Aspects of Age
According to my AAA card I have been a member of the Automobile Club for 43 years. It's kind of funny to see something like that. I can recall a time when I thought 43 years old was rather old. When I turned twenty that would have been the approximate age of my own parents. Getting to that age myself didn't seem all that comprehensible to me back when I was twenty or so. And now, I'm not only passed that age, but I've been a member of something for at least that long.
The aspects of aging confront me on a daily basis. I still feel pretty physically well and I think I still have my mind. Others might feel differently, but they probably don't really care much anyway. The fact is that as long as we are alive, we are aging. After all, it's better than stop aging.
And as I think I've heard said somewhere, "Age is relative". Every once in a while Age will whomp me on the back of the head as though to tell me, "Hold it old fellow, you can't do that anymore" and I respectfully take heed. Unless I get so stubborn that I don't. Maybe someday age will do me in. Probably so. But I'm not the only one...
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.
As Time Goes By
And doesn't it though! This song is most often associated with the 1942 film "Casablanca" but it was actually written a decade earlier and recorded a number of times before the film classic came out. Here are two of the earliest versions. Which do you like best?
Rudy Vallee "As Time Goes By" (1931)
Fun fact: In 1978 I had dinner with Rudy Vallee (and others) in Huntington WV where he was appearing as part of a 50th anniversary of the opening of the Keith-Albee Theater. In retrospect I am disappointed that I didn't pay attention to this legendary star and engage him in conversation. At the time I didn't know that much about him nor did I care. Part of the difference between the younger and older me. Rudy made the first recording of this classic song...
Yes, time is running out. It's time for a Battle of the Bands! You're supposed to vote on one of these song versions. Which one 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
Ageing is horrid sometimes, but it has made me appreciate time better, taught me to live a bit more mindfully and gratefully.
ReplyDeleteBoth versions are lovely, but Binnie has my vote, I'm not sure why. :)
It's wonderful to be back at the A-Z. Looking forward to participating fully in the Challenge (something I wasn't able to do for the last couple years.)
Nilanjana, I value my time more than I did when I was in my college years. But I'm glad I had a great time then.
DeleteVoting starts off with Binnie Hale
Lee
My body reminds me now and then I have sixty years behind me.
ReplyDeleteThink I prefer the second song. It's cleaner.
Alex, I guess our bodies know better than our minds. If I leave it up to my mind I'm liable to try some absurd things that I regret later.
DeleteAgain it's Binnie Hale.
Lee
I think I once sprained my back because I sneezed wrong. It was both hilarious and painful!! Sigh, age is catching up. It comes with wisdom but I miss the energy of my 20s.
ReplyDeleteSo good to be back at A-Z challenge. Trying out a theme which haven't done in my previous years.
Rajlakshmi, I've done things like that before. For a while I thought I had some kind of kidney problem but I guess it was one of those back/sneeze events.
DeleteWelcome back to A to Z.
Lee
It has always been interesting how singing styles have changed. This extremely fast vibrato exhibited by both these singers has always seemed as though it was specific to the time from the turn of the 20th century until the mid-30s, then it mostly disappeared. The "normal" to my ears medium speed vibrato has a smooth sound, and I hear it in jazz, opera, and pop from then until now. Anyway, I am going to vote for Rudee. The woman's voice is just too "Minnie Mouse" for me this morning!
ReplyDeleteSixgun McItchyfinger
6-Gun, I don't have any idea how that twenties style came about, but I do like hearing it. Reminds me of old movies and cartoons. I had thought the "vibrato" came more from the recording techniques and equipment, but I'm not sure how those artists might have sounded live.
DeleteA vote for Rudy Vallee
Lee
Oh the paradox of aging - it can be hard to live with, but you can't live without it. I have to say I don't like either version of the song, but I'll give Rudy my vote of least un-liked of the pair.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, if we're gonna keep living then we're gonna get old. That's just the way it goes.
DeleteA vote for Rudy Vallee.
Lee
Aging is a blessing and curse depending on the day. I had to laugh when you said you still had your mind although others may feel differently. Being physically and mentally well is a good thing as we get older and like you, I'd rather grow old then not grow old at all.
ReplyDeleteMoving on to your BOTB. This is easy for me, I preferred much better Rudy Vallee over the female contender. Her bravado was a bit too much for me. Please give my vote to Rudy! It's interesting you met him. My battle showdown will publish at noon today. I hope you get a chance to stop by to cast your vote. Have an Awesome day and bes to luck to you in the A2Z Challenge, Lee!
Cathy, good days, bad days, but I've had them throughout my life. Sometimes now I feel better then when I was young, but other days not so much. I think a lot is mental.
DeleteA vote for Rudy Vallee.
Lee
Aging is a privilege…and sometimes feels like a curse. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Samantha, I'm privileged to have gotten as far as I have when so many friends in my generation have now passed. The weird pains can be annoying.
