Gawd, I'm sick of negativity and all the dookie that comes with it. I reject all that nonsense, like a rational adult. Thankulness is the theme of November!
Today, it's time for the Battle of the Bands, the only fun battle in town! In this wonderful space created by FAR AWAY EYES (always loved) and STEPHEN T. McCARTHY (the bandmaster), and this is our schtick: a new Battle gets posted on the 1st and 15th of each month and results appear magically six days later, on the 7th and 21st. If necessary, I add my own humble vote to break a tie, math it up, and announce the winner.
Maybe it's because I'm a chick...maybe I'm just sappy. But, peeps, I love a romantic tune and I'm starting to really warm up to a good video rendering of it. This month's tune just drips with a guy's appreciation of his girl and it's stuck in my brain.
Couple this with the theme of the battle (in my own words, "can you do this song better than the original?") and an idea crept into my brain. Can an artist improve on his own original by bringing other artists into the fray? Can they put that ego down and allow another artist to jump on the tune train?
Guys thankful for gals, artists thankful for success, songwriters thankful for the opportunity to share music...yeah!
Let's find out. I give you a favorite tune of late: Ed Sheeran's "Perfect." And I'll even say you can consider the video in your choice of the best performance. Why not. This is America.
THE ORIGINAL VERSION
ED SHEERAN: "Perfect"
You know what might make it better? A nuclear tenor, like Andrea Boccelli. Billingual, no less. Bring it, guys:
CONTENDER #1:
ED SHEERAN AND ANDREA BOCCELLI
How 'bout Queen Bey? Put another spin on it?
CONTENDER #2:
ED SHEERAN AND BEYONCE
I'll ask for your vote, and an added comment, if you are so inclined. 1) Which one do you think is the best? 2) How well do you know me, at this point? Which one do you think I am obsessed with, as of late (because I watch this video a lot)?
Results on the 7th, good people! Now jump on these other battles, if you please. I'll be thankful, I promise.
Sorry, but I've never gotten into the Ed Sheeran thing. My sisters love him. Maybe it's a chick thing like you suggest. He's a good singer and songwriter, but I don't care that much for his music.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason Andrea Bocelli annoys me, but so does Beyonce. It's mostly me I suppose since I get easily annoyed by a lot of things these days.
Of the two I'm going with Beyonce.
AS to your obsession, I'm going to deduce that you've been obsessed with the Bocelli duo. After all, since you indicated that you've been "watching" the video a lot and there is something to actually watch in that video. Watching the video with Beyonce would be almost like "seeing" through Bocelli's eyes.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
"Seeing" through Bocelli's eyes...I gotta love ya, Arlee.
DeleteLots of people don't get the Ed Sheeran thing, I'm told! I can't believe I've used him twice! Maybe I'm in the group, too. Truthfully, I could be pulled into the Matteo Bocelli group (see "Fall Into Me").
A VOTE FOR ED+BEY! Thanks, Lee!
Not being an Ed Sheeran fan makes this hard to judge...
ReplyDeleteI'll go with the version with Andrea Bocelli.
I'm starting to think it's a chick thing for sure, ha ha.
DeleteA VOTE FOR ED+ANDREA! Thanks, John!
A vote for Ed and Bocelli.
ReplyDeleteOnly person is America that is not a Bey fan.
I would think you would like the Bocelli one as it shows what is going on before the finished song.
cheers, parsnip and badger
A VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA!
DeleteGayle, I think there might be a few more folks who aren't Bey fans...but you're the only person I know with square dogs, so points for you! Thanks!
I'm going to have to go with the first one. The other one seemed vanilla.
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA, that anti-vanilla option!
DeleteThank you, Alex!
Bocelli for me!!
ReplyDeleteYou got it, Fran!
DeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA! Thanks!
I've had a thing for great tenors since hearing Pavrotti with U2 on Miss Sarajevo. Def #1 for me.
