It’s Results time for my latest battle and an interesting battle it was! The song was Lulu’s To Sir With Love. Contenders were 10,000 Maniacs (Natalie Merchant, with a little help from R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe) and Australia’s Tina Arena.
Well, I wish one more vote would’ve been cast because as it stands now we have a Tie! Natalie Merchant received 8 votes and when I cast mine for Tina Arena, she ended up with 8 votes. So this battle ends in an 8 to 8 tie.
I really like Tina Arena’s strong voice and I liked the musical arrangement presented in her version. I really didn’t know anything about Tina Arena before finding her version of To Sir With Love but I’ve learned that she is pretty close to being Australia’s sweetheart.
She is a singer-songwriter, musician, musical theater actress, and record producer. She is one of Australia’s highest selling female artists who, as of July 2014, has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
I’ll close this post with a Tina Arena original. Her album Don’t Ask was the highest selling album of 1995 and this is the lead single from that album, Chains:
As always, thanks for participating in my battle. See you on February 1st when I present a very different battle! See you then…
Angels Bark 
Hi, Michele!
Thanks for reporting the final score of your latest battle. You might be wishing that one more vote had been cast, but it seems to me a tie represents a perfect band battle, very evenly matched, and it means you chose the combatants well. I’m happy to know your ears matched mine again this time. I think Tina Arena is fabulous and her recording and video “Chains” reinforced that favorable impression. Artists like Tina remind us that there are many fine artists in other countries that have sold millions of records and are household names, yet many of us stateside have never even heard of them.
Thanks again, dear friend Michele, and have a wonderful week!
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Thanks for coming by to check out the score Shady. Glad to have been able to introduce Tina Arena to folks who may not have heard her before. I think Australia and New Zealand have some great artists that aren’t popular here. Do you know of Gin Wigmore? She’s from New Zealand and has an awesome voice. Very distinct. Here are two of my favs by her:
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Hi again, Michele!
Gosh no, I never heard of New Zealand’s Gin W. either. She’s an exciting performer! I see that her “Black Sheep” single was used in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. According to Wiki, Gin’s recordings encompass many different genres including folk rock, alternative rock, pop, pop rock, soul, blues, blues rock, jazz and hip hop. I enjoy Gin’s distinctively different voice and her energetic songs and videos.
Thanks for introducing me to yet another great artist from a land down under, dear friend Michele!
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The first time I ever heard Gin Wigmore was with this song, which was used in the theme song for Mob Wives:
I have a few of her albums. She’s really good. Happy to have turned you onto her!
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Here’s another good one! 🙂
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I suspect quite a few people cautioned Gin early on not to attempt a singing career with such a high, raspy voice, but it works to her advantage, I think!
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With her unorthodox style, she reminds me a little of Lady Gaga. Thanks for tuning me in to artists like Tina and Gin!
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That seems fair. They were both good!
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While I didn’t like the Tina version of To Sir With Love, I did really enjoy Chains. I may have to check out more of her work. Thanks for the introduction! Great battle.
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Thanks Janet. Yeah, wasn’t Chains a great song? i really like her voice! Thanks for checking it out…
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Yeah, I hear you, MICHELE, about wishing one more vote had been cast.
On one hand, a tie is a sign of very well-chosen competitors. It means you have an ear for match-ups and an idea how people will vote and you can put on a good show.
But on the other hand, after all the thought that goes into a Battle, and then writing it up and posting it and following it and responding to voters for a week… it’s a bit of a letdown when no one actually wins the thing.
At the same time, give me a tie over a blowout any day. And thankfully I’ve managed to construct 83 Battles without a single shutout, but I came dangerously close to it a few times. Ha! It’s all fun though, no matter how they turn out.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews…
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Thgt is mighty impressive: 83 battles and not one shutout! I don’t mind ties. Like you, I think it means that the bands were evenly matched and I like that. I’d rather have a winner, but a tie is okay in my book.
And you’re right: it is all fun. I think I may have a shutout next time. I’m going to do the battle that you and I talked about, the one you recommended to me. I don’t know if it’s going to be a blowout but it sure is going to be interesting… Can’t wait!
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I predict that one will DEFINITELY be a blowout — no question. But I do NOT think it will be a shutout. I suspect that at least Lee’s vote, if no one else’s, will save you from a shutout.
Should be neat to see how people react to it.
The one I’m going to do on February 15th will also be a huge blowout (but not a shutout). However, sometimes it’s worth having a blowout just to be able to put together a (“Twisted”) BOTB contest that has some unique and/or clever wrinkle to it.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews…
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I agree. That’s the fun in it. Plus you’re really doing these battles for yourself, after all…
Happy Monday!
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A tie is way better than a blowout (which is what I’ve been getting, lately). Congrats on such a close battle, Michele! My vote went to Natalie, but I do like Tina singing “Chains”. Thanks for the introduction!
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Thanks Debbie! Glad you like Chains…
Have a good week!
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This tie works for me as I really liked both versions and I could have voted either way.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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Glad to hear it Lee! Thanks
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I’d never heard of Tina Arena, but—man, she’s good! Thanks for the introduction, Michelle, and for the visit over at Quiet Laughter earlier… Glad you enjoyed that video 😉
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Great to see you here Guilie! LOVED that video. OMG, hilarious.
Are you ever going to come back to Battle of the Bands??
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Michele, Woe, ties can be a bummer! However, Shady made a good point in this makes the match up an excellent suit up. I appreciate the intro to Tina, as her style suited my mewsical taste. I might feature one of her songs in a future Monday mewsic post. 🙂 Have a good weekend!
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Oh I can’t wait to see your battle featuring Tina Arena! Glad to have introduced you to her and so glad you liked her music.
Have a great weekend Cathy! Thanks for stopping by…
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Michele, instead of featuring Tina on BOTB I’m thinking about sharing her in my Monday Mewsic Moves Me segment. I’m undecided but I do want to introduce her to my readers, too. Have a good weekend!
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Oh yeah, that would be awesome. Because you can feature more of her songs. Sounds great to me!
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Michele, I’m glad you approve! 🙂 Have a good week and be blessed, my friend!
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Thanks for reporting the final score of your latest battle.
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