Good morning, Kittens and Dawgs! The one thing about this message is that we need to find happiness within instead of looking outwardly or to others. We all have the power to make changes over what the scales read whether it’s literally or emotionally. Allow God to be the compass of your life to a satisfying and happy life! How was your weekend? I advocate the making of one’s happiness for a satisfying life. I find happiness in my passions like photography. Here are a couple of recent photos from Cherohala Parkway south of Knoxville at the Turkey Creek Overlook. We enjoyed a late afternoon picnic lunch watching the approaching storm in the distance.
After we ate, we drove a little ways further before turning around to go back home the way we came. The view from the same overlook was quite a bit different. Check out my iPhone panoramic shot!
Mewsic is another passion and I’m sharing double dose of it today bringing two hops together into a single post. I am genius like that. Nah, who I am kidding. I’m cutting back on things in Blogosphere through the summer which means I’m only doing one BoTB installments each month, so I thought this was an excellent solution to my posting dilemma. 🙂 This week’s mewsic theme is “Song Titles with Numbers“. I took it one step further because I can’t resist putting my spin on things. I arranged my playlist to feature songs in numerical order, some oldies and a few new-to-me tunes. Hit play to get this party started!
- One More Night is from Phil Collins’ 1985 Diamond-Certified No Jacket Required album and his second U.S. #1 hit following, Against All Odds. Collins produced more number song titles, Two Hearts (1988) from the film, Buster and Two Worlds (1999) from the Disney animation, Tarzan.
- It Takes Two peaked released in 1965 by the great Motown duet Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston; peaking in the USA at #14 on the Billboard Pop Charts and #4 on the Billboard’s Soul Singles Chart.
- Three Times a Lady from the Commodores’ 1978 album, NATURAL HIGH, is the bands first #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit song. Lionel Ritchie reportedly said his inspiration came from something his father said to his mother…“I love you. I want you. I need you. Forever” hence the three times a lady.
- Friend Is A Four Letter Word is a new-to-me tune recorded by a new-to-me band called Cake in 1999. The lyrics tell about a girl who breaks up her boyfriend saying we can still be ‘friends’. Naturally, this is the last thing the boy wants to hear. An ended relationship that reverts to ‘friend’ status is just too cruel for the kid that his brain interprets the last four letters of a friend as ‘iend’ as something vulgar to his brain. Cake recorded another number song title, The World of Two(2001), which I don’t like nearly as much as the other title.
- 5,6,7,8 (1998) is a really catchy ditty that’s new-to-me recorded by the British pop group Steps. I don’t know if it ever made its way to the states but the song did well in these countries, Australia #1 and peaking #2 in New Zealand & Belgium. In their home country, they landed on the UK Singles Chart at #14. Off the same album (Step One) this song appears is One For Sorrow. Knowing no more than I did about this group I felt certain they were a short-lived pop band but in truth, while they did take a hiatus they are back recording & performing together. Check out their 2017 album, Tears on the Dance Floor.
Do you have tunes to share? Excellent! I want you to join fellow co-hosts: XmasDolly (Party Coordinator), Stacy, Alana, Colette, & this month’s co-host, Michelle one the dance floor. Miss Colette isn’t actively co-hosting because of eye problems but you might find her boogieing occasionally. Keep those prayers going, please!
Here’s the second dose of mewsic as promised. It’s mid-month and I’m playing along with fellow BoTBers in a new showdown. My battle song choice comes from my 4M playlist. I instantly knew the moment Marvin Gayle & Kim Weston’s 1967 classic, “It Takes Two” crossed my ears to use it.
Contender #1 is the famous brother/sister act, Donny & Marie Osmond. I loved watching their show when I was a kid. Maybe, I had a little crush on Donny but what teenage girl didn’t? They are such a wholesome team and to this day I remember my daddy telling us, “Now that’s the way brothers and sisters treat each other.” Rolling eyes at the parents wasn’t a thing back in the 70s. I’m pretty sure I looked at him like he was from another world and there was no way on this planet we’d ever act that civil toward one another. After all, he was my baby brother, need I say more? What I wouldn’t give to have one more day with my baby brother now. Anyhow…give the sunshine twins (no they aren’t twins) a listen to their cover from their 1975 pilot to see what you think.
