Now that I've said I won't blog unless I feel like blogging, I feel more like blogging.
It's time for the December 15, 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! Our song is All I Want For Christmas Is You. I think I know who will win. Now I get to see if I'm right.
Please vote for your preferred version of this song in your comment, and tell us why you've chosen the rendition. I'll announce the winner on December 21, 2015. The year is nearly gone. I think the best part of 2015 is that Penelope joined our little family, and I say that although she barfed up her supper a few minutes ago.
Our first singer is Mariah Carey:
The talented chanteuse released her version of this song, which she produced and co-wrote, on her first holiday album in 1994.
Our second contender sings in the movie Love Actually. She plays the part of Joanna, but her name is Olivia Olson.
The Internet Movie Database notes: Olivia Olson (Joanna - Sam's crush), does all her own singing in "All I Want for Christmas is You" at the Christmas concert. She had such an amazing voice that the director had it edited so it sounded more like a child singing.
Please visit Stephen T. McCarthy to get the complete list of participants in the Battle of the Bands. I hope you enjoy the music. See you soon!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
I have to say Mariah has always owned this song. Even though the girl, Olivia, can really sing and it's close...well, I have to vote for Mariah on this one. :)
ReplyDeleteThey call the wind Mariah.
DeleteThis is kind of fun sounding song, but I don't particularly like those romantic Christmas songs. But this one is bouncy with kind of a pleasant melody.
ReplyDeleteThe second version was okay, but Mariah's oft heard version strikes me in a better way.
I vote Mariah Carey.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Lee for Mariah. Vote counted.
DeleteThis is a great contemporary Christmas song! One of the few that really hits home for me of all the "new" entries on the Xmas lists. We can all thank Mariah for that.
ReplyDeleteBut Olivia, you get my vote! So sweet and heartfelt! She's got a great voice, too. I love this one.
Merry Christmas, Janie Junebug, my friend!
I looked up a current photo of Olivia. She's gorgeous (of course).
DeleteBoth versions are nice but due to Mariahs version being overplayed now, Olivia was a nice change of pace. Vote goes to Olivia.
ReplyDeleteGreat battle Janie!!
As of this moment, the vote is 2 - 2.
DeleteThis is one of the few Xmas songs I like. Though, gotta say Mariah is a little overplayed - especially in the stores. So I gotta throw my vote Oliva's way. Sweet voice and that's interesting that they edited!
ReplyDeleteI love Love Actually. Some people think it's sappy. I think it's adorable. I can watch it over and over.
Delete"All I want for Christmas is you", this song is the favorite son of my oldest son. When it plays, no one can dare talk. LOL
ReplyDeleteI couldn't play them, the sound kept cutting in and out. Of course I am familiar with Mariah's version, who isn't, but I can't vote on this right now. Good to see you visiting. I am curious about Penelope.
ReplyDeleteWill you post a picture?
I'm sorry the sound didn't work properly. I emailed a photo of Penelope to you.
DeleteHey Janie,
ReplyDeleteThis was a close one as my last two brain cells debated who to vote for. Yes, the Mariah version is way overplayed and starts to make me a little noxious. Thus, I shall vote for Olivia.
I'm going now....
Gary
Where are you going? Just curious.
DeleteMariah all the way.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Stephen, but I asked Mariah, and she says she will not go all the way with you.
DeleteGood for you - Your BOTB rocks! Mariah Carey for me, please!!
ReplyDeleteWhatever you want, Dixie Darlin'.
DeleteOoh, you are an Editor? You are living my dream. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteAs for the battle, both women have beautiful voices. I think I just prefer Olivia over Mariah. I really couldn't tell you why; as stated before, both ladies have lovely voices. Give my vote to Olivia!
As for following my blog, I got Google Friend Connect or something on there. I can't sign into it on my own site, so I am not sure if it works (even though there are two members there). In the sidebar, there is the RSS button which will take you to my feedburner feed, and you should be able to subscribe in the reader of your choice via feedburner. But if you don't use a reader and just use Google/Blogger? Not sure. Sorry about that!
I promise: I am not living anyone's dream. I didn't know what the RSS button was. I'll check it out. You might be able to put a follow my email button on your blog. A lot of people like following by email. I learned a while back that quite a few people follow me on Facebook because I put the link to my blog posts on my Facebook page. I was quite surprised when I ran into my realtor and he said I'm funny as shit. I don't think shit is particularly amusing, but I know what he meant.
DeleteOh, I have to add that I am not funny.
DeleteI am torn on this one and swing my vote to Olivia simply for the acapella beginning.
ReplyDeleteShe was such a darling little girl.
DeleteI am not a lover of Mariah because I just don;t think she controls her strong voice and should get coaching from opera singers. It can sound shriecky to me so Olivia gets my vote. Accomplished and strong pipes for a young girl (at that time)
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a Mariah fan, either. It bothered me when Tommy Mottola left his wife for Mariah (he was the head of her record company; they ended up getting divorced).
