Hey, hi! Glad you stopped by 😉
The Battle Of the Bands (BOTB) is your basic Which-do-you-like-best contest, where the one that gets the most votes wins. All you have to do is show up (the 1st of every month), give a listen and cast your vote in the comment section. Votes will be tallied and the winner revealed on the 8th day of the month.
Happier New Year, everyone! Top songs this time last year were “Easy on me” by Edele and “We don’t talk about Bruno” by the cast of Encanto. At some point during a year full of idiocies and ironies, Mick Jagger released a song that does a good job describing the fallout called “Strange Game” for an AppleTV+ series called Slow Horses.
We lost a few of the good ole greats; Meatloaf, Don Wilson (Ventures), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Jerry Lee Lewis, and a host of other youngsters gone too soon.
Sometimes time itself has a way of sidelining our achievements – while in progress. For instance, did anyone catch Tony Bennett’s final live “I get a kick out of you” show a year or so ago with Lady Gaga? The last concert I ever took my dad to was when Tony Bennett performed at the Desert Diamond Casino, just outside of town. Sweet memories.
There’s only one reason I chose the song I’ve selected for today’s Battle of The Bands, and that is because it’s Sunday!
Written by Kris Kristofferson, Ray Stevens first recorded the song that Johnny Cash would take to #1 on the Billboard US Country chart in 1969. Johnny’s version is the one I remember best, especially the way he sang the line about children singing in Sunday school. I believed he meant it. However, not counting his own version, more than a dozen artists had recorded the song by 2013, when Kristofferson remarked in an interview that it was the song that allowed him to quit working for a living.
So, there you have it, Folks! Which do you like best? After you vote, and before you go – I highly recommend visiting the rest of the BOTB participants – they’re pros! And a few of them hold two battles a month! Here’s where to find them:
STMcC – Presents Battle of the Bands
Arlee – Tossing it Out
Cathy – Curious as a Cathy
John – The Sound of One Hand Typing
Mike – Mike’s Ramblings
Mary – www.jinglejanglejungle.net
Debbie – The Doglady’s Den
Streampebbles 
Happy New Year Diedre!
I’ve heard a lot of Johnny Cash’s music, but for some reason I don’t recall this one (maybe I’ve drifted too far off into rock n roll land) Although I don’t recall this one, I did quite like it.
I’m casting my vote for the male singer. It just felt better placed than the female singer.
Be sure to stop by to cast a vote in my ‘Tradtional’ Battle. I wont drop a link here, but I do believe you have one already in your post.
~Mary
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Hi there, Mary B!
I appreciate you stopping by with your thoughtful vote. I like your reasoning too;-) You bet I do have your link – your battles are always so engaging. First vote goes to Jason Todd Herring – thank you!
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Howdy, dIEDRE!
I don’t know either of these singers, but I do know the song.
And I do remember those years when I would sometimes have beer for breakfast. Jim Morrison sang it best: “I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer. The future’s uncertain and the end is always near.”
And speaking of memories, I remember one time when we were working on the exterior M*A*S*H set in Malibu Canyon when suddenly Kris Kristofferson, wearing a T-shirt and running shorts, came jogging through the compound and continued on his way. He didn’t do it while we were right in the middle of a shot; he knew better’n that.
When I was a kid in elementary and junior high school, Sunday always seemed like the saddest day of the week, because all I could think about was having to go back to school the next day. You’d think that Monday would be my saddest day, right? Or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday? But no, it was Sunday, when I was sadly thinking about Monday. I hadn’t yet learned how to live in the moment and seize the day. :^D
Delila was OK, but she came across to me as someone who had simply learned a song. Jason Todd Herring, however, sounded more like he really *knew* – had really *lived* – the sentiment of the song. Plus, 9 out of 10 times, I seem to prefer male singers to begin with. It must be the ol’ sexist in me, eh? ;^)
I hope you git you a great 2023, my friend!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
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Howdy, Stephen T!
Jim Morrison sure had a way of getting right to the point 😉 I wonder if Kristofferson knew how many heads he turned that day. I bet you had many occasions like that during your silver screen days.
Maybe Sunday affects us all that way, just enough reflection time to question the past and suspect the future when all you really want to do is find out who is frying chicken down the street. And why not, if, as Emily Dickinson said, “Forever is composed of nows”?
Thanks for checking in on my January Sunday battle. I like your assessments;-) And I’ll take that as a second vote for Jason Todd Herring!
P.S. In my experience, 9 out of 10 males prefer male singers. So, you’re not alone 😉
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Jason gets my vote, his version was more believable. Great song!
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Hi, Mike!
Great analogy – and thanks for coming along with another vote for Jason 😉
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Happy New Year! I really liked how Jason sang the song. He sang it more like a folk song and there was feelings behind the words so he gets my vote
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Happy New Year, Birgit!
I appreciate you coming by with your vote; a third for Jason Todd Herring!
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Hi Diedre,
I really didn’t like either of these, so I’ll go with the woman just so she doesen’t get shut out.
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Hi, John!
Happy New Year! Bless your thoughtful heart, a first vote for Delila – thank you;-)
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I missed doing a Battle this time, but I’ve got very reasonable excuses for doing so. My December has been a continuation of the last post I did on Dec 7. A death and a lot of family activities to sum it all up.
This is a great song, but I’ve got to say that the original hit versions are hard to beat. Between the contenders of this Battle I’m going to cast my vote for the second version. To me this is more of a guy song so I think the guy captured the spirit better.
Happy a wonderful 2023!
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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Happy New Year, Lee!
Thanks so much for coming around with good cheer and another (uh oh) vote for Jason 😉
Goodbyes are never easy, much less during the holidays. May the days only get brighter from here on out, and the loved one rest in peace.
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Diedre,
I remember Johnny Cash’s recording of this song. His voice was so distinct. Your featured contenders singing for the title with your battle song pick are new discoveries for me. In this showdown, I’m giving my vote to the fella. He has a nice voice that works best for the song.
Here’s hoping 2023 is filled with wonderful blessing for you, dear friend!
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Hi Cathy!
I trust you and Robin had a delightful New Year’s. If not for the girls wanting to be let out to watch the fireworks, I might have missed it – ha! Luckily, a local news station taped the annual Taco Drop 😉
You are so right about Johnny’s voice. I’ve recorded another vote for Jason “the fella” on your behalf – thank you, my friend!
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