Reach out to a friend in need, or for that matter someone you don't know--not just during this Christmas season, but all through the year...
Be an Angel!
Battle of the Bands
Angels Among Us
Not exactly a Christmas song, but it fits in well with the spirit of the Season. This song was first released by the country group Alabama in 1993. In this Battle I take the risk of putting the original artists up against an internet artist that you probably don't know. Either way, enjoy the song and maybe let the message soak in some. Let's be like angels during this Christmas season and then keep on doing it through the year to come...
Alabama "Angels Among Us" (1993)
From Fort Payne Alabama, this group touts its home state as their group name. These fellows started playing together in 1969 under the name Wildcountry, but after changing their name to Alabama in 1977 they started hitting the music charts eventually becoming one of the biggest bands in the country music genre.
Tutti Druyan "Angels Among Us" (2013)
Tutti is a successful singer, actor, and voice-over artist from Israel. She began her career at age 3 and now at age 25 she can be considered a veteran in the entertainment business.
Time to Vote!
Come on! Don't be a Grinch! 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
Debbie Doglady's Den
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Cherdo on the Flipside
A I Love Music
Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday December 10th
You'll have plenty of time to vote on this one even though I'll have an #IWSG post on Wednesday the 5th. Busy time ahead for many of us as we head toward the New Year. Can you believe we're reaching the end of yet another year?
Have you ever experienced an "angelic" encounter? Do you do any volunteer projects that help others? What is a nice gesture that you would recommend that others do to help someone who needs an angel?
Hi Lee loved this especially the version by Alabama.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, thank you for commencing the voting...
DeleteFirst vote goes to Alabama.
Lee
Not a big fan of Alabama, but their version was smoother. Hers was just too high-pitched.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, I think some of us lean typically to the male singing voice partly for the reason you said.
DeleteAlabama.
Lee
Another vote for Alabama. Tutti's voice was just a little too shrill.
ReplyDeleteJohn, just what I said above...
DeleteAlabama.
Lee
Good Battle, LEE! This comment is coming to you from outta state.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd heard this song before, but I liked it. (Yes, I have had at least 3 angelic encounters, but I don't yak about them much to others.)
Considering that Alabama is a big name and Tutti is not, this was a surprisingly close contest for me. But like the others above me, I'm going to give my vote 'BAMA.
Bless And Be Blessed, Brother.
~ D-FensDogG
https://stmccpresentsbattleofthebands.blogspot.com/
STMcC, yeah, I think many who have such encounters don't say much about them unless there is something about the event that seems to require talking about it.
DeleteAnother vote for Alabama.
Lee
Because I'm a purist (don't mess with something that doesn't need fixing!) … I'm going with Alabama.
ReplyDeleteNo, I've never experienced an 'angelic encounter' but keep hoping. I suppose that's not something one can force.
Myra, things just seem to happen despite what we believe or think. Don't expect anything.
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
Alabama. No doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the weekend and thanks for stopping by.
Blue
Blue, we have a trend going here...
DeleteAnother vote for Alabama.
Lee
Hi Lee
ReplyDeleteI have had angelic encounters before, and hopefully I will continue to have them. As for doing angelic things for others - I'm always looking for ways to pay it forward or in return for little big things that have been done for me.
This was an easy vote for me. While Tutti has a sweet voice, I think that Alabama does a better version.
My vote is for Alabama
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Mary, I should probably be more active in helping, but I tend to stay reclusive.
DeleteYes, it's Alabama again!
Lee
Hi Lee -
ReplyDeleteYou have been presenting some interesting and introspective materials lately. This is no exception.
Both of these have some nice aspects, and both have some annoying ones. The "baby on helium" talk that began and kept cropping up in the Tutti version was MIGHTY awful. But so was the "talk-singing" that began the Alabama version.
This was close to a toss up for me. But I'm going to vote for Tutti.
6-Gun, thank you for saving me from a humiliating shut out. I know what you're saying about the kid voice. I'm wondering if that voice belongs to Tutti since she does the voice over stuff.
DeleteA vote for Tutti.
Lee
I volunteer as an actress in community theater and a leader in helping people to vote, do they count?
ReplyDeleteI really like the Alabama version better. I am a sucker for ballad, especially from the 90s.
http://aisasami.wordpress.com
AI, I think any kind of volunteer work counts since volunteers are sometimes hard to find.
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
Well, that's a tough choice! Going strictly by their voices/songs, they are both so very lovely. But add their videos in, and Alabama wins, for me. Really well done and brought tears to my eyes. A wonderful message...Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLisa, Alabama has the pro force behind them, but Tutti apparently has some good creative force behind her as well.
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
Tutti, I am going with her. There is a sweetness in her rendition, gentleness.
ReplyDeleteSusan, the female touch I guess--I thought Tutti's version was sweet as well and she needs more votes.
DeleteA vote for Tutti.
Lee
I'm going for Alabama as in this case the female touch didn't work for me *or my wife).
ReplyDeleteAll the best for December.
Roland, that might count as two votes but I'll just call it one since poor Tutti is so far behind...
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
Alabama gets my vote on this one!
ReplyDeleteMike, this is becoming a bit repetitious...
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Alabama.
Lee
A pair of votes came on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteMy sister, Joni votes for Tutti
My cousin, Tom votes for Alabama.
Lee
This is not a song I care for because I don't like the country vibe and I don't care for the typical American idol/The Voice style. Her voice is nice but I can't stand the kids in the beginning. I will give it to the Country style since they seemed to give more heart to it
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I hear what you're saying about "the kids" but I guess it's part of the Christmas spirit of the song.
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteI’ve been a fan of Alabama for longer than I should mention, and this is by far my most favorite song! While Miss Tutti has a beautiful voice, Alabama had me at “I believe,” because I do too ;-)
At the grocery store one day, I was already annoyed by having to pull a fifty pound bag of dog food from a shelf as high as my shoulders and hoping to simply let it drop into the buggy I had carefully position below. But the bag stuck on a piece of orange iron; requiring me to get under it before it ripped and spilled all over the aisle. Out of the blue came two hardly able hands to help me muscle the dang thing into the cart, and soon I was staring into the kind face of an elderly man who had dropped his cane to assist me. I thanked him profusely as I reached for his cane. He then, took my hand and kissed it before he sauntered slowly away. Oddly, there had been no one else in the aisle when I reached for the bag in the first place.
“They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places…”
Diedre, that's a sweet story you tell. I've helped a few people shorter than me in the grocery store get things off of high shelves. You never can tell when help will arrive.
DeleteAlabama.
Lee
Tutti gets my vote.
ReplyDeletePS- I replied to your email on Oct 21. Just checking if you ever got it.
J, sorry I did get your email reply and I keep meaning to respond. I'm so bad these days...
DeleteA needed vote for Tutti.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI think your challenge to be an angel beyond the Christmas season is an excellent commission for each person to do and hopefully it'll catch fire. ;)
I'm giving my vote to Alabama. It's more heart-touching but the Tutti does a beautiful job. :)
Cathy, I also need to take my own advice.
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
So, I'm guessing Alabama won?
ReplyDeleteLisa, voting is still open until the week-end, but I think Alabama will have a big win in this Battle.
DeleteLee
I just left Cathy's blog and explained that I am more pop/rock than country, but there are exceptions.
ReplyDeleteBoth of your contenders do a fine job...that said...
Once again, I gotta vote for Alabama! You have to admit that Alabama always had their act together when it came to delivering a solid country tune. This is no exception.
Happy holiday, Lee!
Cherdo
Cherdo, Alabama needed that vote, but I understand your reasoning why. I don't Tutti will make a last minute win in this Battle...
DeleteA vote for Alabama.
Lee
Both versions have their own appeal, but I overall prefer Alabama. The vocal stylings seem to match the lyrics best.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Brooklyn for my rabbi's oldest daughter's wedding last April, I saw a little boy, being carried by his mother and with another woman, drop his teddybear as they were crossing a street. I had to call after them for awhile until they finally realized what had happened. The boy's mother was so happy, profusely thanked me, and blessed me with a wonderful rest of the day. Since I've had so much luck over the years with having my own lost objects found or returned to me, I enjoy being able to return the favor when I can. This past Yom Kippur, I also found the lost wedding ring of the wife of the guest cantor.
Carrie-Anne, I think a lot of people just don't want to get involved even if it something as simple as bringing something to someone's attention. We all appreciate it when someone does this for us so why wouldn't we all reach out to help someone else?
DeleteAnother vote for Alabama.
Lee