Our battles take place twice a month: on the 1st and 15th. The results come six days later: on the 7th and 21st. That's when I return, total all of the votes, including mine (if necessary), and announce the winner.
Roy Orbison and Joe Melson wrote this tune and released it in July of 1961. If I heard it when it first came out, most likely I was still potty-training. No matter, it was still around when I came to my mature musical senses. Truth be told, by that time more than a few warblers had covered this song and continue to do so.
Cherdo Trivia: If you are one of those singers and you mess up the high/falsetto note, you're name is mud.
So, let's look at Roy Boy and some of those covers, eh?
THE ORIGINAL: ROY ORBISON
Don Mclean covered this song in 1981 and we all saw it on the adult contemporary and country songs. 'Cause, face it: sometimes you just don't know what to do with Don. . . and he always makes that "I'm deep" face when he sings. . . but enough with the psychoanalyzing. Take it away, Don.
CONTENDER #1: DON MCLEAN
k.d. lang recorded this song with Roy Orbison in 1987, but that wouldn't be fair! Show us what you can do alone, k.d.! Make Canada proud:
CONTENDER #2: K.D. LANG
What's your pleasure, comrades? Will you vote for Don or k.d.? And don't lean into the screen - Gonzo's got that nasty stomach bug that's been floating around. Stay well, peeps!
Last, but not least, visit the other folks who participate in the Battle of the Band:
Voting for k.d. On this and a few others, she's really tough to beat.
ReplyDeleteMcLean has that other song, so he shouldn't feel too bad.
K.D. it is! I'm sure Don will be okay with it. Thanks!
DeleteRoy Orbison was one of the best singers of all time and no version of Crying will ever top his.
ReplyDeleteAGREED
DeleteRoy can't be beat, it's true.
DeleteI lurve this song. No way can I vote for Don. Everything he sings sounds the same, with the exception of American Pie, but only because it's so long. I vote for k.d. Beautiful voice. I was on the potty in 1961, too. Now I run to the potty. I can hit the high notes on this song. So there. Kiss my Gonzo's forehead for me, please. Poor kid. Poor Mom.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
You're an anti-Donite.
DeleteGonzo sends lurve back. He's getting along right now and working hard on classes (over the stomach bug...nasty stuff).
Usually I don't read the other comments, but I did read Janie's and had to laugh, because I feel the same way about k.d.Lang, she does have a beautiful kind of voice, but everything she does sounds the same. Also, on this one she didn't quite make it on those high notes in the chorus for me.
ReplyDeleteGive my vote to the pie guy.
Pie guy it is!!
DeleteI'm torn on this one. I couldn't decide - but as usually, I never do a battle with a song I don't like, so it's always win-win for me.
Thanks, FAE!
My vote is for Roy Orbison, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteOf course...he's ROY.
DeleteThanks, EPT!
Cherdo, K.D. is a girl? She's dressed like a guy, but the voice...the voice I thought sounded a bit too feminine to be a man's, but it's really hard to tell sometimes. Anywho, K.D. has nice vocals, but I felt too polished for this song. Don McClean on the other hand I liked. He slowed Orbison's original down a bit and I enjoyed the pauses he took between lines at times. I really felt like the felt the words. Give my vote to McClean, dear and I hope you feel better really soon. Saying prayers, sending hugs!
ReplyDeletek.d.lang is a girl, it's true. She has a wonderful, unique, soulful voice.
DeleteWe are all on the mend and thank you!
Just so we're clear... I'm voting for Don Mclean.
ReplyDeleteI thought Don did a really good job with this song, particularly the end. Those notes at the end are tough. K.D. did equally well (possibly better?) with the beginning of the song, but I didn't care for her reaching for those notes at the end. As a singer, we sometimes have to make the call about whether we are going to sing in our lower range (chest voice) or higher range (head voice). We tend to have more power in the chest voice, so we always want to come from there with the "punch." I understand her desire to want to punch it at the end, but if you can't hit the notes clean and pure, it's better to slip into that head voice. Those are tough calls to make as a singer. It's always nice when you can stay in one tone or the other (and not flip flop back and forth).
Good battle Cherdo. I don't know what sort of stomach bug Gonzo has, but I think I might've caught it already. I was at church for a fellowship dinner followed by choir. No sooner had I sat down for practice when my stomach started that awful gurgling. That was quickly followed by cramping, which was followed by repeated trips to the restroom. It hasn't gotten much better since I got home. This looks like it might very well be a long night...:( And I'll be CRYING.
