Per my promise, I’m back to my normal blogging routine pretty much. I’m a bit undecided how I want to handle my participation in this meme yet. Do I continue with playing twice a month or keep it simply to only the first of mid-month?
I reckon I don’t have to decide that now and can make a decision as the first of October nears but for now let’s get this show started! Today’s battle song was inspired by last month’s total solar eclipse phenomena. Yeah, you know where I’m going with this one, don’t you, kittens and dawgs?
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Jim Steinman turned 34-years old earlier this year by Welsh recording sensation, Bonnie Tyler. This was Tyler’s biggest career song, earning her a spot at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart making her the first Welsh artist to ever do this! Here’s the original for your enjoyment, please refrain from voting on this version. It’s not part of the battle showdown.
I felt most vocal arrangements of Bonnie’s song just couldn’t compete, so I went another route and decided to find three distinct instrumental arrangements for your enjoyment to consider.
Contender #1 – a violin cover…
Contender #2 – a guitar cover…
Contender #3 – a panflute cover…
I like each version for the way it stirs my emotions. The violin arrangement is a bigger production feel where the guitar and panflute melodies are simplier. The violin makes me think action, the guitar makes me think mystery, and the panflute makes me think of love. I’ll let you know which I choose next week when I share the results. 
What did you think? Which do you like the violin, guitar, or panflute version best? Leave your vote in comments and if you want share why your pick got named.
[tweetthis]I just voted in the #TotalEclipseoftheHeart #BoTB showdown! #instrumental #music[/tweetthis]
Did you like this edition of BoTB? Would you like to see what others are sharing? Check with Stephen for the list of participants. Before I dash, let me leave you with a few giggles and remember to hit the dance floor on Monday’s Music Moves Me with “your choice” song picks. I’ll share the outcome of this showdown next week same time!
Have a bandtastic day!
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Absolutely on board with the violin version – outstanding! Of course, I have a violinist in the house and I’m a little prejudiced. Great job, Cathy!
Cherdo,
I’ve wondered what happened to you and am SO happy to see you! It’s okay to side with the violinist. I totally understand but in fairness, violin rendition isn’t bad!
Violin cover – 3
Guitar cover – 4
Panflute – 3
Hi Cathy, I’m so glad you went with instrumental as I can’t imagine anyone else singing this song from my teen years. I like all the versions but my vote is going with the pan flute as it’s quite haunting and really beautiful.
Have a great day.
Pam,
I agree Bonnie Tyler owns this song and everyone else sorta falls by the way. I’m delighted you liked my choice of instrumentals and I like your pick. Thank you for joining the battle showdown!
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 4
Panflute – 3
Welcome back to blogging more on a reg. basis! I probably blog too much but I so enjoy it.
I’m going with guitar on this one
Mike,
Thanks for stopping by for a visit, my friend. I have your vote recorded!
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 4
Panflute – 2
I’m a sucker for fingerstyle guitar. But you knew that. That’s the one I’m going with.
John,
But of course, I know you have a thang for guitar mewsic! You would’ve surprised me had you gone any other way than you did. Thanks for stopping by to vote!
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 3
Panflute – 2
Interesting match-up here. You know me and instrumentals are not my favorite thing ever. I honestly didn’t care much for the guitar version of this song. Maybe it was just too long and not interesting enough. I did like the violin and pan flute. But which one more? I think the pan flute. The violin was more dramatic, but the pan flute was evocative in its own right. Rather haunting. I liked it.
Pan flute for me.
Robin, The panflute has that romantic, mysterious feel and I find it very enthralling to listen to which is why I chose it for this round. I’m happy to see that you and some others enjoyed equally as well as I did. Thanks for stopping in to vote and visit!
