Surprise My Heart Again! ( #BOTB Results )

           What was I thinking in this previous Battle?    Well, looking back, my aim was to see if anyone else could hear a similarity between two songs.  My expectation was that the currently popular artist Finneas singing in English would be the predominate favorite.  I projected that outcome way wrong.  Finneas captured a few votes while Gianluca Grignani ran away with the rest including my own.  His song ranks high on my list of favorite songs.

           As to the similarity between the two songs, the question was unaddressed by most who left a comment.  However there were some good observations:

I hear an "emotional similarity" but not a musical one.  said  Sixgun McItchyfinger
   
"As for the song being similar, to quote Billie Eilish, "Duh." They are basically carbon copies of each other, in some ways. But I doubt either artist has heard the other. In one, I hear "Where Do You Go To My Lovely" as sung by the late Peter Sarstedt. But hey, that's just me." so commented Myke Todd

So I checked out "Where Do You Go to My Lovely" to see if I agreed about the similarity.  I can hear it.  Now does anyone know if there is some kind of special musical term to describe this sort of thing?  Just wondering...

Battle of the Bands Results

Final Vote Tally

Finneas                          3

Gianluca Grignani        12


Next Battle on the First of September

      Wait can that be right?  Where has this year gone so quickly?  Where is it going next?

Sounds Similar--To Me at Least ( #BOTB )

         This is not the Battle I planned for this round, but then something came up this past week that kind of insisted that I change my original plan to use this Battle that's been in the hopper for several weeks.  What inspired this Battle originally was when I saw on America's Got Talent a 17 year old high school student from Nashville TN sing a song that I'd never heard before, a song with what I think is a beautiful haunting melody.  It's one of those kind of songs that sticks with me.

         After hearing it, I looked it up on YouTube and found that the song "Break My Heart Again" was by another artist that I'd never heard of by the name of Finneas.  Yes, I'm certainly out of touch with music.  Finneas is the brother of Grammy award winning artist Billie Ellish and he's won a few Grammies as well.  I am out of touch with modern music, but ho-hum.

             Now, I'm sure a few of you might consider the song rather schmaltzy--it's kind of a tear-jerker for sure--but like I say--I'm a sucker for a lovely melody and I think this song has it.  Anyway, soon after I figured out who sang the song and listened to it by the original artist a few more times, I came to the realization that the song was very familiar to me.  Had I heard it before?  I was sure that I had not, but I decided that it must sound like another song I'd heard.

        It took a bit of pondering on the subject before it struck me that it sounded very similar to one of my very favorite Spanish language songs called "Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos" ("My Story Between Your Fingers") by Italian artist Gianluca Grignani.  I used covers of this song in a Battle that I did over four years ago (you can find it here along with the translation of the lyrics). 

         But this may be just me.  However, I think there is a great deal of similarity between the songs though I can't precisely call it from a technical musical perspective.  Maybe it's the tempo, the key, chord progressions, but whatever it is the songs sound very similar to me.  I'll let you listen and be the judge.

         Back when I first added this Battle to my queue I figured I'd get around to doing this Battle someday. That was until this past week when I was again watching America's Got Talent and last year's winner, the incredibly talented blind autistic singer Kodi Lee performed the Finneas song (listen here).   The song and the someday Battle had been bugging me as it was and after hearing Kodi perform it again my original Battle for this week was put back in queue so I could get this one out of the way.

        Okay, so that's my story and now for the Battle...


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.

 On to the Contest

          This might be a mostly giveaway Battle.  On one hand we have a currently popular artist who those of you who are hip to the new stuff will probably know singing a heart-wrenching song with a dreamy melody.  On the other hand we have an Italian artist from the 1990's singing a song in Spanish so that you might not understand what he's singing, but still might appreciate the melodic accompaniment the words are set to and the melody of the song itself.  The song always mesmerizes me when I listen to it.

          But these songs have been fixating themselves in my mindscape. Hope you enjoy and can  name your favorite in the comments.  I know which one I'm choosing, but you'll have to wait for my results post.  Now listen and vote...


Finneas   "Break My Heart Again"  (2019)






Gianluca Grignani   "Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos"   (1995)





Time to Vote!
        
       Personally I think this is a tough call, but after all they both sound somewhat similar to me.   Which song 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

 ‘Storms and Stardust’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Saturday August 22nd
    
           I've got some more "sounds like" Battle in my line-up so I hope this one goes well.  Vote.  Come back to see which was the popular favorite.  See you then...