You know how you'll be looking for something and then find something else that distracts you and you forget what you were originally looking for? Did that ever happen to you? Well, that's what happened to me...
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.
Misirlou
When I started to compile my Battle of the Bands post for the first of March I started thinking about some certain song for some reason that I don't remember. This was rather unnecessary since I have tons of Battle potential songs lined up in my someday queue, but I just wasn't in the mood for any of them. And my mind was in a wandering mood.
So echoing in the chambers of my mind was a melody that I couldn't remember what the name was. I was thinking of steel guitars or something wailing mournfully. Maybe it was something by the Three Suns so I looked on YouTube with no satisfactory results regarding what was in my head. But then another recommendation showed up that set me off in another direction.
The hypnotic gaze of Korla Pandit reached out of the computer and drew me into the old film short of him playing "Misirlou" on the console organ and piano. I was taken back to my childhood in San Diego of the early sixties when sometimes I would tune into the Mexican TV station emanating from Tijuana and I would see them playing one of the old Korla Pandit music films and I would be totally fascinated by the sound and visual.
Many years passed until I was reminded of this old childhood memory when I saw old Korla in the film ED WOOD with Johnny Depp in one of my favorite roles that he portrayed. This film is such a great film and if you've never seen it you really ought to. Especially if you enjoy films about filmmaking. And to see the actual Korla Pandit appearing as himself.
Anyway, that's why I picked my song for this Battle. I'm pretty sure someone else has done this song before, but since it's a good one then might as well do it again. And besides, it was on my mind...
Korla Pandit "Misirlou" (1951)
This predecessor of Liberace had one of the early music TV shows. Fifteen minutes of him looking into the camera with his hypnotic gaze and playing the trance-inducing music. Women loved him back in the day. for more info:
Why was Korla Pandit the Greatest Imposter of the 50s?
Olga Avigail "Misirlou" (2021)
Looking up this artist I see that she is pretty serious about Jewish music. I'd say her version is more like the original authentic sound. Certainly nothing like Pulp Fiction if you know what I'm saying.
This isn't any lesson of musicology! It's a Battle of the Bands! You're supposed to vote on one of these versions. Which of these versions 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
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
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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