December is here and opinions are a-flyin' about whether or not you're delighted or stressed about the holiday season. But today (or tonight), we're here to put our heads together for THE BATTLE! And how do we do that, kiddies?
This romp was started by FAR AWAY EYES (always remembered and loved) and STEPHEN T. McCARTHY (the head elf) drive this caravan. If you're new to it, a Battle gets posted on the 1st and 15th of each month and results appear magically six days later, on the 7th and 21st. You comment below and tell me which battlin' musical act is your favorite and why (if you want to elaborate). If necessary, I add my own humble vote to break a tie and announce the winner.
You may have noticed that we all have mucho diversity in our musical tastes, but I think there's a solid vein of rock and roll afficionados present and accounted for...are ya with me? Wouldn't it be nice to turn those rockers on to some Christmas Carols?
Okey dokey...it's on! The song is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
CONTENDER #1: LIVING SCARS
CONTENDER #2: HOZIER
CONTENDER #3: RELIANT K
What's your thoughts? Will you be adding one of these to your holiday play list? Do you hate Living Scars band name? Did Hozier play it too safe (hey, he hung the lyrics up on the mic stand, so he was covering some bases)? Does Reliant K live up to their rep?
Vote, comment (if you'd like) and then visit my other fine peeps! Voting results will be posted on the 7th. See you then!
Oh my! Are they allowed to do this to Christmas carols? Actually I thought they were all kind of cool aside from the jolts they gave me.
ReplyDeleteLiving Scars made me think of metal music run through some kind of processor. It was kind of hypnotic and riveting.
Hosier's version was almost depressingly beautiful. I especially liked the instrumental interlude. The entire arrangement is nice with vocals that exude so much feeling.
I've long been a fan of Reliant K and despite the tricky fake peaceful opening, this version offers no rest. It rocks.
Tough decision as I like them all for different reasons, but for this Battle I'm going to cast my vote for Reliant K.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
A VOTE FOR RELIANT K! Good choice. I'm a bit of a Reliant K fan, myself.
DeleteThanks, Lee!
Hozier, without a doubt!! It was the only one that sounded like a Christmas carol.
ReplyDeleteThanks, gal! I'll bet you aren't the only one who will feel that way, Fran!
DeleteA VOTE FOR HOZIER!
Well, I expected Hozier would get my vote but Reliant K rocks that song! So put me down for Reliant K.
ReplyDeleteA VOTE FOR RELIANT K! Actually, I had no pre-judgement on your vote. You're my wildcard, Debra! Thanks, girl.
DeleteOf the three, I liked Hozier's take on it the best. They get my vote.
ReplyDeleteHis version is pretty sweet, I agree. Thanks, John!
DeleteA VOTE FOR HOZIER!
Had to listen to them all a couple of times. Each one is good in their own right, but I think I prefer Hozier's version the best. Great battle!
ReplyDelete~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
A VOTE FOR HOZIER!
DeleteThanks, Mary - I like a lot of his stuff lately. Ever since "Take Me to Church..."
I do like Hozier, all I could hear/banging going on with Relient K, so my vote is for Living Scar ? what a name.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip and badger
The parsnip votes for Living Scar? What a surprise! I'll take it, Gayle! Thank you.
DeleteA VOTE FOR LIVING SCAR!
My personal favorite is "Oh Come All Ye Faithful."
ReplyDeleteIt's great when don I now my gay apparel.
Well, Fa La La La La, Al! Great to see you back, in any apparel.
DeleteA VOTE FOR ____!
I have to go with Living Scars. I am a fan of heavy rock/metal songs and I love Living Scars' take on a timeless classic. It was something unexpected. I wish I could find this version on Spotify. ;(
ReplyDeleteWELCOME TO THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS!
DeleteIt's a nice bunch o' folks. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for voting. Sorry I didn't get you added till late, but you're on there now!
A VOTE FOR LIVING SCARS!
RELIANT K, specifically for the guitar riff.
ReplyDeleteNow that the Christmas season is upon us and Christmas music is everywhere, I wish there were some Reliant K and Living Scar playing over the stores background speakers.
And speaking of guitar riffs, Bilbo just came up with this TIna Turner song I hadn't before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e04pzNwIqU8
This has been a good guitar riff song finding day.
Thanks, Mike! But now I have this Tina Turner song in my head and I can't get it out. "...Steamy windows..."
DeleteA VOTE FOR RELIANT K!
I vote for Hozier because of his beautiful voice. "Living Scars" is a pretty odd choice for the name of a band, but whadya gonna do?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yeah, and sadly I've heard worse names! The world is a freaky place, Janie-poo.
DeleteThanks once more for A VOTE FOR HOZIER!
Fun battle Hozier gets my vote!
ReplyDeleteI'll take that vote, Mike! Thank you.
DeleteA VOTE FOR HOZIER!
Oh how I hate that heavy metal sound and the first and 3rd are 2 that i couldn't even finish listening to. I will give my vote to Hozier who seemed to give it the most respect
ReplyDeleteBirgit, dear friend, Hozier is grateful.
DeleteFalls ich es vergesse, frohe Weihnachten! Ich hoffe, es geht dir gut mit deiner Familie. Ich bin froh, dass wir zum Jahresende kommen. Ich bin müde! Ha ha.
A VOTE FOR HOZIER!
Merry December to ya, DOC MacSIS, you friend o' mine!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, great BOTB logo with everyone's blogs mentioned amongst the holly berries! Very creative.
Secondly, terrific song choice. I am a huge fan of December's music. So much so, that I listen to it nearly exclusively during the entire month. And this song, 'God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen', (never been sure if there should be a comma in the title and, if so, where it should go) is one of my very favorite Christmas songs of all time. If not in the Top Three, certainly no further down than the Top Five. In fact, I dig the song so much that I don't think I've ever heard a version I didn't like. (Yes, I even somewhat liked those heavily hardcore versions by Living Scars and Relient K, which normally is not my kinda music at all. *I hear ya, Birgit.*)
But when it comes to CHRISTmas music, I lean strongly toward the standard, straight-forward approach. And for that reason, my vote in this Battle is going to HOZIER.
Bless And Be Blessed, Sis!
~ D-FensDogG @ STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
See? I was very excited to make a BOTB logo and I missed the fact that we had a new member! Ugh. I'll have to get on that. Always a day late and a dollar short.
DeleteI'm not much of a heavy metal lover, either, but these are definitely better than most. It was a tough hunt, so to speak, to find different versions that fit the bill for moi.
Thanks for your vote, CHRIST is firmly in Christmas, no matter the carol.
A VOTE FOR HOZIER!!
Thanks, Brudder o' brudder o' mine.