Contender # 2 is from two amazing seasoned artists, Rod Stewart & Tina Turner. Their signature sounds make the ear perk instantly without a second guess whose vocals are resonating your brain. The dynamo duo recorded their cover 24 years after the original and I invite you to play their cover to see how it moves you.
Who gets your vote, Donny & Marie or Rod & Tina?
How do I play BoTB? It’s really super simple!
- You VOTE. Leave your FAVORITE pick in comments. Everyone is welcome to vote. There is no wrong vote, except if you DON’T vote.
- Be interactive. Tell me why you like your favorite pick. (optional)
- Make me happy. Tell a friend, share the below tweet. (optional)
**THE POLLS CLOSE FOR THIS ROUND OF BoTB NOON (EST) JULY 27.**
You’ll find more awesome battles underway at some of these blog listed below (not everyone is doing the bi-monthly showdowns now) and if you’d like to be included in the fun, then contact Stephen requesting to be added to the list.
Angels Bark (Michele), The Doglady’s Den (Debbie), Jingle Jangle Jungle (Mary), Mike’s Ramblings, STMcC Presents BoTB (Stephen, BoTB Manager), The Sound of One Hand Typing (John), & Tossing It Out (Lee).
Did you vote? NO! Okay, but if you leave WITHOUT voting, I won’t be held responsible for what happens to your computer. Just saying is all. 😂
Keep those tunes playing, your body swaying, and I’m boogieing over to see you soon. Don’t forget to MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR JULY 30th for the results announcement to appear in my Monday’s Mewsic Moves Me post! X💋X 💋, Cathy
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Ooooh! Loving your numbers list, Cathy! 🙂 As for the BoTB, my vote goes for Rod & Tina. 🙂
Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend! Thanks so much for the dance! 🙂
Stacy,
Thanks for the dance. Our weekend was good except yesterday we had to do an emergency home repair. Our washerless kitchen sink faucet has needed the washer replaced for some time but with DH’s eye surgery we hadn’t been able to get to it but our hand was forced when the leak got severely worse. Unfortunately, replacing the washer didn’t happen as the old faucet set screw stripped out which meant we had to buy a whole new faucet. It turned into the repair job from Hell! Oh my goodness, we didn’t get into bed until nearly 1am this morning and then had to get up at a quarter after 4. It’s been a tiring day. we’re going to bed early tonight. Thanks for voting!
Donny & Marie- 6
Rod & Tina – 11
Hi Cathy!
I love how you combined your battle with the 4M theme. And what a fun battle! “It Takes Two” is such a great song! Both of your versions are terrific. I like Donny & Marie Osmond’s version. They are so fun together and I like how thye start the song off. But the one who is taking my vote for this battle is Rod & Tina. Now that is a powerhouse of talent there! Their version was so energetic and I caught the fun bug just watching them perform it! Please give my vote to them.
As for the 4M theme, I like how you counted out your songs in order. Good song choices too. I never heard the Cake one but it’s quite good. And the Steps 5,6,7,8 is new to me as well. That was a fun video too. I’m listening to Phil Collins “One More Night” again becuase it’s just so good.
