Happy Monday, BetterMost!!!!
I was not on BetterMost most of the weekend, so I have a lot to catch up with!
Hope that everyone had a great weekend!!!
First matter of business, is my diet update. After another week at the gym, I got on the scale today to see I'm still at 223lbs. No loss, but no gain. I'm willing to accept that. For now.
Now, on to the new poll. Our last one ended in a tie, the first time ever, between UB40 & Elvis Presley.
This vote will be different today. The song is recorded by two different acts, in the same year. They are the same style, essentially, but they are slightly different musically, and the vocals are definitely different.
It was in 1983 that 14-year old Kensit became lead singer of brother Jamie Kensit's fledgling band, Spice. Rounding out the original lineup were guitarist Geoff Beauchamp, bassist Lawrence Lewis, drummer Jake Walters, and a friend named Nigel providing additional percussion. By late 1984, Kensit was contributing more to the band's music and they had changed their name to Eighth Wonder. Signing to CBS in early 1986, they worked on a debut album, Fearless. Fearless had been completed and released in July of 1987, Eighth Wonder had issued a string of singles that had found success across Europe. Fearless sold well in the U.K. and the group (now a quartet) even notched minor chart singles ("Cross My Heart" and "Baby Baby") in the U.S.
Here is Eighth Wonder's version of "Cross My Heart".
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxeWcgBrJVA[/youtube]
Martika appeared after teen girls like Tiffany and Debbie Gibson returned adolescent bubblegum to the pop charts. Martika was born as Marta Marrero in Whittier, CA, on May 18, 1969. Her parents were originally from Cuba; however, they left the country during a revolution. Raised in California, Martika started acting before launching a recording career, appearing in the film version of Annie in 1982 and on the TV series Kids Incorporated from 1984 to 1986. In 1988, her first single, "More Than You Know," landed on the American charts; a year later, its follow-up, "Toy Soldiers," was number one in the U.S. for two weeks. Martika's self-titled debut album was also released in 1989.
Here is Martika's version of "Cross My Heart". No vid was made, this is a fan vid of the record on the turntable.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1NF3TnIRJE[/youtube]
So, which do you prefer? Martika's more "mature" sounding vocals and production, or Eighth Wonder's "sugary" bubble gum production?