I Honestly Love You #BOTB

This morning, I’m mixing humor with music. Who’s in the mood for love?

Valentine’s Day is the most commercialized celebration of one’s affections for another and I’m a sucker like everyone else who enjoys having an extra reason to show DH my love.

In 1974 Olivia Newton-John won a Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance with I Honestly Love You written by Jeff Berry and Australian composer Peter Allen.

I thought it would be fun to hear this song by the opposite sex, since I grew up listening to and thinking that the soft feminine sound of ONJ is the only way to love, I Honestly Love You.

Today’s spin-off is between two slightly forgotten artists. Who will win? It’s up to you, listen and vote for your favorite BOTB player. Let the battle begin!

British pop artist, Cliff Richards, fame is predominately in the UK earning him multiple gold and platinum awards over the years. However, his success never had the same impact in the United States despite eight US Top 40 singles, including Devil Woman and We Don’t Talk Anymore.

Released on his 2004 The World Tour album, I Honestly Love You….

American soul artist/songwriter, Jerry Butler, was the lead singer of The Impressions (late 50s-early60s). Butler co-wrote several successful hits songs in his career. I recall one of his songs from 1975 (He Will Break Your Heart) charting #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 by Tony Orlando and Dawn renamed He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You).

Jerry Butler’s 1976 Love’s On the Menu album, includes his version of I Honestly Love You.

[wwm_survey id=”2″]

The survey vote worked beautifully last week. It simplified the count process without goof ups on my part. I know we are only a handful of participants, but still it kinda drives my eyes nuts hunting for each person’s vote. lol After you vote, please tell us why you liked your pick the best in comments.

Okay, if you’re new to Battle of the Band, then visit STMcCP to get the 411 on how things work and for the rest of you, you know what to do. It’s time to play along with the other kittens and dawgs!

I’ll have the results next week this time, so I invite you to check back to see if your pick gets named the winner. Before I scat for the day, let me leave you with this funny. WARNING: Use of Strong language, but comical and oddly spoken with a lot of truth.

Thanks so much. Until we meet again, have bandtastic day and join me tomorrow on the dance floor with #Music Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Part III!

8 Comments

Robin

February 18, 2015 at 12:31 pm

I voted on the main page, but this one was Jerry Butler by a landslide. I think Cliff tried to sing it like ON-J and that was a big mistake. A wispy voice from a petite blonde is one thing. A wispy voice from a man… not so nice.

Far Away Eyes

February 17, 2015 at 8:16 pm

When I first read your post, I thought; oh boy, I don’t remember this song AT ALL. When I played the first version by Cliff, I remembered why. I never like it. Now, after hearing Jerry Butler sing it in a completely different manner, I’m thinking it ain’t so bad after all. so give Jerry my vote.

Sorry, I’m so late in making it by, but then you know me

John Holton

February 16, 2015 at 6:09 pm

Have to go with the Iceman here. Cliff’s version is better than Olivia’s, but both sound similar; Jerry made it his own way, and improved a pretty wimpy song.

You can find my battle here: https://thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/battle-of-the-bands-yummy-yummy-yummy/

Chris Fries

February 16, 2015 at 1:13 pm

I have to vote for Jerry Butler by a landslide. His soulful rendition managed to take one of my all-time least-favorite sappy, flaccid, wimpy, whiny songs and turn it into something listenable. The bluesy guitar and the horns worked well in it, and his vocals has soul and feeling, unlike the bland vanilla Olivia.

Jimmy Cliff’s version was even worse than Olivia’s — it was like Olivia-Lite. I couldn’t make it all the way through…

dcrelief

February 15, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Hi Cathy. I think this is an interesting battle, you’ve got. I’ve been checking out Cliff Richard’s videos for a couple of months, thinking to showcase him against another. Maybe it’s my lack of interpreting the British accent. When I see him perform, I see his emotions on his face, and in his movements. He has that audience appeal that I don’t find as readily in the playing of a video, of his, with lyrics only. I kept adjusting the volume to bring more ‘feeling’ into the music. What I found was, I dropped him from the battle list. (I hope I’m painting a picture you understand.)

Whereas, and this may help clarify… Jerry Butler appears to overemphasize the feelings through the way he says/sings the words. Couple that with the right instrumentation, and you’ve got a ‘make or break it’ song. Imagine Cliff singing to Jerry’s background noise? Or the reverse. It might be a different battle all together. Who knows? Anyway, I liked both versions. Each artist stayed true to his venue.

My vote is for Jerry Butler.

Birgit

February 15, 2015 at 12:06 pm

Oh my, my teeth were rotting by Cliff Richard’s version. It was so wimpy and icky that I think he is swooning over Bruce Jenner right now. I prefer Jerry Butler. He has the song sung correctly-romantic but manly-to make a woman swoon (although not this one). The paper clipping is hilarious and sad

Arlee Bird

February 15, 2015 at 10:01 am

I usually like Cliff Richard’s music but his take on this song was like a boxing match between two scrawny guys in sequined hot pants hitting each other with big powder puffs. It was kind of wimpy.

