It’s RESULTS time for my July battle: This was definitely a fun battle! It was my first 4-way 2-genre battle: The song was Stealers Wheel‘s “Stuck in the Middle with You“. The first round in this 4-way is two artists battling it out for the Jazz title and two artists battling for the Country title.
Going for the Jazz title were multi-award-winning Canadian singer Michael Bublé vs. American jazz singer Nicole Henry.
Battling it out for the Country title were the ever-popular Keith Urban (with twenty-one #1 hits!) and award-winning country and pop singer Juice Newton.
The genre winners were decided early on in this Battle Playoff. Without a doubt the men racked up the votes in both genres. Before I reveal the tally breakdown, I’ll tell you who I voted for in this battle:
In the Jazz category I went with the majority and voted for Michael Bublé. His cover version was so rich and robust. I enjoyed Nicole Henry’s smokey vocals but her version just didn’t hold up against Bublé’s, in my opinion.
As for the Country category, I went against the majority and voted for Juice Newton. I listened to each country cover three times before deciding and I must say, it was a tough call. Keith Urban is, well, Keith Urban after all. His version was absolutely fantastic. But Juice Newton’s version captivated my attention more. With Keith Urban’s, his version kinda ended up in the background as I was working away on the computer. Juice Newton’s version, on the other hand, snapped me out of my mindless typing and made me pay attention. The music grabbed me right from the tickling piano at the onset and took on me on a joyful musical ride, accompanied by Newton’s powerful vocals. Comparatively, I just liked Juice Newton more and so she earned my vote.
Now, for the Results Tally:
JAZZ PLAYOFF
Michael Bublé – 10 votes
Nicole Henry – 3 votes
COUNTRY PLAYOFF
Keith Urban – 9 votes
Juice Newton – 4 votes
The “Stuck in the Middle with You Playoffs” have concluded and the winners from each genre category will now advance to duke it out for the title win. Come back next month on August 15th and vote for your favorite cover version of the Stealers Wheel hit and see who will win the ultimate “Stuck in the Middle with You Championship”:
Michael Bublé vs Keith Urban
Angels Bark 
I think this will definitely be interesting to see the final outcome! Interesting battle!
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Thanks Mary. I think it might be a nail-biter. I’m hoping anyway…
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MICHELE ~
Neat Battle idea!
Michael Buble is going to win, but it should be a fairly close contest. Keith is gonna make him work for the championship belt.
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends
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Did you use the magic 8-ball for that prediction? Or are you going on what the Vegas bookies have called? 🙂
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Seems like there is a general preference for male vocalists over female–I’ve heard this stated many times before and that’s usually how I feel. Maybe that calls for some kind of study. Your outcome doesn’t surprise me at all.
I’ll have to listen more closely to your finalists more carefully when I get back home to my regular (better) computer. I’m thinking that I’ll be going for Keith Urban because I tend to like his sound better than Buble, but that could change.
Lee
Tossing It Out
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Ah, the pull back to the faster computer. It’s funny how used to speed we get and then when we run into something just a nano-second slower, it seems like it takes for-evvv-er! 🙂
See you next month… Thanks Lee.
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Hi, Michele!
Thank you for reporting the final vote count in this preliminary round of your BOTB tournament. The outcome is not surprising. There are certain songs, and “Stuck In The Middle” is one of them, that only seem to work for me when performed by a male artist. My ears demand it. That is why I voted for the two males in your contest. The final round should be interesting. I haven’t made up my mind and I will keep it open until voting day.
I know that you are getting started on an exciting and super busy weekend over there. I am very happy to know that your dear mother will have a beautiful, comfortable new home so close to you. Take things one step at a time and you will get it all done. You are a wonderful daughter, Michele!
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Thanks Tom! Yeah, I think the Championship for this battle will definitely be interesting. Both a fantastic versions. I don’t know who I’m going to vote for yet either..
