#BattleOfTheBands: I'd Rather Go Blind



Time for another Battle of the Bands! 


Just a reminder that I will only be doing the battles once a month for the time being, so if you miss out you’ll have to wait an entire month to catch the next battle.

Have you ever had a song that you just really enjoyed cranking up the volume (past eleven!) and pretending you were that artist singing?  Today’s song is one of those songs for me.   I’m sure it annoys my neighbors (our walls are thin) but hey, if you’ve got good music, shouldn’t it be shared?

 A little background on the song:

"I'd Rather Go Blind" is a blues song written by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster and Etta James. It was first recorded by Etta James in 1967, released in 1968, and has subsequently become regarded as a blues and soul classic.

Etta James wrote in her autobiography Rage To Survive that she heard the song outlined by her friend Ellington "Fugi" Jordan when she visited him in prison. She then wrote the rest of the song with Jordan, but for tax reasons gave her songwriting credit to her partner at the time, Billy Foster, singer with doo-wop group The Medallions.



As a reminder for you seasoned readers and to help out those of you who may be new here

Here is how a battle works:

Step One - Listen to each of the contenders. TRY not to be persuaded by the videos

Step Two - Pick  the contender that you prefer the most (not just the one with the name you are familiar with) Pick ONLY from the contenders provided in THIS battle.

Step Three - Comment  with your selection. The comment section has been set up so that anyone can leave a comment. I do ask that you please include your name, should you use the anonymous feature.

Step Four - Visit Stephen’s blog to check out his battle and for a list of other bloggers that have battles going on. We each have different battles, so please be sure to visit everyone. I'll provide a link below the videos to Stephen's blog for your convenience.


Now that we’ve got the formalities out of the way, let’s get to it!


Contender #1 -  Beth Hart with Joe Bonamassa




Contender #2 - Playing For Change




Now, to repeat myself:

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH AN ARTIST OR A SONG TO KNOW WHICH ONE YOU PREFER. You only need to listen to the videos and choose which one sounds better to you.  There are no right or wrong votes, unless you vote for someone not listed as a contender or don’t vote at all.


For those of you who may be interested in joining in our fun - The battles take place twice a month. Once on the 1st, and again on the 15th. Some participants have chosen to participate only once a month - and that’s okay - we’re just happy to have you join us! Your battle can consist of covers of the same song, different songs with the same title, or even a themed type battle. We just want you to join in the fun!  Catch the link to Stephen’s blog to join in - all you need to do is drop him a comment on his blog stating you’d like to participate and he’ll add you to the roster of participants.

I’d like to encourage you to visit the other bloggers participating in the battle of the bands blog hop as well.  We’ve all put a lot of time and effort into putting together these battles and they are a lot of fun. Each blogger has a different battle taking place. You can find a current list of participants on Stephen’s blog (don't forget you can also request to join the battle of the bands blog hop by simply commenting on his blog that you'd like to join us). 


Alright now… Cast your votes for Beth and Joe or Playing For Change!
Voting will end on Saturday, June 6 with results being posted on Sunday, June 7. 









Comments

  1. MMQE ~

    >> . . . Have you ever had a song that you just really enjoyed cranking up the volume (past eleven!)

    First of all, there is no such thing as "past eleven".
    If Spinal Tap says that eleven is as high as the speakers can be cranked, then by all the gods of Heavy Metal music, eleven is the highest that speakers can be cranked!!! Spinal Tap has spoken. PERIOD! (No! There is not even such a thing as "11.5". Period! Spinal Tap has spoken!!)

    I remember Debbie using Bonamassa & Hart a few times, and although I like Bonamassa's playing, Beth Hart's 'Janis Joplin copy-cat singing style' has always turned me off. In this song, she actually kept it a bit under control . . . for a bit of blessed relief.

    Even so, I'm still casting my vote for PLAYING FOR CHANGE.

    Even when Beth Hart manages to keep under control her usual extreme "vocal pyrotechnics", I'm still left with the sense that everything about her performance is a "contrived performance". In other words, I never, ever come away from a Beth Hart song feeling that Beth Hart was truly feeling in her heart what she was singing.

    I think she should be called "Beth Fake-Heart".

