Friday, April 1, 2016

Sweet Home Alabama -- BOTB

Lynyrd Skynyrd's signature song has to be "Sweet Home Alabama!" This is the standard against which other cover versions should be compared. Having visited The Flora-Bama and other coastal dives, I can attest to what high esteem Ronnie and the boys are held. I just offer their version to refer to before looking at the BOTB entrants for today.



For my offerings for this Battle of the Bands, I give you one lone guitarist/singer, a hair band, and a campy international group.

For the first one, here's Laura Cox, a French lady doing her thing. She offers a new style to "Sweet Home Alabama."

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This bunch of surlies is Guns N Roses doing their thing. They're more traditional:


And we go next to a Finnish group, The Leningrad Cowboys, ably assisted by the Red Army Chorus, camping it up. You have to enjoy their 'do's:



So out of these pretenders to wear the celestial crown of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who did Sweet Home Alabama best?

_____ Laura Cox

_____ Guns N Roses

_____ The Leningrad Cowboys

You might also speculate on which, if any, of those performers would be shouted a request to do Free Bird.*

As for other Battle of the Band sites, please go to these, and cast your ballots and musical remarks for their this week's offering:




*A tradition among Southern rock fans.





21 comments:

Michele at Angels Bark said...

Angel, I didn't know you were doing Battle of the Bands! I just noticed your link at Stephen's site so I have missed all your battles until now. I'm so sorry! How long have you been doing this with us?? I just added you to my list in my posts.

As for your battle, you picked one of my favorite songs. I'm a major Lynryd Skynyrd fan. I really like Laura Cox's version. Never heard of the Leningrad Cowboys. Funny! I like the GNR version fine but in my opinion, Laura Cox knocks it out of the park with this one. Please give my vote to her.

Glad to have you hanging with us BOTBers! Sorry I missed your introduction to the group...

Michele at Angels Bark

Mike said...

Leningrad Cowboys were entertaining but my vote goes to Laura Cox!

John A Hill said...

Laura Cox for me!

Debbie D. said...

Apologies for missing your previous battles; I was out of the loop for awhile. The Leningrad Cowboys were fun, but I was sure my vote would go to Guns N Roses, being an old "rocker chick". Not so fast! Lauran Cox did a great job with this. My vote goes to her.

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

Well, I don't like Guns 'N' Roses (never did).

And I really "want" to vote for The Leningrad Cowboys because they're amusing. I liked the horns and the whole campy bit. It was like The B-52s meet Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

But, in the end, I must cast a serious vote for the French chick. I wasn't really fond of her voice - there was a sharp pitch to it that got a wee bit on my nerves a few times - but her guitar playing was good 'n' funky. (Never knew there was any funk in da French. Thought it was just whine 'n' cheese.)

~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'

Cloudia said...

Worthy survey of the topic!

Mike said...

I was not fond of any of the singing. Laura Cox wins for her guitar playing. If that was actually her playing.

Dixie@dcrelief said...


Ha! Stephen's comment cracked me up!

The Leningrad Cowboys... what a hoot that was. Still I liked Laura Cox better. My vote goes to her.

Hell Hound said...

My vote for the French chick, Laura Cox!

Great range of choices, Angel!

Duckbutt said...

The Leningrad Cowboys are a hoot; but my vote goes to Laura Cox!

But Lynyrd Skynyrd is the best!

Robin said...

Laura Cox was a much better guitar player than singer. I just didn't dig her vocals.

You're right. GNR was the most traditional cover of this song.

The Leningrad Cowboys. Oh my. That was something to see, but not so much to listen to.

I'm going to be in the minority (according to the votes already logged), but I think Guns and Roses did it best.

TexWisGirl said...

yeah, can't even attempt the other impersonators. :)

Cathy Kennedy said...

Three interesting and different styles. The first and last artist didn't do much for me, but Guns n' Roses reminded me more of Lynyrd Skynyrd and won my vote.

Curious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: Artists #AprilA2Z #BoTB

Mary B said...

For me, the real battle is between GNR and The French Chick. Being that I absolutely abhor anything Axl Rose related, the French Chick gets my vote.

Mary
Twitter: @KnottyMarie
Literary Gold
Jingle Jangle Jungle

Jeffrey Scott said...

Great song choice here. I think Laura Cox gets my vote this time.
She played awesome and her voice is amazing.

Cherdo said...

None of my gut responses proved true: I gotta go with Ms. Cox on this one! Great battle, by the way.

Cherdo
Cherdo on the Flipside
"Favorite Characters, Favorite Lines" on the A-to-Z Challenge 2016

Bilbo said...

Laura Cox crushed it, but the Leningrad Cowboys get a strong second for sheer fun.

eViL pOp TaRt said...

Cherdo, I'm sorry! I added you to my list referencing BOTB posters! My mistake .....

Arlee Bird said...

I'll vote for the absurdity and different take presented by the Finnish guys that you finished the battle with. Guess that was an appropriate order to present things in.

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

Kristen Drittsekkdatter said...

Me too! For sheer showmanship, my nod is to The Leningrad Cowboys!

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

POP GOES THE EVIL TART, do you know (Link...>>) THIS ONE?

~ D-FensDogG