5 on Friday - Set 98

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Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a set of music that launches with Song 1 and proceeds on a musical journey for this special 5 on Friday.

All of the 5 on Friday players are taking a look back at 2011 this week. Let's see what this year was like for me.

1 - Frankly Mr. Shankly - The Smiths

This is how I've greeted the start of every year since graduating from film school in 1995, and then working in a succession of unrelated jobs ever since.



2 - Montage from the Team America: World Police soundtrack - Trey Parker

...and then...the 16-year drought ended. I made my book trailers.



3 - New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

And went to the writers' conference in New York!



4 - Woo Hoo - The 5.6.7.8's

And released my debut novel.



5 - Celebration - Madonna

Yeah, baby.

CLICK HERE to watch the video

5 on Friday - Set 63

Day 19 of the A to Z Challenge brings us to Travis' latest version of 5 Degrees of Musical Progression - and to the letter S.










For this game, all of those participating in his musical meme begin with an idea and then create a musical set that meanders from one leap-frogging aspect to another - but keeps the selections connected.




Travis wanted us all to start with Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown. Here's where I went with it.

First of all, it's Easter weekend, and my mind naturally leans toward this rather intense holy holiday. Particularly since I'm just about to head into the latest major revisions for my vampire novel (thanks, Travis! for your part in this momentous job.)

Now, you may ask - what do vampire story revisions and The Lord's resurrection have to do with one another?

There's a clue in my Sidebar Art Gallery this month. Scroll down past the Followers section to view.

If I told you that my vampire story is basically a superhero origin story, it will be a little clearer. So, I've taken the idea of a sundown being the Dark Moment we writers put our characters through, and filter it through the ordeal and transformation which all superheroes endure.

So for this week's 5 on Friday, and for the A to Z Challenge, here are five Saviour showtunes that start with S.

1 - Save the People - Godspell

When wilt thou save the people?
Oh God of mercy, when?
Not kings and lords, but nations
Not thrones and crowns
But men

- Schwartz / Tebelak



2 - Simon Zealotes - Jesus Christ Superstar

Christ, you know I love you
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved

- Lloyd Webber / Rice



3 - Seven Deadly Virtues - Camelot

You'll never find a virtue
Unstatus-ing my quo
Or making my Beelzebubble burst

Let others take the high road
I will take the low
I cannot wait to rush in
Where angels fear to go

With all those seven deadly virtues
Free and happy little me
Has not been cursed

- Lerner / Loewe



4 - Stars - Les Miserables

He knows his way in the dark
Mine is the way of the Lord
And those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward
And if they fall
As Lucifer fell
The flame
The sword!

- Boublil / Kretzmer / Schonberg



5 - Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat - Guys and Dolls

The people all said sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat

And the devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapel of your checkered coat
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat

- Frank Loesser

5 Degrees of Musical Progression Thread

For everyone playing along with Travis' 5 Degrees of Musical Progression last Friday - and for those who weren't playing but who want to know how my set linked together - here are the connecting elements.

1 - Although there ended up being a clear thematic thread of redemption tying the songs together, which all of you pointed out - smarties! - my actual launching pad for the progression was personnel-oriented.

I began with a Muse track. Muse has worked with producer Rich Costey on two albums, but not on the particular track I included. Since it just won a Grammy, though, I had to post that one.

2 - Rich Costey also mixed 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace for the Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl previously played with Nirvana.

3 - Nirvana's frontman was Kurt Cobain.

He was married to Courtney Love.

4 - Courtney Love recorded Nobody's Daughter with her band Hole, released last year.

Appearing on the track I included was Billy Corgan on guitar.

5 - Billy Corgan is the frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins.