Love Song (#BOTB & #IWSG )

         Starting a blog was like starting a business and waiting for the customers to come in.  Getting them in the door wasn't always easy.  Eventually I was a neighborhood fixture and I got to know those around me and they got to know me.  Some people like me and some people don't.  Kind of sounds like life...

The 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 co-hosts for the February 3 posting of the IWSG are Louise - Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

February 3 question - Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?

           I couldn't have asked for a better question to lead-in to the topic on some of our blogging minds these days.  After all, April is fast approaching and that means it's time for another Blogging from A to Z April Challenge--the twelfth annual Challenge!   

           If you don't know about the Challenge I invite you to check out the info on the blog site to find out more.  I started the Challenge in 2010 in order to connect with more bloggers and gain more followers.  When I had first started blogging, I knew very few other bloggers and the A to Z Challenge rapidly connected me with others who were trying to expand their range of blogging relationships.  It works!  I now have so many relationships in the blogging world and this has made the blogging experience so much more valuable to me.

           My list of blogging friends would have to start with Stephen T McCarthy who introduced me to the blogging world.  After I began blogging I connected with poet Yvonne Lewis who was the very first to sign on in that first Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  In 2012 I had the pleasure of meeting Yvonne in person when she came to visit Los Angeles where I live.  She still regularly comments on my blog and probably many of yours.

          Then of course is the invaluable support I've received from Alex J Cavanaugh who also was on board with that first A to Z Challenge of 2010.  He was an important part of the A to Z Team for several years and through his help we increased A to Z sign-ups from about 100 in the first year to thousands in following years.   Alex has been a great blog friend throughout my blogging years and A to Z might not be where it is today if not for him.  Thank you, Alex!

         Our current A to Z Team has been in place for a few years now and they have done a terrific job in keeping the Challenge going.   My utmost thanks goes to J Lenni Dorner who has provided so much effort in moving the Challenge forward each year.  J has some interesting ideas for this year's Challenge so be watching the A to Z site for upcoming details.

          By now most anyone reading this post has seen the wonderful art work of Jeremy Hawkins who has been providing the graphics for A to Z for many years now.   You can see some of the badges he has designed on the sidebar of my blog among many other places.  Jeremy as been a wonderful blogging friend to me as well as to many of you.

           The other bloggers who keep the A to Z Challenge running each year and will be returning this year are Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary, Jayden R Vincente @ J R Vincente Erotica Writer, and the hyper-prolific blogger John Holton @ The Sound of One Hand Typing.   These are all bloggers with whom I've established a very special relationship with that came through our participation in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

           And through all of my years of blogging and especially through participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge I have made countless connections and established many more relationships too numerous to account in this blog post.  So this is my testimonial concerning the value of Blogging from A to Z, Insecure Writer's Support Group, Battle of the Bands, and so many other blog networking events where it comes to meeting and getting to know other bloggers.  It's worked for me and so many others.  It can work for you too!

           Hope you'll join us for this year's Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.   It's lot's of fun and you might just hit the blogging jackpot that reaps more friendships as well as readers for your blog.  April is just around the bend so now is a good time to get ready for the 12th annual Challenge.  

           We'll be looking for you!

And since it's the first of the month...

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle with some exceptions like if I don't feel like it.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for                                                            more Battle action.

Lovesong

       Since we're talking about love of friends and other passions, and since we're in February which might be considered a "love month" then what better song to use for the first Battle of the month than "Lovesong" by The Cure.   I had lots of covers from which to choose, but I narrowed it down to a couple of artsy sounding ones.   So let's get down to this Battle!

Voltaire "Lovesong"  (2004)

           This artist appeared in my "China Girl" Battle of last May and ran away with a win.  Can he do it again with his version of "Lovesong"?  Voltaire has an art/pop/rock sound that I enjoy.  See what you think...






Tori Amos  "Lovesong"   (?)

             I've always liked Tori Amos's music.  I just never listened to it that much.  Shortly after I moved to Southern California in 1991, I bought a copy of the early Amos album Little Earthquakes.  But I was buying a lot of CD's back then.  Most of my albums got relatively few plays.  Maybe after hearing Tori's version of this song you might think I should listen to her more...






Time to Vote!
        
          Maybe you love this song or maybe you don't.  Either way I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.   Which 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

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday February 8

            I plan to be here then with an outcome so I hope you'll take the time to see if your favorite song version won.  And maybe I'll come up with some other thoughts as well.  You'll have to come back to find out.

           Are you going to participate in this year's Blogging from A to Z April Challenge?   Have you kept up with most of your original blogging friends and connections?    Have you met with any of them in person?