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, March 15, 2021

I've Got You Under My Skin ( #BOTB )

 With St. Patrick's Day coming up I'm not so much concerned with wearing green as I am concerned about the possibility of turning green...


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 excepting over these summer months.   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.

I've Got You Under My Skin

       Anyone want to venture a guess as to why I'm using this particular song for this particular Battle?  Think topical issues.  Under my skin.  Can you guess?  

        Okay I'll tell you.  I'll be getting my first dose of COVID vaccine on Wednesday St. Patrick's Day.  Yeah, I'm getting it.  I've got a morning appointment at a specific time and I've been informed that there will be little to no wait involved other than the 30 minute or so observation period to make sure that I don't drop dead or have some kind of adverse reaction like my arm turning green and falling off.

      I'm not worried about getting the vaccine.  In past years I've always been getting the flu shot with no negative outcome.  As in those past years, since my medical provider is offering the service and assuring that it will be an in and out procedure, I figure I might as well take it.  Considering all of the stuff I've put into my body in my lifetime and that I'm still here in a relatively healthy condition, one more dose of mystery substance probably won't bother me.

      Besides, I'm planning to take a cross country trip this summer so I want to have the vaccine just in case things get any more weird than they have been and I need proof that I've had the silly shot.  It's all a racket as far as I'm concerned--especially the masks, shutdowns, and distancing.  Come on folks!  If you're worried about getting sick then you should stay home and protect yourself from whatever bug-a-boo the government is trying to foist upon us.

        But enough about the vaccine doses.  Let's get a couple of doses of music...


Frank Sinatra  "I've Got You Under My Skin"   (1963)

          Let's start off with what some might consider the ultimate version of this Cole Porter classic.  The best some might say--but is it?   I'm going to let you decide so let's start things off with Chairman Sinatra...





Louis Prima & Keely Smith  "I've Got You Under My Skin"   (1959)

         You might be wondering why I would go with that classic Sinatra version.  Maybe because there might be a comparable or better version?   What about this one?...




Time to Vote!
        
          Music is the medicine that cures many ills.  How about taking a few minutes to play along in this Battle of the Bands.  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

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday March 22nd

        Hopefully I'll be here with the results on that day.  I think I will, but who knows.  My plans go on like a river keeps flowing.   Rivers.  Guess I'll be working on my "River" theme for A to Z April as well.  









Posted by Arlee Bird at 2:00 AM
Labels: , , ,

35 comments:

  1. G. B. MillerMarch 15, 2021 at 2:39 AM

    I'm curious as to when this song originally came out. I remember watching an early episode of MASH where Trapper John was singing a few bars of the song. Considering the Korean War took place in the early 50's, did the song originally come out then?

    Btw, a vote for Frankie's version.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:12 PM

      GB, to answer your question I'll give you part of what Wikipedia has to say: "I've Got You Under My Skin" is a song written by Cole Porter in 1936. It was introduced that year in the Eleanor Powell musical film Born to Dance in which it was performed by Virginia Bruce. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  2. Alex J. CavanaughMarch 15, 2021 at 4:42 AM

    Sinatra all the way.
    Good luck with the shot. Hopefully proof is never required as I'd rather avoid it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:14 PM

      Alex, I'm somewhat ambivalent about getting the vaccine since I always get whatever my doctor recommends. I'd rather the vaccine not be required though.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra..

      Lee

      Delete
  3. BirgitMarch 15, 2021 at 8:58 AM

    I’m looking forward to your A to Z. I’m glad you are getting the vaccine and am waiting to hear when I can get mine. This song is quite appropriate and I love Keely’s voice but not Louis and not the musical styling behind them. That one horn was irritating so my choice is Frank Sinatra not so much his voice which was better than Louis but the musical style behind his voice.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:16 PM

      Birgit, there is an abrasiveness to the Prima version, but it's also rather energetic and fun.

      For the musical backup, a vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  4. Carrie-AnneMarch 15, 2021 at 10:26 AM

    I much prefer the Sinatra version, though my personal favorite cover is the 1967 Four Seasons' version. That's been one of my favorite songs of theirs since I first heard it at thirteen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:18 PM

      Carrie-Anne, I'd forgotten about the Four Seasons version until this morning. It would have been an interesting entry for this match.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  5. nashvillecats2March 15, 2021 at 11:44 AM

    Good luck with your vaccine Lee, I had my first last Friday.
    I choose Sinatra great version and a very apt title.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:21 PM

      Yvonne, let's hope we both have good outcomes with the vaccine.