My friend tells me that it's a Noro virus that is going around. All I know is the human body should collapse in the middle while going through this virus, by all the fluids exciting the body. TMI?
DeleteHope you are feeling better now! Thanks!
Such an amazing talent, Mr. Orbison...
ReplyDeletek.d. Lang, no contest. I expected it to be a tougher choice but she kicked his easy listening kiester all over the coffeehouse on those high notes.
She's tough to beat, I'll tell ya.
DeleteI miss Roy Orbison; I got kinda excited about the Traveling Wilburys and I thought he'd be around a long time.
Thanks, Squidbuddy.
Sorry to hear about the sickness going through the house. Hope all feel better soon. I was surprised how well Don did the song but I have to give it to K.D. Lang. Even though she broke a couple of times near the end, I think she did that on purpose. Anyway, I give my vote to K.D.
ReplyDeletek.d.lang, once again - tough to beat!
DeleteThanks, Birgit!
KD's vibrato wins it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike!
DeleteKD gets my vote her voice is better
ReplyDeleteGood call, my friend. k.d. it is! Thank you!
DeleteLike Stephen said, no one can top Roy (except for the "being still alive" part), but...gotta go with Don McLean on this. k.d.'s version threatened to put me to sleep.
ReplyDeleteWas it just a threat, Al? Not a full on attack? She has the power, you know.
DeleteThanks, Al!
Not a fan of KD, but her version was better.
ReplyDeleteHow is Gonzo doing otherwise these days?
He is walking with a custom brace and doing his regular activities with some restrictions. His two previous surgeries were successful, but he needs one more. The doc is waiting till he graduates, so he will walk across the stage. Three days later, back to surgery, a period of immobility, and rehab. If it all works out as planned, he will be over most of it when he starts college in August, we hope. Thanks for asking, Alex! :-)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deletek. d. lang, absolutely. I love her voice anyway, and her backup was better.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John! I didn't even think about her back up...I gotta go listen to that again.
DeleteI didn't know Don McLean recorded a cover for this song. It was good, but I HAVE to vote for my homegirl, k.d. She's awesome! ♥
ReplyDeleteThose Canadians have made vocal skills, girl!
DeleteKD did a great job, which is a real compliment coming from me. Don's the dude, though.
ReplyDeleteGive it up for the Don! Thanks, Chris!
DeleteDOC CHERDO ~
ReplyDeleteWhy is your son sick if you're such a great doc?
And, what?! You think you can just waltz in and post a BOTB contest any ol' time you feel like it? Who gave you permission to be 24+ hours late? This is your JOB! Have you always shown up late for your jobs?!
(:o)]
Wow! DON really knocked this one outta the park! Isn't he the guy that did that song "Bye, bye, Mister Vincent van Gogh"?
k.d. lang did the song well, too, but he didn't really hit all the notes cleanly. DON was better, even if he'd lose to k.d. in a street fight.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Why IS my son sick when I should be the hero of healing, the nurse with nuance, the hickory dickory doc all around the clock? Is life really fair?
DeleteThis is the only job I've shown up late for, but I'm sure to get fired if this continues. I'm writing myself up. It's in my permanent record. Maybe I'll make it a tattoo (no...I won't).
This is much, much closer than I thought it would be. I'm actually surprised and that doesn't happen often.
Thanks, puppy!
I'm going with Roy. Keeping it old school.
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl! Don't fix it if it ain't broke. Thanks!
DeleteDON MCLEAN gets my vote. I felt like crying with him (smile). kd lang if good but not on this song. IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI hate stomach bugs! Still I'm very glad you could join us.
I swear (hey, no swearing on the flipside!) I'm trying to get back to my old self, but goodness - it's tough.
DeleteThanks, Dixie!
I almost missed this one! Don Mclean does a fine job with this, but I like KD better. She has such a lovely voice and puts so much feeling into the song.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
A vote for k.d.! Both songs are great and it's hard to pick one.
DeleteThanks, Lee!
Wow, we almost missed it! I hope it's not too late. Give another vote for K.D., who killed it. Also, glad to see above in your comment to Alex that Gonzo is doing a little better, and that he'll actually get to walk across the stage for graduation. I bet watching that is going to be incredible.
ReplyDeleteYes, it will be great! I can't wait to see the end of this accident stuff.
DeleteThanks, guys!
Uh oh Cherdo, you're not posting as often as you used to... Is someone slipping away? ;)
ReplyDeleteOh and I've been trying to did this when I comment now, but I keep forgetting :P
DeleteA Life Examined
We've had stomach bug at the house and I've been tied up (not literally). Sent you an email.
Delete