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA! There's a pattern here...thanks, Chris!
DeleteNot an Ed fan. But I'll vote for ANDREA BOCCELLI.
ReplyDeleteMike, I appreciate it. A VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA! Thanks!
DeleteBeautiful song! Both duets sound good, but, I love all things Italian (hubby included) and we just got back from Italy a few weeks ago, so I HAVE to go with Ed and Andrea Bocelli. Fantastico! ♥
ReplyDeleteYou have to - there's no choice for you, girl! LOL.
DeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA from the world travelin' Debbie D. Thanks!
It is quite interesting how so many men here have expressed dislike for Ed Sheeran. That's very curious. Ever since being introduced to Ed's music I've been a fan. Not only his voice, which I think is fantastic, I like his demeanor and his unassuming nature.
ReplyDeleteI love this song, "Perfect". I love the story video.
But I really love the video with Sheeran and Bocelli. It is apparent the admiration that Sheeran has for Boccelli and it's clearly reciprocal. There is admiration and appreciation of each other and I love seeing that, especially in an industry with so much ego.
Ed's duet with Beyonce is good. I like it. But I've never been a Beyonce fan.
I'm giving my vote to Ed and Andrea, all the way...
And my guess is that you like the Ed and Andrea video too, more than the other.
Excellent battle. I really like your premise of how this battle came together.
Michele at Angels Bark
A VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA!
DeleteWe are on the exact same page here, Michele. I do like that video more than the others...I'll say why in my results post! Thank you!
Ed is quite the talented songwriter. I find it interesting that those who say they don't like his music, are the very same people that say they like songs performed by others, which happen to have been written by Ed.
ReplyDeleteI've listened to all the versions several times over the past few months, and I can honestly say that the Sheeran/Bocelli Perfect Symphony is my absolute favorite.
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
A VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA! I'd have to go jump on that train of thought, Mary. Thanks, girl!
DeleteNot a Beyonce fan really so I'm going with the Bocelli performance. Love the video too.
ReplyDeleteI'm lukewarm on the Queen Bey...actually, I contest her Queenship.
DeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA! No problem with that. Thanks, Janet!
>>... Thankfulness is the theme of November!
ReplyDeleteSays who?
Oh, wait! "Thanksgiving" - yeah, I guess it is.
I'm thankful that I'm off from work tomorrow and I have all the (legal) drugs I need to sleep for 12 hours tonight / tomorrow.
Sheeran is sure no Shere Khan.
But then again, he IS pretty orange and hairy. ...Maybe he *is* Shere Khan.
I'm also voting for the version with Andrea Boccelli. Primarily because of Andrea Boccelli.
Shere Khan is sure no ELO!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'
A VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA from the big guy himself! I appreciate that because I realize it might have been painful (I cornered you with Sheerans).
DeleteBut I appreciate the vote, the leadership of the Battles and a whole lot more, brudder. Thanks!
I like the original very much, where the drums sound like finger snaps - awesome. Seems both Bocelli and Beyoncé showed up to add emotion as if Sheeran wasn't too emotional from the get go. All good, Bocelli's emotion gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA!
DeleteAnd I loved your comment: "...as if Sheeran wasn't too emotional from the get go." Thanks, G Dogg!
Oh give my life be to Andrea Boccelli who has the voice from Botticelli’s angels. Beyoncé does ok but nothing beats Andrea in book. I agree with all the negativity out there along with the fear mongering
ReplyDeleteNothing beats Bocellia - that's a solid vote! Thanks, Birgit.
DeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA!
Bocelli!!!
ReplyDeleteYES! A VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA!
DeleteCherdo,
ReplyDeleteI'm here finally and I have a few other battles to tend to so I'll give you my vote right off....ED SHEERAN AND ANDREA BOCCELLI. Good battle!
Thanks, Cathy! I'm pulling it together at the last minute myself!
DeleteA VOTE FOR ED & ANDREA!