Reflections post this year? When you write do you tend to get a renewed creative energy to do more things? Do you like hearing old classic songs in updated unconventional versions?
Good day Lee,
ReplyDeleteI think I will stick with the Nora Khalif version. I loved the song in The Sound Of Music.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, it's a favorite song of many.
DeleteVoting starts with Nora.
Lee
You wrote a song? Very cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a traditionalist with that song, so the first one wins for me.
Alex, I used to write a lot of songs, but this is the first one that's grabbed hold of me in a long time. Now to see if I can actually do something with the song.
DeleteA vote for Nora.
Lee
The second one was a little bland without the singing. Nora Khalif's version is pretty.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, maybe you didn't listen to where the singing started on Joe's version?
DeleteA vote for Nora.
Lee
My Favorite Things is one of my favorite songs from Sound of Music. While Nora Khalif 'sounded' better, I found her repetition of just a line or two to be a bit monotonous. On the other hand, Joe Raciti was weird.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Joe was weird, I felt that he was adding a few elements to the song that made it interesting to listen to. For this reason, I am casting my vote for Joe Raciti
~Mary
Put On Your Big Boy/Girl Panties NSFW #BattleOfTheBands
Mary, I guess the repetitiveness comes from the style of music maybe? And it is what might be referred to as a "sample" of a larger work to come and it's just been edited together to be longer.
DeleteWeird gets the vote for Joe.
Lee
As far as I'm concerned, the Nora Khalif version wasn't the song, it was simply the first verse sung over and over. Joe Raciti's version was a little cacaphonous, but it was closer to the song, so I vote Joe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so accustomed to writing every day for my blog that I've learned to get it in gear regardless of season, weather, or any other outside factor. The A to Z Challenge is still the highlight of my blog year, of course, but I keep everything else going while that's happening.
John, like a pro news writer or something similar, you keep on blogging. I tried that for a while, but I found I got more comments per post when they appeared just a few times a week.
DeleteA vote for Joe.
Lee
Sorry to hear about your news. Spring weather can be inspiring, but it's so unpredictable in these parts that I have to self-motivate. Something nice about writing with rain pouring down too, you don't feel like you should be outside.
ReplyDeleteI would have to go for Joe. Creepy but interesting.
Nick, writing while it's raining sounds very nice--or if it's cold and snowy outside.
DeleteAnother for Creepy Joe.
Lee
Nora gets my vote
ReplyDeleteMike--another vote for...
DeleteNora.
Lee
Hi Lee!
ReplyDeleteYou wrote a song? Fantastic!
Nora gets my vote, but nothing compares to the original ;-)
Joe wasn't bad, kind of Phantom at the Christmas Opera...
Diedre, over the years I've written many songs that have ended up in my closet. More clutter in a way, but creative clutter.
DeleteAnother vote for Nora.
Lee
Hmm... this one's really a toss up to me (blog-appropriate) but give me the first one... it had a bit more life to me.
ReplyDeleteCW, a toss-up tossed out appropriately as a vote for Nora.
DeleteLee
Raciti was a really interesting video. I liked the attempt he was making to do "rounds" with himself while also providing verbal percussion.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he did a fabulous job of it... but at least he did the song rather than just one verse. A better voice would have helped. He STILL WINS, though!
I'm sorry about the death in your family that draws you away for a couple of days, and I won't check back for your comment until the end of the week.
SBoy VI, I think with better recording the sound would have been much better and more balanced. He has some other pretty interesting videos that display his creativity.
DeleteAnother vote for Joe.
Lee
AS far as BOTB goes, I guess I'm always into creepy. The first one was ok, but really just repeating one line. Even in cool electronica, its too repetitions.
ReplyDeleteRaciti gets my vote - but for creativity, no cuz he did the song justice.
So cool you wrote a song! A-Z sure does get the creative juices flowing. Its all that social interraction (commenting) that daunts me. I bet you did more writing out in the sun when it was pen and paper, not a reflective screen, lol.
Dolorah, when I start doing creative things then it fires up more creative thinking. A to Z provides a nice impetus to use my creative sense. I definitely only wrote with pen and paper back then.
DeleteCreepy gets the vote again--Joe
Lee
I had to miss the A to Z this year. Two book coming out in May just didn't allow the time. Like you, I got ideas from my alphabetical posts for future posts. Hope to take that challenge on next year. As to my vote, I'm going with Bright Copper!
ReplyDeleteC.Lee, book business should always come before blogging business--unless a blog is making more money than a published book. Hope you can join us next year for the 10th Annual.
DeleteAnother vote for Nora.
Lee
You sure seemed to do a lot, but maybe you're that busy all year round. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Anna, I'm most busy finding ways not to be overly busy, but I still find time to do a lot.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI'm running behind and have lots to do still before DH goes in for surgery tomorrow, so I'm going to tell straight up which version I like the best. Give my vote to Joe Raciti. The creepy version appealed to me more than the commercial version which seemed too odd to suit my ears. Maybe, I'm just odd. Oh well, interesting battle song. I'll answer one of your questions, I do plan on putting together a reflections post but I haven't even started on it yet. It may go up later next week. Good battle, my friend. See ya around!