DeleteLee
I enjoyed your Aspects of Age. I’m clearing out my kitchen at present, and finding things I’ve had since college. That makes them 50 years old!
ReplyDeleteJemima, I have so many old things in my current possession that my wife would like me to dump. They all have memories attached.
DeleteLee
I think I slightly prefer Binnie Hale's version. Her name sounded vaguely familiar, but it turned out I had her confused with the better-known Binnie Barnes.
ReplyDeleteBeing 45 doesn't seem quite real to me, partly because I don't look anywhere near my age at all (outside of a few grey hairs I've come to celebrate). I'm most nervous about being much closer to the end of my fertile years without a husband, but I try to stay hopeful knowing my Italian great-great-grandma was an only child born when her mother was 47.
Carrie-Anne, I just read a story about a woman who had a kid at 65, but I don't think that sounds advisable. But God's will be done.
DeleteA vote for Binnie Hale.
Lee
I am glad I'm still around but I really miss my 20 year old knees.
ReplyDeleteI vote for Binnie Hale's version.
Kristin, I'll take what I can get I guess. Do we have a choice?
DeleteLee
I think most generations think the one before them seemed older at any given point. I can certainly remember thinking of my then middle aged aunts and uncles as ancient. BOTB - a vote for Rudy.
ReplyDeleteWendy, I look at some current folks I know who are great-grandparents and they seem pretty young to me.
DeleteA vote for Rudy Vallee
Lee
Aging is horridly real. I'm turning 35, next week, but still haunted and feel as if I'm 25.
ReplyDeletehttps://wp.me/pgkwzn-2rT
Ashmita, 35! Poor thing. I have kids older than that.
DeleteLee
Turning 48 this year, age has been on my mind especially since I compare myself with my parents at the same age and what I've accomplished or have is starkly different from what they had at the same age
ReplyDeleteAmelia, the world is a far different place than it was then. I kind of miss their world.
DeleteLee
I went to my girlfriend's 60th BD party this weekend - a bunch of us hit that milestone this year, including me. 59 nowadays is not 59 of even 10 years ago, at least that's what I tell myself. Most days I still feel in my 40s, sometimes younger - then I look at my kids who are proof otherwise . Age is really just a number!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Battle - I prefer Binnie.
Karen, I totally agree with you!
DeleteA vote for Binnie Hale
Lee
R. LEE BOID ~
ReplyDelete'Casablanca' is my 2nd favorite example of Film Noir. (Yes, it's *absolutely* Film Noir, no matter how many chuckleheads try to argue against that.)
I've read a whole, whole lotta stuffs about Tiny Tim, and I don't recall Binnie Hale ever being mentioned. I'm pert-sure that the biggest influence on Tiny was Russ Columbo (with Rudy Vallee possibly coming in at second place).
As a matter of fact (no, I no kidding you-uh!), [Link> Tiny Tim's rendition of 'AS TIME GOES BY' is still my favorite.
However, in this Battle, I'll side with Rudy. He wasn't no Tiny, but he was still kinda alright.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC, yes, now I think I'd say that Tiny Tim version is my favorite too. I don't recall hearing that before. Good stuff!
DeleteA vote for Rudy Vallee.
Lee
I'm a day late....first- when I was 10 yrs old, my dad was 61 and already using a cane due to his osteoarthritis so I grew up surrounded by older people and never thought of them as old. I liked to talk with them much more than little kids. I only babysat once and that was enough. Pain and difficulty with my joints is part of me. I had this even in my 20s so that, to me is not part of aging, even though it is for normal people. That the pain is getting worse sucks ans that is part of getting older. I don't want to die yet so I'm just sicking it up and enjoying each day as best ad I can
ReplyDeleteI vote for sweet Binnie because I like how she sings it and she puts more feeling into it.
Birgit, strange pains that come and go I mostly just endure and ignore as much as possible. When I tell my doctors about those pains, they just say it's part of getting older. Whatever.
DeleteAnother vote for Binnie Hale.
Lee
VOTE = Rudy Vallée
ReplyDeleteI liked both versions, really; but the 'Tiny Tim' aspect of Binnie's version left me waggling my head a little.
btw, I was a bit late, but my BOTB is up and available now:
https://trivialmusicsilliness.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/battle-of-the-bands-26/
Ed, I'll be right over to check out your Battle.
DeleteAnother vote for Rudy Vallée.
Lee
I'm not up with you- as meeting RV shows- but close enough to know aging sucks. Give me RV, I'm not much into warbling voices.
ReplyDeleteCW, I'd rather get old and decrepit than never made it past 30 or 40 like some people I know of.
DeleteA vote for Rudy Vallee.
Lee
I've got you beat, Arlee! I've been a AAA member for 53 years - LOL. Nice start to the A to Z. Thanks again for getting it all started!
ReplyDeleteJanet, that's a long time! I didn't get AAA until I decided to live a life on the road and it seemed very useful. Thanks for joining us again.
DeleteLee