Los Angeles Burning! ( #BOTB )

     The news from Los Angeles--the city in which I reside--is that right now as I write this it's a beautiful day with clear blue skies and good visibility of the mountains. From where I sit the world seems fine.

      Of course, across city it's a far different story.  Winds are picking up again which might spread the fire to potentially worse proportions.  We have to leave it up to the firefighters--and ultimately God. My household has been safe and will likely remain so as far as fires go. For now there's been a lull of new reporting, but perhaps the all station all hour blitz will go back to being the programming for all.

      Seems like the whole world is burning from the TV reporting.  And sadly for some it is.

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.

Los Angeles Fires!

     As I was watching the continual fire reporting on the t-vision news, I was in the midst of thinking about my next Battle of the Bands.  My theme seemed pretty obvious.  One song had immediately jumped into my mind.  Then as I thought on I started coming up with more songs about fire and, more specifically, Los Angeles fires. There is a wealth of songs about this topic.  I narrowed it down to two by a couple of groups that I've liked for a very long time.   The videos are kind of like yule log vids for a post-Christmas apocalypse for the new year.  Have fun!

 

 Spirit    "The Great Canyon Fire in General"  (1968)

         As I was watching the fire coverage on TV (and every channel had amazing compelling coverage), the song that first started playing in my mind was this one by the versatile group Spirit. I was a big fan of this group's music in my youth and it still holds up well for me.  Take a listen.  The song not only seems like an accurate account of what we've been seeing, but an interesting optimistic contemplation about time and the future.  At least that's how I read it.  See what you think...

Blue Oyster Cult  "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll"  (1972)

     I heard BOC's first album on WUOT, the University of Tennessee station in Knoxville probably late 1971 or early '72.    I don't know why I never had any of their albums in my own vinyl collection, but I was very familiar with their music. I still listen to it and enjoy it as much now as ever.  This song off their first album is not as graphic an account as the Spirit song, but it's a very cool metaphor for something and somehow the song works for the fires currently blazing.  What do you think about this one?

 

Time to Vote!

          You better get your vote in before everything goes up in flames!  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 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Trivial Music Silliness

Results to come on Wednesday January 22

      God willing we're still here.  I'll just trust.  I'll also post some further comments about this Battle as well as anything else that seems worth saying.