DeleteI don't even have to play the videos--I've heard both songs so many times. As much as I love Love, Actually and that little girl's voice is amazeballs...I have to go with Mariah's version. Yes, it's overplayed, but when it first came out I remember loving the retro feel of it.
ReplyDeleteI like the words because they make me think of Willy Dunne Wooters.
DeleteI agree that Mariah owns this one. But Olivia is delightful as well. I'll vote for MC
ReplyDeleteWhatever you say, Favorite Lovely Lutheran Lady.
DeleteOlivia has a nice voice, but nobody beats Mariah on this one. This is my favorite non-religious Christmas song. Have you heard the version in a minor? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDACj0tkD-s It's like a Halloween song.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the minor version. I liked it.
DeleteI like Mariah's version much better than Olivia's. That video was cute too. My vote goes to Miss Mariah.
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying the holiday season Janie!!
Michele at Angels Bark
I think her husband at the time (Tommy Mottola) plays Santa in the video.
DeleteMariah fan here. I enjoyed her version of the song. She had a lot of fun with it and it showed.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in fun. I think it should be against the law. That's because I'm not funny.
DeleteThen I should be dialling 911 because I found your comment humorous.
DeleteMariah Carey can really annoy me with her "warbling." I think it's gotten *more* in her later recordings. I think this is an earlier one, and I was pleasantly surprised. I read your note about the editing they did to Olivia Olsen's voice (which strikes me as a shame!)... is there such a thing as TOO GOOD? Apparently yes.
ReplyDeleteSo, I'm going with Mariah Carey, but I wish they'd let Olivia give this one her best.
Yes, I think they should have left Olivia's voice alone, yet I guess I understand wanting her to sound more like a kid. If they used her real voice, some people would say that it wasn't her.
DeleteOlivia, Olivia, Olivia, Olivia gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteMariah alway over emotes too much for me.
cheers, parsnip
Olivia, Olivia, Olivia, Olivia it is.
DeleteHi darling, how are you today? I love this, another great post.
ReplyDeleteMARIAH ALL THE WAY!
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Check out my new post if you're interested:
http://its-dominica.blogspot.co.uk/
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Mariah all the way, okay.
Delete"Now that I've said I won't blog unless I feel like blogging, I feel more like blogging." Ain't that how it goes? I am going to abstain from this BotB. There's only so many times I can hear this song before it doesn't matter who is singing it. I'm just glad you didn't present versions of "Jingle Bell Rock," the worst of all Christmas songs.
ReplyDeleteI'm back to not feeling like blogging. Be careful because I think some people used Jingle Bell Rock, and we mustn't offend anyone. Or better yet, don't ever offend me. Which takes more than some people might think. I practically have to be hit over the head with a hammer to be insulted. People insult me all the time, and I laugh. HA!
DeleteMy vote goes to Mariah.
ReplyDeleteMariah appreciates it.
DeleteJANIE ~
ReplyDeleteAll I want for Christmas is... for Mariah Carey to go away and never, ever even THINK about coming back.
From that remark, you'll have no problem extrapolating my vote.
Hey, I hope you and yourn have a wonderful Christmas, Janie! Be well and have fun.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I don't really have yourn. No, that's not true. I have Franklin and Penelope. Penelope has a new snowman toy. She likes him.
DeleteJanie, this is one of my favorites! In fact, I bought Mariah Carry's single, as well as Michael Buble's cover last Christmas because I couldn't decide which I like more. Give my vote to Mariah, please! Contender #2 did a nice job, but she's no match against Mariah. Have a very Merry Christmas, dear!
ReplyDeleteAnd I wish you a Merry Christmas. You are so kind.
DeleteI'm going with Olivia. I like how the song changed with just her singing, then the music came on. I just think it's pretty. Mariah's version is more "fun", but it didn't hit me as much as Olivia's.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have to admit that I really can't stand this song. But the Love Actually scene is so sweet. So, my vote is for Olivia Olson.
ReplyDeleteGood, because I love that movie.
DeleteThey're both good but Mariah Carey totally wins! I have loved this song from the time it came out!
ReplyDeleteBecca for Mariah, who told me to tell you that she appreciates your vote.
DeleteOk, I love Mariah, and her version is just so awesome. But, that little girl has a spectacular voice, especially for her age. Just Wow!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year Janie :)
Uhm, what's a youm?
I don't know what a youm is. Is this a trick question?
DeleteDefinitely Olivia.
ReplyDeleteAs cute as that little girl is, I love me my Mariah Carey. I vote Mariah!
ReplyDeleteMariah Carey is like nails on a chalkboard to both of us. The oversinging. The warbling. We both emphatically vote for Olivia.
ReplyDeleteSO many times I have said that I am going to quit blogging or step away from it and then bam I feel like it again. Maybe we just need a mental break or something.
ReplyDeleteMariah gets my vote! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteEdited or not, give my vote to Olivia, please,
ReplyDeleteI know Love Actually by heart, Janie. (Yes, I'm a real guy...) I love Mariah's voice more. I think it's too bad she's made some terrible choices music-wise, but that's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteOlivia! Because the movie is so good.
ReplyDelete