Has Been or Been Had? (#IWSG & #BOTB Results)

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 Past Is Not a Prognosticator of the Future

      What is to come has a foundation in what has been, but our past does not preclude all future success any more than the great things that we may have done will determine that we will always do great things.  Once a hero is not always a hero anymore than past failures mean that our entire life is doomed to failure.  

        Successful writers have often started their careers with a succession of rejection.  When giving up is not a reasonable option, persistence and patience will often win out.  There is no guarantee in this as there are no absolute guarantees about anything about goals we set for ourselves.  For some, the whimsy of fate might lead to success without paying many dues.  Timing and chance can play a role in success while connections with those in the know rarely hurt one's opportunity to make it big.

          If I'm writing my memoirs then the past is vital for me to know.   Otherwise the past is often meaningless to most people.  A former celebrity might make the rounds with oldies tours or fan fest conventions, but so what?   They can make a living based on something that they've accomplished in the past, but the meaning of that past has limitations.  Some people care, but the great majority don't.  

          Legacy?   Body of work?  Name brand?   What does it all really mean?

          Maybe I've been reading too much Ecclesiastes.   Or is that something you can ever read too much of?

Battle of the Bands Results

"Glory Days" vs "Candy Apple Red"

          As I stated from the git go, my previous Battle was a somewhat risky move for me to pit the little known underdog Robbin Thompson against a mega rock star like Bruce Springsteen performing one of his biggest hits.  Typically I think a match such as this can swing heavily in favor of the song listeners already know, but in this case Thompson's song was strong enough to persuade a slight majority to vote in his favor.  This was a close race all the way with Thompson maintaining an edge throughout.  In the final stretch it looked like Springsteen might take the lead, but "Glory Days" never quite overtook "Candy Apple Red".    My vote just cinched the win.

          For my vote it was an easy one.  While Bruce Springsteen does a great job with his classic "Glory Days", in my opinion his song is weak on melody and mostly just shouted as opposed to Thompson's fine singing with good playing and harmonizing from the band.   I find "Candy Apple Red" to be lyrically stronger with clever phrasing and nice referencing to iconic imagery of the early rock era.  Production-wise the inclusion of some fun nods to do-wop singing and surf guitar add to the song's effect.   Some voters saw this the other way around, but to me "Candy Apple Red" is a superior song. And besides, I prefer the playful optimism of Thompson's tune and some of you agreed on that.

Final Vote Tally:

Bruce Springsteen       13 Votes

Robbin Thompson       15 Votes


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Next Battle on Friday July 15th

       My annual vacation road trip is coming up and I'll be traveling for the next couple BOTB posts, but I'll schedule mine ahead of time and do my best to make my rounds to other Battles in a timely manner.  If I am late to yours be assured that I should make it eventually as long as I have internet access and in this day and age it is a rare thing not to have that access.

       My next Battle will be themed in keeping with my travels.   The song is one from the late 60's by a songwriter who wrote for the Carpenters as well as a number of other well known artists.  You've probably heard much of his work by other artists, but it's likely you've never heard this song before.  Hope you'll enjoy it.

         Do you look forward to your future life achievements?   What milestones in your past have been most significant to you?    If you could go back to one time of your life what would it be?

Glory Days (#BOTB)

The Deception of the Past

        Sometimes we get stuck in our glory days and overlook some of the best years that came later.  High school or college years can be wistful reminiscence for some while others may see them as the most painful times of their lives.  We tend to gloss over those times that we think of as the "good old days" forgetting that there was likely as much mundanity to those times as any other--but there seems to be some magic; something that makes those days seem better than the rest.

         Typically there is an art of self-deception involved in these memories.  Perhaps it comes down to some special person or groups of people, a place, an event, or the circumstance at that time of life.  That lodestone of remembrance that keeps us looking back in time might be fooling us or maybe it is totally real.  But it is the past after all and that is something we can never absolutely recapture in the place where we are now.


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.



Parallel Journeys

     Bruce Springsteen and Robbin Thompson were both born in 1949 just a few months apart.  Springsteen was born in New Jersey which is where he was raised and began his musical career in 1965 inspired by Elvis, Sinatra, and the Beatles.  Most of us know the trajectory of Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen's rise to fame so I don't feel compelled to talk about it here.  If you don't know, you can find out more by visiting his Wiki entry.

      The lesser known Robbin Thompson was born in Boston, Massachusetts a few months before Springsteen.  Spending most of his childhood in Florida, he became involved with several regional bands between 1963 and 1967, even releasing a couple of singles with one of the bands.  In 1968 Thompson moved to Richmond, Virginia to attend Virginia Commonwealth University.  He soon formed another band that quickly became a local favorite.  In 1969 Thompson's band shared a bill with a Bruce Springsteen's band Steel Mill.  Thompson's band Mercy Flight opened for Steel Mill for a number of concerts.   The two bandleaders struck up a friendship and Springsteen invited Thompson to be another lead singer in Steel Mill.  The band continued to tour with Thompson for a few months.

        Steel Mill disbanded in 1971 after which Springsteen eventually rose to massive fame.  Robbin Thompson continued on his own and collaborated with many well known musical artists throughout the years.  He and Springsteen remained friends and often appeared onstage as guest artists with each others' bands.  Robbin Thompson had one minor national hit and his collaboration with fellow Richmonder Steve Bassett, "Sweet Virginia Breeze", is the official popular song for the state of Virginia as appointed by the Virginia State Assembly.  Thompson continued his music career as a popular regional favorite until his death on October 10, 2015.

Glory Days

       This Battle of the Bands installment involves two different songs about the same topic--perceptions of how good high school days were.  I'm taking the risk of putting up Springsteen's massive hit against Thompson's much lesser known, but excellent song.

