Hello, kittens & dawgs! As luck would have it BOTB falls on Monday twice this month, so I am able to do a two for one special. Music is what makes my heart beat, but then you already know this with two weekly posts dedicated to tunes. I’m happy to share my participation in the BATTLE OF THE BANDS (BOTB) & Monday’s Music Moves Me (which I co-host) with you.
Far Away Series & Steven T. McCarthy are hosts of this little shindig. The BoTB basic rules are as follows: You listen to different recordings of the same song and vote for the one you like best by leaving it in comments. There are two “Battles” per month ~ the 1st and 15th. Six days later (the 7th and 21st), I tally the votes (including my pick) and announce the winner.
Let the battle begin!
Bridge over Troubled Water charted in over 11 countries, topping the charts in 10 countries, including the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. It was the best-selling album in 1970, ’71, and ’72 and at that time was the best-selling album of all time, a position it kept until the mid-80s.
Simon & Garfunkel
Since Simon & Garfunkel release many other artists have recorded or performed Bridge Over Troubled Water, like Elvis, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Jackie Evancho, LeAnn Rimes, Roberta Flack, Jimmy London (reggae version), and Eva Cassidy to name a few. But, I wanted to pit other duos against the original. How will they fare? You decide as you listen.
Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora
Josh Groban & Brian McKnight
Sissel & Russell Watson
Okay, here’s what you do to vote. In my comments section, tell me which band you like the best and why. After you’re done, then why not see what other BOTB participants (see below) are sharing.
STMcC Presents ‘Battle of the Bands’
Creative Outlet of Stratplayer
For all of you, regular Monday’s Music Moves Me, dancers, we’re dancing freebie style. Let me say, on behalf of the lovely Dancing Queen, Marie @XmasDolly and her Solid Gold dancers ~ Callie @JAmericanSpice, Stacy @Stacy Uncorked, Becca @Everyday Life, & myself, we want to invite you to step on the dance floor and shake your bootie! List your music post address below and join the party (grab the 4M button from XmasDolly’s site).
NOTE: One featured blogger gets selected every other week from the participates of the linky party as the Spotlight Dancer. Don’t forget to link up!
Dance with me next week on Monday’s Music Moves Me and find out who won on #BOTB! Next stop… your place, what music moves you
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I am going to agree with StMc and FAE… when you have a song that was done SO DARN WELL at the outset, it pretty much guarantees a run-away battle in favor of the original artist. This is one of those times… S&G is going to win this by a landslide. You would have had a real battle had you chosen any two of the other three and put them up against each other. It also makes the listening better and easier. It is Thursday and I am only now getting to the rest of the battles I missed. So much goes on that it takes me about four days to get to them all… so when someone posts more than two songs I don’t have time for more than two minutes on any given version… and if the best part of the performance is the middle or end – well, I don’t hear it.
I think I once posted three songs in a battle back when I first started this thing and discovered that it split the vote too much (and people complained about the time investment). Of course, this is your blog and you can do it however you want:) Just my two cents.
So, chalk another win for S&G.
I started questioning myself on the number of bands in the previous go-around and with this installment it’s clear from the comments I need to do something else. I promise to change things up for future BOTB posts. Your 2¢ is worth a lot here, Robin. Thanks!
I didn’t realize BonJovi had covered it. I liked his version – it gets my vote.
Sorry I’m so late – still trying to catch up on comments!
I agree that this might have been a REAL BATTLE between any two of the other contestants, but with Paul and Art in there absolutely no contest. Nobody does it better,IMO.
My favorite is Simon & Garfunkel, great!
One of my favoritest songs ever! And they sang it beautifully!
S&G wins this, but out of the rest I would vote for Sissell and Russell
Simon and Garfunkel get the vote as they are the original and knew how to put their soul into it and made it the great folk song it is. Now if it was left to the other 3, I usually love the big voices but the Josh Groban one was too Broadway and wanting a Tony Award. The flash is not needed for this song. The 3rd one was better and her voice was better than the guy but, again, a little too over the top. It misses the meaning. Despite the nasal singing of Bon Jovi, those 2 got what the song meant and how it was meant to be sung. So if S & G were not in the running, my vote would go to Bon Jovi and Sambora
You know I LOVE the original S&G — but I gotta say, I really liked the Bon Jovi one. A little rock edge and his voice just seems to suit the song.
Wow. It is soo hard to choose. They are all great. I love this song, but it usually makes me cry.
Have a wonderful week Cathy.
*HUGS*
I couldn’t STAND Simon & Garfunkel back in grammar school, when they were at their peak, and really couldn’t stand this song when it was popular, its status as a good “slow dance” number notwithstanding. Groban/McKnight and Sissel/Watson’s held close to the S&G version, so they’re out.
I found myself listening to Bon Jovi’s version all the way through. I thought it was the most original version of it, and really enjoyed the guitar work by Richie Sambora. That version gets my support.
My favorite is the Simon & Garfunkel version because there’s nothing like the original. That being said, my pick for first runner up would definitely be Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora.
Just my .02 cents:
Ain’t nobody, but NOBODY gonna beat the originals – SIMON & GARFUNKEL – on THIS song.
I think a better option might have been to narrow it down to just two of the cover versions going head-to-head against each other and leaving S&G out of it altogether. With S&G included, I think it pretty much eliminates any speculation about who might win this ‘BOTB’ installment.
That said, obviously I vote ‘S&G’.
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
My favorite Simon & Garfunklel song and throw in some Bon Jovi and Richie. Great choices.
Probably one of my least favorite SImon and Garfunkle songs, actually. I find it a bit too melodramatic and overblown. But that’s just me — still, the original version with Garfunkle singing Simon’s song is definitely the best version by a wide margin.
Maybe S&G is a bit melodramatic with their version, but I think this is why the song is so good.
I love them all because they each have there own unique sound. I love when people sing others song and do a good job,
Well I have to day my favorite is Bon Jovi and side-kick! I love those guys together! It’s a shame they broke up. Great idea to put all these together my friend, and I have to say Josh Groban is also another favorite of mine. YOU ROCK have a great week and thanks for the dance my friend… must say we kind did good hoppin’ around like ballerinas hehehehehe
Bon Jovi & Richie are good together, but I sure didn’t like the long intro. I just wanted them to get to the song, but…given they were doing this song for some sort of benefit then a lot of talking leading up to the songs is expected. Thanks for casting your vote, Marie!
My vote goes solidly to the original Simon and Garfunkel version.
The others added little to make them stand out from the original. The Bon Jovi guys were wimpy and boring and the long talking intro was totally annoying. The second two versions were bombastic and pretentious. Give me the simplicity of Paul and Art any day.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Lee, S&G is my first choice, too. I wouldn’t say any of the other versions are bad, but definitely do not add anything new or interesting to the original sound of Simon & Garfunkel. They just created magic with this song, as well with all of their music. Thanks for voting!
No brainer-SImon & Garfunkel.
Like Lee says-none of the others did much with it, although I liked the Bon Jovi version more than he did.
I love Simon & Garfunkel. Thank you for this. My 7th grade choir sang this. Of course it was new then!