BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D: HAPPY HOLIDAY - THE HOLIDAY SEASON #BOTB
Hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands, this is where you listen to different artists and choose the one you prefer. Votes will be tallied and posted the following week. Care to join us on the 1st of every month? (Optionally also on the 15th.) Contact our host, by clicking on the above link (in red) and leaving a comment on his blog. The more, the merrier!

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December 01, 2024

HAPPY HOLIDAY - THE HOLIDAY SEASON #BOTB

WELCOME TO ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF #BOTB!



IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON!
๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ‰



This is an all-crooner's battle, featuring a classic holiday medley.


HISTORY


"Happy Holiday" (sometimes performed as "Happy Holidays") is a popular song composed by Irving Berlin in 1942 and sung by Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds (dubbed by Martha Mears) in the 1942 film Holiday Inn.
 The Kay Thompson song "The Holiday Season" is sometimes paired with "Happy Holiday" as a medley. This was first popularized by Andy Williams in 1963

[Reference only. NOT eligible for voting!]

On to the contest!

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN

Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956 in Columbus, Ohio) is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an archivist and interpreter for the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. 

"Happy Holiday" is the 4th track from his 2001 album, "An Intimate Holiday".

VS


MATT DUSK

Matthew-Aaron Dusk (born November 19, 1978 in Toronto) is a Canadian jazz vocalist. He has recorded twelve studio albums - two platinum, four gold, and had three number one radio hits.  In 2016, Dusk self-produced his first full-length Christmas album, Old School Yule! which was certified gold by ZPAV. "Happy Holiday" is the first track.

VOTE NOW!

Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.

Voting remains open until 11:59 pm, Dec. 7th, after which I will count the votes, add mine and publish the results.

These are the other BOTB regulars and semi-regulars. Please cruise on by their sites and, if they have a post up, vote on their selections as well: [Check back – there’s no set posting time]

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Next Battle on this site will be Jan. 1st (maybe).

ROCK ON and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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12 comments:

  1. Happy holidays to you too!

    Give my vote to Matt Dusk. The other one was good, but a bit loungy I guess.

    Lee

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  2. Matt Dusk for me. Much more Andy-like, and I'm a second-gen Andy fan.

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  3. Linda SchaubDecember 01, 2024

    Well Debbie, it has to be Andy Williams and Happy Holiday(s) for me as I don't know the other two crooners. I do think I know this song by heart. Years of watching the yearly Christmas specials with my parents - one TV, so we crowded around to watch Perry Como, Dean Martin and/or Andy Williams. Also in your "Traditions" blog post, I forgot to mention that I do know who Michael Bublรฉ is, but didn't know he was a Canadian.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Linda! Andy isn't eligible. I only put his video here for reference. It's the other two who are the contenders. It doesn't matter if you don't know them, only which one you thought was a better version. Thanks for coming by, though! ☺ If you have the time, maybe you could pick one, for the sake of the contest?

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    2. Linda SchaubDecember 02, 2024

      Hi Debbie - sorry I messed up the first time. Now I get it ... Matt Dusk sounded more like the song by Andy Williams and had a little more pep to it than the first singer, Michael Feinstein. P.S. - for some reason I can only put my name as yesterday and today it says the blog url is invalid.

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  4. DEBBIE D'DOGLADY ~

    Of course, it probably goes without saying that Andy Williams *owns* this song. I'm pretty sure it was Andy's version of it that first forced me to consider the possibility that I liked his "crooning" after all. (It took me a long, long time to get on board with the crooners. Mathis and Darin were the ones who first managed to wriggle through what I mistakenly thought were securely locked doors.)

    The Michael Feinstein rendition is fine. I don't mind lounge-y at all. It reminds me of piano bars I have spent good times in.

    However, there's the "holiday excitement" factor to be considered. And Matt Dusk clearly wins in that category, even though, honestly, I feel like I should ding him a point for basically just duplicating the Andy Williams vocal approach to the song. But I always dig the Big Band sound so, for me, Matt leaves Mike in the Dusk!-- er... "dust".

    Judge Al Bondigas was in the room while I played these and I asked him to make a rulin' in the case. He felt that the first song seemed kind of "bland" compared to the more upbeat second version. Therefore his gavel also came down in favor of Matt Dusk.

    Maybe I should drink some gin & tonics and come back to re-listen after I'm in a more lounging position. :-)

    ~ Stephen T.

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  5. Happy Holidays, Debbie! Fabulous song pick for your first December battle round! My vote goes to Matt Dusk. HIs upbeat vibe really puts me in the Christmas mood. :D

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  6. It's Michael Feinstein for me. I liked that his version was just a little slower and his voice reminds me of Mel Torme (which is a good thing). The Matt Dusk version was also nice, but just a little too bouncy for me.

    And happy holidays to you!

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  7. I keep thinking Michael Feinstein is the gravelly voiced actor whom we know best from Mrs. Doubtfire who played Robin Williams' brother..I thinknhis name is Harvey Feinstein. Anywhoo, I never cared for his singing..too drippy for me. I'm going all the way with my fellow Canadian, Matt.

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  8. Michael is pretty smooth, but my vote goes to Matt for a more upbeat sound. Happy Holidays, Debbie!

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  9. I didn't think Michael had as good a voice as Matt. Matt Dusk for me!

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  10. VOTE = MATT DUSK

    Tough decision! Both have great voices. I liked Michael's piano flourishes; but I liked the orchestral embellishments on Matt's version. ~Ed.

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