This little meme is the brain child of Fae from Far Away Series and thanks to Stephen McCarthy from STMcCP, he helps Fae by maintaining the rules and bloggers turning her idea into the electric sensation we know as the Battle of the Bands!
I’m not a long-term sorta planner when it comes to these battles like some of my fellow BOTBers. I typically fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to finding a song title to go with and this makes things a bit challenging.
What single tune moves me this time?
In 1969 Jeff Berry and Andy Kim wrote a bubble gum hit made popular by a group of fictional animated teenagers called The Archies called Sugar, Sugar.
The song was actually done by studio musicians ~ Ron Dante, lead vocalist, with Toni Wine and Andy Kim. I always thought The Archies was a real band until recent years and was totally wowed by that discovery. Yep, I’ve always been a bit of late bloomer in all aspects of my life.
The original ditty really gets you to your feet, so I wanted something a wee bit different and decided on two R&B artists to take on the challenge.
Okay, you know what to do…listen and decide who you like best, then leave your vote and say-so about why your pick is better in comments. There’s no right or wrong vote, except a no vote. So, VOTE! 😀
I like both covers, both artists flavor Sugar, Sugar with their own sweet style and I like one slightly better than the other. That being said my vote goes to Mr. Pickett.
Who do you think did it better, Gladys Knight and the Pips or Wilson Pickett?
Music Trivia: Did you know the cereal company, Post, placed millions of records on the back of their Super Sugar Crisp cereal and it’s considered the most produced recording? Now, that’s a doubly sweet idea!
Alrighty, the fun isn’t over. For more epic battles visit…
•Fae @ Far Away Series •Stephen @STMcC Presents ‘Battle of the Bands’ •Lee @Tossing It Out •Robin @ Your Daily Dose •Donna @Book Lover •Mike’s Ramblings •John @ The Sound of One Hand Typing •Dixie @ dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands •Alex J. Cavanaugh •Kim @ The Belle Rocks •Tom @ Shady Dell Music and Memories •Debbie @The Doglady’s Den •Cherdo @Cherdo on the Flipside •Michele @ Angels Barks •Mary @ JingleJangleJungle •Janie @ Women: We Shall Overcome •Jeffrey @ J.A. Scott •Madilyn @ NovelBrews •Holli @ Holli’s Hoots and Hollers •Guilie @ Quiet Laughter
Check back next week about this time, give a day or take, for the results. Until then, have a bandtastic day!
Check out my page Daily Blog Hops for more music memes.
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I liked this song back in the day, although I wouldn’t admit it. I liked Gladys better on this one. Wilson’s was a little too slow.
I guess I’m most familiar with The Archies upbeat and peppy version of this song, because both of these really seemed to drag, IMO. I think I’ll go with Gladys and her Pips in this contest.
Another tough call but I have to agree with you. I think Wilson Picket performed it best.
For whatever reasons, it seemed like a cleaner version to me. Closer to the original, but distinct enough.
Ah yes, I’m a cereal box collector and I do recall records on the back of cereal boxes. Great memories.
Wait! The Archies are NOT a real group? Oh, I’m crushed, I’m crushed!
LOL, sorry to crush you with the news about The Archies, Jeff! 😀 Gotcha down for Pickett!
I really do love the Archies, but as they are not part of the battle, I have to agree with you and vote for Wilson Pickett.
CATHY ~
Thanks for contacting DIXIE POLKA for me. I’ll be praying for her.
In this Battle, I vote for WILSON. Normally, I do like G.K. & The Pips, but their version of this song was terribly over-produced.
I had NO IDEA that ANDY KIM ever had anything to do with ‘SUGAR, SUGAR’. I think ‘ROCK ME GENTLY’ by Andy Kim is one of the catchiest major Top 40 hits of my early teenage years. I STILL totally love that song and always sing along… LOUDLY!!!
~ D-FensDogG
Not fair Gladys or Wilson. I’ll go with Wilson Pickett great picks on this one!
I’ve always been a sucker for that bubblegum sound and Archies were right up there with the best.
I’m with you on the vote for Wilson Pickett, but agree that both artists bring something besides sugar to the table.
Another funky vote for Wilson PIckett.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I couldn’t play the Gladys Knight video 🙁 Usually I just go to YouTube and look for another video of the same song, but this one must be a rare track; I couldn’t find it anywhere else. It feels unfair voting for Wilson without having listened to Gladys, so I’ll abstain — but I wanted to say GREAT picks for a battle, and I *love* this song. (I, too, thought The Archies were a real band, haha.)
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter
First, I’m so sorry that Dixie is struggling. Stress is a killer. As someone who suffers from chronic migraines I’m well aware of what any additional stress does to me (migraine city!) and I’ve also suffered from fibro when my stress is through the roof. Honestly, with my migraines being what they are, I’m feeling lucky that my fibro hasn’t kicked in. It’s very painful, so I know what Dixie is feeling. I sure hope that she finds way to mitigate it so that she can get her life back. Please let her know that I’m praying for her (as are many others).
