Predict Your Future Now & Rockin' Chair Results

Predict (Photo credit: teamstickergiant)

       
           Okay, I said it so I'm standing by it even if I have to sit in my rocking chair to make it there.  Like I've said before, I'm going to live to 156 years old.   I know it sounds silly now, but if I make it then I guess I'll have the last laugh.  If I don't, well, I guess I can say I've made an effort.  Maybe not such a good effort, but I kept my positive mindset on the future.

           Considering it's already the end of February I'd say that future is coming on pretty fast.   Next thing you know it will be April and if you know about me then you know what April means.  I won't even mention it here cause I probably say it enough as it is.  I'll just ask you:  Are you ready for April?   And if you really don't know what I'm talking about then you can peruse my sidebar a bit and I'm sure you'll figure it all out somewhere along the way.

          And since I've directed your attention to my sidebar, if you are not a "Bird Watcher" yet, please click on the "Join This Site" button and become a member.  I'm trying to reach 2000 members before Alex J Cavanaugh does and I'm sure I can easily get there first.  After all he needs something like 13 more as of this writing and he's going to have a hard time getting to 2000 before me.  Even if he is offering cool prizes and stuff in his Epic Giveaway.  I ain't giving away anything and I only need to get 2 or 3 more followers to make it to 2000 if my addition serves me right.  Well maybe it's a few more than 2 or 3, but no big deal.  Don't follow Alex to get a chance on winning really neat prizes, but follow me instead.  Or you can follow both of us I guess.   But me first.  And, Alex, I deserve 10 points for saying this.  Right?  And I don't know if this mention is creative or not, but you can decide that.

           By the way, since I'm talking about numbers (seems like I talk about numbers a lot), how old do you predict you'll live to be?


Battle of the Bands Results:  
Rockin' Chair

          
           My Battle of the Bands post of last Saturday featured the song "Rockin" Chair" dedicated to all the old coots that didn't appreciate my 80's music showdown at the beginning of the month.   This latest contest received more approval than the previous one.   And it was a close one!

         Hoagy Carmichael's version received 7 votes including my own.  It was very close for me and I did like Eric Clapton's version quite a bit.  However, that jazz violin solo in Hoagie's version cinched it for me.  I love that era of music from the 20's and 30's.

          Eric Clapton edged out a win with 8 votes.   

           Next Battle of the Bands will be another special Saturday edition on March 1st.  Be there or be square.

           Do you enjoy the Battle of the Bands posts?   Is there any particular music era that you would prefer to see matched?   Do you like "older music"?

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Battle of the Bands: Rockin' Chair

  Welcome Music Fans! 

        It's another special Saturday edition of Battle of the Bands, the feature started by the bloggers at Far Away Series and Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends.  We each present two (and sometimes more) versions of one song and you vote for your favorite.  There might be more participants as well.  You can find the list at the end of this post.

         My last Battle offering, "Gonna Get Close to You", didn't seem to go over so well with some of you.  I liked the song, but a few of you ran away, hands over your ears, screaming in pain.  Or maybe a few others just didn't care for music from that era (the 80's).  Yer all just a bunch of ol' fogeys dagnabit!  Well, I guess I know how you feel.  If you've been reading my blog over the past few weeks you know I've been leaning in a bit of a geriatric direction of late.

         So in deference to youse old folks still stuck in the first half of the last century I present an oldie that's really a goodie by my view of things.   Like Faraway Eyes in the last contest, I've chosen another Hoagy Carmichael tune.  I'm most familiar with the version of "Rockin' Chair" done by Louis Armstrong--that's the one I grew up listening to.   So as not to take this match-up past two entries, I'm going to bypass Satchmo in favor of two other commendable versions.

Rockin' Chair by Eric Clapton (2010)

       Since this song has such a bluesy feel to it, Eric Clapton is well suited to take it on.  I think he does quite nicely in covering it.  He gives the tune a laid back feel and his voice has a sort of tired old guy feel to it.  It's a sweet version quite different that what Armstrong put into it.   Some tasty guitar licks as well.  Listen and see what you think.




Rockin' Chair by Hoagie Carmichael & His Orchestra (1930)

       In this version the composer takes the song in a completely direction.  It's a musical vignette that becomes more of a dialogue than a delivered song.  And listen to that hot jazzy fiddle by Joe Venuti.  This version is funny, yet poignant and so true.   How do you like this version?    Keep in mind when this was recorded.





   Voting Is Now Open

              It's your turn.  Two versions of  "Rockin' Chair" as different as they can be.  Which one do you like the best?  Go to the comments to tell us which version you prefer and tell us why.   Then visit the other participants and vote there.   Come on and play.  Don't be a crappy old spoilsport.

Here are others who might be participating:

          Faraway Series
         Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
         Your Daily Dose
         DiscConnected
         The Creative Outlet of StratPlayer

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