I didn’t have an opportunity to do this week’s Numbers theme and so had to sit it out. But I love the numbers theme and will do my playlist for it sometime soon on a Freebie post. I had already started compiling my song choices and didn’t want to abandon the theme just because I ran out of time. Summer is really busy for me with the dogsitting business, as you can imagine. Everybody is busy during the summer but it’s almost like Christmas around here, there are so many dogs! And I’m sooooo tired, you can’t even imagine how tired I am. I need to sleep for a week straight… 🙂
Finally, your shot of the approaching storm is AWESOME! I felt like I was there. I love storms and seeing them roll in is amazing, in my opinion. I read in one of the comments that you are using an iPhone 8. Do you like it? Is it much different than the 7? When I traded in my last iphone and ordered a new one, I ordered the 7 and found out afterward that the 8 was being released the next day or so. I was so irritated! You would think the Apple person(s) I spoke with would’ve mentioned that! But I’m happy with the 7 so I guess I’ll wait and get the 12 or soemthing when it comes out! 🙂
Hope you’re having a gread weekend,
Michele at Angels Bark
Michele,
Thanks for taking the time to vote and I’m tickled you liked my number song line up as well as my BoTB song choice. I thought for a bit that Donny & Marie might pull this off but then it flipped back in favor of the more charsmatic and electric singing pair.
We did not have the iPhone 7. The 8 replaced my 5s. We both got new phones last year. The one major difference is the 8 does not have a headphone jack but that’s not important to me since I do not use headphones/earbuds. However, they didn’t leave folks totally without, they provided an adapter for those who still prefer to use headphones with a jack by using the power port. Some really don’t like that Apple did away with that and they’ve taken some heat over it but I think it’s just the next progression in technology to do everything via Bluetooth connection. The 7 is a fine phone from what I hear. But, I’m a huge Apple fan! 🙂
Thanks for boogieing with me, my friend! 😉
Donny & Marie- 6
Rod & Tina – 10
I loved your photos. You might want to try the Skywatch Friday I participate in each Friday now and then; these photos would have been purrfect for it! And now….nice choices. Love the Commodores, and my son (who is in his late 20s) introduced me to Cake – I haven’t hear this song, though, and I did like it a lot. 5-6-7-8 was also new to me and I think I have another new favorite. Dancing along! Thank you for the morning enjoyment!
Alana,
I used to participate in SWF all the time but it got to be too much for me. I may pick it up again at some point. Thanks for boogieing with me lady! Have a lovely weekend!!
Hey, I’m perusing your #AtoZChallenge posts and loving the sketches, but it looks like comments are closed that long ago, so I’m leaving a “howdy-do!” here instead. 🙂
Jen,
I close comments on older posts. I find that those are the ones that spammers target, hoping you won’t notice. WP is generally good about catching them but often throws new commenters such a you into my spam folder. I learned a long time ago to pay close attention to this common flaw. I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I’ll be by to see you soon!
Your iPhone takes great pictures! I’m going to choose Tina and Rod. That’s a lot of energy gong on right there!
Rosey,
I’m happy with my iPhone 8. Every iPhone I’ve had does a great job. It’s amazing how well phone camera reproduces the world around us and the best thing is I always have a camera with me even when I don’t have my big girl camera (Nikon D7000). Thanks for popping in for a visit and casting your vote.
Donny & Marie – 6
Rod & Tina – 9
Well, well, you have quite the numbers here! I had forgotten about Phil Collins…love him!
As for BOTB, I love Donny and Marie but they simply cannot compare to Tina and Rod.
I think this will probably be a slam dunk for them.
Michelle,
It’s hard to remember all the number song titles. Personally, I’m thrilled to live in today’s modernization with the help of Google so to look like I’m really diverse or else I’d be a poor, poor hopeless soul scratching my head trying to remember things. Am I to assume you’re giving your vote to Rod & Tina? I’m putting you down for them unless I hear differently from you. Thanks for the boogie, my friend!
Donny & Marie – 6
Rod & Tina – 8
Hi Cathy; Those photos are stunning! Well done, my friend. As for BOTB, Donny and Marie are just too “sweet” and lightweight for my taste. In my opinion, there’s no “pizazz” in that performance. Rod and Tina delivered a sizzling rendition that captivated me immediately. Please give my vote to them.
Debbie,
I knew the Sunshine Twins wouldn’t sway the regular BoTBers or at least most of them but I couldn’t resist paring them in this round. Thanks for taking to time to vote.