      Another vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  6. Cathy KennedyMarch 15, 2021 at 12:09 PM

    Hey Lee,

    I'm giving my vote to FRANK SINATRA. I'll be shell shocked if Frank doesn't win this one. :)

    Curious as a Cathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:22 PM

      Cathy, I'm expecting Frank to win since his version is the more familiar one to most listeners. But we'll see.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
    2. Cathy KennedyMarch 17, 2021 at 4:43 AM

      Lee,

      You're probably right but we might get fooled as sometimes battles go. :)

      Delete
  7. John HoltonMarch 15, 2021 at 12:22 PM

    You know, I like both of these. Sinatra is all business, and like Ella Fitzgerald, no one does the standards like he does. On the other hand, Louis Prima and Keely Smith are really having fun with it...

    You know what? Frank's running away with this, so I'm voting for Louis and Keely so they don't get shut out.

    As for the Covid vaccine, my position has always been that I'm waiting until I can be sure it won't kill me. I heard that Marvin Hagler died after receiving the vaccine, and Mary heard that someone else died after getting the vaccine in Detroit. I have no trouble waiting for it. I'm inside most of the time, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:27 PM

      John H, I wasn't going to go out of my way to get the vaccine like waiting in a long line at Dodger Stadium. Looks like this one will be easy for me though so I made the reservation when my medical provider offered it to me. If I die I'll let you know.

      I think your description nails the difference between the two versions. Thanks for rescuing this Battle's outcome. I thought Prima/Smith might do better than they are doing, but I figured that Frank would probably run away with a win. Guess we'll find out.

      Finally a vote for Prima/Smith.

      Lee

      Delete
  8. SpacerGuyMarch 15, 2021 at 1:39 PM

    Frank Sinatra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:29 PM

      Spacer Guy, thanks for your vote for...

      Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  9. Susan KaneMarch 15, 2021 at 2:26 PM

    sinatra always

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:31 PM

      Susan K, apparently "always" with just about everybody.

      Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  10. Arlee BirdMarch 15, 2021 at 2:42 PM

    From Facebook comes a vote from my Cousin Tom for...

    Frank Sinatra.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  11. Debbie D. March 16, 2021 at 10:26 AM

    Definitely Frank Sinatra! ☺ Despite your skepticism Lee, I think the old adage "better safe than sorry" applies here. One of my closest online friends died from COVID, so I'm glad you're getting the vaccine. Happy trails!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 16, 2021 at 10:40 AM

      Debbie D, one drug is as good/or bad as the other I suppose. Mostly it's a mind thing I think, but that's just me and my mind.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra..

      Lee

      Delete
  12. JanetMarch 16, 2021 at 10:33 AM

    I'm not really a Sinatra fan and I love some of Louie Prima's Italian songs but this time Frank gets my vote. Had both of the vaccines and no reaction either time (Pfizer). Hubby had a reaction but then he also had had Covid so that may be why. Or it may be that he's a wimp when it comes to being sick - LOL Either way good luck.

    Janet’s Smiles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 16, 2021 at 10:44 AM

      Janet, we'll see what happens tomorrow. Hopefully no negative reactions for neither my wife nor I.

      Another vote for Frank Sinatra..

      Lee

      Delete
  13. Arlee BirdMarch 16, 2021 at 10:46 AM

    Another vote from Facebook. This time from my sister Joni for...

    Frank Sinatra.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mary BMarch 17, 2021 at 12:01 PM

    It's definitely Sinatra for me! Looking forward to the AtoZ Challenge again this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 17, 2021 at 1:52 PM

      Mary B, I working on my A to Z posts but it's been slow going.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  15. CWMartinMarch 17, 2021 at 3:00 PM

    I do love Keely... but it's the Chairman of the Board there. I would have took the Four Seasons version over him though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 17, 2021 at 3:55 PM

      CW, I probably should have used the Four Seasons version.

      Another vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  16. Stephen T. McCarthyMarch 17, 2021 at 7:50 PM

    In general, I greatly prefer Louis & Keely over Sinatra. (On a vacation in the very late 1980s or very early '90s, my Pa and I got to see Keely and Sam Butera perform at The Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. They were great... x2!!)

    I am far, FAR from being one of Frank's major fans.

    But on *THIS* song?! C'mon, mang!!
    It's FRANK all the way.

    I may have my biases, but I'm still *ALWAYS* Intellectually (& Musically) Honest!

    ~ D-FensDogG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 17, 2021 at 10:14 PM

      STMcC, honesty is the best policy so I've been told.

      A vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  17. diedre KnightMarch 18, 2021 at 3:45 PM

    Now I want to hear the Four Seasons version again ;-)

    Sinatra for me, please. Great song choice!

    Sans any underlying health issues, you should be just fine with the vaccine. A summer roadtrip sounds fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 18, 2021 at 9:43 PM

      Diedre, The Four Seasons were one of my favorite groups in the late sixties. Went to see them in concert in 1975 and they were fantastic.

      Again it's Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete
  18. MikeMarch 20, 2021 at 9:30 PM

    Frank gets my vote on this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdMarch 20, 2021 at 9:42 PM

      Mike, join the crowd!

      A vote for Frank Sinatra.

      Lee

      Delete

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

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