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 2
Panflute – 2
HiYa, CATHY ~
Coming into this Battle, I was inclined to say that I personally didn’t feel the melody of this song was strong enough to support a solely instrumental version, but the recordings you found proved me wrong. I enjoyed all three. I didn’t think I’d like the panflute at all, but I did. After hearing the violin version, I thought I’d be giving that my vote. But I’m not. (I don’t seem to know myself too well, do I? Ha!)
I believe I will vote for the nicely played GUITAR version, with all the nuances of the melody included in it. And now, all three covers have received at least one vote, so… NO SHUTOUT FOR YOU!!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents ‘Battle Of The Bands’
Stephen,
The instrumental approach to Tyler’s classic surprised me,t oo. I’m delighted that you enjoyed them as well.
Thanks for visiting and voting, my friend. I’ll see you soon!
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 2
Panflute – 1
I am going against the grain because I like the folk music style of the pan flute. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. The violin was ok but that would be my 3rd choice so the pan flute it is
Birgit,
The folk style of the panflute is nice. I am undecided which cover will get my vote. I like all three, so it’s going to be a hard choice.
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 1
Panflute – 1
Hi, Cathy!
I like that Gil Elvgren cowgirl pin-up. Those were the days, my friend. We thought they’d never end.
This is an interesting variation of the BOTB theme – three instrumental covers competing for the prize. You are right. Each of the covers stirs emotions in a different way.
I didn’t find anything particularly remarkable about the guitar cover, and the panflute version began to wear on my ears after a short time. Therefore, I am giving my vote to the violin cover because it was backed by a full orchestra. It was a powerful performance, a piece of music that I could imagine being used in the soundtrack of a romantic or dramatic film.
Thank you very much for the mewsic, dear friend Cathy. Have a super weekend!
Tom,
I’m always delighted to hear that you appreciate my pinup artwork that I use sometimes with my posts. I love the days when girls weren’t afraid to be girls! Today, girls get a lot of backlash from women who hate being women and have made it their life’s ambition to destroy femininity. I say, “Shame on those for doing this and shame on YOU for listening to this garbage”!
I have your vote recorded, my friend. Thanks for taking time to visit and to vote in my first BoTB edition since my long blog hiatus!
Violin cover – 2
Guitar cover – 1
Panflute – 0
I can’t go past the raspy Bonnie Tyler, she part of my youth!
Who knew there were so many versions!
Wren x
It’s hard to vote against a classic original artist sometimes but in the spirit of the challenge I always do my best. Thanks for stopping in for a visit. I will visit your place asap. Have a good weekend!
For me, it’s hard not to prefer Bonnie Tyler, as I have always loved her version. The instrumental.covers felt lacking to me, as I so very much wanted to hear the lyrics.
That being said, I believe the violin was just a bit more compelling for me than the guitar or panflute. I’m going to have to vote for the violin here.
Excellent find! Interesting battle.
~Mary
Mary,
It’s hard to mentally make the switch from lyrical to instrumentally sometimes. I have the same problem as you when faced with the challenge of deciding which instrumental do I like when in my heart I love the original lyrical best. I appreciate you giving each close consideration. Your vote for the violin version is a good choice and I think it’ll take a strong lead in this battle. I hope to hop over to see your BOTB post before the weekend ends but if not I catch it at the start of the new week! Enjoy the weekend!
Violin cover – 1
Guitar cover – 1
Panflute – 0
I was never a very big fan of the original by Bonnie Tyler so I like any of these covers better than that. The melody is very nice as an instrumental.
My preferences typically lean toward violin music and such is the case here. The runner up artists are both outstanding, but my vote goes to the violin version.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Lee,
I was not a Bonne Tyler fan back in the day. I have a newer appreciation for these older artists now even those who’s style didn’t mesh with mine. Bonnie’s gritty vocals is an interesting change up for me.
The “Total Eclipse of the Heart” melody is nicely done as an instrumental. I’m glad that I found three that I like.
Thanks for voting. I have you down for the guitar rendition!
Violin cover – 0
Guitar cover – 1
Panflute – 0