Battle of the Bands

You Know My Name BOTB Showdown

Thanks for popping by to participate in the next Battle of the Bands in my James Bond Theme Song series. From this point forward I don’t have a good sense about the films or the music.  In 2006, Casino Royale was the 21st James Bond spy thriller flick starring a brand new 007, Daniel Craig.  I recall the film title and we did eventually see it but I couldn’t remember the theme song until I heard it again.  Chris Cornell was the original recording artist You Know My Name.  The song did better in Europe than in the states, peaked #2 (Danish Single Chart), #3 (Finnish Single Chart), #4 (Italian Single Chart), #7 (UK Single Chart) and #79 (US Billboard Hot 100). 

The available covers of this Eon film production theme song is limited on both of my favorite Internet sources.  In this round, I went with female vocalists, the first is a pure acoustic rendition and the second is an edgier rock vibe.  I now invite you to listen to both covers to decide which version you like the best.

Contender #1 Vinyl Hotel

Contender #1 Liza Summer

Which cover artist is the best, Vinyl Hotel or Liza Summer? Leave your vote in comments!

I invite you to visit BoTBers with showdowns going on today.

*Unless noted, all other participants will present two battles per month on the 1st & 15th

Polls close noon (ET) on Sep 7

My plan is to return next week same time with the results of this battle but I have final preparations to make before our vacation and this might slip my mind. Internet fun has taken a hard hit since spring. However, I 100% am ready for the Sunday edition of Monday’s Music Moves Me, so come join the party. We’ll be boogieing to songs about school. I hope you’ll decided to join the fun. Have a great holiday weekend!  X💋X💋, Cathy



16 Comments

  • Natasha

    Vinyl Hotel hits the spot for me. There is something very raspy and catchy about Liza Summer; yet Vinyl Hotel totally hits the spot and is far more pleasing to my ear.

    Which one is your favourite, I’m curious to know?
    Have a fabulous week ahead!
    Love xox

  • diedre Knight

    Hi Cathy,

    Interesting song. While Liza Summer’s rendition really seemed to embody the Bond theme, I very much enjoyed Vinyl Hotel – especially the acoustics. A vote for Vinyl, please.

  • John Holton

    Wow! Two excellent covers of my favorite Bond theme! They were both fantastic! I love the all-acoustic version by Vinyl Hotel: the singer has an excellent voice, and the guitarists were superb! They would be my choice had Liza Summer’s cover not been so good. It was real close to the original, for one thing, and this song needs that aggressive attack. And Liza’s voice started out strong and got stronger. I like her voice better than Chris Cornell’s on this. Put me down for Liza Summer’s cover, which I hate to do because I really liked the acoustic version.

  • Sandee

    The first one was more pleasing than the second one, so I’m going with #1.

    Have a fabulous rest of the week, my friend. Love and hugs. ♥

  • Birgit

    I know this song and liked it from the start. Knowing that, to me, Daniel Craig is the “angry Bond” ( if we think of Bond as having split personalities), I prefer Liza with her punch than Vinyl who was ok but just didn’t give me much. Enjoy your vacation!

  • Stephen T. McCarthy

    Howdy, CAThy! It’s That You!!

    And it’s this me, too.

    I hope y’all are doing well and ready for some cooler weather (and perhaps The Rapture, with it).

    So, in this Battle, I wasn’t too wild about Vinyl Hotel. There wasn’t a whole lot of “there” there (i.e., lacking musical dynamics) and maybe they should be called Vinyl Motel instead. Not sure they rise to the level of a hotel.

    As soon as Liza Summer began, I was sure I’d be voting for her because there was some snap, crackle, pop to the song. But I gotta say, after awhile, it really started to grate on my nerves with that cliche “edgy” sound that should have gone out of style with the ’90s. In fact, I couldn’t quite make it through the entire song, and started feeling like I should be out looking for vampires to kill.

    So, please give my BOTB bote to the sedate VINYL MOTEL.

    Yak Later, My Friend!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

  • Arlee Bird

    Your posts look so skinny these days–at least on my computer. I need to go on that diet!

    Like some of your more recent Battles, I wasn’t really familiar with this song. But I did like it better than some of the other recent Bond themes.

    Both versions were well done, but I found the second a bit harsh while the first one was very nice listening.

    My vote goes to Vinyl Hotel.

    Lee

  • Thomas Anderson

    Hi, Cathy!

    Happy September 2022, dear friend!

    I can’t sat that I am very enthused about “You Know My Name,” the Bond theme song for this battle. The overly dramatic lyrics spell it all out, give away too much information. I prefer a theme that piques the curiosity and fires the imagination. Regardless, I liked the cover by both female artists more than the original by male vocalist Chris Cornell, lead zinger of Soundgarden, who sadly took his own life five years ago at the age of 52.

    I was not able to find any background info on either of your competing female artists, but did ascertain that contestant #2, Liza Summer, is Russian. I enjoyed both versions, but since I am not overly fond of the song itself, I am voting for the performance that delivered the type of sound I favor, which is rock. Vinyl Hotel delivered a pleasing acoustic rendition of “You Know My Name,” but Liza Summer and her band packed more of a punch and gave me more to like.. Therefore, I vote for Liza!

    FYI, my current post expires Saturday. If you’d like to visit Shady’s Place and find out what Bud’s Budding Blossoms aka “The Budettes” are up to, I will welcome you with open arms. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cathy!

error: Please contact me for permission to download. Thank-you!!

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