Juggling Museum & BOTB Results

The Juggling Jacksons promo shot 1966--That's Arlee
standing behind Dad.

The Juggling Jacksons

        Some of you might have seen my post at Wrote By Rote (my memoir blog) concerning my family's donation to the Historical Juggling Props Museum.   If you missed it you can see our contributions here and here.  The web site for the Museum is fun to peruse especially if you're not close enough to visit the actual museum display in person.

         So far there isn't much video available on YouTube of anything Juggling Jacksons related, but below is a brief video of my sister Joy and I a few years ago goofing off in her kitchen with an enthusiastic audience cheering us on.  Hopefully one day I'll get some other video transferred and up on YouTube.





Battle of the Bands Results
(for 12/15/2015)

       

      If you missed the Battle that goes with these results you can visit here, but the vote has been decided. I wasn't overly surprised by the outcome of this Battle considering how my previous Battle turned out. The readers who vote on my BOTB posts tend to be traditionalists where it comes to music so techno or more extreme forms of rock or other genres usually don't go over that well. It's gone that way in this contest as well.

     The version of "Trouble of the World" as performed by Rose Stone and the Abbot Kinney Lighthouse Choir is a rousing rendition that I can't resist liking. This interpretation of the song reflects a joyousness that one might expect on leaving this world into the security of God's heavenly realm. Right from the opening electric guitar riff to the vocal interplay, this song is filled with so much energy. My favorite part of this recording is the steady solid drumbeat. My head gets to bobbin', my toes a-tappin', and I just want to get up on my feets and praise the lord all over the house. This is musical dynamite.

     On the other hand, Mahom is tough for many listeners to get into. For my part I didn't even finish listening during my first sampling of the song. I quickly decided to use another version and believe me, I found many great versions. However, I returned to the Mahom version to give it a fair chance. Noting the points of comparison and contrast between the Rose Stone version I began to see an interesting Battle in the works.

     No one listened to these versions side by side as many times as I did--and I listened to them repeatedly. My opinion of Mahom began changing as I listened more. The performance version from The Ladykillers is no doubt outstanding, but in the end the version I keep hearing in my head now--the one that sticks with me most--is the version by Mahom. Sure it's computer driven music, but I find the sound to be innovative as well as clever. The vocals are very pleasant to my ears. Taking all things into account my favorite version is now Mahom though I certainly cannot dispute anyone's vote for Rose Stone.

     Two great renditions, but my vote goes to Mahom.

Final Vote Talley

Rose Stone    26 votes

Mahom           8 votes

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         Have a Very Merry Christmas and be sure to join me here for my next Battle which will open on New Year's Day with a very appropriate song for the season.
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Trouble of the World #2 (#BOTB)

         Ever tried voting in the Battle of the Bands yet?   If not why don't you give this one a try?   You don't have to know anything about music other than which song you like hearing the best.  It doesn't matter whether or not you know the song or the artists, just listen to let us know which one sounds best to your ears. 

          And now...

           Here we are--the last Battle of the Bands for the year 2015.  Another Christmas is upon us as we await the coming of still another year.  But not yet.   We still have this one last Battle of the Bands post.  This event which takes place on the 1st and 15th of each month was started by Far Away Eyes at Far Away Series.  Blogger Stephen T McCarthy maintains the participant list and answers your questions about the event--you can find his blog with a list of participants at  StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   

        Here's what I'm asking of you:  Listen to the song versions presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battles to vote on.

        And now my song pick for this round of Battle of the Bands:

"Trouble of the World"

         As I hinted at in my previous winner announcement post, this is a song that I could use for several months worth of Battles.  There are so many interesting and enjoyable versions done in so many different ways.  Listening to many of these versions kept me engaged for some time as I tried to come up with versions that had similar elements while being worlds apart.  It's a big world after all that is not only filled with many problems, but filled with many differing tastes and likes.  Now here's your chance to listen and contrast and then decide which version you enjoy the most.


 Rose Stone et al  "Trouble of the World"  (2004)

         In the first round of voting when I used this song on December 1st, Sheboyganboy Six must have been on my wavelength of thought when he suggested that he would have liked to have seen me use a version of this song from the soundtrack of the film The Ladykillers.   His prescient comment foreshadowed the Part Two post that I had waiting in the wings.   Here's a more traditional uptempo choir version of "Trouble of the World".   This might get you to clapping your hands and dancing around the room.





Mahom "Trouble of the World" (2014)

        In another collaborative vocal version, from their album The Skankin' Cat, the French dub electro group Mahom starts out lightly, sounding almost Christmassy in feel, but then breaks into a jarring bit of reggae electronica.   Don't dismiss this version too quickly.  Upon first hearing I had no intent of using this version as I didn't much care for it.  Then I listened again, and then again, and then after several listenings this version started taking hold of me.  Now I like it a great deal.  See what you think.







Time to Vote!

        You might like or not like either of these versions, but whatever the case please give each one a fair listen to decide which version you prefer over the other.   I think they're both enjoyable--I have an inclination toward one version, but I'm still wavering a bit.  What about you?

      Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
  
Book Lover

J. A. Scott  

Quiet Laughter

Holli's Hoots and Hollers

NovelBrews

Be ReInVintaged

Results on Monday December 21st (I Hope!)

       I might be facing a challenge to get the results post up by next Monday, but I'll try my darndest to do so.  It's a busy season I know and I'm sure it's the same with you.   My blogging activity might be rather sporadic in the next few weeks, but that's the nature of the season.   Stay calm.   We've got this and there's no reason to be troubled by what we've got filling up our lives.   Be happy in these times.