Battle of the Bands ~ Chasing Cars

Funny story.

Check that.

This has elements of a funny story... and then we'll get down to business. So... on Monday I was out watering the yard when I was attacked by fire ants. Of course, I was wearing slip-on sandals so my feet and ankles looked very much like dinner. I am happily watering and then I am screaming and jumping around. I kept swiping them with my hand but they kept coming. (I still didn't even see an anthill... It was like an ant apocalypse happened right there in my yard. Nothing and then Bam!) So I have about 20 bites on my feet and they itch like... ::insert inappropriate language and simile here:: And they are 100 times worse than that at night... you know, when I want to sleep.

So, back on Tuesday night I am lying in bed and decide to check my email on my phone, rather than scratch the skin off of my toes. There was a message from Stephen T. McCarthy and he finished it off with something like "I can't believe Battle of the Bands is only a few days away." Yikes. So, I close down mail and open up YouTube. Two hours later I have two song possibilities. I email him this titillating information and the fact that my eyes now burn from staring at a tiny screen for two hours. The next day, I decide on the second song until he sends an email saying I should go with the first. Nah, he has no idea which songs I had in mind, but he made me RETHINK it (again).

And I am going with the first. Stephen, thank you. Everyone else, you're welcome. Rereading this story, not as funny as I first thought.... much like the script of so many movies located in the Comedy genre at the movie store.

And now.. finally... Battle of the Bands!

The song for this battle is Chasing Cars. It was originally sung by Snow Patrol, and remains to-date their best-selling song. It was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards and Best British Single at the 2007 Brit Awards.



Way back when Umbrella was the song doing battle, Brianne Pagel suggested the cover by a group called The Baseballs. I enjoyed that so much that I have listened to several of their other covers, including Chasing Cars. So, here is The Baseballs with their original take on Chasing Cars.





For more Battle of the Bands fun, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:

• Far Away Series
• Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog
• Tossing it Out
• DiscConnected
• The Creative Outlet of Strat Player 
• Mike's Ramblings
• Donna Hole

Now, is the critical moment. It is time to vote for your favorite version of this song. I even encourage you to leave me long comment explaining all the ins and outs of why you voted as you did! 

I Swear... It Happened Just Like This!

If you are new to this blog, you might not have noticed that I am off my Blogging Game. I was supposed to put up a HERE'S TO YOU post yesterday. I didn't have one. Say what? ::gasps are heard from the peanut gallery::

I know. This NEVER happens. Yet, it did. There were so many things that got put on the back-burner during April and the A to Z and they all attacked me at once.

 If you were thinking, "OH NO! She has quit the HERE'S TO YOU FEATURE.... Relax. It will be back next week (barring any hazards). And if you don't know what I am talking about... well, you are in for a treat.

Now, I SAID that I was going to post the Battle of the Bands results on the 7th. I totally forgot that was the IWSG post day. Really, just too much all at once. I did COUNT the votes, but I actually had "stuff" I wanted to say about this battle. First, there is no way of telling if you've done a good job in choosing the "combatants" until the votes start rolling in. I thought that more of you would like the Rihanna version, because it was the original, and would be the one you are accustomed to hearing. I didn't take into account how many of you don't listen to current music on the radio. Hahahaha. My mistake. And I might make it again, but isn't that part of the fun in life???

Second, Train whomped Rihanna in this battle. Their version of Umbrella got 26 votes without mine. Rihanna only got 3 votes. CW Martin said, "If it was done in my living room, maybe Rihanna." But he voted for Train. As for my vote?  Well I LOVE LOVE LOVE Train.  Some of you already knew that. How? Your first clue MIGHT have been the series I wrote on Train before attending their concert back in 2012. Then, before I went to the 21012 Train concert in Atlanta I am almost positive I posted this picture of myself in my Train concert T-shirt. I bought this shirt when I saw them the First Time back in 2004. Rarely do I go to a concert and buy the T-shirt, so it was a BIG thing.

Me in 2012 before Train Concert

Third, Briane P. didn't like either choice and voted instead for a cover by The Baseballs. I had never heard of The Baseballs or their cover, BUT it was FANTASTIC. And had I heard it earlier, I would have done this Battle completely differently. Ah... the things we learn AFTER THE FACT.

Fourth, Dawn Malone said that she would have liked Train's version better if it didn't have all the "ella ella ella" business in it. I agree. That is why I prefer their live, acoustic version. However, it wasn't the version they RECORDED and it didn't seem fair to use it. And the lead singer, Pat Monahan, has crazy hair in the acoustic video. I love Pat, but I swear it looks like he stuck a finger in a light socket.

Which brings me to my fifth point... To let you know I do listen to you, I will share The Baseballs version of this song (thank you Briane P.) and the acoustic version by Train (this is for you Dawn). You can vote again if you want on this new match-up (or not). It isn't an official battle. I just wanted you to hear the Battle That Could Have Been.

First up Train with their acoustic version:



And the new-to-me group, The Baseballs:



I apologize for not getting around to everyone's blog. It has not been Business As Usual here and I feel very behind. I hope to make the rounds before Monday.

So, now who do you like? Train Acoustic or The Baseballs? Remember the videos are entertaining to watch, but we judge strictly on the music. Yeah, it turns out I do want to know... I will be back on the 15th with a NEW AND DIFFERENT BOTB match-up!