The votes are in and the winner by a fair margin is Love & Rockets!
This was a tough one for me because I really liked both versions but overall I liked Love & Rockets edgy treatment so they got my vote.
The tally shakes out with 12 votes for Love & Rockets and 6 votes for Duran Duran.
I thought it was interesting how many people disliked the original Temptations version of the song. I LOVE it!
So that’s it for this battle. As always, thanks for your votes and participation. See you for the next round on October 1st. Can you believe we’re almost in October already??!
It’s another Battle of the Bands! Today I’m featuring the song Ball of Confusion, an original by Motown greats the Temptations. Give a listen to the two contenders and vote which one you like best. I’ll post the results in 6 days!
“Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.
Like “Psychedelic Shack” before it, “Ball of Confusion” delves head-on into psychedelia, this time with a strong political message. The lyrics list a multitude of problems that were tearing apart the United States in 1970: the Vietnam War, segregation, white flight, drug abuse, crooked politicians, and more. “Round and around and around we go”, the Temptations sing, “where the world’s headed/nobody knows.” The end of each section of the Temptations’ lists of woes is punctuated by bass singer Melvin Franklin’s line, “And the band played on.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Here is their politically charged song. This is NOT part of the contest. Just wanted you to hear the original, in case you’re not already familiar. (And for more Temptations music, you might want to check out my A-Z Musical Tour of My Life post that features the Temptations. There are a ton of great videos so it may take a minute to load…but it’s worth it!)
Today’s contest is between Duran Duran and Love & Rockets:
Duran Duran – Duran Duran is an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were a successful band of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven “Second British Invasion” of the United States. Here is their version of Ball of Confusion:
Love & Rockets – Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash (vocals, guitar and saxophone), David J (bass guitar and vocals) and Kevin Haskins (drums and synthesisers) after the group split in 1983.
Despite their previous band’s status as gothic rock icons, Love and Rockets moved towards a slightly brighter and more pop-influenced sound, as demonstrated by their first minor hit being a cover of the Motown classic “Ball of Confusion.” (Source: Wikipedia). Here is their version of the song:
TIME TO VOTE! Which version do you like better and why?
And when you’re done voting, please visit these other BOTB participants and check out their cool battles:
Angels Bark 