It's time for the October 1, 2015, Battle of the Bands.
Mr. Stephen T. McCarthy provides us with this information about the bloghop:
The whole thing is really quite simple: You select two different versions of the same song (versions you feel might give each other some competition in the voting) and you post them on the 1st and the 15th of each month. On the 7th and 21st of each month, you add your own personal vote to the mix, total up all the votes and announce the winner on your blog.
Beyond that, just try to have fun with it and let your readers/voters have fun with it.
All righty, then. Let's have fun!
My song is one I love, but I won't use the version by the woman who wrote and first sang it. She would blow everyone else away.
Her name is Dolly Parton, and the song is Jolene. It was released in October, 1973. Wikipedia states that Parton reports Jolene has been covered more times than any other song she's written. Jolene is ranked #217 on Rolling Stones' Five Hundred Greatest songs of all time.
Our first contender in the battle is Miley Cyrus, who is Parton's godchild. I don't know a lot about Cyrus other than her father had an achy breaky heart, and she seems to have trouble dressing herself completely. However, in this version, I'm impressed by the strength of her voice.
Cyrus seems to me somewhat similar to her Aunt Dolly, except poor Miley can't afford clothes that's aren't ripped to shreds and full of holes.
And now for something completely different: Our second contender is The White Stripes, of whom I'm quite fond. Jack White possesses a prodigious talent, and I don't care if some people think he looks as if he's dead. According to Wikipedia, The White Stripes' version of Jolene was voted one of the greatest live covers by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. It's much more raw than Cyrus's interpretation, and considered a bit Goth.
Please vote in the comments section for Miley Cyrus or The White Stripes.
I'll return on October 7th to reveal the winner. I realize we're supposed to choose two versions of a song that will be in close competition with one another. I seem to have a hard time doing that. I like to use a fairly conventional version of a song and pit it against a more unusual rendition. I'm curious about how you choose to vote. Why do you choose a particular song?
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Franklin wants to make an announcement tomorrow, but it might have to wait. The dishwasher is broken again, and I find myself struggling to meet my obligations. Please don't blame Franklin if he doesn't publish a post tomorrow. I tend to Bogart the laptop.
I do not care for Miley Cyrus at all, but the girl has a set of pipes. I vote for her mainly because her sound is purer and her vocals are not competing with instruments
ReplyDeleteShe'll be pleased. I call her every evening.
DeleteSo, Miley... she certainly remains true to the song's country roots and, yes, you can hear Aunt Dolly in the quavers and tremolos, but I like the power of her voice and the hints of the blues that crop up.
ReplyDeleteJack White... disturbing, visceral, and very raw. Not an interpretation I would have ever expected, listening to my mother play it over and over when I was younger. I like that unexpectedness; it made me really listen to the song for the first time in yonks. Jack White for the win.
You go, girl. Don't slip out the back, Jack.
DeleteHmmm...I do like mIley's version. Is it weird I like miley? I ejnoy that she doesn't give a hoot what anyone thinks..
ReplyDeleteYes, it is weird that you like Miley, and if you truly didn't care, you wouldn't have brought it up. Anyway, Miley likes you. She doesn't care who knows.
DeleteNow wait a second, didn't I just write a post about "Jolene"? (Sure did: http://strangelynaked.com/2015/09/02/jolene-ya-done-goofed/) I think you're trying to stack the deck against ol' Miley. There's a much better, less produced version of her singing that song that I adore in her "Backyard Sessions". This is a singer's song, and Miley blows Jack White out of the water in that respect. All of my votes go to Miley on this one.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know you had Jolene on your blog. That's why I used a different version by Miley. All your votes? How many do you think you get?
DeleteThere's something about Jack White that draws me in every time and something about Miley that makes me turn and walk the other way.
ReplyDeleteI can't even watch "Cold Mountain" without fixating on the "hey, that's Jack White!" It's a sad, weird life I lead...
So, my vote goes to the White Stripes. Gonzo says "Stripes!", too!
GO, Gonzo! Or better yet, stay put. I love Jack White in Cold Mountain. It doesn't matter that his part is small. My eyes are drawn to him no matter what he does.
DeleteSid Vicious! Sid Vicious all the way!
ReplyDeleteHi, Janie Junebug! This is an interesting match-up that asks us to choose from two very different styles. I love rock interpretations but I'm not feelin' The White Stripes on this one. Miley sticks to the down home country basics and I very much prefer her Dollyesque version of "Jolene."
Thank you very much, dear Janie!
Shady, Shady, married lady? I don't think so. Miley will be pleased when I tell her she has your vote. I don't have access to Jack, but it doesn't hurt my feelings. I'm not worthy.
DeleteThe White Stripes version is okay though I can see where it could rate somewhat high in the annoyance factor for me if I weren't in the mood for listening to them--like right now.
ReplyDeleteMiley on the other hand gets the song right. She stays true to Aunt Dolly while at the same time uptempoing to update. I think Dolly is proud of what Miley did with the song.
Big hearty vote from me for Miley Cyrus. I don't care what people may think of her, but I think that the young lady does have talent.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Miley does have talent. That makes it especially sad that she seems to think she needs to draw attention to herself by going around nearly naked.
DeleteNobody sings that song like Dolly Parton.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I will play her version when I announce the winner.
DeleteJanie, Miley Cyrus does have a strong voice and she's quite talented. I thought her success in the music industry would afford her enough to at least buy jeans from Walmart, you know? If my MIL were alive she's say, "I'd thrown away better looking clothes than what this girl is wearing." lol Miley didn't bring anything new to the song, but The White Stripes rendition was more of their own. However, I'm going to give her my vote to Miley Cyrus because I like her cover the best and I'm more of a traditionalist when the dust settles. Sorry to hear your dishwasher is on the blink. Have a bandtastic day, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI always tell my son that homeless people wear nicer clothes than he does.
DeleteHey Janie. Sorry to hear about your dishwasher. I just had mine go out a short while ago and it flooded my kitchen. That wasn't fun. Will look forward to Franklin's announcement!
ReplyDeleteAs for your battle, I'm going with Miley on this one. She does indeed have a powerful voice and she is definitely talented, even though she still has a lot of growing up to do. No one can take from her that talent!
Hang in there!
Michele at Angels Bark
I hope she grows up enough to learn how to put on a full set of clothes.
DeleteMiley has always bothered me - there's just something about her I don't like. I think if I didn't have to see her perform Jolene, I'd consider it.
ReplyDeleteI love Jack White; there is something like about White. I love his style and I love what the White Stripes did with "Jolene." It's like Dolly Parton just got "Goth served" and I love it!
I love your comment. It's so intelligent.
DeleteI like Jack White on a lot of songs, but this ain't one. Sorry 'snookums'!
ReplyDeleteCast my little vote for the most-awful-dressed-on-stage singer, Miley. Yep (smile)
Interesting, Janie!!
How did you know my name is really snookums?
DeleteI swear, Miley is what Dolly would have sounded like in another era. I know Miley is outrageous, and a far cry from the little girl Hannah; but I like her. Not all the time, but mostly. She did well with this song. Outstanding actually. Godmother would have cast an evil fate on her if she did not.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm giving my vote to The White Stripes. I like Jack's bit of parody. It works. A good song to rock out.
I love Jack. I wish he called me all the time the way Miley does.
DeleteWow! These are both great covers. Like Lady Gaga, Miley has a great voice but uses such unnecessary and silly attention-getting costumes. It's too bad. Anyway, much as I liked her version, Jack White blew me away!. His emotional performance really got to me, which is what any good song should do. Please give my vote to The White Stripes.
ReplyDeleteFantastic battle, Janie!
Thanks! I'm excited about Lady Gaga because she found her voice. She can sing, really sing. She doesn't need weirdness. She can do it if she wants, but she doesn't have to in order to gain attention. When she sang on The Academy Awards, I was transfixed.
DeleteYes, she's a magnificent vocalist. No question!
DeleteI hate think I'm going to be biased on this one, but I'm going to go with the White Stripes for my vote. They are more entertaining I think, and liked what they did with the song. Miley sounded to much like her Aunt. Is that really true? I had no idea they were related. Personally, I think it might have been a good match up if you put Miley against Dolly. Either way, great battle.
ReplyDeleteWhite Stripes for me.
Dolly is Miley's godmother. In some parts of the country, people tend to call older friends of the family/godparents aunt and uncle. I don't think it would be right to put anyone against Dolly.
DeleteWhy Miley Cyrus thinks she has to be wacky to get attention is beyond me. She's got a great voice, and if you close your eyes, you can hear Aunt Dolly. Sorry, I know you love the White Stripes, but their version was just weird. A vote for Miley, if you please...
ReplyDeleteJust because I have a bit of a crush on Jack White doesn't mean I'll be crushed if you vote for someone else.
