WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF BOTB!
Hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands, this is where you listen to different recordings (usually cover songs) and choose the one you prefer. There are two “Battles” per month, on the 1st and 15th. Votes will be tallied and posted the following week. (Please note: Effective July 2017, I switched to once a month on the 15th only. This will allow me more time to share other types of material with you.) Click HERE to view a complete list of my BOTB entries. See below for a list of current participants. Care to join us? Contact our host, by clicking on the above link and leaving a comment on his blog. The more, the merrier!
♫ This battle features not only a musical mantra but a Classic Rock song ♫
HISTORY
“Rock On” is a song written by English singer David Essex. Originally recorded in 1973 and released as a single, it became an international hit, reaching number 3 in the UK, number one in Canada and number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
It was Essex’s only top 40 hit and the title track to his 1973 debut album. “Rock On” was also featured on the soundtrack album for the 1973 film That’ll Be the Day, in which Essex had a starring role.
The song is still frequently played on classic rock and oldies radio stations. Essex later re-recorded the song in 1988 with an updated lyric.
[Reference only. NOT eligible for voting!]
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DEF LEPPARD
Def Leppard are an English rock band, formed in 1977 in Sheffield, England. As one of the world’s best-selling music artists, they have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and have two albums with RIAA diamond certification.
They are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. The band were ranked No. 31 in VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”and ranked No. 70 in “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
Def Leppard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. “Rock On” is the second track from there ninth studio album, “YEAH”, featuring all cover songs, released in 2006.
VS
MICHAEL DAMIAN
Michael Damian Weir (born April 26, 1962) is an American actor, recording artist and producer. “Rock On” was covered by him in 1989 and featured in the teen film, Dream a Little Dream.
Damian’s version, which he also released from his independent album, Where Do We Go From Here, was a harder-edged interpretation that employed none of the vocal or instrumental distortion in the original 1973 David Essex version.
“Rock On” became Damian’s first hit in eight years. It reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, thus outperforming Essex’s original ranking.
Oddly, it was ranked number 99 on VH1’s 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s, despite the fact that Damian had four Billboard charting singles during that decade.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 11:59 pm, Nov. 21st,
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]ai love music / Cherdo On The Flipside / Curious as a Cathy / Jingle Jangle Jungle /
Mike’s Ramblings / Sound of One Hand Typing / HOST: StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands / Tossing it Out
As always, “Sharing is Caring.” Spread this musical joy all over your social networks.
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ROCK ON! | BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB Who did it better? #dogladysen #rockchickbliss Click To Tweet
⭐I’ll be taking a temporary blogging hiatus, starting Nov. 25th.⭐
⭐Next Battle on this site will be Jan. 15th, 2020⭐
COMING UP WED., NOV. 20:
This is a book I started working on years ago, but had to stop, as some of the stories were too emotionally wrenching. I’m determined to finally get it finished and published before it’s too late. Not getting any younger! 😉 If you like dog stories and want something to read, there are eight completed chapters HERE►.
ROCK ON!
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
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39 thoughts on “ROCK ON! | BATTLE OF THE BANDS #BOTB”
I love David Essex, my favorite song is “”Me and My Girl (Night-Clubbing)” from 1981, Sadly, it reached #13 on the charts but it is a great song!
My vote goes to Michael Damian’s version. I am a sucker for 80s pop-rock tunes and this hit the spot! Did you know that Michael was the title character in Webber’s musical ” Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”? That would be an interestin Battle: Donny Osmond vs. Jason Donovan (90s West End) vs. Michael Damian!
Hi Amy; I didn’t know this other song by David Essex; thanks for the info!
Also, not that familiar with Michael Damian and I didn’t know he played Joseph. Interesting! It’s nice to see him get another vote.
Here you are: 🙂
Def Leppard for sure! The other one was too synthetic sounding for me. And I preferred the ‘scenery’ in the Def Leppard version.? Not that I am objectifying men or anything. ???Their version had more musical depth for me as well.
Ah yes, the Def scenery is indeed superb! ? Another vote for the boys from Sheffield. Thanks, Gilly.
Popping by to see what’s happening on this Monday and found your BOTB post. Very cool. Def Leppard of course wins hands down.
Thanks for coming by, Dawn. 🙂 Yes, it does appear that Def Leppard will take this one.
Birgit here…I have to give it to Def Leppard who gave more of an oomph to this song than Damien did. His was more a bobby soxer version in my mind. So you are off here come Dec 1st…going to Niagara Falls at all?
Hi Birgit; It seems that Def Leppard is going to take this one, by a mile. I get the Bobby Soxer reference, completely! 🙂 Dec. 1 was going to be the start of my blogging break, but I’ve moved it up to Nov. 25th, now. Blame it on eye strain, fatigue and blogger burnout. 😛 We are planning an overnight trip to the Falls on Dec. 6. There’s a new Italian restaurant we want to try, called CORSO, and we love the Festival of Lights. 🙂 Are you going to check them out this year?
Def Leppard get my vote
Thanks for voting! Def Leppard has a strong lead. 🙂
Know “Danny Romalotti’s” version very well, we were all big Y&R fans back then. Even had the tape, although I can’t say it was any good besides the hit. DL took too long to get going. Definitely staying with MD on this one.
I’ve never seen Y & R and didn’t know Michael Damian either until I started looking for contenders. He certainly had a big hit with this cover and I’m happy to see him get another vote. Thanks! 🙂 Not looking good for him, though.
Omg. One of my faves and I haven’t heard it in forever. If I could vote for David Essex I would AND thanks for the link on him! I had no idea he was still alive and he looks fantastic! 😀 – For the challenge I’m going with Michael Damian because it just sounds closer to the original and it has the youth of the original (if that makes sense.) Def Leppard was too harsh and didn’t have that youthful vibe. Also. Michael Damian’s wife is the daughter of Rosco P. Coltrane from the Dukes of Hazzard. 🙂 – Great song for the challenge. The original is my fave.
At last! A vote for Michael Damian. Thanks for preventing a shutout, Karen. It was looking pretty dire. 🙂 We don’t usually use originals in these battles, because they’d win 99% of the time.
Well, I prefer the first version by Essex, but I’d definitely take Def Leppard over the Damian one. 🙂
Everyone usually prefers the original, which is why it’s not part of the contest. 😉 Def Leppard seems to be the early predicted winner, here. Thanks for your vote!
Oh, it’s Def Leppard for me. They’re one of my fav groups! Rock on, Debbie!
Seems to be the preference, overall. 🙂 Thanks for your vote! ??
Def Leppard definitely gets my vote. We saw them do this in concert and it was fantastic.
Another vote for Def Leppard. We saw it live, as well. Great show! 🙂 Thank you, Janet.
I must be a purist as Def Leppard gets my vote as the one that triggers the same positive reaction as David Essex. Or I’m an ex-pat Brit re-living my past.
Either way, it’s Def Leppard. 🙂 Thank you, Roland.
DEF LEPPARD !!! Woo Hoo, that was fun!
I would gladly listen to either version, on the auto radio, while driving on the back roads. But we can only choose one. I choose… DEF LEPPARD !!!
An emphatic vote for DEF LEPPARD !!! 😀 Thanks, Myke.
I love the song, but didn’t love either of the covers. I thought Def Leppard’s was the better of the two, so I’ll go with them.
Def Leppard is on a roll! 🙂 Thanks for your vote.
Great song choice, DEBBIE. I have always loved ‘Rock On’. I dig it as much today as I did when it was an actual radio hit.
Although neither of these covers really touch the original by Essex, in my opionion, I preferred DEF LEPPARD’s cover to Damian’s. They added a couple elements that it made it a bit more their own.
In fact, this is probably the only recording by Def Leppard that I’ve ever actually liked. Not surprisingly, it’s technically not really a Def Leppard song. No wonder I like it! Ha!-Ha! 🙂
~ Stephen
DogGtor of Alcohology &
King of Inebriation Nation
Interesting! I too prefer Def’s YEAH album of covers to a lot of their original works. That said, after attending one of their concerts, I was more impressed. This band is excellent, live! Another vote for Def Leppard. Thank you, Stephen. 🙂
Def Leppard gets my vote.
Have a fabulous day and weekend, Debbie. ♥
Def Leppard gets another one! Thanks for voting, Sandee. 🙂
I well remember this song. Not a song that I ever cared for much, but it is an iconic tune of the era. I like either contender of this Battle better than the Dave Essex original.
Def Leppard is a pretty great group in my opinion and I do like their Yeah album. My vote goes to them.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
YEAH is a good album, for sure. 🙂 Another vote for Def Leppard. Thanks!
We were so lucky. We had the best music.
Agreed! 🙂 So, which one is your preference, here? This is a contest. Thanks!
Debbie,
Believe it or not, I prefer Def Leppard the best. The vocals and mewsic arrangement are a close match to David Essex’s original. Michael Damien sounded to 80-ish if that makes sense taking away from the classic 70s sound of the song. Cool battle!
Hi Cathy, You are turning into a real “rockchick,” my friend! 😀 I get what you mean exactly, by “too 80ish”. First vote goes to Def Leppard. Thanks and have a good weekend!
Debbie,
I think I’ve been a ‘rockchick’ all along but didn’t know it. 😀
Rock On! ???