Writing’s on the Wall BoTB Showdown

Posted on January 1, 2023

Is this a joke? What happened to 2022?  Seriously, the years are dissolving like an Alka-Seltzer.  That’s funny because mentioning it reminded me as a kid how watching the tablets fizzle away was actually entertaining.  I thought it was the neatest thing.  Anyway, pushing aside the bubbly stuff…no not the champagne. It’s time once again to usher in my first James Bond Theme Song for the 2023.  Sam Smith’s Writing’s On the Wall. (<–link reference only)

Spectre is the 24th 007 spy thriller with Daniel Craig playing James Bond.  I’m fairly certain we did not see this film and I certainly do not remember the theme song.  In this battle, I’m using female vocalists. Kindly turn your attention to center stage.

The first young lady rose to prominence at the age of 10 with her appearance on AGT. The young girl’s talent blew me away when I first heard the child prodigy . Her rendition of today’s JBTS didn’t disappoint me.  Please listen now to Jackie Evancho!

The next artist is a new discovery. According to her YT bio, she’s an actress and singer who has shared the stage with some well known R&B and pop artists. For a time she was a replacement singer for EnVogue. I’m not super familiar with the group but I have heard of them. Please listen to Amanda Cole!

Two different singing styles but equally talented ladies.  Which voice is your favorite, Jackie or Amanda?

Other battles are underway today. You’ll find a list of BoTBers participants in my right side menu.  I will announce the winner on January 9th post, so watch for it.  Up next is Monday’s Music Moves Me . You’ll find me boogieing to whatever music moves me (your choice song picks) and you’re invited to join me on the dance floor! X💋X💋, Cathy

Polls close noon (EST) on Jan. 6th

Leave your vote in comments!


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28 thoughts on “Writing’s on the Wall BoTB Showdown”

  1. Hi Sweetie, I’m getting better slowly, but surely! Woo Hoo, and hopefully I’m planning on coming back soon if you’ll have me. I’m hoping to use my old blog. https://newxmasdolly.blogspot.com/2022/02/mondays-music-moves-me.html I’ll let you know my progress. I MISS YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU & FAMILY! shhhhhhhh maybe I can surprise everyone… hmmmm do you think they want me back??? Hope so. I miss everyone.

  2. After hearing Jackie Evancho sing this, I was ready to give my vote to her. I’m glad I didn’t: Amanda Cole did a tremendous job with this. My vote goes to Amanda!

    1. John,

      It looks like Jackie came close to getting your vote but AMANDA won you over in the end. A few others did the same. AMANDA is now two votes ahead (6 to 4)! Thanks for being apart of my first BOTB, my friend!

  3. Happy New Year Cathy and I wish you and your family all the best health and happiness. I like these 2 versions better than the original which I found his vocals annoying. Both are great and give different styles but I am going for the young Jackie and her operatic controlled version of this song.

    1. Birgit,

      Oh yay, I’m so happy that you went with JACKIE EVACHO. This still has her behind by one vote, making the tally four to five with Amanda in the lead. It’s a tight battle. Thanks for joining the fun, my dear!

    1. Happy New Year to you, Mike!

      Thanks for voting for JACKIE EVACHO. This brings the count to three to five with Jackie lagging behind now. Will others come to her aid? Only time will tell. Thanks for participating, my friend!

    1. Happy New Year to you, my dear!

      AMANDA COLE gets another tally pushing her out in the lead five to two. Thanks for participating, my dear!!

  6. Wishing you so much joy, sunshine, starlight and moonshine in the years to come dear Cathy and loads of good health ease and peace for you and yours.

    Big hugs sweet pea. xoxox <3

  7. In an ideal world, i wouldn’t have to choose between these two beautiful voices. Since it’s not an ideal world, i’m going with Amanda.

    I pray you have a blessed and beautiful 2023!

    1. Mimi,

      Unfortunately, choices must be made and it’s really hard to do when you like both. Your vote for AMANDA COLE puts her at four to two. Thanks for stopping by!

  9. Happy New Year, Cathy!
    When I first saw Jackie on AGT, I had no doubt we’d be seeing her around 😉 Having no prior knowledge of the Bond movie, the song – or Amanda Cole – it was nice to just listen and let the voices tell the story. While Jackie’s voice comfortably ebbed and flowed, Amanda’s voice; persuasive and strident, enhanced a powerful visual. Since, and I’m guessing here, Bond films portray passionate characters in action-packed scenes, Amanda gets my vote.

    1. Diedre,

      Thanks for adding clarity between the two singers’ styles. Each are excellent vocalists on this song and both versions I like more than the original. I thank you for taking time to listening and analyzing your favorite contestant, AMANDA COLE, who now takes the lead three to two!

  10. Happy New Year Cathy!

    I really enjoyed both versions, but I think I’m going to cast my vote for Amanda Cole. I felt the grit in her voice just a little bit more.

    Stop by to cast a vote in my <ahref=”https://www.jinglejanglejungle.net/2023/01/a-traditional-battle-of-bands.html”> Traditional Battle.

    ~Mary

    1. Hello Mary,

      With your vote for AMANDA COLE you’ve leveled the battle with both ladies carrying two votes each. Thanks for voting, dear friend!

