Friday, January 15, 2016

"Seasons in the Sun": Battle of the Bands

This is my first time in BOTB, so I thought I would do an old one that was covered by many singers.

I recently discovered "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks from a scathing article in Slate. This was a monstrous hit back in 1974. It sold over 10 million singles, and made #1 for several weeks on the Hot 100 list. It is certainly downbeat, both literally and figuratively. Since this lead song for my part in BOTB comes with this less-than stellar intro from Slate, I won't blame you if you don't suffer all the way through. On the other hand, it is compelling in its way.



This maudlin song had a French language predecessor, Le Moribond (The Dying Man), a chason composed by Belgian Jacques Brel, who also did the vocals. This video also has English subtitles:





The Kingston Trio did a version in their smooth style that maintained similar poignancy, irony, and theme as the Brel song:


The song "Seasons in the Sun" has these major versions and others as well. The Jacks one is sentimental, the Brel one is biting and sarcastic, and the Kingston Trio version has some of the bite but with smoothness reflective of their style from the 1960's.*

So, of the three, whose version do you prefer:

_____ Terry Jack's
_____ Jacques Brel's
_____ The Kingston Trio's

Please vote your preference. I'll tally up the results and post them in six days.

*For those with high pain thresholds, there is also a Nirvana version. Awk!

16 comments:

Bilbo said...

Kingston Trio, all the way!!

Elvis Wearing a Bra on His Head said...

Kingston Trio!

Duckbutt said...

One more for the Kingston Trio.

Linda Kay said...

Not going for the Nirvana version, for sure. Since I'm in the oldy but goody generation, I pick the Kingston Trio....just mainly because I always like them.

John A Hill said...

It's difficult to vote against the Kingston Trio...so I wont.
KT for me, as well.
(Actually never really cared for this particular song...in any version!)

Mike said...

Well the Terry Jacks version is the one I remember so that's the one that seems like the 'right' one. I am with John on the fact that this song was never on my top ten list.

TexWisGirl said...

t.jacks is my version, too.

Anemone said...

The Jacks version is my choice.

Hell Hound said...

They were all tedious; but the Kingston Trio's was the best of a bad lot.

Dixie@dcrelief said...

Welcome to Battle of the Bands!! The frech was really cool, but log my vote for Terry Jacks. Thank you :)

Big Sky Heidi said...

The Jacks version.

Grand Crapaud said...

Kingston Trio

Kristen Drittsekkdatter said...

Jacques Brel, to aovid a shut out.

Cherdo said...

Welcome to the battle! You've paired them up nicely.

Give my vote to Jacks!

Chuck the Grumpy Cat said...

My vote for the Terry Jacks version.

bakku-shan said...

Terry Jacks. The other two are too edgy.