Battle of the Bands

Do You Want To Know A Secret? #BoTB showdown

August 15, 2020 /
I also have a bad memory. lol

It’s no secret, it’s Saturday and I probably am not anywhere near Blogosphere.  The weekends don’t dissuade me from my mid-month BoTB showdown. 

Today’s showdown, I’m going with the 1963 Beatles song Do You Want To Know A Secret?  sung by Beatles band member, George Harrison. It was the first top ten hit to feature Harrison as the lead singer, reaching number 2 on the Billboard charts in 1964. 

I read this interesting tidbit at Wikipedia and thought you might enjoy it as well.

“Do You Want to Know a Secret”, written in autumn 1962, was primarily composed by John Lennon but credited to Lennon–McCartney. The 1963 version by Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas (a UK No. 2) credited the composition to “McCartney–Lennon”. The song was inspired by “I’m Wishing”, a tune from Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which Lennon’s mother, Julia Lennon, would sing to him as a child. The first two lines of the song in Disney’s movie (“Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell?”) come right after the opening lyrics (“You’ll never know how much I really love you… You’ll never know how much I really care…”). McCartney has said it was a “50–50 collaboration written to order”, i.e., for Harrison to sing, but Lennon, who always claimed the song as his own, explained in a 1980 interview that he had realized as soon as he had finished writing the song that it best suited Harrison. Source credit

It was contender #1, Nikki Jean-Verve I stumbled on last year that planted the seed in my noggin to use as a battle song.

SecondHandSongs lists 74 covers of this classic Beatles hit, mostly are men with only a handful of female vocalists. I wanted another gal to go against my first choice but was looking for a particular sound when I found #2, Sharon Clark.

You’ll find more awesome battles underway at some of these blog listed below and if you’d like to be included in the fun, then contact Stephen requesting to be added to the list.

POLLS CLOSE FOR THIS SHOWDOWN, NOON (EST) AUGUST 21ST

Who gets your vote, Nikki or Sharon?

Will I continue on my semi blogging hiatus to simplify things I will share the battle results on Monday, August 24th in my 4M post. Mark your calendar to check in with me then to see if your favorite artist wins this showdown.  Have a good weekend, my dears! X💋X💋, Cathy

For the fun of it, I thought you’d enjoy listening to The Chipmunk’s 1963 cover. Tempted as you might be, kindly refrain from voting for these adorable rodents in this battle. 😉

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Eugenia’s poetry word prompt this week is Fairy.

37 Comments

  • Rain Frances

    August 15, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    Hi Cathy 🙂 That’s interesting about the history of the song, very cool that it was inspired by the cartoon!! I am a big Beatles fan, I like that song a lot, so I couldn’t say anyone did it better! 🙂

  • Mary B

    August 15, 2020 at 7:50 pm

    Hi Cathy!

    Great song choice today. I thought for sure I would be voting for Nikki, but I really love what Sharon Clark did with the song. Sharon gets my vote today. Hope all is well with you. As for me.. I’m still in limbo for a few months. Had an appointment with one of my oncologists yesterday, but she was on vacation – and rather than scheduling me for a time when she would be around, she had a fill-in doc that was not familiar at all with my case. I hate when they do that! I don’t have any more oncologist appointments until October. Still doing wound care, though. It’s a never ending cycle. Have a great weekend!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 16, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Hey Mary,

      All is well here. Can’t complain. I hope you get a clear bill of health when you go back in October to see your oncologist. I don’t know if I’ve asked but are the wounds related to your treatment? I imagine all the sitting you’ve had to do for months on end creates sore spots. Are the wounds just slow to heal because of the treatments? I’m totally ignorant on such things but you can educate me. You continue to be in my prayers. Thanks for taking time to vote for Sharon Clark. Have a good week, dearie!

  • messymimi's meanderings

    August 15, 2020 at 5:47 pm

    As nice as the second is, i really did like Nikki’s version better. To me it sounded more, well, innocent, like a kid whispering a secret to another. Ms. Sharon sounds like a grown-up with a come hither tone, and that’s not bad, but not how i think of the song, if that makes any sense at all.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 16, 2020 at 2:52 pm

      Mimi,

      The one thing I like about Nikki’s version is the sound of innocents you’re picking up. It just has that feel good sound of the 60s. You’re right Sharon’s singing style/vocals are superb but quite different, not in a bad way but it evokes different feelings. I’ll put you down for Nikki. Thanks!

