In 2018 I did back to back battles featuring four different cover artists of John Denver’s classic folk hit, Country Roads. I saved other renditions of this old favorite with the intent to doing another battle and so that’s where I am today.
My first contender is an Americana singer/songwriter and doesn’t need any introduction. I found her cover compelling, almost haunting. Please listen to Brandi Carlile’s recording of the battle featured song title, Take Me Home Country Roads!
My next find was an introduction. The Ozark Mountain classic trained, bluegrass infused band literally struck a chord with my heart. Tell me what you think about Southern Raised!
Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!
I hope you have time to check out the other battles underway. The list of participants is in my side bar beneath the BOTB banner.
If all goes well, then next week same time I’ll be back to share how things went in this battle showdown. This is CAAC signing off, have a bandtastic day!
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Howdy-Hi, y’all and welcome back to see how things transpired in the Take Me Home Country Roads BOTB!!
I read Stephen’s comment about all the Brandi’s brought to mind, but none was the one in this showdown. It was in that moment I questioned myself. I had to double check how I knew her. It was her song, The Story, that she may be best known for. Another thing that nagged me is I mentioned Southern Raised was an introduction. I don’t know what planet I was on when I wrote this post but anywho, I did a 4M Father’s Day post featuring them in 2022. I think I’m short a few marbles. Do you have any to spare?
Alrighty moving on…I listened to both covers again. Honestly, I love each for different reasons. I’m going with Brandi Carlile for the same reason that first drew me in with her version. Let’s see how the votes fell.
Brandi Carlile – Diedre, Willow, Sandee, Stephen, Mimi, Brian, Debbie, Me (8)
Southern Raised – Lee, John, Ellen, Eugi, Birgit (4)
There you have it, another battle come and gone. Thanks to everyone who participated. I’ll be back in June for another showdown!
CAThy ~
Although musically quite different, your Battle and mine were similar in that both of them had 8 to 4 outcomes, and in each of the two Battles, you and I voted for the same artists. In your contest, we were on the winning side, but on the losing side in mine. I feel that both of our Battles were really better & closer than the lopsided vote tallies would seem to indicate.
I plan to return on May 15th with two new old versions of ‘One Mint Julep’ and the conclusion to my short story.
~ D-FensDogG
I’ll do my best to swing by on the 15th for your next BOTB and story conclusion. Thanks for popping in to see how things went this round, my friend!
The John Denver original brings back a lot of memories for me, so I will always like it more than any cover. That said, I agree with you about Brandi Carlile. Absolutely captivating!
John Denver singing Country Road take me back mentally to my WV home, wrapping me with fuzzy memories of my childhood days with family and friends. Thanks for voting!
I liked Brandi too, she has a pretty voice.
Oh, hooray, it looks like comments are back on! I tried yesterday but nothing worked.
Anyway, as much as I enjoyed the second group, the haunting quality of the first charmed me mightily and gets my vote.
Southern Raised gets my vote. I loved all the musical instruments in it and itcwas lively. Brenda seems like she has one foot in the grave.
Southern Raised gets my vote. Brandi’s version is too slow for me.
CAThy! It’s that YOU!!
I dig your photo “on the country roads of East Tennessee”. (God gave you a really good sky for the photo. I’m always amazed by how many terrifically fantastic skies He gives me when I decide to take a picture. After about 4 decades, I can confidently state that it’s way beyond “coincidences”.)
~~>>… “My first contender is an Americana singer/songwriter and doesn’t need any introduction. I found her cover compelling, almost haunting. Please listen to Brandi Carlile’s recording.”
Really?! Needs no introduction? Well, I’ve heard of “Brandy, you’re a fine girl”. And I’ve heard of Belinda “Cocaine” Carlisle, who had a love affair with Mike “the cuticle on my left pinky’s fingernail prevents me from participating in today’s Playoff game” Marshall. But I’ve never heard of Brandi Carlile.
I’ve always enjoyed a fair number of John Denver’s songs. The one that I absolutely HATE (…like “Hate” in a Top 10 or 20 way) is ‘I’M SORRY’. Hokey-Smoke! I just want to slap him in the face and yell, “Man up, Joannie Denver! At the very least, try to find some miniature marbles you could carry in the front pocket of your Jordache jeans!!” (Oh! “Hate” isn’t even a strong enough word for my feelings about that song!)
But… for a wuss, John Denver was mostly pretty good.
I had to listen to both of these songs THREE times (and without watching the videos, in order to keep myself from being influenced by irrelevant images). It was STILL tough, because I liked BOTH recordings. But… although I almost voted for both of them a couple of times, in the final analysis, I have to side with the intensely personal approach by Brandi “She’s A Fine Girl” Carlile.
~ D-FensDogG
I did not like the first one. I definitely prefer Southern Raised. Great song. XO
Brandi Carlile bored me. Southern Raised gets my vote.
Brandi did a nice version, but it was a bit slow for my taste. I’ve got to give my vote to Southern Raised. Still prefer John Denver to either of these.
Lee
Let’s make it three for Brandi Carlile.
Have a fabulous day and rest of the week. Love and hugs. ♥
Brandi Carlile all the way.
While I enjoyed the faster tempo of Southern Raised, I can’t resist Brandi Carlile – she gets my vote. What a great song!