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!

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Happy Anniversary! ( #BOTB )

      Recently  (12/13) my wife and I celebrated our 27th anniversary of marriage.  It's also been 27 years since we've lived in our current house.  So that's going to be the theme of my new...


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.

Happy Anniversary Songs

      Since anniversaries are pretty important events for most of us, there are undoubtedly many songs for that sort of occasion. Two immediately came into my mind.  December is a pretty celebratory month as it is, but why not one more reason to celebrate?

        I've always been a big Al Jolson fan and I've liked his "Anniversary Song" since I was a kid and heard it in the biopic The Jolson Story.  After my wife and I got married I introduced her to the song to her and she loved it. After all the melody comes from a famous waltz called "Waves of the Danube" so she was already familiar with that.

        I've enjoyed the music of the Little River Band for over forty years now and their "Happy Anniversary" song is another favorite of mine.  I know John Holton is also a big fan of LRB so we'll see how he votes on this one.   When I think of anniversary songs the Little River Band song is the second one that comes to my mind.

      Take a listen to two very different style songs and tell which you like best...     


Al Jolson  "Anniversary Song"  (1946)



Little River Band  "Happy Anniversary"  (1977)






Time to Vote!

           C'mon and celebrate with us by voting on this Battle.  Which of these songs do you prefer?  Battles are no fun without you the reader participating.    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. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.


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 






Next Battle on January 1, 2025!
 
         And I guess I'll be throwing in a results post for this current Battle before year's end.  Don't seem to get many comments on those results posts so I don't know how many people really look to see what happened.  I could call it writing practice I guess.  Hope your holiday season is going well...






Posted by Arlee Bird at 2:00 AM

29 comments:

  1. Alex J. CavanaughDecember 15, 2024 at 3:37 AM

    Happy anniversary!
    I'd have to go with the Little River Band for this battle.
    Offline the rest of the month - Merry Christmas, Lee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:04 AM

      Alex, have a wonderful Christmas season!

      First vote for Little River Band

      Lee

      Delete
  2. L. Diane WolfeDecember 15, 2024 at 11:44 AM

    I always liked Little River Band and that song is no exception here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:04 AM

      L.Diane, they had some great songs for sure.

      Another vote for Little River Band

      Lee

      Delete
  3. boromaxDecember 15, 2024 at 11:55 AM

    VOTE = LITTLE RIVER BAND

    The Al Jolson song is sweet and tender, and lyrically beautiful. But that funky groove, and the slap bass, and the vocal harmonies, and the guitar solo, and, you know, the cowbell, from Little River Band got me all the way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:07 AM

      Ed, just about every song that LRB put out was pretty good.

      Again it's Little River Band.

      Lee

      Delete
  4. AnonymousDecember 15, 2024 at 12:39 PM

    Al Jolson from Betty your wife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:08 AM

      Betty, I knew your vote already. Love you!

      Al Jolson.

      Lee

      Delete
  5. CWMartinDecember 15, 2024 at 3:42 PM

    Happy anniversary, and many more! Oh, and LRB.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stephen T. McCarthyDecember 15, 2024 at 7:59 PM

    BOIDMAN ~

    Congratulations on the 27th Anniversary! That's a good stretch o' time right there. You two done good!!

    I was surprised to find two things:
    1) That I was familiar with the Little River Band song.
    2) That the Little River Band apparently had 13 Top 40 hit songs. They were definitely more popular than I had realized. I've always LOVED their song 'Reminiscing' but that's the only one that ever really stuck with me.

    I found the Little River Band's song to be more musically interesting. Like what Ed sed. But to that I would add that it could have used a bit "more cowbell".

    My brother, Judge Al Bondigas, happened to be in the room while I played your two Battle songs so I asked him to make a rulin' on them and he also ruled for the peppier Little River Band.

    Please chalk up one "bote" and one "rulin'" for the Australian blokes.

    ~ D-FensDogG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:12 AM

      STMcC, good to have the Judge rulin' in this contest. Little River Band had so many great songs that I still enjoy listening to.

      Little River Band x 2 votes.