In this battle, put me down for Gladys Knight and her Pips.
Hi Cathy, My vote goes to Wilson Pickett.
CATHY ~
Please, please ask Dixie to send me her Email address in a blog comment. Tell her I promise not to publish it, but that I’ll only write it down on a piece of paper and then delete the blog comment.
I really need to talk to her, and I think she’s the only person who can help. She and I both need to yak right now.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen, I sent Dixie an email. Just so you’ll know it took a few days to get a response. I would think checking email and blog comments is low on her priority right now even with the help of her God-daughter. I feel her pain and can only imagine the difficulties she’s dealing with in trying to get back to normal again.
Oh, I love that song! Didn’t know either that The Archies were only a ‘front’ 🙂 Oh well, it’s the music that counts.
My vote goes definitely for the original, ahhh, o.k. Wilson Pickett is it.
Claudia, yeah I remember being so surprised to find out that The Archies weren’t a “real group”, but who cares, right? The song is a classic! Thanks for voting! 😉
Wait… The Archies aren’t a real band D: I never knew that!
Anyway, Pickett gets my vote! Gladys Knight’s version just… seemed really disjointed to me? I don’t know. Didn’t like it.
I am another Canadian who could not listen to it here so thanks Debbie for finding this. After listening, I actually like Wilson Pickett better. I like his voice and the style he did with this song
Of course I like the Archies version best of all but of your contenders I like Gladys Knight and the Pips version better. Wilson’s is good; they’re both really good but overall I like the sound of Gladys and those Pips better. I had no idea that Post did that with the record in the cereal box! Wowsa, that’s a really cool bit of trivia there!
Great battle Cathy.
Michele at Angels Bark
ATTENTION BOTBers: I finally have news of Dixie. Many of you may know she suffers with chronic pain due to Fibromyalgia. This is the ugly little bugger that has caused our dear friend to go MIA in Blogosphere. The intense stress over settling her parents’ estate triggered it and the last time she had this happen it took her nearly a year to rebound. The pain is debilitating. The small tasks we take for granted is a huge deal for her and she thinks she might not be back to BOTB until November or December. Anyhoo, her god-daughter is helping her out. Sending warm hugs, well wishes, and a lots of prayers for Dixie-chicka to get better soon! 😉
I am terribly sorry to learn the extent of Dixie’s problem. I will keep her in my prayers and hope for a speedy recovery. Dixie’s blog friends will be right here waiting for her when she returns.
Thanks so much, Tom! I know Dixie-chicka appreciates the good vibes and prayers being sent her way.
I’m sorry Dixie is suffering so greatly. 🙁 Please convey my best wishes and hopes she will feel better soon. Thanks for the update, Cathy.
Oh my that is so difficult. I have Ehlers-Danlos so chronic pain in all my joints is the norm so I get where she comes from. The frustrating part is there are no medications to help Fibromyalgia nor E-D. She does not swell, like me, so people think she should be fine which is angersome. Give her my best and we will all be here when she comes back.
I am a huge fan of the original – got it on my iPod!! But definitely go with Wilson Pickett who I love almost as much for this battle. Honestly, I just love this song. My kids are singing along with it right now too. LOL
Les, it’s a fun song that never goes out of style. I’m glad that your kiddies like it. That just goes to show you’re bringing them up on some good tunes. Thanks for voting. I have you done for Wilson Pickett! 😉
Hi, dear Cathy! I love Gladys Knight & the Pips but I’m not feeling their version of “Sugar Sugar.” The Wilson Pickett version gets my vote mainly because it is a fine example of the Memphis Stax sound featuring that otherworldly horn section high in the mix. Please enter my vote for The Wicked Pickett and thank you for an enjoyable BOTB, dear friend Cathy!
Thank-you, Tom for voting in the newest round of BOTB. I remember when this song came out. It was catchy then and is still catchy today. I was glad to find that it had been covered. Gotcha down for The Wicked Pickett. What a cool nickname!
I had no idea there were covers of this song. Great find, Cathy! 🙂 Trying to listen to Gladys Knight was a big challenge because that video is unavailable in Canada. The only thing I could find was on Last.FM.. Here’s the link for any other Canadians: https://www.last.fm/music/Gladys+Knight+&+The+Pips/_/Sugar+Sugar
I’m glad I persevered because she gets my vote. Wilson’s version was good too, but there’s just something I’ve always liked about Glady’s Knight’s vocal stylings.
Debbie, sorry to hear my vid didn’t work for ya, but happy that you found one that did and that you shared it here. You’re a sweetheart! I was a little surprised to learn that “The Archies” did the original. I thought for sure it was a cover, but that’s part of the fun of this little hop. I get a new lesson in music history every time.