Saturday, October 15, 2016

Battle of the Bands - Tears on my Pillow

For my last BOTB, I mentioned there was a secret theme for three battles. Well, one battle has been completed, and there were a few guesses. If you'll recall, the song selected was from Evanescence, 'Bring Me to Life'. The covers were from the American - Chris Daughtry and the Welsh operatic singer - Katherin Jenkins. Additionally, I placed a hint in the results page, though I won't repost that hint here. ;)

For this battle, I have turned to an oldie but a goldie song, 'Tears on my Pillow'. I subject which I can certainly relate to. To be honest, who can't relate to this song in one form or another? It certainly sucks when you have to cry yourself to sleep, doesn't it? But, it happens from time to time. And we must learn to go on. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and all that jazz.

So what is the clue I'm giving this week? Is it the song name or the original artist? My lips are sealed. Perhaps it's neither. Perhaps the clue is in one of the covers for this song. So who exactly will battle it out this time? I'm glad you asked.

For reference only: Little Anthony & the Imperials - Bring Me To Life



BATTLE OF THE BANDS
The two musical contenders for this Battle of the Bands are below.
Please listen to both and tell me who you like best.

Cover A - The American:
Gwen McCrae


Cover B - The Australian:
Kylie Minogue


Those are the two contenders. Ignoring the actual videos, who do you think performs the song best? I collected the two bands to battle it out, now it's your job to vote on your favourite. Please list your preferred song choice in the comments. Additionally, let me know why you feel the way you do. Voting ends on the 8th when I'll cast my vote (if needed) and announce the winner in a separate posting.

Additional Questions:
Have you ever had tears on your pillow?
Who can remember the Soundtrack this song has appeared on?
Which, if any of the artists are you familiar with?



Please note:
Starting in December, I will be changing my BOTB posts. In order to get more writing done, I will only be producing one battle a month, the second battle. The first of the month I will be devoting to my R.a.n.t. series and working on YA series.

If you enjoyed this Battle of the Bands feature, don't forget to visit the other participants in the Battle of the Band to see what sort of music they are featuring. You will certainly be entertained, so click on their links below.

STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE
DISCCONNECTED


Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

44 comments:

  1. Hi, Jeffrey; Sorry I missed your last battle and my brain is too fried to guess at the theme right now, but I'll come back. This is a classic! ☺ You mentioned soundtracks. I remember it from "Grease", sung by Sha Na Na. Was there another movie it appeared in? For this battle I preferred Gwen McCrae's bluesy rendition. Kylie Minogue's voice makes me grimace. :P
    Who hasn't shed tears on their pillow? It's part of the human experience. Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I was remembering this from Grease, but for some reason, I was thinking it was on another soundtrack too.
      Ironically enough, Ronald McDonald's voice makes me Grimace.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
    2. I looked it up. Kylie's version appeared in the movie "The Delinquents", which she also starred in. Now we know. :)
      I've heard that Ronald McDonald joke before! ;)

      Delete
    3. Thanks for doing the research. I'm sure you have. Hope you don't mind me teasing you about the grimace comment. ;)
      Come back tomorrow, I'll have my results (and more clues) posted then. Unlike everyone else, I like to post my results on the 8th and the 22nd. I like the symmetry of each post being 7 days apart.

      Delete
  2. I am voting for Kylie merely because that was the version I was able to listen to the entire song without wanting to shut it down. But her win is only a slight win. If I listened to this on another day, I may be voting the other direction. Hope all is well with you!

    ~Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All is well with me. Sorry you are not a fan of these versions.
      But thanks for the Kylie vote. :)

      Delete
  3. Hi Jeffrey.
    I'm going with Gwen McCrae on this one. I love her version. I didn't like Kylie's voice.
    As for your theme: hmm, I'm just going to toss two ideas out here: Depression or Unrequited Love. Just guesses...

    Tears on My Pillow: good song!

    Hope all is well in your world...

    Michele at Angels Bark

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Great guesses. For now, I'm not going to say if you are correct or not. I shall give another clue in the results post of this battle.
      For now, all is well.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote. And for playing along.

      Delete
  4. If there's a theme, it's sadness and depression.
    Definitely the second version. A little more modern and faster pace.
    And not sure what movie is featured there, but I think it was also on the Grease soundtrack.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Two more good guesses. Also yes, I recall it from the Grease soundtrack. Almost used that version for this battle.
      Thanks for the Kylie vote.

      Delete
  5. I've heard of both artists, but I can't say that I know much of the music of either. It's been a long time since I've heard this song which was on the Little Anthony album that used to be in my parents' house many decades ago. I'm guessing that the album was my sister's though I did like their music.

    Yes, I've had tears on my pillow before. I've also had blood on my pillow which is scarier though not as emotionally taxing. Have no idea what soundtrack this song was on.

    I'm not sure where your clues are leading, but I'll present this absurd scenario:

    You were having sleep problems so you bought a My Pillow like they advertise on TV. You got the damn thing and it didn't help your sleep at all and now you're crying tears on that pillow because of having wasted your money..

    Is that it? I didn't think so, but it was worth a shot.

    My vote is for Gwen McCrae's soulful rendition. The other sounded to poppy for me.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting crack-pot theory. I don't think it's so absurd. Reminds me of the days Lost was on TV. I really came up with some outlandish theories for that TV show. However, as you have noticed, you are not correct in your assumption. ;)
      Stay tuned for further clues.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
  6. Hey Jeffrey, I have to go with the Kylie version, McCrae's was just too slow for me. Definitely had tears on my pillow before, and not just as a teenage girl! Your theme seems like a sad one (lost love, broken relationship, depression), and I am hoping that by putting it out there in this way it is helping you work through it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lost love, depression, broken hearts and relationships are truly things I know well. This seems to be the fore-running assumption of what my theme may be. That is yet to be revealed, but I promise to have another, better clue in my results page.
      Thanks for the Kylie vote.