  • -Eugenia

    August 15, 2020 at 1:13 pm

    Wowza! I was under the impression Paul sang this song, which Btw, I love this song and glad to know George was the singer.

    And, thank you so much for joining in my prompt with your lovely poem, Cathy. What a perfect way to address the prompt with a combination boogietastic post!

    My vote goes to Sharon.

    Stay cool and safe! 🧡 💛 💚

  • John Holton

    August 15, 2020 at 12:19 pm

    My all-time favorite Beatles albums remains their first one, “Please Please Me” in the UK, “Introducing… The Beatles!” in the US. This is one of the best songs on it. I always like this song in particular, which I assumed either John or Paul sang, since they wrote it. I was really happy when I learned it was George…

    Anyway, there’s a lot to be said for Sharon Clark’s nightclub-style cover, but personally I prefer Nikki Jean-Verve’s cover of it. Don’t know why, just do. Maybe it’s the picture of the cast of “Pan Am” that serves as its wallpaper, I don’t know.

    As for Alvin & The Chipmunks… just no. I know you said don’t vote for it, but you didn’t say we couldn’t vote against it…

    Thanks for the link to Second Hand Songs. That should come in very handy.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 15, 2020 at 5:03 pm

      John,

      Thanks for dropping by today. I’m glad to see Nikki get another vote. Sharon has been scooping up the numbers! I like Nikki’s 60s throwback sound. It works great for the TV series which we never watched. Maybe we’ll find it to stream even if it’s only one season. It might be fun. I love shows that have that vintage feel. Mad Men was a great series! You’re right I didn’t say you couldn’t vote again The Chipmunks but why would you want to do that? They’re so lovable! 😀

  • Stephen T. McCarthy

    August 15, 2020 at 11:35 am

    Neat Battle, CAThy!

    I had forgotten that this was a Beatles song. And it’s one of only a small handful of Beatles songs I really like. I prefer their earlier stuffs, like this (before they began trying to simultaneously emulate Brian Wilson musically and Bob Dylan lyrically).

    I really enjoyed both of these renditions but definitely preferred the Jazzy version by Sharon Clark. I never heard of her before but may need to listen to some of her other recordings.

    Guest BOTB Boter: Judge Al Bondigas (my brother)
    Keeping it all in the family, Weird Judge Al also botes for Sharon Clark.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 15, 2020 at 5:00 pm

      Stephen,

      Thanks for popping in this morning and you brought guest voter with ya! I was drawn to both of these ladies for their various take on the song but it seems folks are really digging Sharon Clark in this round. I’ll put down two votes for you boys! 🙂

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 15, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      Brian,

      I didn’t know the song’s backstory, either. The Internet makes learning such tidbits easy. Thanks for voting for Sharon Clark, my furriend!

  • Arlee Bird

    August 15, 2020 at 9:29 am

    This is one of my favorite Beatles songs. In fact, funny that you referenced The Chipmunks version as this is one of the first albums I ever bought back when I was about 13 or so. The Chipmunks actually helped me to appreciate the music of The Beatles.

    The first version is nicely true to the original, but Sharon Clark really stands out with her jazzy rendition. Give my vote to Sharon!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

  • Thomas Anderson

    August 15, 2020 at 8:36 am

    Hi, Cathy!

    I have been taking weekends off, but this morning I wanted to report in and exercise my right to vote in your band battle.

    “Do You Want to Know a Secret,” The Beatles song written for George to sing, is one of my favorites by the English pop rock combo. For your BOTB you picked two ear pleasing covers by female artists. That fact alone made my decision more difficult because I favor female vocals. I watched the 2011-2012 television series Pan Am and loved it. Along with millions of other fans I was shocked and disappointed when the show was abruptly canceled. From what I gather, Nikki’s version of “Do You Want to Know a Secret” was used in the soundtrack on an episode of Pan Am. It’s been a long time since I watched the show and therefore I don’t remember Nikki’s recording, but I like it a lot. Nikki’s smooth but spirited lead vocal with overdubbed harmony is combined with a brisk, perky arrangement that fits the early 60s time period of the song. The choice wasn’t easy, but I prefer Nikki’s version to the jazz – supper club – ballroom rumba style of Sharon’s recording. Therefore I give my vote to Nikki and thank you for the introduction!