      Lee


      Delete
  7. AnonymousDecember 16, 2024 at 6:39 AM

    You certainly have a broader taste in muzak than anyone I know, that's for sure!

    Of our generation, I'd guess only one in 1000 or less would know the name Al Jolson . Those under age 40 would be - what would you guess? Maybe 1 in 100,000? But he was the best-known singer in the country in his time. I never liked Jolson's voice particularly well (vibrato was off, to me.) And Little River Band was too disco-ish for me.

    I will vote for Al because it is a bit of a tossup, and I want to support Betty's vote! Congrats on 27 years!

    Sixgun McItchyfinger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:17 AM

      Six gun, I do love to explore the wide range of music. So much to hear out there. I've loved Al Jolson since I was a small child. We even went to visit his gravesite here in L.A. Pretty impressive.

      A vote for Al Jolson

      Lee

      Delete
  8. Arlee BirdDecember 16, 2024 at 11:03 AM

    Two of my cousins voted on Facebook:

    Tom Little River Band

    Judy Al Jolson

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mary BDecember 16, 2024 at 7:04 PM

    Happy Anniversary Lee!

    27 years is a good amount of years.

    I'm voting for Little River Band

    I'll be back posting battles in January. My domain expired, but I'm not renewing it.

    -MMQE
    Jinglejanglejungle.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 17, 2024 at 9:03 PM

      Mary B, if you don't really need the commercial viability, the domain name doesn't mean all that much in my opinion.

      A vote for Little River Band.

      Lee

      Delete
  10. BirgitDecember 17, 2024 at 4:54 PM

    I'm going with Al Jolson because I like the voice and love this song and classical piece. Actually, this voice sounds more like Vaughan Monroe than Jolson to me. I'm going by his toot Tootsie goodbems to have a tenor voice and this sounds more baritone

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 17, 2024 at 9:05 PM

      Birgit, this song was recorded for the Jolson movie so it is later Jolson that might have mellowed with age. I like the sound.

      A needed vote for Al Jolson.

      Lee

      Delete
  11. CAACDecember 17, 2024 at 4:57 PM

    Congratulations on 27 years! The first song in your line up is a lovely old classic but I'm going to have to give my vote to Little River Band. Happy Anniversary to you and your bride, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 17, 2024 at 9:07 PM

      Cathy, I don't know if we'll ever make it to as long as you've been married unless we live to a very old age.

      Little River Band
      Lee

      Delete
    2. CAACDecember 30, 2024 at 7:22 AM

      Lee,

      If my memory serves me right, you're probably about 10 years older than me. I just turned 63. I had the advantage of marrying at 17, the perfect soulmate, and God holding us together these 45 years. I'm so grateful God paired us together. As for you and Betty 27 years of togetherness is impressive. It's wonderful no matter when it happens in your life to find that one person who you want to share every day with. Enjoy every day God gives you two to the fullest, my friend! :)

      Delete
  12. Debbie D. December 19, 2024 at 12:03 AM

    Happy Anniversary a little late! Twenty-seven years is quite an accomplishment. I love The Anniversary Song and would choose it no matter who sings it. (My favourite version is by Tom Jones.) A vote for Al Jolson!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 19, 2024 at 9:37 AM

      Debbie D, considering I was nearly 50 when we got married I think it's a pretty good run. Probably never make it as long as some folks, but it's just because I don't know how long we'll live. You never know.

      A vote for Al Jolson.

      Lee

      Delete
  13. John HoltonDecember 20, 2024 at 12:20 PM

    "The Anniversary Song" was really depressing. I like the Little River Band's "Happy Anniversary" much better. Give my vote to them...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 20, 2024 at 1:56 PM

      John H, I would have been surprised if you had voted otherwise.

      Little River Band

      Lee

      Delete
  14. Arlee BirdDecember 22, 2024 at 9:34 PM

    Results are in!

    https://tossingitout.blogspot.com/2024/12/partys-over-results-are-in-botb-results.html

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousDecember 31, 2024 at 9:41 AM

    Hey Lee it's Randy here, finally got round to following you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arlee BirdDecember 31, 2024 at 11:50 AM

      Randy, welcome to my blog. Do you have a blog or do you know me from somewhere?
      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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