Melancholy March #BOTB showdown
I’m feeling a little melancholy this morning, kittens and dawgs. Winter will end soon, yet spring is weeks away. It’s a brand new month, what am I to do? Why I tell you, it’s time for round one of Battle of the Bands.
This time of the year the weather is quite mixed up and today’s featured song says it all.
Melancholy March was first recorded in 1956 and considering its age there are no covers, other than one. Please tell me I’m wrong! So, I’m using the original singer, I think this is a first for me, against a cover artist.
Kindly lend your eye to contender # 1, Julie London with the Pete King Orchestra.
Download Melancholy March from iTunes.
Born Gayle Peck in 1926, Ms. London was an American nightclub, jazz, and POP singer, film & TV actress, and former pinup model. Her career spanned over five decades of television and on the big screen her leading men included: Rock Hudson, Gary Cooper, and Robert Mitchum.
Her name was familiar, but the light didn’t come on until I read she starred in the 60s show, Emergency. 
Julie sings with that faint, sensual quality I’ve come to enjoy while listening to female artists and it won’t come as any surprise to learn she won me over the instant her lips parted. First vote goes to Julie London! 😉
Don’t let my opinion sway you, though. Competing against Ms. London is cover artists, Runtlalala.
There’s no denying Runtlalala has a pleasing quality to his voice, but in the end I think the allure of Julie’s vocals capture the essences of the lyrics the best. No tears will fall on this side regardless of who takes the golden mic.
How about you, who did you favor, Julie London or Runtlalala? Please leave your answer in comments; if you have time and want to share what makes your pick the “best” of the two, then I’d love to read your reasons.
Don’t forget, the polls close midnight of the 7th. I will share the results of this battle the following day, so mark your calendar and stop by to see if your pick gets named!
The fun continues with more epic battles underway; I invite you to visit, Stephen, who manages the ever-growing list of BoTB players and a special thanks to the brain child of this cool, bi-monthly hop, Fae!
Thanks for joining in on the fun. This is Curious as a Cathy signing off with….
Melancholy March,
Your gloom is showing,
Your winds are glowing,
Across the sky.Melancholy March,
Your clouds are crying,
Your trees are sighing,
As though they’ll die.I know you’re late for Winter’s tale,
Too early for any Spring,
So we stand, Hand in hand,
Waiting for anything!Melancholy March,
Without a season,
You have no reason
Or rhyme to be.Melancholy March,
Meet melancholy me!Melancholy March,
Meet melancholy me!
Have a songtastic day!
34 Comments
reinvintagedgoods
I, too, prefer Julie London, so please give my vote to her 🙂 I liked both versions, but I like the old sound and feel of Julie’s version with the orchestra backing.
Lauren @ Always Me
I completely forgot that Nurse Dixie McCall was a singer (I love Emergency, by the way)! She wins – this round for me.
Thanks again for linking up!
Cathy Kennedy
Lauren, well at least you made the connection, as I said it wasn’t until recent years that I learned this tid-bit and then it slipped my mind. Thanks for voting. I have you down for Ms. London!
Robin
Like you, I preferred Julie’s sultry vocals. She also had better instrumentation, so this was an easy one to pick. Julie London all the way!
Cathy Kennedy
Robin, I was wondering when you might get over. I thought I was going to have shoot you a reminder. lol Nah, I knew you’d get here. It’s hard to make the appropriate visits, commenting on the comments, and writing new posts. I have you down for JL!
mike spain
going with the classic Julie gets my vote
Cathy Kennedy
Mike, thanks for stopping in to vote because somehow I missed you on the list. What’s up with that? *smack forehead* Gotcha down for Julie, my friend!
Birgit
Love Julie London and my vote goes to her with her sultry voice and the hint of sadness that goes so well with the song. I grew up watching Emergency and had no idea she was a big singer until much later. She was married to Bobby Troup in real life…that’s the dude standing beside her in the one pic. I loved the calendar images of her which were quite racy for the time since she shows her belly-button.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit, I’m like you I grew up watching Emergency, too. It wasn’t until recent years that I discovered that she was singer, but I didn’t make the connection that she was also an actress. I believe I read that Bobby Troup and she were married in real life at Wikipedia. That was new to me. I love finding out stuff like this, though. I love the vintage pin up girls; most paintings the models are wearing clothes, but it’s how the artists illustrates the pin-up girl’s sexuality that’s so alluring. Thanks for stopping in to vote. I have you down for Julie!
Far Away Eyes
Both versions were quite good IMO, although I found it somewhat distrubing to know that Runtlalala is a man. YIKES! But, not matter what sex is singing I like the much fuller arrangement backing up Julie, so she gets my vote here.
Cathy Kennedy
Fae, I hear you on Runtlalala. lol You’re right, both version are good. Like you, and nearly everyone else like Julie the best. This battle swings heavily in her favor. Thanks for hopping over!
Cherdo
Believe it or not, I had two Julie London albums that I listened to when I was young (60-70s). So, there’s a loyalty issue here for me, ha ha. I played A Foggy Day over and over.
I love the Julie London version! Thanks, Cathy!
Janie Junebug
I vote for Runtlala. Their music makes me feel I’m in a smoky nightclub (in reality, I hate cigarette smoke), enjoying a great drink, and feeling like a goddess.
