What Blog Topics Do You Avoid? (#BOTB) (#IWSG)

         If you want a blog post that will lure in more readers then write about blogging.   This has always seemed to work for me.  The topic is an easy one for other bloggers to comment on for fairly obvious reasons.  Since titles are the first draw to a post, mentioning the word "blog" or some derivative of that word is a good way to start.  On the other hand, certain words in a title might scare off readers or make them hesitant to read any further.

          This current post is a continuation of my post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group which can be found here.   To summarize, in that post I discussed the topic of reading and writing content that I find offensive.   In the following I provide a specific example of a word (or more precisely a name) that some might find offensive or something they might want to avoid if they saw it in the title of a blog post, book, or what have you.   I've incorporated this word/name/theme into my Battle of the Bands offering for February 1st.



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 twice each month on the 1st and 15th.   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.


Jesus Is Coming Soon

        "Jesus is coming soon" is a controversial statement that a lot of people would prefer not to hear, while others might be excited to hear this.  It's a statement that can stir anger, fear, debate, or an icy cold shoulder.  Some people upon seeing this as a blog title or a book title or a title of anything might avoid reading it.   Even though "Jesus Is Coming Soon" is the name of the song I am using in Battle, I thought it best not to run off readers at the onset which is why I used a title that would have a bigger draw.   I may have lost some readers as they progressed through the post, but I hope you'll approach the following with an open mind since it is an oft recorded song and one that I happen to like.  Aside from the subject matter, I'm sure more than a few of you will not like the style of music since it is rather an acquired taste for those who have not been around the culture where songs of this nature are common.  Hope you stay with me and we'll see how this goes.

        The song "Jesus Is Coming Soon" that I'm featuring today was written by R.E. Winsett, songwriter/publisher from Tennessee, in 1942.  From what I've found, the song was apparently not recorded until the latter 1960's and achieved its greatest fame after appearing on the 1969 Oak Ridge Boys album It's Happening.  This album won "Album of the Year" in 1969 at the Dove Awards and the song was named "Song of the Year" as well.  In 2002, "Jesus Is Coming Soon"  and Winsett were inducted into the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame.  Over the years the song has been recorded by numerous artists.

     

The 3 Oak Ridge Boys vinyl albums that I bought circa 1970
 and still own and enjoy (photo by Betty)

       Prior to moving to Tennessee I had never heard any Southern Gospel music to my knowledge.  It's country music with a Christian slant to it.  Often accompanied with bluegrass or country style backing, the singing involves intricate harmonizing with a "twangy" vocal style as some are fond of saying.  Initially country music was a big turn off to me, but then after my family's move to Tennessee I gained more exposure to country music as well as Southern Gospel.    

       During my high school and college years while still living with my parents, I'd watch an early morning television program that showcased videos of Southern Gospel artists singing their songs.  As my ears became more acclimated to the music I also began to appreciate it more.  The Oak Ridge Boys especially stood out for me with songs like "Jesus Is Coming Soon", "I Know", "He Did It All for Me", and "I Wish We'd All Been Ready".   Eventually I bought three albums by the Oaks which I still have in my vinyl collection (pictured above).   Since that time I've also bought some CD's of their Southern Gospel music.

        The history of the Oak Ridge Boys goes back to 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee when they were known as Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers.  After becoming regular performers in Oak Ridge where they were popular with the employees of the nuclear research facility, they eventually changed their name to the Oak Ridge Quartet.

          This group went through a number of personnel changes through the fifties until Wally Fowler sold the rights to the group name to a group member, Smitty Gatlin, who eventually updated the name to Oak Ridge Boys in 1961.  The group recorded a number of albums and continued to go through other personnel changes.  In the late sixties they updated their stage appearance with a more moddish rock and roll look and added covers of pop/rock hits that had positive messages alongside their gospel tunes.

