American Girl #BOTB showdown
Good-morning, kittens and dawgs! I’m back to the world of blogging once again. I’d like to say I fixed the issues with my site, but I did not. This will take more time than I planned. I reckon I will whittle the post repairs down little by little until the job is complete. *sigh* So, what happened while I was away? The calendar flipped over again. It’s not only a brand new month, but it’s time for a battle of the bands spinoff.
In a few days, the USA will celebrate her 240th birthday. It’s time to get this party on the road! This American girl not Irish-American, `but 100% red, white, and blue American girl is featuring a song that has nothing to do with patriotism, but is just an excellent summer song. I’m using Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers 1976 classic American Girl. You’re welcome to enjoy the original, but remember do not vote on it.
Fun factoids: Did you know American Girl did not chart in the US until its second re-release in 1994? However, it did hit the charts in the UK in 1977 peaking at #40. Another tidbit, Rolling Stone ranked this song 76 on “The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time” list in 2008.
Contender #1 is the English rock band, Def Leppard. Heavy metal is not my forte, but now and then I get a surprise.
Contender #2 is country star Taylor Swift. This young gal’s personality shines through her music.
Both artists did a great job covering, American Girl. This is a hard choice for me. How about for you? Do you know which singer/band you like best? If not, listen again and cast your vote below.
I will share the results of this competition a week from today, as well tell you who got my vote. Mark your calendar and stop by to see if your pick gets named the winner.
The fun continues with more epic battles underway; I invite you to visit, Stephen, who manages the ever-growing list of BoTB players.
I’m was asked to help co-host Monday’s Music Moves Me this month, so I hope you’ll stop by to dance with me and the rest of the 4M gang. Thanks for joining in on the fun today. This is Curious as a Cathy signing off with have a bandtastic day and funtastic weekend and a safe 4th of July! 😉
34 Comments
Myke Todd
I went with Def Leppard… Seems I am in the majority, which is rare.
Did you see the CMT Crossroads concert with Def Leppard and Taylor Swift together? That show had some memorable moments for me.
Cathy Kennedy
Myke, Def Leppard and Taylor Swift together? No, I’m afraid I missed the CMT Crossroads concert. Now, that’s an interesting pair! Thanks for sharing, though. Have a good weekend!
mike spain
I like Def better, but Taylor brought more to the song and gets my vote!
Cathy Kennedy
Isn’t this interesting, a third vote for Taylor?! Thanks for popping by to vote, Mike. Have a good week.
John Holton
You know what? Taylor Swift just seemed more right doing this one. I’m voting for her.
Cathy Kennedy
John, I like Taylor’s version more than most, but I’m still undecided who gets my vote. I’m happy to see she got another point in her favor. Thanks for stopping by!
Cherdo
I’m the black sheep of the blog world, ha ha. I voted for Taylor Swift and I don’t know if she can pull this one out!
Tom Petty’s version is the favorite…I know, I know, I can’t vote for that one. I almost used this for my battle! Netflix has a great documentary on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers called Runnin’ Down a Dream. Check it out if you like TP&H. Thanks, Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Cherdo, looks like Miss Taylor is in the race with your first vote for her. I don’t think she’ll pull it off, but at least this showdown won’t be a complete runaway by Def Leppard. Thanks for the Intel on the Netflix documentary on Tom Petty. Have a good evening!
dcrelief
Geez, tough choice here. I think Taylor sounds a little too monotone for me, even though I’m not usually a Def Leppard fan.
I’m going with Def Leppard.
Good luck with those blog issues. They CAN be a real pain!
Cathy Kennedy
Dixie, thank you for boogieing by to vote today. The blog post repairs are slow going. I think I’m going to take it easy this summer blogging while I concentrate on getting these things fixed. Internet traffic is generally like a snail in these days anyhow, so works out well for everyone. I hope you’re enjoying the day of festivities. Be safe, my friend and God bless!
Kisma
Welcome back!!! What a great return to come back too. I have to go with Def Leppard as they just have that sound! Taylor is great, but not my favorite.
Cathy Kennedy
Kisma, Thank you! It’s good to be back. Although, I’m not sure how much I’ll be back with the continued blog repairs I need to do. That’s ok. The good thing about fixing everything now is, is it’s summer and blog traffic is generally light anyhow. I appreciate you stopping by to vote in July 1st BoTB for Def Leppard. Poor Taylor hasn’t received a single vote yet. Oh well, enjoy the holiday weekend and have a safe, fun Independence Day celebration! God bless the U.S.A.! ??
Kisma
You to my friend!
Rorybore
Oh my goodness, that was tough one!! I don’t normally go for Swift, but I actually did like her version of this…. maybe because the pop sound was toned down. But overall…. I gotta go with the Rockers. It just feels like a real rock song and Def Leppard has the right sound for that.
Welcome back!
Cathy Kennedy
Les, It’s good to be back, my friend! 😉 Thank you for joining my latest round of BoTB and casting your vote for Def Leppard. I will hop over to see you soon.
lexacain
Hi Cathy! I won’t vote on the bands, but I wish you a wonderful 4th of July, and I hope that you manage to fix whatever it is that’s wrong with your blog. Have a lovely holiday weekend! 🙂
D-FensDogG
CATHY ~
I’ve been a Tom Petty fan since about two weeks after his first album was released. I kept hearing an (unreleased) live version of ‘BREAKDOWN’ on my L.A. radio station of choice. The album couldn’t have been in the stores for more than two weeks.
Loved the song, bought the album, loved the album, been a fan ever since. I own at least half a dozen Tom Petty albums and he’s STILL making good music!
