This is not the Battle I planned for this round, but then something came up this past week that kind of insisted that I change my original plan to use this Battle that's been in the hopper for several weeks. What inspired this Battle originally was when I saw on America's Got Talent a 17 year old high school student from Nashville TN sing a song that I'd never heard before, a song with what I think is a beautiful haunting melody. It's one of those kind of songs that sticks with me.
After hearing it, I looked it up on YouTube and found that the song "Break My Heart Again" was by another artist that I'd never heard of by the name of Finneas. Yes, I'm certainly out of touch with music. Finneas is the brother of Grammy award winning artist Billie Ellish and he's won a few Grammies as well. I am out of touch with modern music, but ho-hum.
Now, I'm sure a few of you might consider the song rather schmaltzy--it's kind of a tear-jerker for sure--but like I say--I'm a sucker for a lovely melody and I think this song has it. Anyway, soon after I figured out who sang the song and listened to it by the original artist a few more times, I came to the realization that the song was very familiar to me. Had I heard it before? I was sure that I had not, but I decided that it must sound like another song I'd heard.
It took a bit of pondering on the subject before it struck me that it sounded very similar to one of my very favorite Spanish language songs called "Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos" ("My Story Between Your Fingers") by Italian artist Gianluca Grignani. I used covers of this song in a Battle that I did over four years ago (you can find it here along with the translation of the lyrics).
But this may be just me. However, I think there is a great deal of similarity between the songs though I can't precisely call it from a technical musical perspective. Maybe it's the tempo, the key, chord progressions, but whatever it is the songs sound very similar to me. I'll let you listen and be the judge.
Back when I first added this Battle to my queue I figured I'd get around to doing this Battle someday. That was until this past week when I was again watching America's Got Talent and last year's winner, the incredibly talented blind autistic singer Kodi Lee performed the Finneas song (listen here). The song and the someday Battle had been bugging me as it was and after hearing Kodi perform it again my original Battle for this week was put back in queue so I could get this one out of the way.
Okay, so that's my story and now for the Battle...
Battle of the Bands
On to the Contest
This might be a mostly giveaway Battle. On one hand we have a currently popular artist who those of you who are hip to the new stuff will probably know singing a heart-wrenching song with a dreamy melody. On the other hand we have an Italian artist from the 1990's singing a song in Spanish so that you might not understand what he's singing, but still might appreciate the melodic accompaniment the words are set to and the melody of the song itself. The song always mesmerizes me when I listen to it.
But these songs have been fixating themselves in my mindscape. Hope you enjoy and can name your favorite in the comments. I know which one I'm choosing, but you'll have to wait for my results post. Now listen and vote...
Finneas "Break My Heart Again" (2019)
Gianluca Grignani "Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos" (1995)
Time to Vote!
Personally I think this is a tough call, but after all they both sound somewhat similar to me. Which song version do you prefer? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. 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
‘Storms and Stardust’
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
The Doglady's Den
Angel's Bark
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Cherdo on the Flipside
A I Love Music
Winner of this Battle Announced on Saturday August 22nd
I've got some more "sounds like" Battle in my line-up so I hope this one goes well. Vote. Come back to see which was the popular favorite. See you then...
LEE ~
ReplyDeleteI'm not clear on why you think these two songs sound somewhat similar, because I don't hear a single trace of similarity.
In fact, to my own ears, these two songs are so dissimilar that I really enjoyed 'Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos' by Gianluca Grignani (the Mexican David Cassidy), but I found the first song downright boring.
I'll be immensely surprised if "Keith Perdiz" doesn't win this Battle by a landslide.
Guest BOTB Boter: Judge Al Bondigas (my brother)
The judge has left Airheadzona and now lives here with me in Willoughberry, and he is contributing a second bote for Keith Perdiz. (In fact, it was my brother who told me that "perdiz" is the Spanish word for "partridge".)
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
STMcC, my perception of the songs as compared to your own reaction is exactly why I've posted this Battle. We all tend to hear things through different filters and from differing points of view. Now I'll be interested to see if anyone else is hearing what I'm hearing because it's very clear to me. You are one of the BOTB regulars who I figured would not care for the Finneas song, but it's all in the personal inclinations that make these Battles so interesting at times.
DeleteStarting off with two votes--double the pleasure:
Gianluca Grignani.
Gianluca Grignani.
Lee
I'm going with Gianluca Grignani as well. The other one lacked personality.
ReplyDeleteAlex, no musical insights from a musician? Oh well...
DeleteA vote for Gianluca Grignani.
lee
Finneas's song was like waiting in traffic. That's the only I can describe it. On the other hand, I really enjoyed Gianluca Grignani's song. Gianluca gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteJohn H, I surely thought I'd get some insight from you about my musical question about these songs.
DeleteA vote for Gianluca Grignani.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the introduction. This song some how escaped my ears and I have yet to watch this week's AGT episode. Anyway, I enjoyed both artist singing this beautiful song but the rawness of Gianluca Grignani's voice with his guitar arrangement melted my heart. His version had more character. I felt he was singing more from his heart. Please give my vote to as Stephen describes the fella as the Mexican David Cassidy. Nice battle!
Thanks for voting in my battle today. Have a good weekend, my friend!
Cathy, I thought you might have caught the Finneas song on AGT since you've mentioned the show on occasion. So, another vote for...
