If you haven't heard of the Battle of Bands, you aren't following the blogs hosting this fabulous event. It began with The Far Away Series and then my friend Stephen decided to partner up with her, followed by Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out. They are in cahoots and hosting a giveaway for people who vote on their sites. The Battle takes place on the 1st and 15th of every month. This is the fourth installment, and other blogs can participate... you just need to post in the comments that you are doing so. I am aware of DiscConnected posting a BOTB on his blog, so you should stop over there if you want to hit them all.
If you are hosting a BOTB on your site, and I didn't mention you, please indicate that you are playing along in the comments.
You have until the 21st to get your votes in. On that day, I will post the results of how this whole thing turned out.
Can't Help Falling In Love is the song for this week's battle. It was originally recorded by Elvis Presley and featured in his film Blue Hawaii (1961). Since then it has been covered by many bands!
Here is the King, Elvis Presley, singing Can't Help Falling In Love.
In the film Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), directed by John Hughes, the song was covered by a band called Lick The Tins. As someone who wore the tape out on this soundtrack (back in the day), I think it is one of the best remakes of this song around. However, does it beat the original? Listen and decide for yourself!
Okay, now that you have heard both of them, cast your vote in the comments, along with your reasoning for WHY you preferred one over the other.
I'm not an Elvis fan, but his smooth voice still wins. Didn't Cheap Trick cover this tune as well? Maybe I would vote for that one instead.
ReplyDeleteThey recorded a song called Can't Stop Falling In Love. Similar name, but totally different song.
DeleteHowdy, ROBIN ~
ReplyDeletePleased to have you back participating in another round of BOTB. (Also, saw your comment on my Syria blog bit; will reply soon'z ah can.)
Without any doubt whatsoever, Elvis Presley was/is "The King Of Rock 'N' Roll" (and I can actually cite some statistics to support that claim should anyone have their doubts).
However, I am not really a big Elvis fan. There is a small handful of his songs that I genuinely like (and one I totally LOVE), but 'Can't Help Falling In Love' is not amongst them.
Nevertheless, Elvis always had a good voice and I don't mind hearing him sing this (but if it played on the radio, I'd push a button to see if I could find some Beach Boys).
The 'Lick The Tins' version I had never heard before... and hope I don't hear it again. All that high-pitched squeaking and Irish jig jamming made me think of Cyndi Lauper (another singer I hope never to hear again).
So, obviously - mostly by voting for the better version of a song I don't much care for - I'm voting for "The King".
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
OK, here's your BOTB.
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say that I am extremely tired and yet I'm trying to make the rounds on these BOTB posts, and leave a somewhat intelligent comment (well, intelligent for me anyway). Now that I have that excuse out of the way...
This song has been covered A LOT and I find that most of the covers add something unique little twist of their own. In this one by 'Lick the Tins', I find the instrumental interludes interesting and kind of catchy, BUT that woman's voice is enough to send me over a cliff and around the bend, especially when compared to the mellow sound of Elvis'.
Therefore, I'm sticking with The King on this one.
Although I LOVED Some Kind Of Wonderful and this version, I still have to go with Elvis' version....
ReplyDeleteLarry
The Lick the Tins arrangement was daring and different, but edged on annoying. The instrumentation was good. I like Irish style music, but I don't think it goes well with that song. This sounded like something out of a cartoon, cartoon voice, incongruity, and the whole weirdness.
ReplyDeleteI've gotta go with the traditional cover by Elvis.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Hi Robin,
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I don't like either version. Never liked Elvis' music and the second version of the song was to me, a stoned-out Irish jig with Cyndi Lauper sound a like singing after a rough night.
Oh my, another blogfest type event! Help me! :)
Gary
I gotta go w/Elvis. It reminds me of my grandparents, and that always makes me happy. :)
ReplyDeleteOy, that second version made me cringe. The King gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Robin.
xoRobyn
I am too big a fan of Some Kind of Wonderful not to pick that one ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove that song! UB 40 did a version that I like.
ReplyDeleteNot even close. They don't brew enough Guinness to make me think that second group could lick Elvis' tins.
ReplyDeleteAs a huge Elvis fan, I'm going to have to give The King my vote. Not that the other version is -bad-, per se'...it just ain't Elvis :)
ReplyDeleteNo contest for me. Elvis all the way. However, I like the drumbeat a lot at the start of the second version. Then that gal had to go and ruin it by singing.
ReplyDeleteWell, while I gotta go with the King, I by no means am going to join the bashing of the second song. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would at the start, and I didn't mind the singer (AND I might add I like Cyndi Lauper, BTW). Like Mark said above, it just ain't Elvis.
ReplyDeleteThis is just no contest to me. Elvis has such a powerful voice and he sings this with such passion it feels like he's directing it personally at the listener.
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Lick the Tins. Why? Because Some Kind of Wonderful is one of the best movies ever created. I love red-headed Eric Stolz. ;)
ReplyDeletethey are both great but i have to go with elvis. my 9yr old just got hooked on him thinking he is amazing and that resparked my i love elvis moment!
ReplyDeleteElvis Presley version for me. :-)
ReplyDelete