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, maybe even mine (if necessary), and announce the winner.
Well, no use wasting another minute...we need a battle. Something that get's to the heart of the matter, so to speak. I'm feeling like a little John Mayer might be in order. I've always liked the lyrics to this song.
The Heart of Life
I hate to see you cry
Laying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears and listen
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good
You know it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
But then the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good
Forget the story behind it, let the music speak for itself.
So, let's hear it!
CONTENDER #1: JOHN MAYER
That was pretty good, but the contender needs to give it their own flavor.
Step up, Aaron Watson, and give it a whirl! Let's hear it, country-fied!
CONTENDER #2: AARON WATSON
Vote in the comments - which cover do you prefer?
Then, it's on to the participants! See you back here on the 21st for totals.
Good to see you back!
ReplyDeleteHard for me to vote against the fiddle playing, but the John Mayer version has such a sweet mellow sound that it wins me over best.
My vote is for John Mayer. This really is a nice song.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thanks, Arlee! It's one of my favorites, too.
DeleteA VOTE FOR MAYER!
Countrifying the song really suits it! That said, I agree with Arlee about the sweet mellow tones of John Mayer's version. Please give my vote to him.
ReplyDeleteHey, Debbie! Glad to see your familiar face.
DeleteI was actually shocked at how much I like the "country version" of this song. Not my usual wheelhouse.
A VOTE FOR MAYER! Thanks!
John Mayer with a mellow comment for him also. Plus steel guitars drive me nuts.
ReplyDeleteMellow Mike for MAYER!! Thanks!
DeleteWe really don't need one more thing driving you nuts...it's not that long of a drive, as it is. (You know I love ya, ha ha!)
Welcome back! I really enjoyed the countrified version, and I prefer it over John Mayer. Please give my vote to Aaron Watson.
ReplyDelete~Mary
Hey, Mary! Thanks for the vote for WATSON!
DeleteI really like Aaron Watson on this song, so give him my vote!
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR WATSON! Thanks for the vote, Robin, and I hope you're well. :-)
DeleteI really like Aaron Watson on this song, so give him my vote!
ReplyDeleteDeja vu...this seems so familiar...
DeleteIs there a doctor in the house?
ReplyDeleteWhy, YES! There IS a DOCTOR in the house!
Welcome back, DOC CHERDO. You were missed.
I had to listen twice to make certain. Both recordings are good, and I do likes me some Country music, but...
Yep, there's a "sweetness" to the JOHN MAYER original that makes it the winner. I like the simplicity of it, too. The S's have it this time: Sweetness, Simplicity 'n' Sincerity. It's the S-trinity.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
The doctor is IN, brudder! Thank you for the kind words, I missed my blogomania, too.
DeletePerhaps I need to steal the S-trinity terminology. So many songs I LOVE are "three S's;" I'll go for simplicity every time. My mellow vibe begs for more acoustic guitar...
A VOTE FOR MAYER! Thank you, Dogman McEmcee!
Aaron Watson gets my vote!!
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR WATSON from the master of fishduckery! Thanks, Fran!
DeleteGotta give my vote to Aaron Watson on this one. I like the country swing.
ReplyDeleteIt's catching, don't ya think, Janet? A VOTE FOR WATSON! Thanks!
DeleteCherdo, WOW, I can't believe it's mid-October! The colors are beginning to show in town. I'm looking forward to going to the mountains soon to see nature's splendor. This is a new-to-me song and I don't think I know the artists either. Overall my ear likes John Mayer and he's getting my vote. Good battle, my friend! Enjoy autumn time in East Tennessee!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that one, Cathy - where did the summer go? Our next of the woods is showing off lately. Fall is my favorite. Get thee to Market Square and seal the deal on Fall fun.
DeleteA VOTE FOR MAYER! Thanks, Cathy!
Welcome back! Boy, have I missed you. I vote for John Mayer. The second version is too studio-fied. Sometimes simpler is better.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Girl, I've missed you, too. Oh, the stories I will tell...give me a week or two. Love ya, Janie-poo!
DeleteA VOTE FOR MAYER!
Not a big country music fan but.......
ReplyDeleteThis song just seems to need an Aaron Watson singing it.
cheers, parsnip
Ha ha, yes - it fits him well. A VOTE FOR WATSON! Thank you, parsnippersnapper!
DeleteJohn Mayer - less country twang.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you!
Hope all is well with you, too, Alex! It's nice to be back.
DeleteA VOTE FOR MAYER! Thanks!
I like John Mayer's version but I really liked Aaron Watson. I liked the music, especially the violin and overall it just moved me more so please give my vote to Aaron.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you back Cherdo!!! A welcome sight!
Michele at Angels Bark
Thank you, Michele! Hugs to you, girl. A VOTE FOR WATSON!
DeleteHey lady!!! I am also in need of posting to my blog. I've been MIA for a while now.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Aaron for this challenge. Hope you have a super day!
AARON, IT IS!
DeleteThanks, Holli! Miss hearing from you! Take care, sweet frind.
John Mayer. I may be a hillbilly, but I never got a taste for the country sound.
ReplyDeleteHillbillies, unite! Go, Mountaineers!
DeleteA VOTE FOR MAYER!
John is sweet and all that but I really needed the upbeat swing and sound of AARON WATSON. My vote is for him. Great song; I like the lyrics too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dixie! Hope all is well with you.
DeleteA VOTE FOR WATSON!
Gimme Aaron. A more living, breathing sound to it.
ReplyDeleteI WI'LL give you AARON, 'cause I aim to please, Chris!
DeleteGimme Aaron. A more living, breathing sound to it.
ReplyDelete....but only once...
DeleteThat's funny- I only posted it once. Blogger must have been running a BOGO sale...
DeleteI prefer John Mayer because it sounds more folksy and less country. I'm not much of a country fan. Glad to see you here in blog land
ReplyDeleteMAYER it is, Birgit! Good to see you, too.
DeleteHey, welcome back! So, I can honestly admit that John Mayer is my guilty pleasure. Also, I hate country. So I pretty much knew my vote before I even played either, but I did still play John's version, because I love it, and then I played it again after I listened to 30 seconds of Aaron's (wash that twang out my ears). ;)
ReplyDeleteJohn, please!
You, m'dear, are cracking me up. I'm not generally a country fan, either. Twangy, even less. It's a quick slide to Slim Whitman from there...and really, who needs that in life? Someone tell me?
DeleteGood to see you - ONE VOTE FOR MAYER!
Interesting song. I'm not much into country music, but I still like the version from Aaron Watson. But, I love the music from John Mayer even more. Great performance and I even listened to it a second time.
ReplyDeleteGreat battle.
I do think this is a great song, Jeffrey. Worth a second listen.
DeleteONE MORE FOR MAYER!
Both versions had good things going for them; I particularly liked the Beatlesque (it's a word now) backing on the John Mayer version. Still, in all I preferred Aaron's version, so he gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteBeatlesque SHOULD be a word, lol. I love all things Beatle.
DeleteA VOTE FOR AARON!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteMayer gets my vote, pretty song
ReplyDeleteMAYER is it, Mike! Thanks!
Delete