DeleteOh, wow... HUGE Jack White fan here (and can't stand Miley), so this might've been an easy vote for me. However, I did give both versions an even chance (I think)... Miley has a wonderful voice, I admit — it's strong but tempered, well educated (the voice, I talk about the voice), and she's a pretty cool performer on stage (and, apparently, off it, too). Jack, on the other hand, is a wild one. Bottom line, though, he gets my vote. Not because I adore him (and not because I can't stand the sight of Miley), but because his is the most original version. Miley's is good — great, even — but it's too close to Dolly's, and I'd rather listen to the original any day. Jack's is a thing apart: new, weird (like only he can pull off), and goth-y magical... Yep. It's White Stripes for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat battle, Janie!
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter
And I was worried no one would give Jack a chance. I'm impressed that so many people like him for being different.
DeleteI like the White Stripes but not on this song. Miley has a lot of talents, some of her songs don't show it. However, you can find her doing wonderful covers. She gets my vote here.
ReplyDeleteShe just called. I told her, and she said to thank you.
DeleteAbout three BoTB ago I came *thisclose* to using Jolene. I was in Miley's Backyard Sessions and her version there is even better than the one you chose. Egad, that outfit in her unplugged session. Even so, Miley has a great set of pipes. I remember listening to Jack White when I was considering who to put her up against. He wasn't the one I settled on (before I changed my mind completely) and went with Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI still like Miley better than Jack now, so my vote goes to Miley. I sure wish her stylist would go in another direction. Like one with real clothes.
Jolene is such a great song. I really don't like it when Miley wears those things kind of like suspenders, but she doesn't wear a shirt so the suspenders just cover her nipples.
DeleteNow, Miley always reminds me of someone I want to take to a bath and give her a good scrub down. Her face looks pretty good despite the grizzly bear attack-The bear must not have liked that horrible outfit...I don't blame him. Maybe it is the same bear that destroyed that woman's kayak(you tube). White Stripes was painful for me to listen to. It sounded like he was passing a kidney stone or had some bad gas. Miley actually does have a powerful voice and I hope she grows up soon and gives up wanting to be a slut. I vote for her rendition. It sounds the better of the 2 and more in keeping with the song.
ReplyDeleteI understand how you feel about the vocals. I love Jack White because he is an all-around talent. He plays more than one instrument, writes and arranges music, and produced Loretta Lynn's Grammy winning album, Van Lear Rose. Occasionally, he acts. He is in Cold Mountain in a small part.
DeleteAfter listening to the Idiot laying on that fake backwoods Southern hick accent so heavily, I was sure I'd be voting for the White Stripes, but...
ReplyDeleteI guess not.
I begrudgingly give my vote to the semi-nekkid Idiot with the fake accent.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
C'mon y'all. With the "accent," is she a country star, or is she a pop star because she takes off her clothes? She's certainly not a rock star. I love Jack White because he is Jack White. He doesn't pretend to be something other than the weird rocker that he is.
DeleteFirst, I vote for the song in BOTB that I like better. Sometimes, it's a vote for the lesser of two weevils, but at least I like it better than the other one.
ReplyDeleteIn this contest, I like Miley Cyrus better,. Yep, surprises even me, cause I don't really care much for her in general.
I think she's obnoxious. It's a shame because she can really sing.
DeleteI can't even look at Miley just gag me with a spoon ... but why I can't vote for her is she always sounds like she has a mouth full of spit plus her voice when talking is like nails on a blackboard. It is like she put on the "talk" oh gag me. If I wanted her way of trying to sing the song I would play Dolly !
ReplyDeleteSo I vote for Jack White, because he is what he sings, does that make sense.
cheers, parsnip
It makes perfect sense. It's one of the reasons I love him.
DeleteAs I scroll down Miley sounds better and better. Miley!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. You're too late to vote.
DeleteI don't know how I missed this but I did. I know I'm too late to count but I am surprised that I would have voted for the White Stripes despite the fact that Miley really did an admirable job (and I had no idea Dolly was her aunt). I never expected to be voting for a male grunge singer pleading with Jolene--LOL! But his emotional rendering got to me, I guess. I'll be curious to see who won. :)
ReplyDeleteDolly is not Miley's biological aunt. She is Miley's godmother. You've probably heard kids call their parents' friends aunt and uncle. We didn't in our family, but I've known kids who did. It's also to Miley's advantage to have an Aunt Dolly.
DeleteNo one I knew ever did that. Maybe it's more a southern thing? But it figures Miley would try to use that to her misdirectioned advantage. LOL! Kind of like false advertising. Fits with the ripped clothing and tongue wagging, I guess.
DeleteI think it's more of a southern things, but I knew a few kids in the Midwest who called family friends aunt and uncle. The kids in our family mostly say auntie, but only with relatives as far as I know.
Delete