         The evolution of the group continued until they were signed by the Columbia label and then later by ABC Records.  In 1977 they released their first all country album and after that they begin hitting the charts with the mainstays like "Elvira" and became country music superstars.  This is how most people think of this group though they have returned to their gospel roots to record Christian albums along with the more popular country albums

          I'm definitely partial to the Southern Gospel that first drew me to them.  The other stuff is fine, but the Gospel songs touch me the most.  Well, actually I've never listened to much of their other music other than what gets played on the radio.  As for me and my house, give me that old time religion!   Here's an early live performance of their award winning "Jesus Is Coming Soon"--please don't vote on this as I've offered it here for perspective comparison.
     
Oak Ridge Boys "Jesus Is Coming Soon" (@1970?)

For reference only!!  Please don't vote on this version!!




Here are your voting candidates:

          This was probably my toughest Battle that I've compiled yet.  The first choices that I really wanted to use showed up on Polsy as not being available in all countries.  As I searched through many more it seemed that very few versions of this song were available in all countries.  Eventually I started finding many many more versions that were available.   After much consideration of a number of good versions, I finally narrowed my contest down to the following two choices:

Blackwood Gospel Quartet  "Jesus Is Coming Soon" 
( 2009)

       This version is done in a traditional style, but the video is downright strange--one of the odder music videos that I've come across.  Not sure what's going on with this other than I guess these guys have a sense of humor.  Inappropriate considering the song topic?  I'll let you decide.  I'm also a bit confused about how this group relates to any other group as from everything that I could find they seem to be a contemporary offshoot of the old Blackwood Brothers Quartet, but the group as portrayed in this video seems to have possibly disbanded and regrouped with new members.   If anyone knows then feel free to fill us in.  It's a highly competent version of the song no matter what the case.





Dogwood "Jesus Is Coming Soon"  (1976)

      Not to be confused with the Christian punk/metal group that came about in 1993, this Dogwood was a folk/rock group that recorded and performed during the mid to late 1970's.  The group was founded by Steve Chapman (not to be confused with multi-faceted Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman) and his wife Annie.   Their version of "Jesus Is Coming Soon" provides a more contemporary feel a la the Seekers and other such groups.   The band name Dogwood relates to the traditional Christian legend that the Dogwood tree was used for the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.







Time To Vote!

        Maybe nuanced to those who don't listen closely, these versions provide different musical takes on the same song.  Which version do you like the best?   

        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

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 
  
J. A. Scott  



Winner Announced on Wednesday February 8th

          Since voting will be open throughout the weekend, everyone should have adequate opportunity to vote. I've got a zinger of a post planned for Monday.   It will be sure to offend some as I get back into my political musings presenting a slant that might come unexpectedly to some of you.  I just want to try something different as I look at political controversy from a different perspective.

          But by all means do come back on Wednesday February 8th to see who won the above Battle along with some additional comments about the topics that I brought up with this post.

          Do you think you might have avoided this post if I had used the song title as my blog title?  What is it about religion that you feel causes many people to avoid reading about the topic?   Is there any particular style of Christian music that you especially enjoy?

Jokes and Jesus (Elements of Blogging) #AtoZChallenge

      There are numerous blogs that feature Hump Day humor, Friday Follies, Silly Saturdays or other special blogging days devoted to jokes and humor.  There are even blogs where humor is the specialty and that is all you will ever find.  I've found some wonderfully funny jokes on blogs.  A well told joke on a blog is a welcomed find when I've been perusing a number of blogs that weren't at all funny.  A special treat is when I find a joke on a blog that tickles me so much that I have to go tell someone else.    That someone is usually my wife.  Sometimes she gets the jokes that I tell her and sometimes she doesn't.   I can botch a joke pretty badly.  However there are some blogs that present jokes very well.

