Thursday, October 15, 2015

BotB: HOTEL CALIFORNIA


Well, I had my apology post all scheduled for today's BATTLE OF THE BANDS (couldn't get my Nightmare post done properly), but I ran across this in my drafts and decided to post it. I've been on the road a lot since last Thursday, and when not driving and inventorying my stores I've had lots of paperwork and other stuff to do. I only work one week a month, but its sometimes more than 12 hour days when I run my route. Hectic and tiring is an understatement. The only thing I want at the end of the long day is a decent hotel (with a wine shop close by) and a shower that does more than sprinkle a couple droplets of soft, tepid water on my wide posterior.

Anyway - HOTEL CALIFORNIA by The Eagles has been overdone by just about everyone. Click the link to read all about it. According to Wikipedia:
The lyrics weave a surrealistic tale in which a weary traveler checks into a luxury hotel. The hotel at first appears inviting and tempting, but it turns out to be a nightmarish place where "you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave". The song is an allegory about hedonism, self-destruction, and greed in the music industry of the late 1970s. Don Henley called it "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles" and later reiterated: "It's basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America, which is something we knew a lot about."

Watch an Eagles version here, if you're interested.

You're lucky; that's not the song I'm doing today.

Today's contenders will battle it out over your funny bone. Hopefully you find these two as hilarious as I did. Fair warning: put down the coffee or whatever else you're consuming before clicking on either of these - in case you find it funny.

Barry Poole (born December 18, 1964) is an American country music artist who records under the name Cledus T. Judd. Known primarily for his parodies of popular country music songs, he has been called the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music, and his albums are usually an equal mix of original comedy songs and parodies. (source)

Cledus T Judd parody Motel Californie





Justin Hansen, better known as GISH, is one of the most popular comedians on the NZ ProComedy Circuit. With a wicked combination of original and popular song parodies and a healthy toke of comedy for the bro's, GISH is a a favourite headliner throughout New Zealand.

GISH has turned his song writing talents to comedy providing a unique alternative amongst his fellow stand-up comedians; for which he has been a previous Billy T Comedy Award nominee in 2006. He has also featured on "Pulp Comedy" and TV3's comedy special, "AotearoHA".

Want to know more about Gish? Check out this article in the Auckland City Harbour News.

Gish: BIG GIRL IN THE CORNER



OK, go vote in the comments. Then check out the list of other participants here at the blog of Lucky Saint Mac (aka Stephen McCarthy), and don't forget to wish Wilting FAE a speedy recovery.

I will continue to be busy the next few days too. I will attempt to visit all the posts, but with grandkids here, who knows what will happen - or not happen.

I still have lots to complete on my IWSG anthology story. How's yours shaping up? And no, I have not started on my WEP Halloween writing, or the Spooktoberfest flash. I'm starting to get a bit commitment phobic; or at least scared to turn on my computer and contemplate My Documents.

If I don't see ya'll around timely, have a good weekend.

26 comments:

Blogoratti said...

Hello and thanks for sharing!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The first one was just a bit too fruity, so my vote is for the second one. (Sorry, only have a moment to check online today so I listened to just a snippet of each.)

Pat Hatt said...

The second I found more fun, so that gets my vote. But still enjoyed one.

Arlee Bird said...

I cringed slightly when I saw the song in your title, but I liked the twist you put on it. I love the song "Hotel California" but as you said it has been overdone a bit.

I cringed when Cledus came on with his vocal, but Gish wasn't vocally that listenable either. In the end though I found myself laughing more with Cledus and musically I just think his was more enjoyable for me to listen to.

Cledus gets a blue ribbon from me for his humorous take on this song. I could listen to his version more than a couple times as opposed to the Gish version.

I vote for Cledus T Judd.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

Debbie D. said...

Fun twist to the battle! Cletus' voice makes me cringe and I much preferred the second one. Please give my vote to Gish.

Michele at Angels Bark said...

Cledus T. Judd gets my vote. His lyrics were hilarious. And I liked the sound better. Gish didn't do much for me. Cledus T. Judd could get the vote on his name alone! Very funny, his song.
Michele at Angels Bark

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Going with Gish. Made me chuckle.

Cathy Kennedy said...

Donna, I haven't heard of either of these guys before now. It's good to find other artists doing parodies. Both are good, but I think the first is just a tad better. Maybe, it's the mood I'm in today. Whatever the reason is, I'm giving my vote to Cledus T. Judd. Thanks for the fun battle!

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

OH DONNA, I'm glad you were able to join us. And what a fun BOTB you put together, too.

Cledus T. Judd was really funny, and I gotta vote for his version of "HOTEL CALIFORN-Y". Ha!-Ha! And I agree with Michele: Cledus would get the vote just on his name alone. I'll need to return here again for a second listen, because I'm sure I didn't catch all of it after just one.

Speaking of 'Lucky', I think I'm gonna try your slot machine again before long. If I win again, I'm taking that as a sign I should immediately quit my crappy job and take up gambling as a profession.

~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'

Janie Junebug said...

I guess I vote for Gish because he wasn't quite as horrible as the first guy. I'm sorry to be pissy, but I don't think they're funny.

Cherdo said...

Cledus T. Judd gets my vote. Gish was good and he might have gotten the vote on a cleaned up album version...but, nawwwwww...give it to Cledus. I don't fear the hillfolk.

dolorah said...

Hey Bloggo :)

Alex: if you ever missed a post I'd pass out. When I woke up, I'd be all like, "damn, Capt Ninja does know how to take time off!"

Pat: thanks

Lee: you fell for my trick-or-treat snare. I was pretty sure most people would be groaning when they read the title (the trick) and then would be pleasantly (or not) surprised by the treat of something unexpected :)

Elizabeth: Gish was super funny; made me lol.

Thanks Debbie

Michele: I'm a Cledus fan myself. I liked his "warm smell of Cledus; need to change my underwear!"

Cathy: probably that country twang that we both enjoy so much :) Gish constantly blowing his dreadlocks out of his mouth was a distraction.

Lucky Mac: Nice to know you're a Cledus fan. And where's my boyfriend's poetic words you promised? Yes, do listen to Cledus' song a couple times; I catch a different phrase each time I hear it. Good for a laugh all day. Hopefully you win more than $50 to quit yer day job. And if you win again, I may have to make the trip to B-town and test my luck again too. Make it a date *bats non-existent long lashes*

Janie: ah well, can't please everyone all the time. But thanks for voting anyway :) Ya know, one of the reasons I'm not much of a comedy fan is because comics seem to ALWAYS have to downgrade some demographic to be funny. One of my favorite comics is Jeff Dunham, and even he has a slightly downgrading repertoire; though its less obvious.

Cherdo: I doubt Gish would have been even this good without audience participation. Some songs/acts fall flat by themselves. I like singer/comedian Bill Engvall (Here's Your Sign) and I've seen some of his live versions of my favorite songs, and they just don't compare to the video. When you put a song with the comedy, the wrong media or audience can ruin the routine. And, yeah, I'm all for the hillfolk :)

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

OH DONNA, MY GWOILFWIEND!...

You were so right to call me out on my negligence regarding the holy woids of your (REAL) boyfwiend, Wee-Willie Winkie. (Oh, wait!... That's ME! ...Ha!)

Alright, TWUTHFULLY, TWUTH is very, Very, VERY important to me. I never lie. (Well, except when it comes to Wee-Willie Winkie.) No... SERIOUSLY! I hate lies, and I ALWAYS tell the twooth. However, often, what I say is the twooth, but my TIMING is all fwucked-up! So, the statement was correct, but the timing be all wong. As in Xie J. Wong, the master singer of "Kwistmus Swongs" (also known as Elmuh Fwudd).

When I said I would send you Willie's woids swoon, I meant it - it wuzn't a wie! But my timing wuz all wong.

Howehvuh, below, you will fwind a whink to the exact poster image and woids that you boyfwend said, and which hangs on the whall of the whall next to the 'SIX-SHWOOTER SAWLOON' at 'BOOMTWOYN'.

(Link:->) Willie Nelson's 'START DREAMING AGAIN'.

See ya at the sexy slots, Oh Dwayhna!

~ D-FensDogG, dwahgwhayn-it!

Robin said...

I think my migraine is messing with my funny bone. I feel rather sick to my stomach (goes with the migraine) so Cledus and his poo references weren't helping with that. And then Gish went on about fat girls and eating (again, my stomach rebelled). I don't know which I liked better or worse. I think I disliked them equally. So, just this once I'm taking a pass and not voting in this round.

Be well, girl, and I hope that the job gets easier.

farawayeyes said...

I love it, Love it LOVE IT, that you chose to parody Hotel California. Both were funny, but I gotta go with Cledus. He sounds, funny, is funny to look at, and his parody was spot on.

I know that I seriously owe you an email, I'm not avoiding you, really... just been sick and crazy or is that crazy sick, or sick of being crazy. Not sure anymore, but I promise I'll get to you soon!

Jeffrey Scott said...

I needed a good laugh today. That was it.
Out of the two, I have to admit, I laughed more at Cledus' song. So he gets my vote.
Funny stuff.
PS - If you are pressed for time, I was lazy this week and have a quick match up and I actually don't banter on. LOL

A Beer for the Shower said...

I'll admit, I got a giggle out of Gish's "there was a pie in here, now it's disappeared." Meanwhile, I can't stand that goofy overdone redneck voice. It's more grating than funny. One vote for Gish.

Dixie@dcrelief said...

Gish for 100. Funny battle, Miss Donna ;)

dolorah said...

Mr Fudd: Oy m' Goid; how spectacular of you to show up. And with a quote from my wascally BBFE (best boy friend ever). I am inspired - for another glass of Moscoto. And my fwingers are itcy for another chance at being your Lady Luck :)

Robin: awh baby, you get a pass. I'll go shut off the lights and turn off System of a Down on my tiptoeing way out. Feel better soon.

FAE: lol, all of the above. Seems there is a trend of ill people showing up for this battle. Is it my battle? Cledus and Elmer will make it all better.

Jeff; that Lazy song so fits me this weekend. After a long week of traveling, my pj's look inviting and comfy. Thanks for laughing with me.

Beers: must not have had enough beers to appreciate a red neck artist, lol.

Dixie Doll: glad you enjoyed him. Gish had me nearly peeing my pants with giggles.

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Donna! Weird Al still rules. I didn't find either of these song parodies as entertaining as his. Contestant #2, Gish, has a less irritating voice than contestant #1, Judd, and I liked his guitar playing, but I couldn't understand many of the words of his song. Although I found his voice irritating, I am voting for contestant #1, Judd, because I could understand the words better and his song seemed the funnier of the two.

DEZMOND said...

I really liked Shia's recent version of HOTEL CALIFORNIA! It was very symphonic and atmospheric!

Guilie Castillo said...

Cool battle, Dolorah! I'd never heard either of these, or of either singer/comedian, and I'm sure I missed a lot of pop-culture references that might have swayed my vote... The first version seems more 'complete', like more time was invested in it, but the guy's voice and hammed-up style was unbearable. Thus, a vote for Gish :)
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

Birgit said...

Oh my this was funny. I have to give it to Gish because he made me laugh more especially when he was gurgling plus the pies disappeared:). Gish gets my vote

Stephanie Faris said...

I vote for Gish. Parody usually means minimal singing ability but that guy can sing!

Mike said...

Gish made me laugh so he gets my vote.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Stephen King truly hates HOTEL CALIFORNIA so I know that he would for Gish!Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting It meant a lot. :-)