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So... just to be clear... that's a No for Beth Hart?

      And... I don't care what Spinal Tap sez... I'm turning my speakers up to 13!

      Thanks for dropping by. I've got a good one planned for next month.

      ~Mary

      Delete
    2. I am going to turn my stereo to "o" for orgasmic since mine is not equipped with earthquake setting, so I can listen with my "O" face to the sweet soulful sound. Someone didn't sound sweet and soulful at the first of their version of the song. Sounded like a cat being tortured or their ass being dropped on shards of glass. This changed thankfully as the song progressed. Joe Bonamassa work on the guitar was as near flawless as can be. A wonderful stiff drink added to the voting process although the first song played on MTV comes to mind "video killed the radio star" subtract the video footage and rely on vocal and instruments it is increasing difficult to state a clear one sided vote both have qualities and talents to perform this song. Playing for change by a slight margin for my vote.

      The cUte 1

      Delete
    3. Hey Cute One....

      I gotta tell you it was fun listening to your side comments as the videos were playing. Good thing I didn't use a Tiny Tim song/video! I promise my next battle will have better contestants. Looking forward to more votes from you!

      ~M

      Delete
  2. Contender #1 definitely for me. Playing for Change was good, but there was something about Beth Hart that just drew me in. It just seemed more--uh--psychedelic?--to me. The sound was just something that felt right to me on this riot evening in Los Angeles.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lee! I agree with you, there is just something about both of these versions that draw the listener in. I have a feeling this will be a good battle.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  3. Mary,

    I think I prefer Beth Hart with Joe Bonamassa in this battle. Thanks for the heads up on your monthly participation. After this month, I might do the same except for playing along on the 15th. :) Have a good day, my dear!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cathy!

      With all of the changes I've been making with the blog, it just felt right to switch to once a month. A whole lot less stress for me (which is a good thing) and I find I'm able to come up with posts for the other themes/days more readily.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  4. I really like the way Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart do this one. They get my vote.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beth and Joe get my vote. But I love the singing for change series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mike! Playing for change do quite a few covers with various street artists participating. This one just happens to be one of my favorites of theirs. But I also really enjoy Beth and Joe.

      Delete
  6. This is a good song that I never heard before. While Beth has a powerful voice reminding me of Janis Joplin, by the end, I just wanted the song to be over. My pick is Playing For Change which brought the heart to it as well but didn't annoy me like the other one did

    ReplyDelete
  7. This song is great; I've always liked it. Must be something in the air this Battle because there's several posted where I like both (or 2 outta 3) tunes. Well done, chickie poo.

    Like I said, I like both. This time around, I gotta go with Beth and Joe - I really like her voice. Powerful in a heartfelt kinda way.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Replies
    1. Thanks, Arnold!

      Appreciate you stopping in with your vote!

      Delete
  9. Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary Jones!

      This battle is turning out to be a pretty close one. Stay tuned for the results to be posted tomorrow.

      Delete
  10. I have to go with contender #1 Beth Hart, I listened the other night late and then again this morning and her version just gets me to the core.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A vote via text from Brian G.... for Playing For Change

    ReplyDelete
  12. A vote via text from Julianne G.... for Playing For Change

    ReplyDelete
  13. A vote via text from Laween J... for Playing For Change

    ReplyDelete
  14. More votes via text - one each from Fawnel A and her hubby... for Beth & Joe

    ReplyDelete
  15. Okay Peoples! Voting is now closed. Stay tuned for the results post to come out in the next few hours.

    ReplyDelete
  16. One more vote for playing for change. This vote comes from our friend Michele @Angels Bark. Since the results post has not yet posted I am allowing the vote.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I liked the start of Beth Hart with Joe Bonamassa's I'd rather go Blind however it seemed to go on for ever, the instramentals were good, but they seemed to carry on a tad too long. at a shorter 5 minutes I'd listen to this song.
    Playing For Change's version was a shorter and very bluesy, where as Beth was to me rather country.

    Going into this I had an idea of which I would like more, but found that I'm voting for Beth as I enjoyed the sound of her voice, ever if the song did tend to carry on a bit with her.
    - Pan

    ReplyDelete

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