       On a more serious note, Jesus blogs are very common in the blogosphere.  There are all sorts of blogs about religion or against religion.  Whatever you may believe you can undoubtedly find a blog expressing your belief.   If Jesus is what you want to read about then those blogs are easy to find and many of them are very well written.  Some are very simple homilies while others provide in depth studies on topics about Christianity.  If you feel convicted to write about Jesus then you might want to start your own blog about whatever it is you believe about Jesus.

      And  let us not forget juggling!   There are blogs about actual juggling and then there are blogs such as Tossing It Out that use juggling as a metaphor.  In case you didn't notice in my profile, I consider myself to be "A juggler of words and phrases" and that's because I have actually been a professional juggler in my working life.  Sometimes I still talk about juggling on my blog, but my blog is only a metaphorical juggling blog.

       There are many "J" blog topics that I didn't mention--which ones can you think of?   Do you ever tell jokes on your blog?   Have you ever read a joke on a blog that you told to someone else?


Bloggers for Jesus:

Living for God

Gospel Driven Disciples

Just another Christian Woman Talking Through Her Hat

Christy Bower
     

7 people I'd like to meet

         Seven fictional or non fictional people I'd like to meet?  ...hmmm.  Probably real people.

        Oh--this is a topic that was asked a while back at Blissed-Out Grandma.   It was on one of those meme things, you know--tag you're next.  I looked at it and started to think about my picks and then just entered the idea in my blog composition list to think about later.  Well, later has come.

         What a great way to fill up a blog post.

          Here they are in no particular order:

           Jesus Christ -- This is almost a no-brainer.  Who wouldn't want to meet Jesus in person?   Where you could actually talk face to face with him?    I'd want it to be a time-travel thing too so I could see what things were like back then.   In fact that will be part of my criteria for the rest of the characters who are real or historical.  And also, I'd get to stay three days in each place.  Three days hanging out with Jesus and his disciples would be pretty amazing.

          Now, back to the list:

                     Image via Wikipedia           Franz Schubert -- I guess I'd need to learn German or have a translator, but three days with Schubert would be undoubtedly filled with music.  He's one of my favorite composers.  A biography that I read about him told about how he would perform a lot of intimate concerts and hung around with a rather arty group.  Vienna in the early 1800s sounds like a fascinating time.   Maybe I could catch Beethoven while I was there.

           Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson --He's a distant cousin and seemed like a very upright guy.  An American Civil War hero, he was also a teacher at a Viginia university.  From all I've read about him he sounds like a pretty serious guy.  I would be talking to someone who was very closely related to my ancestors who first came to the United States in the mid-1700s.

           Mark Twain--The guy was a literary genius and could say such funny things.  I wonder if he was funny all the time.  I'd say he must have been at least passably congenial since he was so popular.  Mark Twain would have some fascinating stories to tell.

Image via Wikipedia            Erik Satie--The French composer of eccentric impressionistic and minimalist music seems like a pretty strange guy and I imagine it could be entertaining to spend some time with him.  Add to my criteria the instant ability to speak and understand the language of wherever I was--I'd need this for several of my characters.

             Al Jolson--I want to know the real story about the guy.  This popular singer from the first half of the twentieth century would probably have some great tales to tell about the entertainment industry of his time.  He comes across as a pretty nice guy in both the fictional portrayal and in his films,   And if he's an ass then so be it.  It's only three days for crying out loud.

Image via Wikipedia               Jack Kerouac--After three days I'd probably be pretty drunk hanging out with this guy, but it would be cool going to jazz clubs and hanging out with people he knew.  I could get more of a feel for the beat philosophy and lifestyle, and maybe get some kind of insight from Kerouac about his writing.  Maybe three days of a cross-country drive.  I can dig that for sure.

               Now wasn't that fun?   I had fun thinking about it.  You want to do it too?   I'm supposed to tag you here, so if you want to play--go ahead.   It's an easy way to fill up a blog post.  Or did I say that already?
           


       

Related articles

• Mark Twain's failed Yankee (clarespark.com)
• Can I get some advice on Mark Twain? (jillianreadsbooks2.wordpress.com)