Now Let's Face the Outcome ( #BOTB Results )

    Yeah, yeah, yeah--I'm a bit late posting this, but I said I'd do it on the 8th so maybe I'm not all that late.  I'm here ain't I?

    

            Typically. I'll tally my votes the night before the scheduled post and compose the whole deal and, voila, the post goes up in the wee hours while I'm still sleeping.  Except this time I just couldn't stay awake to do it.  Or, should I say, I just didn't feel like staying awake to write this short post.

       So without further blah blah, I'm whipping this together on the morning of and let us get down to the business of....

Battle of the Bands Results

         My recent Battle was an example of the risky tactic of putting up a classic performed by the original artist against a later version by a cover artist.   In this potentially misguided Battle I had the original movie version of Fred Astaire singing "Let's Face the Music and Dance" while dancing with his most famous dance partner Ginger Rogers.    On the opposing side I had singing the same song the electro-pop eighties artist Taco with his own dance version from fifty years after Astaire did his number.

        I knew I was going to vote Astaire and I felt sure at the beginning that he would win this match.  In fact I almost didn't use the Astaire version just for that reason.  But then, after listening a few times to Taco's version, I actually felt lured by the more modern sounds.  I was tempted to vote Taco, but the grand sweep of the orchestra and Astaire's classic phrasing of the lyrics called me back to my first appreciation of this great song.  Astaire owns this song, but Taco wasn't bad at all.

        The outcome was interesting to me and somewhat unexpected.  Astaire is still King on this song, but Taco was a worthy contender.  This is the kind of outcome I like to see.

Final Vote Tally

Fred Astaire      10 votes

Taco                  9 votes

Next Battle on Wednesday June 15th

      I guess I'll do a midmonth Battle this time around.  Anyone going to join me?   I'm not doing much else.  I might even be on time next time.  Time will tell.

Let's Face the Music and Dance ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

    Time to cue the music, put on your dancing shoes, take out your pens and paper and start writing!  If that seems like a mixed metaphor maybe it's because it's a mixed post.  Yes!  Another two posts in one!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 

The co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

June 1 question - When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

When the Music Starts, Keep on Dancing

         Speaking for myself I'd attribute a situation like this mostly to laziness.  And believe me, I've been lazy long enough to know this is what it's all about.  I'd say this is probably the case for most of us facing writer's block or whatever you want to call it, but I'll speak for myself and let you decide whether this is where you are in this issue.

        I've got so many unfinished (or unstarted) writing projects that are just lying around waiting for my creative genius to prod them into fruition that I can come to few conclusions other than I'm just too lazy to get busy working on them.  Distractions are plentiful and many of those distractions are frivolous diversions, though some are legit.  Still, there is always a reason that can keep me from moving on with my stories or whatever other project is waiting for a swift kick of my action boot.

        Of course, some ideas just don't grab me enough to keep running with them.  When the inspiration dies I can reasonably accept not pouring energy into them.  And there are some ideas that seem good, but then I don't feel like I am the one to be telling those stories so why waste my time working on something that my heart is not into. 

         But then there are those ideas that stay in my mind and I work through them in my head over and over again.  I think about them and maybe scribble some notes for later before I go on to something else that seems more important, more fun, or just another notion for me to pursue.  Or I can just be Annie and sing "Tomorrow" as I fuddle through today.

          What I need to be singing is "Let's Face the Music and Dance"!

          And that sounds like a cue for another Battle of the Bands....

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.

Let's Face the Music and Dance

        This Irving Berlin composition first appeared in the Fred Astaire film Follow the Fleet.  It has been recorded by many artists since and used in a number of films and TV shows.  In this Battle I'm putting the Astaire original from the film up against pop singer Taco, a Dutch artist who launched his career in Germany in the eighties.   It's the old school guy against the popster from nearly fifty years later.  Take a listen and see whose camp you'd like to set up your tent in...

Fred Astaire    "Let's Face the Music and Dance"   (1936)

Taco  "Let's Face the Music and Dance"   (1984)

Time to Vote!
        
         Which of these song versions do you prefer?   Do you like the old school or updated disco version better?.    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

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced on Wednesday June 8th

  

              You've got time to vote but vote as soon as you can because you know how quickly time goes and how easily you forget.   Don't dally!  Face the music and vote!  And then come back to see if your choice won.