It's time for the May 15, 2016, 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 right! Let's have fun!
Whitney Houston had a ginormous hit with I Will Always Love You, but Dolly Parton wrote the song. Please listen to Dolly and Whitney and decide if you prefer Dolly's simple, sweet singing or Whitney's powerhouse--though still sweet--voice.
Whitney Houston had a ginormous hit with I Will Always Love You, but Dolly Parton wrote the song. Please listen to Dolly and Whitney and decide if you prefer Dolly's simple, sweet singing or Whitney's powerhouse--though still sweet--voice.
Dolly explains in the video why she wrote I Will Always Love You. Whitney recorded it for the movie The Bodyguard, in which she starred with Kevin Costner.
In your comment, please vote for Dolly or Whitney, and if possible, tell us the reason behind your choice. I'll announce the winner on May 21.
I hope you'll visit other Battle of the Band participants, too. They are listed below. Thanks for listening and voting!
Infinities of I will always love you,
Janie Junebug
Voice Your Vote @ ‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘TOSSING IT OUT’ by clicking HERE.
@ ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ by clicking HERE.
@ 'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CURIOUS AS A CATHY' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'THE DOGLADY'S DEN' by clicking HERE.
@ 'CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'ANGELS BARK' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE' by clicking HERE.
@ 'JANIE JUNEBUG, RIGHTING & EDITING' by clicking HERE.
@ 'J.A. SCOTT' by clicking HERE.
@ 'QUIET LAUGHTER' by clicking HERE.
@ 'REINVINTAGED' by clicking HERE.
@ 'HOLLI'S HOOTS & HOLLERS' by clicking HERE.
@ 'EVIL POP TART' by clicking HERE.
I actually like both of these, so I am a little conflicted with my vote. I guess I will have to go with the obvious and vote Whitney even though I enjoy both of them.
ReplyDeleteBig fan of Dolly, not so much of Whitney.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just my mood tonight, but this song seems to drag on worse that I remember. This is one of those overkill songs that I've heard so much that I don't get too thrilled hearing it anymore.
I'm not thrilled with either version here. I could have done without Dolly's soliloquy so that killed that version for me. Guess I'll give my vote to the sax playing in the Whitney version and I guess that means I have to accept her overwrought vocals as well.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
I saw Dolly Parton at the Austin AquaFest years ago and she puts on a fabulous show with all her story-telling. I love her story of how the song came to be. Although I love Dolly Parton, on this song I have to give it to Whitney. Her voice is just so incredibly powerful. And what a perfect song for The Bodyguard!
ReplyDeletePlease give my vote to Whitney.
Nice battle Janie!
Michele at Angels Bark
Tough battle! ☺ I've always liked both versions of this song, but Dolly gives it more emotion, I think. Please give my vote to her.
ReplyDeleteI never heard the reason Dolly wrote the song! I can't believe I never knew that. Whitney had a beautiful voice before she threw her life away and is better known for this song, but my vote goes to Dolly because the song is truly hers. She sang it with her heart and the meaning behind it. Pure and not overdone.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we're revisiting the Body Guard...I like Kevin Costner and Whitney (at the time) but I didn't believe there was any chemistry between them at all on the screen. Because of that the whole movie--and the song--fell flat for me. Contrived. Kevin did his best, but it all rang false to me. I know a lot of people love that movie, but I'm not one of them.
I've never seen The Bodyguard. I always assumed it would be stupid and the stars would have no chemistry.
DeleteHearing the story behind the song made me realize that it's really Dolly Parton's. Whitney had a great voice, but Dolly had the voice for this one. Dolly, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Whitney's voice, but Dolly's simple style!!
ReplyDeleteJanie, this is a pretty song. Both artists do a nice job with it. In the beginning of Whitney Houston's career I liked her vocals, but over the years I've come to hear her as being a bit too dramatic and it makes me think she's not really feeling the words she's singing. Dolly on the other hand has a simpler, more emotional connection with her audience and this is what appeals to me the most, so kindly give my vote to Miss Dolly. Good battle!
ReplyDeleteUrgent #BoTB showdown
Whitney gets my vote, I'm not a Dolly fan. . .also not a country fan for the most part. I like the singing by Whitney, although she's not someone I'd listen to if given my choices. . .and I like Kevin Costner. That might have swayed my vote a tad. . .
ReplyDeleteWell, this was a revelation... I always thought the song was a Whitney original! Although I was part of the Bodyguard craze back then (owned the CD, sang the freakin' song non-stop, watched the movie a gazillion times—and cried every single one)—or, actually, maybe because I was part of the Bodyguard craze—I have had quite enough of Whitney's version. Yes, she's got a set of pipes on her. Yes, it's a powerful rendition. Yes, the emotion is palpable in every single note. But... Seriously, listening to Dolly gave me chills in a way I never thought that song would give me again. Pretty roundabout way of saying my vote goes to Ms. Parton :)
ReplyDeleteGreat battle, Janie!
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter
Still not a huge fan of Whitney's over-singing, so while her version was good, I love the charm of Dolly's. I definitely give her my vote.
ReplyDeleteJanie, Janie, how tough can you make it? Yes, I truly love Whitney and she killed this song with the awesome high notes, but honestly I still support my gal, Dolly.
ReplyDeleteOh, to be her age and still have that incredible softness in her voice.
A vote for Dolly!
