All Things Vintage: Artists AprilA2Z + BOTB

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Kittens and dawgs, don’t trust anyone and believe nothing, especially if you need to visit this room.

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Putting aside the silly stuff, it’s time to kick off this morning’s two-for-one special. I’m tying together two important memes ~ #AprilA2Z challenge & #BoTB (Battle of the Bands) into one bonus post of All Things Vintage.

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An Artist is defined as anyone who practices or produces any of the creative arts – singing, dancing, acting, painting, and so forth.

Irving Berlin wrote Cheek to Cheek for the movie Top Hat in 1935 starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In the film Astaire sings it to Rogers while dancing. Here’s a clip for your entertainment only.

 

Here’s a bit of trivia. Check to Check was nominated for Best Song  in the 1936 Academy Awards, but lost. However, sixty-four years later it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

My artist choice and song selection fits my theme of All Things Vintage perfectly. This is where Battle of the Bands’ portion comes in and for those unfamiliar with how this bi-monthly hop works, then allow me to sum it up for you. I picked two cover artists singing the same song and I need you to pick your favorite artist by leaving your choice in comments. Voting rights extend to everyone (poll results post on the 7th), so please feel free to play along. This all in the spirit of fun and if you’re up for it, then tell me why your artist did the better job.

My first contenders are truly a vintage pick, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1956). 

Contender two is a mixture of old and new artists, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett (2014). 

 

Which pair of artists gets your vote, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong or Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett? There’s no right or wrong vote, except for a no vote. For more information, visit  Stephen for a complete list of all BoTB participants. 😉

In closing, I want to say a special thank you to the incredibly gifted A2Z Team:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
Heather M. Gardner
Jeremy @ Hollywood Nuts
AJ Lauer
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian
Damyanti Biswas @ Daily Write
Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary
Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot
John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing
 

Frederico Andreotti, Italian painter 1847-1930 'The Favorite' oil on canvas of a woman and a cat
“The Favorite” by Federico Andreotti (1847-1930, Italian painter). Click here for image credit and addition info on the artist.

Now, I invite you to hop with me to check out some of the amazing A2Zers playing along this year and I hope you’ll come back tomorrow for another addition of All Things Vintage:  Bomber Girls.

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45 comments

  1. Whew! Made it in before the voting closed—yay! I’m going with Ella and Louis… The arrangement in the Gaga & Bennett version sounds too close to elevator music for me 😀

    Love your A2Z theme, Cathy! I’ll be back to browse 🙂
    Guilie @ Life In Dogs

    1. Guilie, Thank you for popping over to vote. I think I accidentally closed the polls to BoTB early. With the strong lead that Ella & Louis had from the beginning yours would only make the victory just a little sweeter. Now to visit you to see what you have going on with the A2Z challenge. 😉

  2. Cathy sorry I’m late. But I’ll come.

    I love the one with Ella and Louise and the one with Fred Astaire. I just love the slow and waltzy kind with this song.

    You can also dance the foxtrot with Tony Bennet’s version, but still love the slower ones better.

    Thanks for sharing. Have a blessed week!

  3. Ella. Always Ella. And nobody puts the Great Satchmo in a corner. Hands down winners for me.
    Love the vintage theme!

  4. I was hoping people would get the idea to join us at 4M to share there Letter C if they had music posted. You got the idea Woo Hoo… thanks Cat… I almost posted the movie Cheek to Cheek… ahhhh great minds think alike… hehehe Now that I know you’re with the A to Z I’ll be over everyday my friend. Love your choices… Lady GaGa’s voice reminds me of Judy Garland’s voice in this song.

  5. I love this battle! Now I know the card I will make because it must be from this and I had to watch the clip of Fred and Giner because this is one of my all time favourite dancers and I also day dreamed that I was Ginger. I have to give it to Ella & Satchmo because they just do it for me. I love Lady Ga-Ga and Tony Bennett is ok but the musical styling I didn’t care for as much. I am tempted to buy the CDs though.

