Ho, ho, ho and all that nonsensical holiday stuff. Hard to believe that Thanksgiving 2019 is upon us and soon Christmas 2019 will be just another memory. Time to be happy everyone!
Blue (or is it "Blah") Christmas
I'm in no mood for holiday seasons or joyful times of gathering together to celebrate. It's not that I'm particularly unhappy or sad in any way. I'm just not in the spirit of things. Not planning to go anywhere this year and not even interested in doing any festive decorating. Just have to put it all away again when the new year comes.
No, I don't have the blues. I guess it's more like the blahs. Maybe the blues would be better? At least it would mean feeling something.
But feelings be damned! Give me logic any day. Feelings just get us in trouble, lead us to do dumb things. Maybe if we all relied less on feelings and more on logic then maybe the world would make more sense. Everything seems so crazy and lacking sense these days.
But blahs don't inspire much. Maybe I'd rather have the blues...
Battle of the Bands
I"d Rather Have the Blues
One of my favorite films is the 1955 noir classic Kiss Me Deadly. This ominous classic has provided inspiration to many films that came after it including Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Kiss Me Deadly is a film that I didn't see for the first time until sometime in the 90's (after reading about it in a review of Pulp Fiction). It's now among the films that I added to my DVD collection and find myself watching periodically. I would rank this high in my list of favorite movies.
As the film opens, tough guy L.A. detective Mike Hammer is driving a lonely stretch of road at night when he encounters a barely dressed woman running in the middle of the highway. He picks her up and the mysteries begin. As the opening credits roll across dark highway scenes, we hear on the car radio a melancholy song by Nat King Cole which I offer for your listening enjoyment, but please don't vote on this version. Other artists usually don't do too well when put up against Cole, but you might want to hear this original version before moving on to the Battle...
....and now that we have gotten that out of the way, let's move on to the contestants in this episode of Battle of the Bands...
Please vote for one of the following:
Lauren White "I'd Rather Have the Blues" (2016)
Lauren is a jazz singer and actress who currently lives in Los Angeles. I wonder if she's got the blahs like I've got of late in my L.A. life? Nah--I doubt it...
Pat Dinizio "I'd Rather Have the Blues" (1997)
Singer Pat Dinizio was a founding member of The Smithereens. I used to listen to them back in the nineties I guess. Dinizio died in 2017. Maybe right now he'd rather have the blues...
Time to Vote!
Are you as torn between these two versions as I am? Do you have a preference between these two choices? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. Which version do you like the best? 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
‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’
'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 Friday November 22nd
Take some time to savor these luscious recordings and come to a decision on your favorite. Inquiring minds want to know. And so do I...
How's the spirit of the holiday season creeping up on you this year? Are you ready for some big times? Would you prefer to be snowed in with complete provisions for comfortable living in a nice cabin in the mountains?