Bruce Springsteen "Glory Days" (1984)

       Most of you have undoubtedly heard this song which received frequent play on MTV when MTV actually played music videos.  From his best selling album Born in the USA, "Glory Days" is purportedly an autobiographical account of an encounter Springsteen had with an old high school friend.  The song takes a somewhat cynical look at those who bask in their past achievements.





Robbin Thompson  "Candy Apple Red"  (1980)

        Thompson's song takes a more positive view of looking back on high school memories.  Written and recorded before Springsteen's song, one might speculate if "Glory Days" was a response to old friend Thompson's "Candy Apple Red".    It's almost like the two former band mates decided to write songs on the same theme with very different results.   Take a listen and compare.




Time to Vote!

       Two different songs by two different artists.  One you likely know while the other might be a new one to you.  Maybe I'm taking a risk with this match, but I think it's worth a shot.   Let us know what you think about these two recordings. Is there one that you prefer over the other?    If you're visiting a Battle of the Bands post for the first time then let me briefly explain.  Please give each song version a fair listen to decide which one you enjoy the most.  If you don't like either then at least tell us which recording was least innocuous to you. This comes down to your preference and it's as easy as that.

     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

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
  
J. A. Scott  

Quiet Laughter

Holli's Hoots and Hollers

Be ReInVintaged


Winner Announced on Wednesday July 6th

         Since I'll be posting for the Insecure Writer's Support Group on Wednesday I'm going to cut voting a little short so I can incorporate the two posts.  We'll have the weekend for voting so I don't think the shorter time span will have that much of a negative effect.  Also on Monday July 4th I'll be posting my Question of the Month which may not get a massive readership since it's a holiday.  Hope you vote on this Battle and visit the upcoming posts anyway and if you don't then have a great July 4th for everyone in the U.S. and Happy Canada Day to my neighbors in the North.

          How do you view your high school days?  Do you think we often deceive ourselves about our own pasts?   How do you feel when people brag about their past accomplishments? 

Top Ten Countdown Blogfest

TOP TEN COUNTDOWN – MUSIC BLOGFEST!

If you wish to hear the songs as you read, then click the play button below:

 

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

          Counting down our top tunes of all time!  Alex has brought us another show where we each present our top ten favorite songs of all time.  My choices might be different next time you ask me, but these are pretty good representations of the types of music I listen to when it comes to popular rock era music.  And now to follow Alex's call:

Music moves us. It inspires us! Now, tell the world YOUR ten favorite songs of all time. The Song, the band – why does it move you?

          Here are my 10 choices--for today at least:
 
  
Good Vibrations   ---    The Beach Boys gave us this great tune in 1966.  I'd been growing up with their California surf and car music, but now my musical interests were turning to newer sounds.  This song was one of those newer songs and The Beach Boys were staying on the forefront of music trends.  It's intricate and rockin' and it blew me away when I heard it.

Summer in the City  by The Lovin' Spoonful  --- It was the year before the Summer of Love.  In 1966 my family moved to East Tennessee where we first set up home in a travel trailer in Tarbett Road Trailer Park--but that's another story for another blogpost.  This song was on the radio and I, as well as my new friend Fred Tilson, thought it was a very fine song and were amazed.   It still holds up well for me.

Slip Inside This House  by 13th Floor Elevators ---  In my high school years my musical explorations and inclinitions started getting more adventurous.  I liked the mysticism and imagery of the lyrics of this song and the persistance and the urgency of the music.  This song still bears repeated listenings for me.
 
Cinnamon Girl   by Neil Young  --- For me it could be nearly anything by Neil Young, but something by Neil has to be on my list.   This is the first song that caught my attention where I began to attach a name to his music.  I love those haunting Young and Crazy Horse harmonies and the roughshod backing of the instruments.

Nature's Way  by Spirit --- Lately I've been listening to a lot of Spirit and remembering what a great group they were.    I could have listed many of their songs, but this ecological message song is a big favorite with me.

Baker Street   by Gerry Rafferty --- It was probably October or November of 1978 when I was driving in my VW Rabbit hatchback on some back road in western Mississippi and heard this song come on the radio.  I was touring with a theatre stage production at the time.  I guess I'll have to make this story a blog piece for another time.  But I'll tell you--when I heard this song on the radio that morning I was really identifying with it.

Candy Apple Red    by Robbin Thompson Band --- In 1980 I was living in Richmond, Virginia when I started hearing about this band.  Later when I picked up a cassette of their music, this song really caught my attention and I still love to listen to it.  It's a peppy tune that evokes memories of the early days of rock and roll.  I could only find this live versions to use for my playlist, but the version here is a redition that's fairly faithful to the original.

Romeo's Tune         Steve Forbert is a singer / songwriter who hasn't gotten the attention he deserves.  This tune was popular in the early 80's but I've rarely heard it in the past couple of decades.  This holds a lot of memories for me of that period of my life.  The album this came from, Jackrabbit Slim, is a great one and I think some of the other songs are even better than this one.

Eye in the Sky by Alan Parsons Project  --- It must have been in the summer of 1982 when I first heard this.  I was sitting in a supermarket parking lot in Billings, Montana when this song came on the radio.   As I listened to it I thought to myself that this is one of the best songs ever.  I still have not tired of listening to it.

The Reason     by Hoobastank      I figured I should put on something from the last 20 years.  I don't know when this first came out.  It's a beautiful song that I can listen to over and over.   I could only find a live version for my playlist, but it sounds pretty good.  There was also a Spanish studio version available as well, which I thought was kind of cool.



         So there you have my list.  Did you put up yours?  If so, I'll be over to check it out.


..........