    Being forced to listen to the version by The Chipmunks on repeat would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. 🙂

    What a lovely poem and colored sketch, Cathy! I love the idea that, as the world sleeps, the dawn fairy appears and makes her rounds, kissing the grass, flowers, shrubs and trees and leaving behind those glistening droplets we call the morning dew. It’s a beautiful thought conveyed in a well written poem, one that inspires me as I start my day.

    Have a wonderful weekend, dear friend Cathy!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 15, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      Tom,

      I normally don’t do weekends. It’s good that you’re taking them off, too. I’m delighted that you decided to come over to vote,though. We never watched the Pan Am Series but wanted to. I hated that it canceled after the first season. It really looked good. I have your vote for Nikki Jean-Verve. Ahhh, you don’t like The Chipmunks? Their adorable! But, then you knew I would say that, right? I’m sorry for putting you through such torture during your stay. Thanks for your lovely sentiments of my poem and artwork. I always have great fun developing two creative outlets into one work of art. Have a good weekend, my friend!

  • aisasami

    August 15, 2020 at 6:32 am

    I really like this song as it makes me feel a little melancholy. I didn’t know George was the lead singer on this track. Maybe my mom told me before and I forgot. My mom is more of the Beatles fan, she is more into John and Paul. I like Paul’s songs more, especially from his 2013 “New”. (All his music is brilliant, especially in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but I love his 2013 album as much his older stuff. Some newer released music in a long-time artist is as gold as the older stuff.

    But, for this Battle, I love Sharon Clark’s version. I love the slow tempo and just lounge feeling. And, love her voice!

    I hope you are doing well, Cathy. I just took the week off as it is Obon vacation here in Japan. It was super hot, over 100 degrees, so I stayed indoors. I became super lazy. That is why I haven’t put out a battle. I don’t know if I want to do one for August or come back in September.

    I hope you are alright.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      August 15, 2020 at 4:47 pm

      Amy,

      We’re doing well in our little corner of the world. It’s been hot here but not as hot as what you’re getting in Japan. Yikes, 100º sounds horrible! Is there a lot of humidity there, too? Thanks for dropping by to vote for Sharon Clark in this BoTB round. Have a good weekend and stay indoors where it’s cool, dearie! 😉

      • aisasami

        August 16, 2020 at 6:47 am

        This is a lot of humidity too. Right now, at 8 pm about, the humidity level is 56%. It’s horrible during the day as it is higher.

        • Birgit

          August 16, 2020 at 12:29 pm

          I love this song and George often does not get the credit he deserves I will vote for Nikki because I like the bit if 40s feel to it plus her crisp voice. I vet Sharon will win but I just couldn’t get into her rendition

        • Cathy Kennedy

          August 16, 2020 at 2:39 pm

          Birgit,

          George was a good singer. The Beatles should’ve used him as lead more than they did. You’re probably right about the outcome but strange things have occurred in these battles. Thanks for voting for Nikki!

        • Cathy Kennedy

          August 16, 2020 at 2:42 pm

          Amy,

          That’s horrible! We’re just little over a month away before the season’s change again. Hopefully, we’ll see things cool down a little. It really doesn’t start feeling good here until about mid-October. Stay cool, my friend!

        • aisasami

          August 16, 2020 at 11:37 pm

          It starts cooling off mid-September here too. I can’t wait for the cooler weather. Hopefully we have a short summer (The rainy season didn’t end till July 31, 10 days later than normal).

        • Cathy Kennedy

          August 19, 2020 at 5:42 am

          Amy,

          We’ve gotten so much rain this year. My doctor was saying the other day we are ahead this year. We’ll see some cooling around mid-September but the days get quite warm even then. We really don’t feel a big change until October. Stay cool, dearie!

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