Love,
Janie
Cathy Kennedy
Hey Janie, gotcha down for Runtlala. I spelled it with one more “la” because I think that’s the way it appears on YouTube. Now, I wonder if I’m wrong. Hmmm, I better check that out. Oh I hear ya, I hate cigarette smoke, too. Phew, no thank you! My lungs are too precious to me. Stay away smokers! 😀
John Holton
I liked Runtlalala’s version– the singer with a lone guitar for accompaniment recalls Julie London’s work with Barney Kessel– but, in the end, Julie’s voice carried the song. If I could hear a version with Julie and Barney… man, that would be sublime…
Cathy Kennedy
John, I’m happy that you stopped by to vote in this round of BoTB. I’m not familiar with Barney Kessel. I do want to listen to more of Julie’s music, so I will look for Kessel’s accompaniment. I appreciate that little tip. Julie has cast a spell on everyone for the most part. I’ll add another tally to Ms.London’s count. Now to hop back over to your place to see what you have going on.
greyzoned/angelsbark
I didn’t know that Julie London of Emergency was also a singer! I remember that show fondly. As for the battle, I liked Julie’s version just fine but prefer Runtlalala’s. Cast my vote for Runtlalala please.
Michele at Angels Bark
Cathy Kennedy
Michele, just when I thought this battle was going to be shut out you voted against London. You’re the first to go with Runtlalala!
Jeffrey Scott
I too shall chose Julie London. What a great voice! The runtlalala was good, but London was amazing.
Cathy Kennedy
Thanks for weighing in this round of BoTB, Jeffrey. I’ll be by later to see what you’re bringing to this battle!
dcrelief
Runtlalala is sultry and sweet. Give my vote to her.
Cathy Kennedy
Dixie, you might have missed the little tid-bit. Runtlalala is a man. Yeah, I know it’s REALLY hard to tell. I did a little internet research before discovering the sex of the artist. I hate when you can’t tell if you’re listening to a man or a woman. Anywho, I have you down for Runtlalala.
Kisma
I love the oldies! I have to go with Julie London.
Cathy Kennedy
Kisma, thanks for joining me in today’s battle. Julie is mopping up the floor in this round! Can she keep it up? Check back next week to see, if she wins!
Debbie D.
Hi, Cathy; I remember Julie London from Emergency and am also familiar with her vocal stylings. She had a magnificent voice and gets my vote. Runtlalala (man or woman?) didn’t appeal to me at all.
Cathy Kennedy
Debbie, Oh yes Julie has a magnificent voice. I think I now remember in recent years hearing her recording of End of the World on Mad Men season 3 episode 12. I guess this is why London the artist sounded familiar to me when I set out on this little venture. 🙂 Gotcha down for Julie!
Mary B
Hello Cathy!
Both are wonderfully done, but I was completely transported by Julie London. What a beautiful voice!
Another great battle!
Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Cathy Kennedy
Mary, Julie London does transport you in time with her subtle, whispery vocals orchestra accompanying arrangement. Another vote goes to Ms. London!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, dear Cathy!
Good golly, Miss Molly! As old time top 40 DJ Johnny Holliday would have shouted, you are “clicking the turnstiles of the wax files” with this band battle. Julie London was a familiar voice during my childhood because my parents bought her records. I also remember her acting role on Emergency. I like Julie’s voice, but her vocal style is a little too laid back to suit my taste. I will take your word for it that Runtlalala is a he. I think he sounds like Macy Gray. I enjoyed the Runtlalala version but, once again, it was a little too subdued to get excited about. The deciding factor for me was the band on the Julie London recording. When Julie pauses and lets the Pete King Orchestra do their thing, it elevates the number from good to great. I vote for Julie and the Pete King Orchestra!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom, I sorta figured most of my readers would be familiar with Julie London, if not for her singing, then for her acting. Honestly, I did not know or maybe I just forgot that London was a talented artist. So far the tally is 3 and 0 in London’s favor. This song is a bit too low-key for everyone thus far, but commends the lead. It’s looking like a shut out, but the week is still young. I have you down for Julie London. Thanks for playing alone, my friend!
Stephen T. McCarthy
CATHY ~
I liked both of these recordings and this was not an easy vote for me. But… that’s not a guy singing in the second version, is it? Tell me, please, that’s a female.
I had to listen to BOTH recordings twice before I could make up my mind.
I think I actually like the vocals slightly better in the second one – there’s a kind of throaty sultriness to it in various places. But I liked the musical backing with the smooth horns better in the Julie London original.
In the end, I guess I gotta go to LONDON. But if we could merge her arrangement with the vocals of the second one I believe we’d have the best of both worlds.
~ D-FensDogG
‘Loyal American Underground’
Cathy Kennedy
Stephen, I know this dude sounds like a girl. I had to Google to make sure I got the sex right and was surprised to see it is a man. I hate it when you can’t tell, if an artist is male or female. *smack forehead* Now that made me feel sorta good that it took you two times to figure out which artist earned your vote. It shows me I did something right, if it takes extra effort on the listeners part before deciding who to side with. I have your vote logged, my friend. Let me skedaddle over to your site now! 😉
Arlee Bird
I don’t remember ever hearing this song before but I might have it on CD since I like Julie London a lot. Nice, but I guess it lacked the zing to make it an oft recorded classic.
You really pulled an esoteric choice out of your musical hat. Runtlalala was interesting enough, but didn’t have the prowess of Julie’s version. I wonder how your voting is going to go in this match?
My vote goes to Julie London.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Cathy Kennedy
Lee, I think the low key overtures of the melody, lyrics, and vocals are elements I like about Julie London’s song. The title fits perfect being it’s the first of March, too. Runtlalala definitely isn’t in the class of London, but it was a good cover. I just wish I more to work with, though. It’s interesting how some songs seem to get lost. I really like this song and it’s a new one for me, too. I have your vote recorded for Julie London.