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| Train in the Snow (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
As we plow into the first month of 2017 I guess it's appropriate that snowplows have been clearing roads back east. What I now think of as being cold--uh, fifties and sixties here in Los Angeles--is nothing compared to what most of the country has been dealing with. Global warming I guess. Or actually I guess that's now climate change although it seems like the climate has gone through cycles of change throughout my lifetime.
No doubt this previous statement rankles more than a few readers--if any of those readers are still reading. I assure you that I'm in no way a climate change denier as I've seen evidence of climate change ever since I was a wee lad sixty years or so ago.
I don't like to talk about that many years where my life is concerned, but as we know, we can't hold back time. The years pass in an ever accelerating manner the older we get and that's that. I guess my years are just going to go faster and faster like a big old snowball rolling down a steep hill.
Battle of the Bands Results
As we all have seen in our own Battle of the Bands matches as well as those of the other participants, surprises are often in store. My first Battle of 2017 was an overwhelming landslide victory for the version of "Holding Back the Years" that I chose as my favorite--the original recording as performed by Frantic Elevators.
I greatly enjoyed the laid back jazzy version by Gretchen Parlato, but it seemed a bit artificial to me. It's canned music that one might hear played as background music in a restaurant--good, but manufactured. On the other hand, not only did the version by Frantic Elevators have the great vocals of Simply Red vocalist Mick Hucknall, it also had a ragged garage band sound that added greater authenticity in my opinion.
Actually there are several much better versions of "Holding Back the Years" to be found on YouTube, but I think they would have completely blown away either version that I used for this Battle and possibly even the hit version by Simply Red. However, I really wanted to use the Frantic Elevator version so I tried to find a version that might be somewhat an equal. I thought Parlato's version would be competitive--guess I was wrong.
Final Vote Tally
Frantic Elevators 25 votes
Gretchen Parlato 3 votes
Next Battle on Sunday January 15th
My next Battle upcoming this Sunday is beginning to stir me with excitement as I have already been playing my song versions repeatedly. No eighties music this time, but an avowed classic with versions recorded over fifty years apart (I love those kinds of match-ups). This Battle will be my tribute of sorts to the Presidential Inauguration on January 20th--can you believe it's already almost here!
You Trump deniers don't have to fear as the song has nothing really to do with him, but I think it will be a fun association. Hope you'll get on board with the fun on Sunday. And even though the song is somewhat on track with Trump, I think this is a song that a good many of you will like no matter what.
And regarding Trump, my President Trump Acclimation Series will continue starting on Wednesday and will continue through Friday. That is if I stay motivated. If I continue as planned, my upcoming posts are guaranteed to disturb some while garnering cheers of encouragement from others. After all, I know I'm not the only one who believes the way I do.
Do those who disagree with climate change as proposed by some scientists terrify you? Are you more afraid of me or ISIS? Care to hazard a guess what my next Battle song will be based on clues I provided above (yes, I did provide clues in this post)?