I am excited…and tired too! Just came in from having the dogs out. It’s not too gross hot yet so we hung out there for a while. Now everybody is snoozing and I think I’m going to go elevate my leg in bed and get caught up on Animal Kingdom. Do you watch that show?? It’s in its second season. I love it. Ellen Barkin is fantastic in it and with the exception of Shawn Hatosy, the rest of the cast is new to me. I especially like relative newcomer Finn Cole.
http://www.tntdrama.com/shows/animal-kingdom
The other new show that I’m hooked on is Claws. Have you seen that one? Neicy Nash rocks in this show!
http://www.tntdrama.com/shows/claws/
Both are TNT originals. Would love to chat about it if you watch either and if you don’t (yet), check them out. You and Mrs Shady would probably like them (I think).
Have a great weekend. I’m grabbing my heating pad and heading to the bed… I need a break!
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Hi again, Michele!
I must say (write) that you are what I call a “full service” blogger, and I am not just sucking up. I believe in giving credit where it’s due. Mrs. Shady and I are always on the lookout for new-to-us TV series to watch. I never heard of Animal Kingdom or Claws and I’m certain she hasn’t either. Her very favorite TV series is another TNT original – Major Crimes – and I believe she will want to watch these two that you recommended. I am surely excited about seeing them. For one thing, I have always admired Ellen Barkin, and I am glad to see her sinking her teeth into this meaty role on Animal Kingdom. It reminds me of another great series we recently finished watching, season 2 of Fargo. If you aren’t watching Fargo, seasons 1 and 2, I highly recommend them. Secondly, I love Neicy Nash who played a hilariously inept college campus rent-a-cop in season one of another series I can recommend – Scream Queens. Claws looks equally hilarious and I am going to add both of these series to my watch list immediately – like yesterday!
I greatly appreciate all of our interaction, dear friend Michele. Rest up. You have a big week ahead! 🙂
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Hey, so glad to be able to turn you on to some great television programming. I find it hard to believe when people say there’s nothing good on TV. I’m always like What?? There are tons of outstanding shows that are really well done in all aspects (writing, production, acting).
I wasn’t sure about Claws with the first episode but there was enough there to have me come back for the second and I’m so glad I did. It’s so good. Oh, and do you know who Harold Perrineau is? He starred in the movie Zero Dark Thirty and played the wicked “Damon Pope” in Sons of Anarchy and most recently he was in the latest season of Criminal Minds. Oh, and he was a main character in LOST way back when…and also the HBO series Oz. He was fabulous in all of those. A very talented actor…and with this new show, his talent really shines.
In Claws he plays “Dean” the autistic brother of Neicy Nash’s character “Desna” and he does an amazing job. His portrayal of someone with autism is brilliant and believable.
Here’s his IMDB profile. He’s had quite a career.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0674782/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t13
Let me know when you guys start watching both of these. Claws you can get right into because it’s in its first season. With Animal Kingdom you have to go watch Season 1 before diving into this current season. I want to hear what you guys think. Enjoy!!
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Thanks, Michele!
I see that Harold Perrineau started out in the mid 80s as one of the dancers on Fame. I remember him from Lost. Mrs. S tends to be a lot more picky than I am. For example, I got her interested in Fargo, but she tuned thumbs down on another favorite series of mine – From Dusk Till Dawn. Sometimes she is reluctant to try new series, but I will do my best to persuade her to try these. Either way I intend to watch them and I will let you know what I think about them. 🙂
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Well that’s exactly why it’s a good idea to have multiple TVs in a household. My ex-fiance were completely incompatible with our viewing entertainment. We were incompatible in so many ways really, but as far as TV goes, we’d often be in separate rooms watching different programs. Anyway, hope you do get to check both the series out…
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This is such a fun concept! 😀 So, it will be Michael Bublé vs. Keith Urban. That’s a tough one! It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Have a good weekend.
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Hi Debbie.
It sure will be a tough one! I have no clue at this point who I’ll go for in that match-up.
I’m taking the afternoon off (I think) from the computer but I’ll be back later to check out your battle results.
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you’re having a great Saturday…
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Hooray, both my choices are in the final. You know I’m going to vote for Keith – I can’t ignore my fellow country man and as you said, Keith Urban is Keith Urban. Great battle.
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