The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge sign-ups opened today (March 1st). Visit the site to sign up for the earliest spot on the list, but no matter when you sign, I hope you'll join us for the 10th annual A to Z!!!!
Yes! The 10th Annual Alphabet Challenge!
If you don't know what I'm talking about then you must be new here. I won't explain in this post, but if you want more info you can find it at the A to Z Blog site. Since today is when the sign up list opens and it's going to be the 10th annual Challenge, I thought I'd dedicate this Battle of the Bands round to the first person who signed up for that first A to Z Challenge in 2010.
That person is Yvonne Lewis of Nashville Cats Poetry by Yvonne. Yvonne has faithfully contributed to every Challenge since that first one. Those who know Yvonne from her blogs will probably understand this Battle that follows and how it applies to her: It has something to do with her favorite musical artist.
Now, if you've also been doing the Challenge since the beginning then please let us know in the comments so we can honor your membership in this exclusive club of bloggers. And even if you've only done the Challenge a few times then that's an achievement to be proud of.
So without further ado, let's get on with the Battle...
Battle of the Bands
Dream Lover
This popular song was written and first recorded by Bobby Darin. Since Bobby Darin always tends to win any match he's in then we'll forego his more well known version in order to present versions you may have not heard before. I think I've offered a good contrast of styles. Take a listen and tell us your favorite in the comment section.
Daniel O'Donnell "Dream Lover" (2005)
This popular artist comes from Ireland but has fans throughout the world. Recording since 1983, O'Donnell has a long list of best-selling albums and chart hits behind him. His recording of "Dream Lover" is very similar to Bobby Darin's style.
The Dollyrots "Dream Lover" (2010)
For a complete contrast comes the Florida group The Dolly Rots. This band formed in 2000 as a response to Bush winning the election. The reasoning was that the world was now going to end so why not start a band. Sounds like logical reasoning to me. In any case, the band has continued to tour and release recordings and the world is still here. Now let's rock...
Time to Vote!
Come on and be a dream--Vote for your favorite version! Have some fun with us. 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 Friday March 8
I think I'd better buckle down and get my A to Z posts underway. I haven't even started yet, let alone come up with an exact theme. I'm thinking, I'm thinking!
Are you going to join us for the 10th Annual A to Z? Have you participated in any of the past A to Z Challenges? What would you do if you received confirmation that the world was going to end soon?
Daniel gets my vote! More talented, the other one had a neat idea.
ReplyDeleteMike, starting things off with a vote for...
DeleteDaniel
Lee
What a lovely surprise Arlee. You featuring me. I know personally you are a great man as we met in LA. some years back.
ReplyDeleteMy vote must go to Daniel O Donnnell.
Once agaian Lee Thank you for the compliament.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, you deserve the tribute. We should call you Miss A to Z!
DeleteI knew what your vote would be ahead of time...
Daniel.
Lee
Ten years! Congratulations. Excellent to dedicate it to Yvonne.
ReplyDeleteTough battle. I like second one better, but it's odd to have a girl sing those lines. Have to go with the first one.
Alex, why is it odd for a girl to sing this song?
DeleteA vote for Daniel.
Lee
As a Bobby Darin fan, Daniel O'Donnell totally gets it! (To be honest, Dollyrots back-story/politicizing was a turn-off before I even hit 'play.')
ReplyDeleteMyra, I thought the backstory of the Dollyrots was kind of funny in an ironic way.
DeleteAgain it's Daniel.
Lee
Oh, LEE, you made this way too easy!
ReplyDeleteDANIEL O'DONNELL's arrangement sounded so straight out of the 1950s that it's almost hard to believe he recorded that in 2005. Also, it was so similar in style and arrangement to Bobby Darin's original that it's almost as if you had indeed used Darin in this Battle.
Well, me using the word "Battle" is me being pretty generous with the word. Before 20 seconds of The Dollyrots' rendition had even played, I knew that, for me, this contest was over. And at the 1:42 mark in The Dollyrots' recording, I had to "make it stop", because I just couldn't listen to any more of it, as it was getting on my nerves.
Unless I miss my guess, methinks you've got a blowout on yer hands. Hopefully not a shutout, though - I wouldn't wish that on any BOTBer.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
STMcC, it's not over yet, but it's actually probably pretty over. This Battle has been sitting in my queue for a very long time--probably years. I think it all ties in well with my A to Z theme.
DeleteThe tally ain't looking good so far with another vote for...
Daniel.
Lee
Daniel O'Donnell for the WIN, please, Lee...
ReplyDeleteThose Dolly Rats are like, really bad parody. I made it all the way through the track, but it was tough.
Congratulations to you and Team Yvonne, for managing a decade of excellence. Best wishes from West Tennessee!
Michael, And "for the win" sounds like a probable outcome in this Battle...
DeleteA vote for Daniel.
Lee
Yep, Daniel for me too. Congrats again on 10 years. I have been with the group for the last 3 and I'm less prepared this year than I was last year but I'll be there.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I'm not prepared for A to Z either, but that's become par for the course for me...
DeleteAnother vote for Daniel.
Lee
Absolutely, Daniel takes this one for me. The DollyRots aren't even in the ballpark. They sound like a bunch of millennials doing an ironic version of the song.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I'm trying to comment by specifying my name and URL as a test of how people can comment without having a Google account. A to Z business, you know...
John, from my experience some people just don't want to take the time to learn to comment or don't care to. I've given up on my friends and family coming here to my blog to read and comment.
DeleteAnother vote for Daniel.
Lee
I like how the Dollyrots remade the song. I love punk rock. But, I hate how the melody was just overlay-ed on a completely random pink rock instrumentation. And the lead singer isn't putting much effort into singing there.The beat and her singing isn't together on the same page. My vote goes to Daniel O'Donnell because it isn't a diaster.
ReplyDeleteAisasami, at least the Dollyrots tried something a bit different though they haven't gotten much love in this Battle...
DeleteA vote for Daniel.
Lee
Hi Lee - well done on recognising Yvonne ... that's great. I probably won't be doing the A-Z this year ... but I shall be happily watching. I'd better put my mark onto Daniel ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary, you've always put so much research and work into your A to Z posts as well as all your posts. Maybe you will get inspired to join us again. We'd miss your presence.
DeleteDaniel.
Lee
Woohoo! 10 years! That is fantastic! Congrats to you and also to Yvonne. I'm sure that if I had been blogging for that long, I'd be right there alongside her :) Alas, I've only been blogging since Oct 2014 - so this will be my 5th year participating. Last year I was 'unofficial' as I combined my posts for the week into one post - but this year I'm planning on every day with not only one blog but two!
ReplyDeleteAs for the battle... At first I liked the idea of the girls putting a punk spin on the song, but then it just became annoying.
My vote: Daniel O'Donnell
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Literary Gold
Mary, 5th year is still a nice achievement in blogging for you. Best of success for this year with 2 blogs!
DeleteAgain it's Daniel.
Lee
Dollyrots get my vote! Fresh and slightly crazy.
ReplyDeleteA to Z is a bit exhausting for me to keep up with all the others. I pop in and check to enjoy all those other writers.
Susan, maybe you'll be hit by a energetic burst of A to Z inspiration that will make you join us this year...
DeleteA needed vote for Dollyrots.
Lee
Some really cool person must have created A to Z - wonder who...wink. Can't stay away even if my health is playing up.
ReplyDeleteAs for the BOTB, I'm s traditionalist so Daniel O'Donnell - even if I am a fan of Blondie-style bands sometimes.
Roland, A to Z seems to revitalize me for at least April even though I come into it with these days with a bit of a lack of inspiration. But that's been blogging for me in the past couple years.
DeleteA trad vote for Daniel.
Lee
10 years, well done. I'll be attempting to complete the challenge again this year, looking forward to it very much.
ReplyDeleteDaniel.
Blessings my friend, Geoff.
Geoff, who would have thunk it back when I did that first Challenge that it would still be going 10 years later. Welcome back!
DeleteAgain, Daniel.
Lee
From my cousin Tom on Facebook a vote for...
ReplyDeleteDaniel.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to start first by answering your questions before I get to my vote.
You asked, "Are you going to join us for the 10th Annual A to Z?" Yes, I just linked my site up this morning. To answer your next question, Have you participated in any of the past A to Z Challenges? Yes, this will make my 7th consective year but my first year I got overwhelmed and dropped off. Finally in response to, What would you do if you received confirmation that the world was going to end soon? I'd do my best to make sure all those I loved knew in order to their heart right with God. True that's cutting things close but the Lord won't turn away those true of heart. He knows what's inside and that's all that matters.
Now on to your BoTB. Bobby Darin's original is a hard number to beat. This was an easy pick for me. I preferred Daniel O'Donnell over The Dolly Rots. He kept his cover more true to Darin's. Great battle song. Thanks for stopping by and voting in my showdown, my friend!
Cathy, so happy you decided to join us again with the April Challenge. Seven years is fantastic! At least starting out is something and you did well after that first year.
DeleteI think you answered my "end of the world" correctly. That's the way I would have answered.
Bobby Darin would have mopped this Battle up, but Daniel has been doing just about as well...
Again a vote for Daniel.
Lee
I'm pondering participating in the A to Z Challenge once again. Lately (actually, the last couple of years), I've loaded up my schedule too much and now things are better. Still thinking I might...
ReplyDeleteAs for the Battle, there's something about the Dolly Rots that reminds me of the Runaways doing "Cherry Bomb." Maybe the talk-sing style. Who knows? Does that ever happen to you? A song immediately reminds you of another, even if they are not technically similiar?
And that, my good man, is why Daniel O'Donnell gets my vote (bote).
Thanks, Lee!
Cherdo, don't ponder, just do it! We'd love to have you join us for the 10th annual A to Z!
DeleteI think the group is definitely in the vein of the Runaways and other similar groups. A lot of times songs do remind me of other songs and it often drives me nuts when I can't think of what song I'm reminded of.
A vote for Daniel.
Lee
Unlike many of your commentors, I liked The Dollyrots. I had no trouble making to the end of their version, and enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteBut LIKE almost all of the populace, I liked Danny boy's version better. At least you only have a runaway but not a shutout!
6-Gun, I also liked the Dollyrots version which is why I used it. I won't say how I'll vote yet, but I have listened to the punk version several times now and appreciate it.
DeleteI think this contest is in the bag unless some crazy wave of voting comes in.
Again it's Daniel.
Lee
Interesting battle! Bobby Darin would have won, hands down, so it's good we have other options here. Daniel's version is close to the original and my vote goes to him. The Dollyrots' vocalist set my teeth on edge. Love John's description! ☺
ReplyDeleteCongratulations are in order for your 10th A to Z Challenge anniversary! And congratulations to Yvonne as well, for her dedication. I participated 4 years in a row (2014-17). It's a wonderful idea, but I'm going to pass again this year. Best wishes for a great Challenge to all of you, though!
Debbie D, we'll miss you in the Challenge again.
DeleteA vote for Daniel.
Lee
Still debating about the A2Z this year. I MUST get this current novel finished!!!
ReplyDeleteI liked both of these versions on Dream Lover. I've never heard of the Dollyrots but thought their version was really fun. I liked both versions a lot and it's tough to pick between the two. I think I will vote for The Dollyrots just because it is SO different and Daniel's version is very close to the original, which isn't bad at all. It's just if I can't vote for the original, why vote for one that sounds so similar?!
Lisa, you could do very short posts. But then you'd have the blog visiting.
DeleteYour vote was needed for the far behind...
Dollyrots.
Lee
10th year already! Wow! Happy Blogiversary to A-Z!!
ReplyDeleteJoJo, hard to believe isn't it.
DeleteLee
I have to give this battle over to Daniel with his perfect sound of Bobby to be honest. I didn't care at all for the Dolly Rats. They just sounded like a garage band that plays at proms. I am...sitting this year out actually. I do enjoy the A to Z and will follow everyone but i just feel way behind ...in life sort of speak. I was thinking of doing something new but time ran away from me.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I've gotten way behind in life as well so I know what you're saying. Time is getting faster than we are I guess.
DeleteAnd it's Daniel again.
Lee
I can’t believe this is the 10th anniversary of A to Z! I first joined in the fun in 2011, and not only was I grateful to meet you, but it introduced me to a host of other talented and dedicated bloggers including Yvonne. The challenge also helped build up my confidence. Daniel gets my vote in the battle. Congrats Lee and I know A to Z will be another success this year!
ReplyDeleteJulie, I'm pleased to hear your positive report about A to Z. There have been a lot of bloggers pass through the Challenge over the years.
DeleteA vote for Daniel.
Lee
I?m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that?s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDelete