Falling Slowly #BoTB
Hello Kittens & Dawgs! It’s the beginning of the second month of this new year. Today I’m playing along with other mewsic enthusiasts in the 2018 round three of Battle of the Bands. I’m featuring the song from the romantic movie Once soundtrack, Falling Slowly by by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Wiki says, the song charted at #16 in the Irish Singles Chart when The Frames (Hansard’s band) first released it. The Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová version charted at #28 in December 2007, before peaking at #2 in March 2008, following the song’s Oscar win. It sold 944,000 digital downloads in the United States.
Last season, in The Voice semi-finales Adam Levine performed this song with his protégé, Addison Agen. The thing is I really do not like this song when two people sing it. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s the wrong two people or the way the two artists’ voices don’t mesh with my ear right but whatever the reason I was hoping to find a cover that I liked better.
And…I was! In my quest I found two solo artists. First discovery, Josh Groban and then Toni Gonzaga covering Hansard and Irglova’s pop hit. That’s when I knew I had to bring these two together in a Battle of the Bands.
Being the old fashion gal that I am, let’s start with the lady first.
Toni Gonzaga is a Filipino singer, TV hostess, and actress who got her start at the age of 13 in a singing competition, Metropop Star Search (1997) which aired on GMA. She didn’t win and it was four years later before she got her big break. From her seventh album, My Love Story, (October 2015) Gonzaga covers “Falling Slowly”. Please listen now to the soft contemporary vocals of Toni Gonzaga.
The American singer/songer Josh Groban is world renowned and a multi-platium artists who coincidentally is an actress and record producer who really doesn’t need an introduction, right? I thought it interesting Groban recorded “Falling Slowly” for his sixth studio album, All That Echoes, earlier in the same year as Gonzaga. Now, kindly turn your ear to the easy listening rendition by Josh Groban.
Ok, here’s the drill. Voting is open to everyone visiting. There is NO wrong vote, except if you DON’T vote. You can start by telling me in comments which artist you like best and why (optional).
Which artist earned your vote, Toni Gonzaga or Josh Groban?
[tweetthis]I just voted in the “Falling Slowly” #BoTB Showdown between #ToniGonzaga & #JoshGroban! #music [/tweetthis]
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), Cherdo on the Flipside, Book Lover (Donna), The Doglady’s Den (Debbie), Your Daily Dose (Robin), Jingle Jangle Jungle (Mary), Mike’s Ramblings, Righting & Editing (Janie), STMcC Presents BoTB (Stephen, BoTB Manager), The Sound of One Hand Typing (John), & Tossing It Out (Lee).
Next week in this time slot, I’ll announce the winner in this battle showdown along with who got my vote. Mark your calendar for my next BOTB showdown on the 15th but I hope you’ll return tomorrow for Friday Fun Stuff!
X💋X💋, Cathy
This is for your entertainment only and is not part of the BoTB. 😉
24 Comments
greyzoned/angelsbark
Hi Cathy,
Arrgh, I hope I’m not too late to vote in your battle! I was just responding to comments on my 4M post and saw your comment mentioning your battle. I only do battles on the 15th but was starting to make the rounds to the rest of those who post on the 1st but only got to vote in a few battles before my week got away from me. So sorry! Hopefully I’m in time for the vote.
As for your contenders: both are fabulous! I love Josh Groban and his version is quite good, especially musically. However, I really liked Toni Gonzaga’s version. Such a beautiful voice. It’s a lovely song. So Toni gets my vote.
I’m not familiar with the movie but I looked it up on IMDB and it looks good. I might try to find it and give it a viewing…
Really nice battle and you picked a wonderful pairing for the song.
Michele at Angels Bark
Cathy Kennedy
Michele,
I closed the polls yesterday at noon but that’s ok you picked the winner anyhow. lol Thanks for voting anyhow!
Birgit
I had to go to YouTube to listen to Toni and she was talking bout her wedding in between. This is the version I could listen to and even with that I vote for Toni because she had more emotion in her voice. I love Josh Groban but he seems to be singing this song in rote…not much feeling.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
I’m sorry my video didn’t work for you but I’m happy you had no trouble finding it for your region. I saw the version you’re talking about, too. However, for the showdown, I just kept to all singing. Sometimes the fluff gets lost when folks don’t have time to spend on it, you know? Thanks for voting!
Tony Gonzaga – 7
Josh Groban – 4
15andmeowing
I enjoyed them both, but I am a fan of Josh Groban so I pick him.
Cathy Kennedy
Ellen,
Great! Thanks for voting, my friend. 🙂
Tony Gonzaga – 6
Josh Groban – 4
Myke Todd
Toni Gonzaga is my choice.
Yours is a wonderful pairing.
While each has a great voice,
Hers is the best for sharing.
Cathy Kennedy
Myke,
I agree both artists have great voices. Could it be the song is more suited for a female voice? Got your vote recorded, my friend.
Tony Gonzaga – 5
Josh Groban – 3
Pamela
Hi Cathy, great song choice and really interesting versions that are quite different from each other. Much as I love Josh Groban’s voice, I feel for this song he was just a bit too slow. Toni Gonzaga’s version was much more heartfelt for me, so my vote goes to her.
Hope you have a really lovely weekend.
Cathy Kennedy
Pamela,
I just about didn’t see your comment. I also noted the heartfeltness in Gonzaga’s version. Thanks for playing!
Tony Gonzaga – 6
Josh Groban – 3
Comedy Plus
They are both good, but Tony Gonzaga is better.
Have a fabulous day filled with wonderful music. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
Whoo, your vote gives Tony the lead!
Tony Gonzaga – 4
Josh Groban – 3
-Eugenia
Wow, great entertainment to kick off Feb. I ‘m voting for Tony Gonzaga because there’s something about his sound that clicks with me.
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia, Your tie evens things up!
Tony Gonzaga – 3
Josh Groban – 3
John Holton
For some reason, it didn;’t sound right from Josh Groban. I’ll go with Toni Gonzaga.
Cathy Kennedy
Thanks, John! Sometimes it doesn’t make sense why one song cover sounds better than the other.
Tony Gonzaga – 2
Josh Groban – 3
D-FensDogG
Hello, it’s that me!
>>… “Groban recorded “Falling Slowly” for his sixth studio album, All That Echoes”
CATHY, I has a political joke rejoinder to the above. But since this is your blog and not mine, I shall keep it to myself, not wishing to offend any of your visitors who are to the Left of me. (Hmmm…. I hope I hasn’t said too much. :^D
Uhm… I didn’t know the movie, didn’t know the song, didn’t know the artists… although I’ve heard the name Josh Groban. Isn’t he that transgendered celebrity with multiple personalities? Well, that’s what YOUR introduction said >> “Josh Groban is world renowned and a multi-platInum artists who coincidentally is an actress and record producer who really doesn’t need an introduction, right?”
OK, OK, I’m sorry and I’m done. I promise!
(Cathy, I haven’t had a second cuppa coffee yet, so I’ve not yet reconstituted my personality into something that is normal enough to be presented to the outside world. Mea culpa.)
As for the song… neither version really had me doing backflips ‘n’ handstands, but I think I’ll go with The Grobans, primarily because there was a little more music going on in the background.
Alright, I’m off now to get that second cup of coffee so the world can face me… and vice versa.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents ‘Battle Of The Bands’
Cathy Kennedy
Stephen,
Your brand of humor always puts a smile on my face. I wish I were quick to draw witty comparison as you. DH is a lot like you and he cracks me up all the time. I’m glad you explained, though. I’m not sure if I would’ve seen it otherwise. My brain isn’t always wired to pick up these subtleties. 😀 Hopefully, this comment and others will make up for the lack of song luster for ya! Have a good evening and thanks for swinging by to vote.
Tony Gonzaga – 1
Josh Groban – 3
Arlee Bird
I listened to both versions and then, after I woke up…
Just kidding.
I liked this song in the movie–it is pretty. Between these versions I’m going to go with Josh. I liked the instrumentation behind him better. His version had more life to it to my ears.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Cathy Kennedy
Lee,
Are you referring to the movie, “Once”? I didn’t see it. Did you like it, assuming that’s it?
Tony Gonzaga – 1
Josh Groban – 2
MNL
I like Josh’s better. Yeah, I know my vote is late but decided to listen to both anyways.
Cathy Kennedy
Mary,
You’re not late at all! This is the first day for Round 3 of BoTB. Each artist has a tally now. Thanks for voting!
Tony Gonzaga – 1
Josh Groban – 1
Mary B
Excellent song choice to kick off February! When I first saw the name of the tune, I didn’t think that I knew the song, but once the first video started playing, I had one of those… oh, that song! moments.
My vote is for the charming Tony Gonzaga. I just really enjoyed her version a little better than Josh’s.
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Cathy Kennedy
Mary,
I often am stumped on a song title and it’s not until I hear it that I’m like…”Oh, yeah! I know that tune!” lol Thanks for kicking off the vote count for this BoTB round!
Tony Gonzaga – 1
Josh Groban – 0