~Curious as a Cathy
Rock Country Roads #BoTB Showdown
Cathy, I'm running late too after my quick trip to Florida. Hope the surgery went well.
DeleteA vote for Joe.
Lee
We have you to thank for inspiring us to write in April, Lee - so thanks. Although, maybe Spring keeps us going.
ReplyDeleteRoland, Spring is encouraging, but something like A to Z provides a goal to shoot for and bragging rights if we finish.
DeleteLee
Hey, LEE, sorry to learn of the death in the family. I hope you all will come to experience the Peace of God which surpasses understanding.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, not only do I love the song 'My Favorite Things', but I would say that, for me, in all of recorded music, it's the #1 "earworm". Thank God I love it, because it would be an unbearable torture otherwise. (Yep, I have some musical earworms that I actually dislike strongly. How they bury themselves into my brain and start playing on an endless loop despite the fact that I truly dislike them is yet another mystery I can't explain.)
As you likely remember, I used this song in BOTB way back in 2013. It was a 3-Way in which Julie Andrews & The Carpenters tied, and Diana Ross & The Supremes got only 1 vote -- mine! Funny that I should be the only person to vote for the version of this song that is probably my all-time favorite.
I agree with you that it's more about the melody than the lyrics. I DO like the lyrics, but I'd probably have never thought twice about them had they been married instead to a melody that didn't have such a pronounced lilting quality to it.
I read all of your post and all of the comments FIRST, before listening to either recording you've posted here, and based on that, I fully expected to be voting for Nora. But to my tremendous surprise (and perhaps yours, too), I am voting for JOE RACITI.
I didn't care for Nora's voice, and even less the electronic background "music". (Too synthy-'80s sounding for my tastes.) And what is that word she's singing? "Whiskits" instead of "whiskers"?
Joe's version was far from one of the best I've heard but it wasn't bad at all. Like Sheboygan Brother mentioned, I too thought his "vocal percussion" gimmick was kind of cool.
I probably would have liked his cover even better had I just listened and not watched the video. At first he reminded me of someone having some sort of seizure. And as it continued, I started thinking: He's having pretty hot sex with an invisible partner.
Anyway, I hope you and your family are doing as well as possible under the circumstances, Lee.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
STMcC, Joe has some very weird videos on his channel. He seems like a very creative guy.
DeleteI'm not surprised by your vote. I'd like to have heard Joe record the song with better recording quality.
A vote for Joe.
And all is well with all of us.
Lee
I. Sorry to hear about the death of a family member. This is never easy so my condolences to you and you wife and family. I can see why some people write less now because they would rather be outside and garden etc... but I can also see people feel more alive and wanting to write. 8n the end, it depends on the person. I will write my A to Z post and always enjoy it even if I fall behind. I always thought I was one who could change easily but I am not! I don’t like that about myself but I have to admit to it. I like this song but wish the Tate’s would stop trying t9 make this a Christmas song just because there are a few references to winter and Christmas is mentioned. Hearing both I am going with the Volvo commercial. The gal has a steamy voice actually and I liked that style. Creepy guy is all over t(e place and it made it hard to listen to so Volvo gets my vote
ReplyDeleteBirgit, writing when the urge strikes probably makes most sense, but implications of weather have to be factored in.
DeleteThe song has kind of stuck with me as a Christmas song as well. We sang it in a 4th grade Christmas program at school--that would have been about 1961.
A vote for Nora.
Lee
Sincere condolences, Lee, on the loss of your family member.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on another succesful A to Z Challenge run! Sorry I couldn't keep up with too many posts. Maybe next year!
This is an interesting battle. I didn't like the musical arrangement or the vocals that much in the Volvo commercial, but the "Creepy" version held my interest. Please give my vote to him!
P.S. How cool that you wrote a song! Will you record it for all of us to listen to? ☺
Debbie D, I've got to finish the song up and then figure out the technology of what needs to be done to have a working copy. I love for others to hear what I've come up with.
DeleteA vote for Joe.
Lee
The Raciti version has my vote hands down. It kept my interest for the entire time.
ReplyDeletePrayers are with you and your family.
Susan K, thanks for your prayers. This week I've realized there are always a lot of prayers, but we can never pray enough.
DeleteA vote for Joe.
Lee
Very sorry to hear about your loss!
ReplyDeleteI like the Joe Raciti version more. The mood is more my style, and seems very fun.
Carrie-Anne, losing a family member so unexpectedly is a jolt of reality that puts my own life in a different perspective.
DeleteA vote for Joe.
Lee
Glad to see you survived another April! I think I'll vote for Nora. It captures me quicker.
ReplyDeleteLori, the years march onward!
DeleteNora
Lee
I love Nora version better. She has the vibe that makes you want to hear the rest of it. My votes for Nora
ReplyDeleteJamila, thanks for the visit. Your vote is too late to count, but with the other vote Nora would be now at a tie.
DeleteLee