Donny & Marie – 6
Rod & Tina – 7
The number on the scale is an indicator of how pissed my doctor is going to be on my next visit . . . as well as a sign that I could be kissing my legs good bye, as my dad did. ~Debbie Downer, huh? Great song picks. Thanks for rocking.
Joyce,
Oh no, I’m so sorry! It’s so hard to get the scales to move. Trust me, I know! It’s so scary when health issues creep into the picture because of weight problems. My mother has Type II Diabetes and that absolutely terrifies me. I really don’t want to go down that path if I can keep from it, you know? While I’m not seeing a lot in the way of dropping pounds lately I am keeping active on my elliptical. I trying to cut back on calories and I know if I get real serious with this then the weight will come off. Thanks for boogieing with me.
Keep trying to comment, don’t know if it’s working or not.
The scale may be just a number, but it can be such a psychologically devastating one!
Great music, and i happen to like Donnie and Marie.
Mimi,
This battle has shaped into a more interesting fight. Your vote just evened things up for the contenders. 🙂
Donny & Marie – 6
Rod & Tina – 6
It’s supposed to be just a number, but it can feel so psychologically devastating.
Great music!
Mimi,
I agree but hopefully, we can find the strength to look past the reading and see our true value. I hate stepping onto our scales but it does help to serve as an excellent guide. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight range. When we get too heavy it brings a lot of very bad medical issues with that problem and unfortunately, we don’t understand that until we get to that point. It’s more than just looking your best, you should want to feel your best to when you can control this one thing. I hope more women understand this and use it as a tool, instead of an emotional weapon. Thanks for boogieing with me!
Stopping back by, I do not see my Osmonds vote for “It Takes Two.”
Myke,
I got it! Sorry WP is crazy sometimes.
Love the numerical order and that you chose another version of the classic Three Times A Lady. As for voting, I have to go with Donny and Marie 🙂
Melissa,
I’m glad you enjoyed The Commodores’ original ‘Three Times A Lady’ and am happy that you voted. I was getting fearful that D&M weren’t going to get many votes but now I don’t know what to expect with it the gap closing up between the contenders. 🙂
Donny & Marie – 5
Rod & Tina – 6
I would like to cats a vote, pawlease…
Donny and Marie… She’s a little bit country; he’s a little bit rock and roll, so they say… 😉
Did you know that Tina Turner is from West Tennessee, Cathy? She really is.
Myke,
I’m unsure why WP held your comment for moderation. It does this often with others who have stopped by. Thankfully, I keep an eye on this regularly. Anywho, of course, you can vote and I’m so happy that you decided to get in on the action!
I’m not sure if I knew before now that Tina Turner is from West Tennessee but I might have and it just slipped my brain. I have you down for Donny & Marie!
Donny & Marie – 4
Rod & Tina – 6
GREAT FANTASTIC CHOICES HERE, CAT… & great tunes to boogie too!!! Tina Turner & Rod Stewart I didn’t know they collaborated on this tune… very cool! Donny & Marie… dang that is one helleva story isn’t it! I mean their family… each one of them has a story! YOU HAVE ROCKED THE HOUSE YET ONCE AGAIN GIRLFRIEND! BIG HUGS… Gotta run to the hospital… for a EMG wo contrast…Thanks for the dance girlfriend! YOU’RE DUH BEST! HUGS Awwwwwww Love the kitty pic at the end! Too cute! hahaha`
Marie,
I learn much pulling together my BoTB and 4M posts. Naturally, I didn’t know either singing duos covered this classic hit but that’s the beauty of Internet sleuthing. It’s sure a lot easier to learn these things now than it was 30 years ago without modern technology. Thanks for taking time to boogie with me, girlfriend. You always rock! 😉
So you k now I’ve done my test & it was a bummer! OUCH! They stuck pins in me to see if my nerves jump… DUH I COULD’VE TOLD THEM THEY DO! OUCH! ALSO, they found out I have 3 pinched nerves, I go next Thursday to find out from the neurosurgeon what the verdict is. Just tell me you can fix it is all I wanna hear!!!! HUGS GIRLFRIEND! 🙂
Marie,
Well…I hope the neurosurgeon can fix the three pinched nerves or whatever is needed to get rid of your back pain. It’s just no fun when one has to deal with chronic pain all the time. Saying prayers for you, my dear!