  11. I did see the film, and I have to agree with Thomas that the older Bond themes were better. I really enjoyed Jackie’s video. I also remember her from AGT. She therefore starts the battle with an unfair advantage. But yes I’m voting for her.

    1. Robin,

      I thought both ladies did equally well in this showdown. You really can’t go wrong with one cover style over another. It boils down to which one moves you the most.

      JACKIE EVACHO now has two votes whereas Amanda has only one vote but it’s way too early in the showdown. Thanks for participating, my dear!

  12. HAPPY MARGARITA DAY, CAThy!

    It’s that you having “a nice cup of tea” to celebrate Margarita Day? :^D

    I’m wishing nuttin’ but God’s blessings upon you and yourn in 2023!

    Hmmm…. Despite having never seen a single James Bond movie in my 63 years o’ life, this song didn’t really seem like my idea of a bold, brassy ‘n’ sassy James Bond theme song. But I liked it, nevertheless.

    The first version was good, but that second rendition by AMANDA COLE showed off some serious pipes. I think I gotta drop my two cents in her BOTB kitty. She made it sound more dramatic, which is what I think of when it comes to James Bond stuffs.

    Bless And Be Blessed!!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

    1. Stephen,

      Thank you for the lovely New Year well wishes. I hope for the very best to you, as well, my friend.

      I still can’t believe you’ve not seen any of the James Bond films. You really need to do something about that. Start at the beginning with Dr No with the late Sean Connery as 007 and the beautiful bomb shell Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder. I’m telling you this, the names the writers gave the Bond Girls was part of the fun.

      I’m glad you liked both ladies in this BOTB. Jackie has a very controlled, powerful voice that isn’t big or showy. The emotion behind her words definitely felt but differently compared to your favorite pick AMANDA COLE who stirs you to the core with her rendition. Perhaps, it’s Amanda’s life experience resonating through her cover. Whatever it is, she does a beautiful job. I appreciate you taking time join me in my first battle of 2023, my friend!

  13. ☆¸.•°”˜˜”°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°”˜˜”°•.¸☆
    ╔╗╔╦══╦═╦═╦╗╔╗ ★ ★ ★
    ║╚╝║══║═║═║╚╝║ ☆¸.•°”˜˜”°•.¸☆
    ║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ NEW YEAR ☆
    ╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ♥￥☆★☆★☆￥♥ ★☆ ♥♥♥

  14. Hi, Cathy!

    Happy new year to you and my good buddy Foghorn Leghorn, dear friend! I hope you and DH had a nice NYE celebration and awoke today in good health and good spirits as we roll into 2023. Gosh, it’s going on 7 am already. This year is really flying by! 🙂 Seriously, I like the way you described the years as dissolving like Alka-Seltzer. That’s a good one, and I never heard it put that way before. Like you, I loved to watch the fizzy tablets dissolve in water. It is indeed entertaining how they dance around in the water, and each tablet’s dance is unique..

    Bond songs came a long way from Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger” to Englishman Sam Smith’s theme song from Spectre “Writing’s On The Wall.” In my opinion, the bold and brassy, brash and sassy Bond movie themes of the early years were far better than delicate ditties like this one. I will say that I enjoyed both female versions of “Writing’s On The Wall” more than Sam’s original.

    I am thrilled to see Jackie Evancho as one of the contestants. You and I both love her early career live appearances, recordings and music videos produced at the tender age of 10 or 11, and we both posted her music on our blogs in 2022. The playing field is not exactly level for this first CAAC band battle of 2023, because Jackie E performs her version in a slickly produced music video, while contestant #2, Amanda Cole, merely stands at a microphone, but I promise you that the visual aspects of the two performances did not sway my vote. While I enjoyed Amanda Cole’s version overall, I found her “glottal fry” vocal technique, used to convey emotion, unnecessary and somewhat annoying. In other words, Amanda’s performance is overwrought compared to Jackie’s nicely subdued and refined version. Jackie was still only sixteen years of age when she recorded “Writing’s On The Wall,” a song released on her album Two Hearts in March of 2017. In the five or six years since she became a child singing star wowing Howie and the other judges on AGT, Jackie matured nicely. In fact, I like this performance by Jackie more than some from her childhood, because she did not feel the need to belt the song in an operatic fashion the way she often did back then. Her handling of this Bond song is ideal, in my opinion, and she totally won me over with it. I vote for Jackie Evancho!

    I’ll be back to see you tamale and listen to your tuneage on 4M Monday. Once again, happy new year to you and yours, dear friend Cathy. I wish you a safe, healthy and happy 2023 and look forward to another year of music, fun and friendship!

    1. Tom,

      The music for the spy thriller series has changed much over the years. Shirley Bassey was in a league all by herself when it came to the classic Bond theme songs we enjoyed so much in the early years. I’m discovering with the last titles come out for the movies featuring Daniel Craig that most of the time I find a cover artist that I like better than the original. Jackie Evacho does a spectacular job covering Sam Smith’s song. I definitely prefer her version ver the original. I felt confident after I learned how much you enjoy the young singer that you would vote for her. The first vote of my first battle of 2023 goes to JACKIE EVACHO! Thank you dear friend for your loyal, reliable, and generous visits. This is going to be a marvelous year!

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