The instrumentation in the Butler version was nice and he gave the song a lot of soul. He was much more effective in is delivery.

I’ll take Olivia over these two any day, but left with the choice we have then I’ll vote for Jerry Butler by a wide margin.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

Stephen T. McCarthy

February 15, 2015 at 9:59 am

CATHY ~
I was never really a fan of Olivia Newton-John, but she DID do a couple songs I liked. And although ‘I HONESTLY LOVE YOU’ really seeps a bit into “Saccharine Street”, I still couldn’t help liking it.

Of these two versions, I liked the JERRY BUTLER version best. It was musically more interesting, plus I prefer his more soulful voice to Cliff Richards’ thin, bleached white voice.

Had ON-J been put up against Jerry Butler, then his soulful voice would have gotten beat by ON-J’s thin, wispy white voice.

~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’

Robin

February 18, 2015 at 12:31 pm

I voted on the main page, but this one was Jerry Butler by a landslide. I think Cliff tried to sing it like ON-J and that was a big mistake. A wispy voice from a petite blonde is one thing. A wispy voice from a man… not so nice.

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Far Away Eyes

February 17, 2015 at 8:16 pm

When I first read your post, I thought; oh boy, I don’t remember this song AT ALL. When I played the first version by Cliff, I remembered why. I never like it. Now, after hearing Jerry Butler sing it in a completely different manner, I’m thinking it ain’t so bad after all. so give Jerry my vote.

Sorry, I’m so late in making it by, but then you know me

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John Holton

February 16, 2015 at 6:09 pm

Have to go with the Iceman here. Cliff’s version is better than Olivia’s, but both sound similar; Jerry made it his own way, and improved a pretty wimpy song.

You can find my battle here: https://thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/battle-of-the-bands-yummy-yummy-yummy/

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Chris Fries

February 16, 2015 at 1:13 pm

I have to vote for Jerry Butler by a landslide. His soulful rendition managed to take one of my all-time least-favorite sappy, flaccid, wimpy, whiny songs and turn it into something listenable. The bluesy guitar and the horns worked well in it, and his vocals has soul and feeling, unlike the bland vanilla Olivia.

Jimmy Cliff’s version was even worse than Olivia’s — it was like Olivia-Lite. I couldn’t make it all the way through…

Loading...
dcrelief

February 15, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Hi Cathy. I think this is an interesting battle, you’ve got. I’ve been checking out Cliff Richard’s videos for a couple of months, thinking to showcase him against another. Maybe it’s my lack of interpreting the British accent. When I see him perform, I see his emotions on his face, and in his movements. He has that audience appeal that I don’t find as readily in the playing of a video, of his, with lyrics only. I kept adjusting the volume to bring more ‘feeling’ into the music. What I found was, I dropped him from the battle list. (I hope I’m painting a picture you understand.)

Whereas, and this may help clarify… Jerry Butler appears to overemphasize the feelings through the way he says/sings the words. Couple that with the right instrumentation, and you’ve got a ‘make or break it’ song. Imagine Cliff singing to Jerry’s background noise? Or the reverse. It might be a different battle all together. Who knows? Anyway, I liked both versions. Each artist stayed true to his venue.

My vote is for Jerry Butler.

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Birgit

February 15, 2015 at 12:06 pm

Oh my, my teeth were rotting by Cliff Richard’s version. It was so wimpy and icky that I think he is swooning over Bruce Jenner right now. I prefer Jerry Butler. He has the song sung correctly-romantic but manly-to make a woman swoon (although not this one). The paper clipping is hilarious and sad

Loading...
Arlee Bird

February 15, 2015 at 10:01 am

I usually like Cliff Richard’s music but his take on this song was like a boxing match between two scrawny guys in sequined hot pants hitting each other with big powder puffs. It was kind of wimpy.

The instrumentation in the Butler version was nice and he gave the song a lot of soul. He was much more effective in is delivery.

I’ll take Olivia over these two any day, but left with the choice we have then I’ll vote for Jerry Butler by a wide margin.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

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Stephen T. McCarthy

February 15, 2015 at 9:59 am

CATHY ~
I was never really a fan of Olivia Newton-John, but she DID do a couple songs I liked. And although ‘I HONESTLY LOVE YOU’ really seeps a bit into “Saccharine Street”, I still couldn’t help liking it.

Of these two versions, I liked the JERRY BUTLER version best. It was musically more interesting, plus I prefer his more soulful voice to Cliff Richards’ thin, bleached white voice.

Had ON-J been put up against Jerry Butler, then his soulful voice would have gotten beat by ON-J’s thin, wispy white voice.

~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’

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