All Time High BoTB Showdown
Welcome to the first BOTB of 2022! Octopussy is the next James Bond flick in my BOTB series. It was Rita Coolidge who sang the 1983 theme song, All Time High. I’m finding it difficult to come up with a couple of good picks for the past few editions. At one point I began to question if I should continue the process but not one to quit I decided to use the best of what I find.
Today’s contenders are performing in different environments which isn’t totally fair but both women have nice voices so I went with them.
The first contestant in this round is Samantha Hayes. I found Samantha on YouTube. Her “About” section on her channel needs some serious PR help. Maybe, she’s only singing on the side with aspirations of catching a producers ear. Anyway, give a listen to this lovely across the pond to see if she captures your vote!
The second contestant in this battle is The Bond Band. Unfortunately the details associate with the music video does not tell the name of the female singer but apparently this group has a successful thing going and was asked to perform at Roger Moore’s memorial in 2017. Please, listen to The Bond Band to decide if they get your vote!
Which rendition did you like the best – Samantha Hayes or The Bond Band? There’s no wrong way to vote, unless you don’t vote at all and then watch out you’ll never know what will happen next.
I invite you to visit BoTBers with showdowns going on today.
- CAAC (me) 1st
- The Doglady’s Den (Debbie) retired member, active voter
- Jingle Jangle Jungle (Mary) 1st
- Mike’s Ramblings
- STMcC Presents BoTB (Stephen, BoTB Manager)
- The Sound of One Hand Typing (John)
- Tossing It Out (Lee)
*Unless noted, all other participants will present two battles per month on the 1st & 15th
Polls close noon (EST) on Jan. 7th!
I will announce the winner of this showdown on January 10th in my Monday’s Music Moves Me post. Mark your calendar to check back then to see if your favorite artist wins in this battle. May the new year find you doing well and may good healthy and happiness follow you throughout 2022! X💋X💋, Cathy
14 Comments
Debbie D.
Happy New Year, Cathy! 🙂 Both versions were good in their own way, but for me, The Bond Band had a smoother sound.
Mandyhascoffee
I have to go with the first. Not sure why and there is a difference in singing in a studio v live audience in a hall somewhere. I think that Hayes just sounded more Bond? LOL Happy New Year
Mary B
Hi Cathy!
Finally making my rounds. I liked them both, and wonder what Samantha would sound like with a band backing her.. I was more pleased with her voice and therefore, she gets my vote.
~Mary
15andmeowing
They were both well done, but The Band Band was a bit better. XO
Stephen T. McCarthy
HiYa, CAThy! It’s That YOU In The New Year?
Quite obviously, The Bond Band version is more interesting instrumentally. And although both women sing well, IMO, the first gal, SAMANTHA HAYES, actually has the better voice. There was an interesting quality in her voice that I found attractive in an impossible-to-‘splain way.
So, really, I could honestly vote either way on this Battle…
Instrumentally: The Bond Band
Vocally: Samantha Hayes
I think the arrangement from The Bond Band was nice but nothing spectacular, and so I’m going to vote for that little trace of magic in SAMANTHA’s voice. (“magic”… “Samantha”… you see what I did there?)
Here’s hoping you and your family have a healthy and safe 2022. Ain’t nuttin’ ever going back to “normal” in this world, but I can still hope for health and safety… and plenty of canned goods, can openers, and terlet paper.
Bless And Be Blessed!!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
XmasDolly aka Marie
Happy New Year to you and the hubby, and I wish you and yours nothing, but great health & happiness for you both, and your family! In fact, I wish the world the same and maybe we all can get back to normal and stop all this nonsense! I really cannot stand all this bickering, and sickness, and all this hullabaloo!!! Why can’t we all just be friends and stop the sickness and bickering! I know we can’t go out there, and just shake your neighbors hand anymore because we’re all just so scared to do so anymore, but girlfriend I’ll tell ya what I’m sending you and yours a GREAT BIG HUG!!! LUV U ALL! HAVE A GREAT WONDERFUL DAY AND I HOPE THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL, DON’T YOU??? HUGSSSSSSSSS HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I WISH YOU AND YOURS NOTHING, BUT THE GREATNESS OF GOOD HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS AND I HOPE FOR THE DAY WE CAN JUST GET UP AND GO OUTSIDE AND HUG OUR NEIGHBOR!!! I WISH YOU BOTH FANTASTIC HEALTH AND HAPPINESS AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY TOO! HUGS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
messymimi's meanderings
A blessed and beautiful Happy New Year to you!
Samantha gets my vote, just on her voice.
Brian
I like the Bond Band too, cool! Happy New Year from all of us!
Birgit
The Bond Band is excellent, very professional and sounding like the song. She has a great voice but I will go with the underdog and choose Samantha because I like her voice so she gets my vote. Happy New Year!
Arlee Bird
The vocals were very very close. The Bond Band is very professional and is certainly better from that respect, however there was some slight difference about Samantha’s voice that I preferred so I’m going to give my vote to Samantha Hayes. Besides I’m thinking that she might need the help in this match.
I was a bit late getting my Battle up but now it’s there. Please stop by when you can.
Lee
Eugi
Happy New Year, dear Cathy! It’s the Bond Band for me! ❤️
angelswhisper2011
Pawkisses for a Happy New Year, CK. Make it a great one🎊🎉
We like the Bond Band best, it’s because she sings it more fluently than Samantha. Honestly I would say, they sang it best each in their own way😸
Sandee
Touch choice today. They are both very good, but I’m going with the Bond Band.
☆¸.•°”˜˜”°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°”˜˜”°•.¸☆
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║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ NEW YEAR ☆
╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ♥￥☆★☆★☆￥♥ ★☆ ♥♥♥
Love and hugs across the miles. ♥
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy new year, dear friend! I hope you and DH had a pleasant night of celebration and thanksgiving in the comfort of your home.
I haven’t seen the Bond film Octopussy, and therefore was not familiar with this song. I clicked over and listened to Rita Coolidge’s version as a baseline before experiencing your band battle. I found it very difficult to choose between the two acts, but to avoid getting beaned on the head by Foghorn’s wooden mallet (purchased from the ACME Company) I realized I must pick one. To my ears, the female vocalists are evenly matched. I enjoyed listening to both ladies. Both did a great job of hitting the right notes and both have charisma. It boiled down to the instrumental backing on the respective performances. The Bond Band has the advantage in that regard because it features a large band doing a live performance, giving the production a full rich sound. In comparison, the prerecorded backing track on Samantha’s version seemed relatively flat. On that basis alone, I cast my vote for act #2 – the Bond Band.
I wish all good things for you and your family in 2022, dear friend Cathy. Enjoy day one!