First, the Battle of the Bands: Donny and Marie gave it the old college try, but compared to Tina and Rod, they didn’t do so well. Give my vote to the latter.
Several people lined up their songs in numerical order, I noticed. Did I miss something? Anyway, I had a hard time getting into Cake: the song was kind of dismal, to be honest. The other four were good choices. You mentioned the movie “Buster” with Phil Collins; was that any good? The music is all right, though I don’t especially like the slowed-down “Groovy Kind Of Love.” Good set!
John,
Nope, you didn’t miss a thing where the theme goes. I think everyone just sorta fell in synch to do go this route and here I thought I was being clever. I can’t comment on the film Buster since I never saw it. I actually didn’t know that Phil Collins was in the flick until I watched the trailer. It could be a fun film to see, though. Thanks for casting your vote today.
Donny & Marie – 3
Rod & Tina – 6
I love your pictures especially the first one which is so moody. I have to give it to Donny & Marie because, like you, I watched them every week. They must feel so special now knowing they worked with some great people that are now gone. I had to watch the video and loved the Busby Berkeley skating number. I enjoyed Rod & Tina who give it their all and know the meaning behind the lyrics more than the young brother and sister but my vote still goes to D & M. I am back! I was in Vancouver and The Rockies and hope to talk more about it this week:)
Birgit,
Yeah, another vote for D&M! I’m with you on the whole nostalgia part when it comes to the brother & sister act but I’m afraid they aren’t going to win this battle. It was fun nonetheless to put them face to face with some folks more experienced in the industry and in love. Well…I don’t know about the later but certainly the first. 🙂 Thanks for voting. I’ll be over to see you soon!
Donny & Marie – 3
Rod & Tina – 5
Hi, CATHY! Glad to find you BOTBing with us.
I love that photo of the dark, overcast sky. Very, very cool!
>>… “sunshine twins (no they aren’t twins)”
The Sunshine Siblings may not actually be twins but, boy oh boy, they sure LOOK LIKE twins!!
Donnie & Marie did a “nice” rendition of the song, but it didn’t really exhibit a whole lot of personality. At least not in comparison to the much livelier version by ROD & TINA. So, I guess I gotta vote for the cover with a bit more “oomph”, a little more power under the hood.
CATHY, in the comment section of my Battle, you said that you believed you were hearing Brian Setzer sing for the first time. So, since you’re curious as a “CAT”hy, I thought I’d share with you some “mewsic” from Setzer when he was the leader of The Stray Cats. ‘STRAY CAT STRUT’ was a big hit for them in 1983, I believe. I recall seeing the following video often on MTV at that time. The boys and I had MTV playing on our television pretty much any time we weren’t watching Wally George. (I’m guessing you don’t know who he was, but we had a lot of fun drinking and watching Wally kick guests off of his show. Ha! Those were the good ol’ days. Miss ’em.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEtbfzMLVWU
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents ‘BATTLE OF THE BANDS’
Stephen,
I don’t remember Brain Setzer from the 80s. It wasn’t until after I started blogging that I was reintroduced to him. I do recall ‘Stray Cat Strut’ after I hit play at YT but again I had no clue of Brian’s connection there, either. So I appreciate the mini education, my friend. 🙂
There’s definitely no mistake that Donny & Marie are siblings and certainly could pass for twins but I know that they aren’t. Marie is younger than Donny. I appreciate you taking the time to stop in to vote. I have you down for the oomph-oomph duo!
Donny & Marie – 2
Rod & Tina – 5
Hi Cathy!