Ooooh, that's a tough one. I have to stay with Dolly this time as writing it counts for something, too.
ReplyDeleteI'll get thrown out of town if I don't say Dolly Parton. Naw, I would say Dolly anyhow; she has a unique voice. You don't mistake anyone for Dolly Parton. And yet, it's got a fragility to it. It's an interesting voice.
ReplyDeleteDOLLY, by golly.
My ballot is cast for Whitney. Though I love Dolly and plan to make a pilgrimage to Dollywood in order to pay my respects to the deity that is The Parton, Whitney's vocal capabilities are undeniable. It's one of the few cases where the remake is better than the original.
ReplyDeleteYou can't go to Dollywood. You have a baby. You will never, ever go anywhere again. Your life is over, Pickleope.
DeleteI have always loved this song. Sure, some will try to say that it's been overdone, but personally, I've loved and enjoyed it. I like Dolly's version, and I love that she tells the story about how the song came about, but Whitney put the song on the map. Whitney's vocals do this song justice and it rips at the soul. Please give my vote to Whitney.
ReplyDeleteMary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
I think I like Dolly's version better. It's seems sweeter in a way.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Whitney's version just belts it out of the park.
I like them both, but if I had to choose, okay...Dolly.
I have to vote for Dolly, although I'm a huge Whitney Houston fan. Dolly's has such great emotion because of why she wrote the song. Thanks for the history of the song, I had no idea Dolly wrote it. She is an amazing talent, and the movie made recently about her life is an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI really love the backstory behind Dolly's song and that she wrote it out of love but I really like Whitney's voice singing it better so, I have to go with Whitney.
ReplyDeleteI am going against the grain but I vote for Dolly. I think she sang the song sweetly and with feeling. When I heard Whitney sing this song many years ago, I just felt she shouted out the words and didn't have the control because she went for power rather than control regarding her voice. Dolly gets my vote
ReplyDeleteThis is a really tough one. I love Whitney Houston's version, but I also practically worship the ground upon which Dolly Parton walks, so the biased part of me would immediately vote Dolly... So take mine as half a vote for each, or no vote at all. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. I was a big fan of Whitney's during her heyday and never really warmed up to Dolly Parton as a performer, but I'd vote for Dolly's version. Not sure why. I just prefer it. Whitney's version seems too "strong," while Dolly's take on it seems more vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteI think Whitney has a lovely voice but I can't stand her over emotional over singing. It is like the song is about her voice and not the music.
ReplyDeleteI feel what Dolly is singing it touches my heart.
Dolly for me !
My Mum's name was Dolly. I miss her so much.
cheers, parsnip and thehamish
What a lovely name. I'm sorry you have to miss her.
DeleteI like Dolly, despite not having a big affinity for Country music. But when it comes to this song, I have to give my vote to Whitney Houston. No one sings it better than her. Such power and emotion. I just love this song.
ReplyDeleteI never saw the movie but I've heard the song countless times. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of either of these singers. Dolly is too high-pitched for my canine ears. And Whitney had a great instrument but her "emotional" gymnastic vocal peaks were all affected (I think every song I've ever heard by her included those "mountain top moments", every song was life and death... uh-huh.)
Nevertheless, it's a good song and Whitney gets my vote.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I'm such a Dolly fan; never heard anything from her I did not like. And this is such a beautiful song.
ReplyDeleteI first heard it watching The Bodyguard, and gads, can Whitney sing when she wants to do it right. And oh boy does she do it right with this song.
So many artists have added their own versions to this song; all have their own uniqueness. I should vote for Dolly, but in truth, I prefer Whitney's very smooth, evocative voice for this song.
I know I got to this late, but I'm picking whitney for this one!
ReplyDeleteThis is too close to call. Dimpled chads, anyone? Hanging chads?
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid this might be a long comment. If so, I apologize.
ReplyDeleteI'm horribly torn. I love the Dolly video because of the story of how the song came to be written. I don't love the video because it is live. The longer someone sings a song live, well the more the song can change. Sometimes that can be good, but often it isn't. I didn't really like how she talked through a lot of the verses in it. I'm sure it's because she felt the need to change it after decades of singing it exactly the same way. It made me want to dig into YouTube for the original studio recorded version of this song so I could do an apples to apples comparison against Whitney (who is also known for less than stellar singing when doing it live). But, that isn't the video you chose for the battle, and I really do try to abide by the rules.
And then there's the thing about Whitney. This was Whitney at her absolute freakin' best. This was before Bobby Brown. This was when she still loved herself. Loved God. Knew herself. She wasn't doing drugs. There was a reason people listened to this Whitney sing and fell in love with her. She was golden. She really was. She and Kevin Kostner remained very good friends from the day that movie was made until the day she died. Not because she was famous, but because she was a lovely person. And I'm sure it was tragic (from where he was standing) to watch every slip and slide down her personal mountain. I think I'm digressing...
But Whitney in this song is powerful. Vibrant. Her voice is pure. And it captures all of the bittersweet just right. And maybe it is the snapshot of how so many people feel about Whitney in just that time of her life. We will always love that girl. What came after was a train wreck that no one could stop, but in that moment we loved her. And that's how I choose to remember her.
So, Dolly you wrote the perfect song for the perfect reason, but Whitney you sang it gloriously. Whitney for the win.
Dolly by a country mile. I find that the little warble in Whitney's voice has started to annoy me over the years.
ReplyDelete