    1. Birgit, I can’t wait to see how this battle inspired card turns out. Please let me know, so I can take a peak. Fred and Ginger are super graceful on the dance floor, aren’t they? I wish I could dance like that, but I feel like I have two left. DH says he likes to watch me dance, but I think he’s just being his usual sweet self. I have your vote recorded for the two legendary singers ~ Ella & Louis. I think Lady Ca-Ca/Gag-Gag/Gaga and Tony are a wonderfully paired and I don’t blame you for being tempted to buy their CD. I think Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (Lady Gaga’s real name) does retro music beautifully!

  6. Nice match-up, CURIOUS CAT(HY). Both duos are scoring votes, and I like the idea: Two duets, each one male and female, one White and one Black (although that last ingredient probably wasn’t by design).

    Because she is such a freak, I’ve always referred to her as Lady GagGag. I’ve only recently discovered that she really can sing well. But… she’s still a freak.

    Tony Bennett I have NEVER liked! There is something about his voice that has always struck me as sounding “flat”.

    ELLA & SATCHMO, however, that’s just classic stuffs! You know how to score my vote, my friend!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    ‘Loyal American Underground’

    2. Stephen, I’ve always liked Bennett. He has that same style of the Rat Pack. Lady GagGag, as you refer to her, is strange…looking or at least she use to be. She’s improved in that department lately every time I’ve seen her anyhow. I think most of what I saw in her early years was a publicity stunt and we know how well weirdness sells. The good news she can sing well. I’m glad you like the battle and it is playing out nicely. I have you down for Ella & Satchmo. What does that mean anyhow? Now, I’m going to have to research that! lol Have a good weekend, my friend and thanks for popping over to drop your ballet in the (comment)box.

  7. I will listen to the battle later on ..on Saturday. I love this number and consider it one of the best dances between Astaire and Rogers. Ginger helped design the dress actually and Fred hated it because all the feathers would shed onto his suit. They brought the dress back and the women I the costume dept. sewed on each feather individually.

    1. Samantha, thank you for voting in my BoTB portion of this post. I’m a bit of traditionalist, too. I have yet to decide who’ll get my vote. I can’t wait to see who wins, though!

  10. Why did you make it so tough! I love Bennett and GaGa in the commercials singing together! But Armstrong and Ella are legend! I have to give it to the later, as I just prefer their arrangement more.
    Revisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!

  11. I absolutely love the sessions with Ella and Louis. That’s one of those pairings that you wouldn’t think would work, but it worked superbly. I really don’t care for Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, too, so give my vote to Ella and Satchmo.

  12. I’m really going to surprise myself with this vote. But I’m going to place my vote for Lady Gaga and Tony Benett.
    All things vintage sounds like a great theme for this year.

  14. I’m in heaven listening to Satch & Ella with Gaga and Tony, not so much. Give those first two and their divinely ‘smooth version my vote.

    Good luck with A to Z. You’re off to a great start.

  16. Cathy, I am a huge Fred Astaire fan… love dancing!

    I like what Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett did with the song’s tempo. My vote goes to them, please.

    1. Sorry – that last attempted comment was an April Fools joke on me!

      I ADORE everything by Fred & Ginger! No better dancing pair ever, or better onscreen couple. I actually liked the Gaga version more. The musical arrangement of the Louis one is too old-fashioned. Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

      1. Lexa, LOL you’re funny! Well you are the first to get me on April Fool’s Day. 😀 Fred & Ginger were wonderful together. I love vintage movies, such as this. I appreciate you voting for Lady Gaga & Tony. Their cover is great! Hopping over to see you next.

  18. Louis and Ella, Louis and Ella, Louis and Ella! I’m the only one on the planet that doesn’t care for Lady Gaga, apparently (I’ve been told). So, I’m glad that Robin said what she said. I’m in that same boat…and turns out, I know someone there! Score! Robin and I will be poolside.

    Great start for both “hops”, girl!