Because I know Petty’s music so well (especially those first 4 albums), I can tell you the DEF LEPPARD cover is almost a note-for-note recreation of the original. And not just note-for-note, but they duplicated all the harmonies too. I’m not sure why they bothered recording the song if they weren’t going to put their own stamp on it.
Now, Taylor Swift — I know very little about her, and I’ve only heard maybe 6 of her songs, but I really don’t get what the fuss is all about. She sings fine, but not outstandingly. I’m sure 1,000 girls in Reno could sing as well (and about a million in L.A. could sing better). It’s really mostly about looks and marketing. I consider her, musically speaking, the female version of Justin Bieber. Her music is Pop, his is… just variations on an old theme. But neither one of them have an ounce of originality about them.
So, to my ears, this basically seemed like a Battle between Tom Petty’s version of ‘AMERICAN GIRL’ versus Taylor Swift’s cover of it.
Vote: Def Leppard (disguised as Tom Petty)
~ D-FensDogG
‘Loyal American Underground’
Cathy Kennedy
Stephen, I like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, too. Fabulous group! I agree Def Leppard is spot on Tom Petty’s version. It looks like I didn’t come up with a good enough battle pair this round, as everyone is picking Def Leppard. Thanks for voting. Next stop your place!
greyzoned/angelsbark
Tough one here! I’m listening to both a second time. I like Taylor Swift. I’ve always admired her. She takes her career seriously and doesn’t get into crazy situations that haunt many young people who don’t know how to handle fame. And she does a good job with this song.
Def Leppard rocks this song and I really like their version. It’s not much different than the original really. I guess this song is better suited to them so I’ll give my vote to Def Leppard.
Great battle Cathy!
Michele at Angels Bark
Cathy Kennedy
Michele, Taylor Swift seems to handle fame better than most young people. I appreciate you stopping by to vote. Another point for Def Leppard!
Mary B
As talented as Taylor Swift is, I do have to give this one up to Def Leppard. I think they just sounded better. Excellent battle!
Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Cathy Kennedy
Mary, Miss Swift is talented. I’m undecided whose getting my vote. I like both versions. Thanks for voting. Def Leppard is stealing the show it seems. Have a safe weekend!
Cathy Kennedy
Mary, This is a runaway battle for Def Leppard. Will Taylor Swift get any votes? Stay tuned to see how this battle goes down! Next stop…your blog!
Birgit
I have to give it to Def Leppard because they seem understand the lyrics more and I like the sound of them better. Taylor Swift has an amazing voice but she is young so many songs she sings does not have that ” I’ve lived through quite a bit” style to it. Sure, she has had many love affairs but there is more to it. I think of Judy Garland when she sings Over The Rainbow when she is very young and then she sings the same song many years later and it’s totally different. She adds more meaning behind the words
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit, I totally get what you mean about lack of experience coming through in a young artist’s music. I hadn’t thought about that. Good point. Thanks for voting in July 1st BoTB. I’ll be by to see you soon. 🙂
Jeffrey__Scott
I really like Taylor Swift. She’s cute and talented. Sure, some people think she’s a little too sweet, but so what? I’m not some people. There is not much of her music I don’t like, I even like this song. But…… It’s really not a song suited for her if you ask me. And by offering this battle, you are asking me.
I like a few songs from Def Leeppard, but I’m not a huge fan. Still, I think how they perform this song and it’s much suited to them. Please give my vote to Def Leppard.
Cathy Kennedy
Jeff, I’m not most people, either. I like Taylor Swift. She’s a sweet, talented young girl. American Girl is more suited for a male lead, but I like Taylor’s version. Do I like it more than Def Lappard’s? You’ll have to check back to see how I vote. 🙂 Thanks for hopping by to vote. Next stop your place!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Welcome back! I’m late getting started on the BOTB rounds today because I was on the road all morning.
You’re right. Both covers of “American Girl” rock. This year I’m heavily into pop and I put heavy metal on the back burner. However, I am not a big fan of Taylor Swift and I am a huge fan of pop metal band Def Leppard. I think this song works best performed by a male lead. The version by Taylor is pleasing to my ears but the cover by Def Lep packs more of a punch and sounds a lot like Petty’s great original. I’m giving my vote to Def Leppard.
Thank you, dear friend Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom, no worries about the later than usual visit. We all have lives outside of Blogosphere and I can’t fault someone for enjoying themselves. At least I hope you were enjoying yourself while out on the road this morning. 😀 I’m glad you got to stop in to weigh in on this battle. I knew going in Def Leppard would commend a strong lead, but it looks like a runaway victory for them, if the voting pattern keeps up. It’s going to be a difficult choice for me, as I enjoy both versions. Each artist offers something special. Thanks for hopping over today. I’ll be by to see you soon. Enjoy the holiday weekend; red, white, and blue style! ??
Debbie D.
Welcome back, Cathy! 🙂 I hope you get your website issues straightened out. How aggravating for you! Great song choice and bother artists did well. That said, for me, it has to be Def Leppard! I have that album and practically wore it out. They rocked it!
Debbie D.
Oops – typo! Should re “both artists”.
Cathy Kennedy
Debbie, it comes as no surprise you picked Def Leppard. I realize pitting Taylor Swift against an old classic metal group might be music suicide in this round, but we’ll see how things develop.The clean up on my site continues. I probably won’t go full swing with posting until I get this job done. It’s a big task, but once it’s behind me things will be fixed…at least for the moment. lol Thanks for popping over to cast your vote! Have a good weekend.
Arlee Bird
Yes, this is a tough one. Both versions are worthy to win. But I’m going to give my vote to Def Leppard. They really rocked it.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Cathy Kennedy
Lee, Oops, I some how overlooked your comment. That’s what happens when I get behind. *sigh* Glad the choice was tough. Thanks for your Def Leppard vote.