      Delete
  7. Hey Jeff, I'm sorry I missed your last battle:( I have no idea what your secret theme is, but I look forward to the big reveal! Give my vote to Kylie in this one please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The big reveal will be posted in my next battles results page. No worries about missing my last battle. The only viable information you will need to retain from previous battle was posted above, the song choice and the artists performing.
      Thanks for the Kylie vote.

      Delete
  8. Hey, JEFFY!
    I didn't really care for the way the version by GWEN started out (I rarely like spoken passages in a song) but, boy, it sure intensified as it went along. Her deep, Bluesy, impassioned interpretation of the song easily beat out the much more superficially Poppish version by Kylie, in my opinion.

    Vote: AMERICAN (Buy it too, when possible.)

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not exactly the same thing, but there are many Weird Al songs that I initially hear on his new albums that I detest. Then after a few listenings, they grow on me so much so, I rather enjoy them and they become my favourites.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
  9. I vote for Gwen McRae because of the emotion in her voice, although I don't like the spoken part at the beginning. Kylie seems too manufactured. And you'd better believe I've had tears on my pillow.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes, I think a lot of pop music is too manufactured. But I consider that all a part of the fun.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
  10. Kylie Minogue gets my vote I liked the composition and feel of the song, Gwen had a beautiful voice. Nice battle, I look forward to the results.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I look forward to posting the results. :D
      Thanks for the Kylie vote.

      Delete
  11. Basically, I like both of these versions for waaaay different reasons. Pop is not a bad word in my world, so I like Kylie - but Gen is superior when we battle 'em out!

    Nice!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I agree, pop is never a bad word for me either.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
    2. What is it with me and typos lately? Gen? Gee whiz. Or whz, I should say.

      Delete
  12. Hi Jeffrey! I think I've missed too much online time, including your previous battles to get the theme. I too think this song was in the movie, "GREASE". Wait, maybe that's it.. you ordered special grease to control your hair, but instead it all fell out. So now you're reduced to tears! HA!

    I'm voting pure Aussie... Kylie Minogue. Take care of yourself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like Arlee, another great madcap theory. We shall see. ;)
      Thanks for the Kylie vote.

      Delete
  13. Hi, Jeffrey!

    I am very familiar with the original hit version of "Tears On My Pillow" by The Imperials, the group's official name at the time of the first pressings, later changed to Little Anthony and the Imperials. I have the 45 in my vinyl collection. The fab flip is the killer bee "Two People in the World," a gigantic hit at the Shady Dell, the one I nicknamed "Helen's Song."

    Gwen McRae's spoken intro and song styling reminded me a little of sultry soul sista Linda Jones, a heavy hitter at the Dell who died way too soon at the age of 27. Gwen delivered "Tears On My Pillow" in a "quiet storm" R&B style that is appropriate for the material and true to the original.

    Kylie Minogue retained a fair amount of the doo-wop feel of the original but her Australian pop roots were showing. Although her rendition was enjoyable, it was simply not as soulful as Gwen's. Therefore, I shall give my vote to Gwen McRae and thank you very much for the entertaining battle!

    As far as a common theme or thread running through these posts of yours, all I can think of is that they might lead us directly to the hidden immunity idol.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, good buddy Jeffrey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You got it! The clues all lead to the hidden immunity. How did you guess? Oh wait, hold on a second......
      Sorry, I was looking at the wrong sheet of paper, you are incorrect in your guess. Don't worry, more clues and better clues are on the way. So please stand by.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
    2. Looks like you are on your way to a photo finish in this battle, good buddy. Congratulations!

      Delete
    3. That's what I was thinking. I may indeed have to vote this time.

      Delete
  14. Oh I give my vote to Kylie because it is. Throwback to the 50's which I like and I like her voice. Gwen's talking and style just didn't do it for me at all. I'm not into that style

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Whatever style suits you, is the best one to vote for. Much appreciated for stopping by.
      Thanks for the Kylie vote.

      Delete
  15. I did not like Kylie's version at all. I'm voting for Gwen. Her version had soul, and I got lost in it.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Are you not a pop fan, or was Kylie's version just too over the top? Depending on my mood, I agree about liking to get lost in a song with soul. It's a reason I love a lot of jazz music.
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
  16. I rather liked Kylie's Doo-wop style, I love that era. However, in terms of 'singing your heart out' Gwen gets the golden hanky!
    Shoot, who hasn't cried on their pillow? After all, it holds the secrets of our dreams, why not our tears as well?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Holder of our dreams and our tears, sounds like the making of a poem.
      Glad you liked the Kylie version as well, but
      Thanks for the Gwen vote.

      Delete
  17. I prefer Kylie Minogue's version of this. Gwen McCrae's version was a little too hammy for my taste, while Kylie's was closer to the original, which I think is quintessential Little Anthony.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I like your way of thinking, even if at the right time, I might actually enjoy the Gwen version.
      Thanks for the Kylie vote

      Delete
  18. I remember Kylie from her previous ozzy days. She looks beautiful and sounds dreamy. It must be her new look thats made her such a hit these days. Yes Kylie makes me want to dance, shes definitely put sugar in my pants.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Kylie certainly has had a second showing in recent years.
      I will consider this a vote for Kylie. :)

      Delete
  19. Jeffrey, I enjoyed Kylie Minogue vintage style cover of this old song best and give her my vote. I'm sorry for the late visit. Life is busy these days for me. Here's hoping you have a good weekend, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You got your vote in, just in time. I was just tabulating the votes when I saw your comment. Better late than never. ;)

      Delete