    Cherdo
    Cherdo on the Flipside
    “Favorite Characters, Favorite Lines” on the A-to-Z Challenge 2016

    1. Cherdo, I don’t like Lady Gaga from her early years, but I do with the newer stuff, especially songs with Tony Bennett. She does an amazing job, but Louis & Ella really pull out that old vintage feel with their rendition. Thanks for voting, now I’m hopping over to see you! 😉

  19. Okay, my vote is for Louis and Ella. They are classic and fabulous.

    But, I must talk for a minute about Lady Gaga. She is a conundrum to me. I think she is super talented musically. I mean, seriously. Just a boatload of talent. But, she does things that make me think she’s a kook. Too many things to list, so I’m not going to begin. Even her name is kooky. But, she’s got real talent. That’s why I don’t get it. I suppose I should just shut up about it because she chose this path. The fact that I don’t understand it is irrelevant.

    1. Robin, I agree, Lady Gaga is very talented and I couldn’t see that in her early years because of all the weirdness. It wasn’t until I heard her sing with Tony Bennett a few years back which grabbed my attention. I have you down for Louis and Ella. Now to hop over to your place!

  20. Great battle Cathy. And excellent theme! I LOVE all things vintage. This is going to be a great theme!
    In the spirit of your theme, I’m going to give my vote to Ella and Louis. They’re classic styling for sure.

    Great start to the A-Z! Have fun. I’ll look forward to coming back to see what else you have coming up for us!

    Michele at Angels Bark

    1. Michele, thank you for taking time to vote for Ella & Louis. I’m enjoying bringing my All Things Vintage posts together. Now to check out your BoTB!

  21. Hi, dear Cathy!

    We’re off and running in the A to Z marathon and your blog is my first stop of the long journey. As you could probably guess, I love all things vintage, and that includes art. I greatly admire portraiture like “The Favorite.” Mrs. Shady is an artist and primarily chooses young women of the Victorian Era as her subjects.

    In your band battle I needed to ponder a while before deciding because I like both versions of “Cheek To Cheek.” it would have been easy for me to favor the second recording because it was made nearly 60 years after the first and benefitted from the clearer sound of modern technology. However, I am voting for the first version because I liked the slower tempo, the syncopated rhythm and the more soulful voices of Louis & Ella.

    Thank you, dear friend Cathy!

    1. Tom, You’re going to have to share some of Mrs. Shady’s art on your site or does she have her own? I would love to see it! I’m pleased with both arrangements in today’s battle and it’ll be interesting to see who takes the win. I am honored you stopped by my place first. It’s going to be a fun month, but I concerned I won’t be able to stay ahead of the game and that’s when the real challenge hits. Have a good weekend, my friend!

  22. Wow! This is such a nice post Cathy 🙂 Really liked your choice for ‘A’ !

    Now coming to the vote.. It was difficult but I would go with: Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett 🙂

  23. I’m with Tony Bennett every time. Mind you, I was always more a lover of Brat Pack crooning than jazz.
    Great start to the month
    Keith Channing at

  24. Clever tie-in, Cathy. 🙂 I liked both versions but Tony and Gaga give it a more contemporary feel. Please give my vote to them.

    1. Debbie, I’m glad you enjoyed the way I worked both hops together. I have yet to decide which pair gets my vote, but I like both. I think Tony and Lady Gaga are a fabulous duet consider they seem like an unlikely match up, you know? Thanks for casting your vote! Now, to swing over by your place to see what waits me. 😉

  25. Give me Astaire any day, but since I can’t have that one I’ll consider the other choices.

    Gaga and Bennett were a bit schlocky I thought and clashed a bit in styles–good but not as good as my other choice..

    I’ve gotta go with Louis and Ella. They’ve got real style.

    Arlee
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

    1. Lee, Thanks for dropping by considering all you have loaded on your plate. I have your vote recorded. Now to dash over to your place to see what kind of BoTB you’re featuring.

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