I used to watch Donny and Marie back in the day. Sure their show was cheesy – but so were many of the other variety shows going on at the time. For a half minute, I thought I might be voting for Tina & Rod because Donny & Marie had so much sugar going on in their tune… but after listening to Tina & Rod (and I do like them quite a bit!) I think Donny & Marie do a better rendition of this song.
I didn’t know numbers 4 and 5 of your playlist, so that was refreshing to learn something new this morning.
Have a fantastic week and enjoy your time away from the blogosphere.
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Mary,
Oh, cool so happy to hear I introduced you to two new songs. I was feeling bad for Donny & Marie so I’m glad you pitched your vote their way. 🙂
Donny & Marie – 2
Rod & Tina – 4
Those are cool photos. I vote Tina and Rod. No contest on this one. They can dance and you know I like songs you can dance to.
Cathy,
Groovy, gotcha down for Rod & Tina. Thanks for voting!!
Donny & Marie – 1
Rod & Tina – 4
Old love those 2 kittens and your ‘Spark’ ~ fun! Lovely sky shots too!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Carol,
It’s great seeing you today. 🙂
Actually, I like the version on “It Takes Two” that I posted it is from the Ant-man and The WASP movie by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock-LOL.
I guess I would pick the Donny and Marie version. Great songs.
Patrick,
I’ll stop by to hear your mewsic in a bit. Thanks for voting!
Donny & Marie-1
Rod & Tina -3
Two really great shots. Doing what you enjoy is a very good thing. Not blogging so much and getting out and about is an even better thing to do.
I’m going to vote Rod and Tina.
Awww on the kitties and Bawhahahahahahaha too.
Have a purrfect Awww Monday and may your day be filled with wonderful music. Big hugs my friend. ♥
Sandee,
I can’t blame you for being away from Blogosphere. I’m trying to do other things during the summer instead of staying in front of the computer. Thanks for voting!
Donny & Marie-0
Rod & Tina -3
Great photos and excellent song choices. Definitely Rod and Tina even though I envy those legs of hers. Have a great week! XO
Ellen,
Tina is envied by many for her fantastic legs. 🙂 Thanks for voting today.
Donny & Marie-0
Rod & Tina -2
Hi, Cathy!
It’s great to see you again, dear friend. Happy Monday to you! That first picture, the one you snapped at Turkey Creek Overlook, is striking, moody and mysterious – one of your best. Thanks for posting it!
I was familiar with the first three number songs. It’s interesting that there was a late 90s band called Cake. In recent years I came to know and love a baroque, psychedelic pop and blue-eyed R&B girl group of the mid to late 60s known as The Cake. I was familiar with the UK group Steps because of their capable cover of the Bee Gees hit “Tragedy.” “5,6,7,8” is new to me and I like it. The group was easy on the eyes and clearly they had fun making that video at a beach resort.
To my eyes and ears, your BOTB is a “David and Goliath” bout. Donny & Marie give the Marvin & Kim hit “It Takes Two” the old “Your Hit Parade” treatment, interpreting it for their audience. It is a pleasing performance, but reminds me too much of karaoke night to capture my vote. Act number two brings together two giants of rock and they make sparks fly. To do an uptempo R&B/soul song authentically you need to sweat a little, and Rod and Tina get it right from start to finish with movement, gestures, body language and vocals that make their fiery duet a classic performance. I never saw that video before and it was a real treat. My vote goes to the Rodster & Tina Turner!
Thank you, dear friend Cathy, and have a tunetastic week! 🙂
Tom,
Thanks for popping in this morning. I’m thrilled you enjoyed my moody photos. It certainly is interesting to watch the rain in the distance. I will have to check out Steps’ cover of Bee Gees “Tragedy”. The all-girl band is easy on the eyes. 🙂
Your analogy of the two contenders in my BoTB is a welcome treat. I went in this battle knowing that Donny & Marie are up against a heavier hitting duet but I just thought it would be a lot of fun because the brother/sister pair I grew up listening to and I know there are others who’d like that trip down memory lane. The first vote goes to Rod & Tina.
Donny & Marie – 0
Rod & Tina -1