DeleteGianluca Grignani.
Lee
Lee,
DeleteI'm sorry for the delay in responding. We finally got caught up with AGT and so yes, I did see Kodi Lee purrforming "Break My Heart". He did a good job. He's very talented despite his limitations and am happy for newfound fame. I thought it was an interesting song choice for this young man. I wonder how much of the lyrics he understands and would he ever experience such pain in his life. I'd say his mother guards him from many things that he may not know first hand, as any mother would. This all being said, I believe I enjoyed both of your covers featured in this battle over Kodi Lee's, though.
I'm not sure what Kodi must think or have experienced, but he is quite a musical artist. However, my wife and I both preferred the 17 year old high school football player who performed the same song on AGT a couple months earlier. He gave such a charming performance.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee, I preferred the Gianluca Grigani version, this version I think gets more to the heart.
ReplyDeleteGood Battle.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, a vote from the heart for...
DeleteGianluca Grignani.
Lee
Break My Heart Again. Hands down. More soulful..
ReplyDeleteLiza, finally! A vote for...
DeleteFinneas.
Lee
It's definitely Gianluca Grignani for me. Billie's older brother felt like he was trying to put me to sleep, but tormenting me by keeping me awake at the same time. I found myself checking the time on the video to see how much longer I would have to endure.
ReplyDeleteGianluca Grignani was much easier and more relaxing. Truly enjoyed that.
Mary B, the Finneas song is indeed rather relaxing although the melody has been haunting me since I first heard it.
DeleteA vote for Gianluca Grignani.
Lee
Honestly, I liked both songs, although I have to admit I'm in the 'apples and oranges' crowd. The only way I have to judge is which one better fits my mood this morning, and I have to vote the Spanish-language song there.
ReplyDeleteCW, Yeah, mood often is my deciding criteria.
DeleteUna otra votra por Gianluca Grignani.
Lee
Gianluca for me because it sou is lo ely, sexy with the right style. The other one is just typical of many romantic songs that do you d too sappy for my taste
ReplyDeleteBirgit, interesting grammatical content in this comment--or is it an attempt to emulate a foreign language? Or maybe you're responding on your phone?
DeleteAnyway, again it's Gianluca Grignani.
Lee
Finneas O'Connell would have been my favorite of the two recordings, which I listened to multiple times, but Gianluca Grignani was not just singing a song, he was fulfilling a destiny... well, actually, he was failing miserably at crossing the finish line, which is gallant in the Emo realm of music. So, no doubt, Gianluca Grignani did the best between the two, but I cannot give him my vote, because, like I said, I listened several times, and that gosh awful tambourine just drove me up the wall. Either way, they both made me sad. As for the song being similar, to quote Billie Eilish, "Duh." They are basically carbon copies of each other, in some ways. But I doubt either artist has heard the other. In one, I hear "Where Do You Go To My Lovely" as sung by the late Peter Sarstedt. But hey, that's just me.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Finneas O'Connell.
Michael, thank you for addressing my observation. For me the repetition of the percussion enhances the hypnotic quality the Grignani's song and that's one aspect of the song that I like a lot. I agree that neither artist has heard the other's song, but who knows. The Grignani song got a lot of airplay on local L.A. Spanish music stations so maybe Finneas heard it without it really registering when he wrote his song. All sorts of speculations that one might make.
DeleteI'd never heard of Sartstedt or the song before, but I hear that similar quality. There might be a musicological description or explanation in regard to similarities between songs, but there are a number of songs that I've found similar.
A vote for Finneas.
Lee
I hear an "emotional similarity" but not a musical one. The lyrics of both are sad but the Spanish language song's lyrics are deeper. Both have a slow tempo, but "Break my heart again" is so slow that it had to wave the Rolling Stones song "Continental Drift" around, as it was holding up traffic.
ReplyDeleteGrignani's song is quite lovely. I'm following the herd, but that's ok because I have herd immunity: vote Grig-baby, who has mi votar betwixt his fingers.
6-Gun, definitely the emotional similarity is there and I think that is an influence on the melodic line. All part of the language of music I suppose. The slow ethereal quality attracted my interest. Kind of in the way that a lot of music by Debussy appeals to me. And as usual there is that mood thing. I can see hearing that Finneas song under different circumstances might have made a difference. Seeing & hearing the song performed on TV undoubtedly helped sway my opinion.
DeleteUna vota por Gianluca Grignani.
Lee
Oh gosh. Both beautifully sung. I'm going with FINNEAS. I love the piano accompaniment.
ReplyDeleteSandra, the piano is very nice...
DeleteA vote for Finneas.
Lee
Wow, an incredibly beautiful couple of songs and singers. With lyrics like “Someone who lets you break them twice,” Finneas could easily create a lasso – or a noose, with words. I worried what he had in mind to do with his t-shirt. But then I watched Gianluca and knew I’d need another hanky. No wonder he was able to shrug and race across a busy street in the dark; he’d poured it all out in the song. Terrific battle, Lee. Both of the songs will haunt me ;-) I liked Finneas better than the AGT guy, but Gianluca gets my vote!
ReplyDeleteDiedre, "a lasso--or a noose with words" is an interesting description. I like that.
DeleteAnother vote for Gianluca Grignani.
Lee