This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Monday, September 10, 2018

The End of a Run (#BOTB Results)


        After one race has been run then the next thing is to start getting ready for the next race.   Never give up!  Keep running on...

The End of a Run

         If you haven't been following my past several posts, I wrote a song called "Let's Run" back in April/May.  Not being a runner, using the subject of running for a song seemed odd at first.  Still as I began writing my song the lyrics went from the actual act of running to the metaphorical marathon of life.  My song "Let's Run" was inspired by the metaphor more than the act.   You can find the lyrics to the song at this link.

        As fortune would have it, a couple of my neighbors helped me record a rough version of the song.  Schemer that I am, I asked for other covers of the song from anyone who might be interested. A friend of mine from Tennessee, Lonnie Carver, offered his version.  Then I came up with my own experimental version.

         Voila!   A Battle of the Bands was at hand.  If you need reference then here is that link.

        This past week the Battle has been running and votes have been decent.  Now it's the end of the run and time to announce the verdict...

Battle of the Bands Results




         The Battle of "Let's Run" was between versions by:   1)Arlee Bird, Ricardo Palma, & Nathan Lucero   2) Lonnie Carver  and 3)Arlee Bird/Take Too

           There were many nice things said about all participants and I do appreciate the many very nice and helpful comments.  Even my wacky experiment got a few votes and honorable mentions.  But the real horse race was between BPL and Lonnie Carver.  I'm not voting on this Battle because I just can't--I like all the versions for different reasons.   Thanks to everyone for one of the best voter turnouts I've had.


Final Vote Tally

Bird, Palma, & Lucero             22   

Lonnie Carver                          19

Take Too                                     5


Next Battle of the Bands post on Saturday September 15th

         I'd better get started putting this one together since I don't have my Battle picked yet.  I will keep everyone posted on anything that happens about "Let's Run".   If anyone wants to go give me likes on YouTube and maybe even share then I leave video links below.  And if you do go there, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.  I'm sure that would help some.


Let's Run   by BPL

Let's Run   by Lonnie Carver

Let's Run by Arlee Bird


I'm still accepting cover versions of "Let's Run" for anyone who'd like to be included in a future battle with that song.   I think a couple may be on their way to me soon!








43 comments:

  1. Lee,

    I think all your covers were good but I went with Lonnie. I can't wait to see if you get more covers of the song. What a fun process! Thanks for sharing your battle results. Have a pAwesome week, my friend!

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    Replies
    1. Cathy, hopefully a couple more cover versions of "Let's Run" will show up in my mailbox. In the meantime, I'll write some more songs and explore the means of getting them heard.

      Lee

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    2. Lee,

      Sounds fabulous! I can't wait to hear what other artists put together with "Let's Run" as well it'll be super cool to listen to future songs you pen and have produced. I betcha use all new recordings for "Let's Run" in a future BoTB, right? Who knows where this will lead? I hope someday I can say, "I knew Lee way back when!" That will be so cool. :)

      Delete
  2. You get more covers and you'll have to do another battle with your song.

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  3. Cool! I gave your video a like on YouTube.

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    1. Sherry, thank you so much! I think those likes add up to something eventually.

      Lee

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  4. Great to see a lot of participation in the voting! Hope you get more covers. Love to see the creativity.

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    1. Loni, it was a good turnout. Now if I can get more shares for the song versions I have now. The covers are fun and interesting.

      Lee

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  5. Great Battle, LEE! After that huge number of votes submitted, to have it end with just a 3-vote differential between 1st and 2nd place is fantastic!

    Congratulations on such a successful and truly original BOTB installment!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. STMcC, thanks for your support. I was pleasantly surprised with this Battle outcome. I wish the recordings could have all been more polished and professional sounding, but this was a starting place and we all gotta start somewhere.

      Lee

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  6. Yea, I'm having trouble running, too, Lee. I used to run for exercise, not competitively. Four of my five children did cross country and track in school and college.

    I agree with Stephen above. No kidding! Only 3 votes between first and second place truly is an accomplishment. All best to you, sir!

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    1. Victoria, you've got quite a running family. My middle daughter was recruited for track in high school, but she didn't last long with it. To the coach she looked like a runner, but she's not really.

      Lee

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  7. I voted for Take Too, I still think it is and was excellent.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Yvonne, I appreciated that vote. I was afraid that my solo version wouldn't be well received so I thank you and the others who voted for that one.

      Lee

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  8. This was my favorite of all your battles thru the years! Huge vote count, tiny vote differential, and perhaps THE most unique battle in BOTB history. I hope you get more versions... and I hope that you write another song and get someone(s) to record and play it, too.

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    1. 6-Gun, glad you liked this so well. I'd like to do more like this, but I need the access to recording equipment and help from someone with more musical knowledge than I have.

      If I can establish more credibility with my songs maybe more people would be willing to cover them.

      Lee

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  9. That's really cool!
    I'm so glad the voting went well...and am wishing you the best of luck in the future...😊😊

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    Replies
    1. Ygraine, thank you so much. I'm hoping that more shares and YouTube follows will come.

      Lee

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  10. Awesome! I had to come back and find out which version "won"! I still think you should take your voice from the #3 and put it with #1, then #1 would be perfect! You rock!!! Went to YT and liked it!

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    Replies
    1. Lisa, thank you for coming back. And a special thanks for liking the video on YT.

      Lee

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  11. First of all, congratulations on your songwriter debut! Love the lyrics! I'm sitting in a lunge type of restaurant, so it's hard to make up the type of music that goes along. I'm thinking of something like "addicted to love" by Robert Palmer.
    I am not a runner, so I don't know a runner's high and endorphins and all, I'm more of the "life is a walk in the park" kind of person, Well, one can WISH, right? Who am I kidding? In all reality I'm "running behind but always winging it"...

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    1. Tamara, I wish I knew the feeling of a runner's high rather than a feeling of potential onset of a heart attack. I do wish I could run and feel good doing it.

      Lee

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  12. This was a great idea, Arlee. What fun.

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    1. Sandra, thank you! The idea seemed like a natural thing to do under the circumstances.

      Lee

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  13. How fun is your blog, Arlee! Thanks for visiting me, so I might, in turn become your newest groupie. I've a hunch I'm going to enjoy visiting. :)

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    1. Myra, be glad to have you on board. I mostly do Battle of the Bands posts these days, but sometimes I change it up. I hope you will continue to stop in now and then.

      Lee

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  14. Hi Arlee. I am thinking that this will be a fun blog to visit...so I am a new follower :)
    I agree with Sandra...a fun and wonderful idea!!!

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    1. Jan, so glad to hear the description of fun being used for my blog. That's usually been my aim. So pleased to have you join us here.

      Lee

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  15. What I love most about these blog posts is that you are moving in different actions. Excellent.

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    1. Susan, I had a burst of movement but for now I'm in a stall again. Hopefully it's temporary.

      Lee

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  16. Hi Lee,
    Although my pick didn't win this battle, the winner was indeed a winner in my opinion from the beginning. It's a great version. And if there's any legitimacy to this old saying, 'your ears must've been burning last night' because over margaritas at my favorite Mexican restaurant, I once again mentioned your song and video to my Mom, referencing your grandkids running in circles. It led to yet another endearing conversation about the past and our memories of those days when I was a kid running with my cousins around and around and around...
    So you see, your song and the accompanying video have certainly made an impression...

    Well done!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Michele, if people are talking about me in a good way or I've stimulated some productive conversation then I feel pretty good about that. I hope the song will reach an ever-widening circle of listeners and continue to be shared.

      Lee

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  17. Sorry I missed this which is typical. I really enjoyed your battle...always fun and entertaining. You show how 5alenets you are.

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    Replies
    1. Birgit, that's okay. Life gets away I know.

      You made it anyway.

      Lee

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  18. heartiest best wishes are with you dear Lee!

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Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee