Battle of the Bands

Mad World #BOTB

June 1, 2015 /
dentist6
HA-HA-HA

I know, I know it’s Monday, kittens & dawgs. I wanted to give y’all something to smile about this morning. Wait a minute! Did I say it’s Monday? Monday = music ALWAYS! I’m not only going to make you smile, but I might make you dance, too.

Welcome to June 1 edition of BoTB! The English new wave band Tears for Fears Mad World track became an international hit in the early 80s and since that time 42 other artists did it as a cover. Do your memory jogged? If so, listen below.

Reference only

It’s time to pit one band(artist) against another. There is no right or wrong vote, except a vote NOT cast. Who will win? It’s all up to you! It’s a Mad World!

The thing is I don’t know if I remember the original artist or cover artist (scratch head) Gary Jules  Mad World song track. The remake became an international hit, too.  I have a feeling it’s Jules’ version I’m familiar with, but I won’t swear to it.

I try to do things a little different by veering from the most popular covers on purpose for the competition. You guessed it, TFF and Jules are not contenders.

Moving on, after listening to several artists that kept true to the original style, I found Michael Parsberg. His cover transformed it a slow, dreamy song to more of a dance floor number and I kinda like it. What do you think?

One of the last artist to cover this classic in 2013 is Jasmine Thompson. This new-to-me, sweet voice holds potential. The only thing missing is lyrics to claim as hers and move away from covering other artists’ songs. That being said, give a listen to Jasmine!

Did you vote? Don’t let a little thing like not being a part of BoTB stop you from picking your favorite. This is open to everyone! Does that make you feel better? Good. Now, why not hop over to STMcC to learn how this all works and to visit other BoTB bloggers hosting more epic battles!

Thanks for joining me for this battle showdown. Now to dance with XmasDolly and co-hosts!

Have a bandtastic day! ~image borrowed~
Have a bandtastic day!

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38 Comments

  • XmasDolly

    June 3, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    You asked me a question on my blog, and it was all made in China as far as I can tell. Your tunes here Not sure if I like the second one or the third one better. hehehe Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 4, 2015 at 10:57 am

      Marie, thank you for letting me know the manufacturing origin of the hamburger press. I think I’ll keep looking until I find one made in the USA. I prefer to not buy any products from communist countries, if I can avoid it. They are horrible to their people!

  • hollihd

    June 3, 2015 at 10:38 am

    A few years ago I was watching So you think you can dance and they did an amazing dance to the version sung by Michael Andrews and gary jules from the movie Donnie Darko. I loved it and bought it off iTunes right then. That would be the version I would vote for but its not up for vote. I ‘ll go with Jasmine because its more slow and dramatic like the original.

  • Stephen T. McCarthy

    June 2, 2015 at 4:31 am

    CATHY ~
    I vote Jasmine.

    To be honest, one minute and twenty-four seconds of the first one was all I could stands, and I couldn’t stands no mo’.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    ‘Loyal American Underground’

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 3, 2015 at 9:07 am

      That dance bet feel of Parsberg’s cut is one that you either puts you in the groove or sends you down the tube. I’m finding that some like Jasmine’s pure vocals and others think it’s a real snoozer. I just goes to show music style is all about the person’s taste on any given day. Thanks for voting, Stephen!

  • dolorah

    June 2, 2015 at 12:32 am

    Oops, I clicked off before hitting post comment. Hope this comment doesn’t show up twice.

    Is it just me being deaf. In all three versions, I could not hear the singers. The music washed them all out, no matter how loud I turned it up.

    So I’ll vote on the musical rendition itself, and I liked Michael Parsberg the best. I’m such a drums fan.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 3, 2015 at 9:10 am

      Donna, nope double comments. You’re safe! Hmm, I didn’t have any trouble hearing the vocals in any of the videos and this is coming from someone who has trouble hearing properly. lol Oh well…I’m glad that you voted if nothing else on the music. Thanks for stopping by!

  • Mike Spain

    June 2, 2015 at 12:30 am

    Jasmine gets my vote. Her vocals and stripped down arrangement put more emotion to the song. The lyrics shined more in her version.

  • Birgit

    June 2, 2015 at 12:14 am

    I love this song so much and I always think of my niece who felt this song when she was only 10-poor thing. Although I liked the techno beat better than I thought I would, I give it to Jasmine as she put a lot of feeling to this song

  • John Holton

    June 1, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    I love the disco beat behind Michael Parsberg. And there’s vibraphone in his! Jasmine has a great voice and I enjoyed listening to some of her other songs on YouTube, but this song didn’t fit her. Parsberg gets the vote here.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 3, 2015 at 9:12 am

      John, really?! I thought Jasmine did a nice job and it suited her well. I should listen to more of her music videos. Thanks for voting. I’m hoping over to your place now to see what you’re sharing in this BoTB!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 5:07 pm

      Stacy, I kept Adam out because I wanted less known artist to go head-to-head. It just makes things a little more interesting. Thanks for voting!

  • greyzoned/angelsbark

    June 1, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    I definitely like Michael Parsberg better. I like what he did with the song, instrumentally. And I really didn’t care for Jasmine’s voice so it’s Parsberg for my vote. Great showdown. I had no idea this song had been covered so much! It is a brilliant song.
    Michele at Angels Bark

  • Robin

    June 1, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    This was tough. I’m very familiar with both the Tears for Fears version and the Gary Jules version. I think Gary is my favorite amongst the two. But, I can go for either. Jasmine’s version was very much like the Gary Jules version… with a female singer. A talented singer, but she didn’t do anything unique with the song to make it “hers.”

    However, Michael Parsland really outdid himself with this completely different arrangement. I like it! It isn’t nearly as depressing as the other three versions. Sometimes, because it is such a mad world the best thing we can do is… dance!

    I give a big thumbs up for his unique stamp on Mad World! And my vote…

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm

      Robin, Parsburg’s track is more danceable and you’re right Jasmine is plays it a little safe with her cover, but so far she’s in the lead on the vote count.

  • XmasDolly

    June 1, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    I have never heard any of them my friend, but that young lady sure has a captivating voice doesn’t she. I really get drawn to that tune for some reason or other, and thanks for joining us once again my friend. You’re the best!

  • dcrelief

    June 1, 2015 at 11:44 am

    Cathy! Wow – you just made me rethink this song. Until now, Gary Jules’ version was my favorite, but Michael Parsberg goes a step further for me. I wanna get up and dance. Yes, it’s a mad world but can’t I have some fun while floating through it? I think so!

    I heard Jasmine like a female version of Gary Jules. Give my vote to Michael Parsberg! Great battle, lady.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 5:16 pm

      Dixie-chick, yep Parsberg number makes ya wanna dance. He’s showing favor in the battle or at least the comments say so. I think I’m gonna have tally the what folks are saying in comments against the survey generator results in the end to double check things. Thanks for dancing with me, girl!

  • stevebethere

    June 1, 2015 at 11:18 am

    I used to love this track I think out of the covers my vote has to go to Michael Parsberg brilliant version 🙂

    Have a covertastic day Cathy

  • Debbie D.

    June 1, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I liked both versions, but Michael Parsberg struck more of a chord, somehow, so I’m voting for him.. It’s a great song and I do think Jasmine has a bright future, regardless.

  • Shady Del Knight

    June 1, 2015 at 10:58 am

    Hi, Cathy! You have staged another interesting BOTB match-up. The Michael Parsberg song and video are indicative of 80s new wave and was pretty close to the TFF version. I liked it. However, I love it when an artist tries a fresh new approach to the material and I thoroughly enjoyed Jasmine’s simple, demo-style performance. Here voice is clear and pure and evokes feelings that I didn’t experience when I listened to Parsberg. Thank you for introducing both artists, dear Cathy. My vote goes to Jasmine Thompson!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      Hey funny guy Shady, BTW I loved your post today! Anywho, I’m glad you liked today’s contenders. I like how Parksberg’s cut makes me wanna dance and Jasmine’s pure simplicity, each stirs me different. It’s fun to read how others perceive both singers’ cover.

  • Mary B

    June 1, 2015 at 3:33 am

    I remember Adam Lambert performing this for American Idol. He blew me away. As for my vote, I’m giving it to Jasmine. Michael Parsberg’s version was just too techno-electronic for the mood of the song.

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 6:09 am

      Mary, The year Adam Lambert was on AI I didn’t watch so much, but I did listen to his cover. I didn’t consider him for the obvious reason that he’s more popular than Parsberg & Thompson. Yeah, I like to show cast those unfamiliar voices when ever possible just to make our ole brains work a bit. 😀 Thanks for voting. Now, off to listen to your features! 😉

  • Arlee Bird

    June 1, 2015 at 1:13 am

    I like this song a lot but I had no idea it had been covered so much. I remember it from Donnie Darko and thought that’s where it originated. Well, what do I know?

    Both versions are very nice. Jasmine does well with it–very sweetly done, but not exceptionally original.

    I’m going with Michael Parsberg in this round. Maybe I just feel like dancing, but he made the song rather interesting.

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

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 6:26 am

      Lee, I didn’t know that little tidbit, either. I think I’ve only watched Donnie Darko in pieces while flipping through channels. I have mixed feeling about my contenders this round. I am undecided who’ll steal my vote in the end. Thanks for taking time to tell me why you voted for Parksberg. Now, I’m dancing over to see listen to your picks!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      June 1, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Did you vote Patrick? I hope so. You don’t have to be apart of BoTB to vote. It’s open to everyone. Now, off to dance to your Monday Music picks!

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