5 on Friday -- Set 307

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Time for my once-a-month project for 2016.

This year I'll be focusing on Songwriters. Check back on the first Friday of each month as I take a look at the work of artists whose creative voices are most often brought to us through the performances of others.

March belongs to Irene Higginbotham. 

Tuesday, March 8th will bring International Women's Day, so this month's Songwriters feature showcases that rarity among the composers who will grace A Piece of My Mind this year. African American Irene Higginbotham managed to hold her own in a competitive field of songwriters known collectively as Tin Pan Alley, dominated by white males in the early 20th century.

In her late twenties, she even managed to join the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, a significant accomplishment.

1 - Good Morning Heartache - Billie Holliday 

2 - I'm Pulling Through - Diana Krall 

3 - Hello Suzanne - Ella Mae Morse 

4 - It's Mad, Mad, Mad! - Duke Ellington featuring Dolores Parker 

5 - Harlem Stomp - Louis Armstrong 

If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

5 on Friday -- Set 250

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Had a very busy week at my day job, getting trained myself on a new imaging system, as well as training other people on document recognition.

The final Hit Makers of 2014 will be posted next week -- until then, I'm in a massive Christmas mood, with my writers' group party coming up tomorrow.

Let's make merry, shall we? 

1 - Jingle Bells -- Frank Sinatra 

2 - Let it Snow  --  Diana Krall

   

3 - Marshmallow World  --  Darlene Love    

4 - Wonderful Christmastime  -- Paul McCartney and Wings

5 - Sleigh Ride  --  The Ronettes

5 on Friday - Set 100!

The 99-cent December Book Blowout Event continues!

My debut Dark Ages vampire novel SAINT SANGUINUS is proudly taking part in this exciting month-long e-book sale.

Browse through 11 genres by 100 independent authors

For more information,
CLICK HERE to visit the BOOK LOVERS BUFFET [Julia's note: link no longer live]

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Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

As most of you know by now, 2011 has been one of the most amazing years of my life. I'm a bit verklempt to see it go, if you want to know the truth.

But 2012 beckons.

A very Happy New Year to all A Piece of My Mind readers!

1 - May Each Day - Andy Williams







2 - Counting My Blessings - Diana Krall







3 - With a Little Luck - Paul McCartney and Wings







4 - I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits







5 - Theme from Ironiya sudby - Composed by Mikael Tariverdiyev

This is the theme song that runs throughout the Russian New Year's film, Ironiya sudby, which my husband, my mom and I will be watching tomorrow night. We've also ordered a few dishes from a Russian restaurant here in town - Laura's Cafe - including borscht and kinkhali (dumplings.) Plus, my mom has prepared lobster mousse (to substitute for the ruined fish aspic dish featured prominently in the farcical plot) and Russian potato salad, as we're mirroring the New Year's feast shown often in the film.

At midnight tomorrow night, I hope you'll all be raising a glass to toast the year in! Doesn't matter what's in the glass - water will do perfectly.

Of course, at my house we'll be sipping Bottega Il Vino Dei Poeti Prosecco, for which I made a special stop over at Bishop's Cellar on my way home from work. I had my first taste of this when my friends Dawn, Maureen, Shelley and I had a girls' overnight in Wolfville a few years ago. That was the start of my love affair with prosecco.

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2012 be a year where you dare to reach for the dreams you've kept alive in your heart.

CLICK HERE to watch video

 

5 on Friday - Set 99

WELCOME to the 99-cent December Book Blowout Event

My debut Dark Ages vampire novel SAINT SANGUINUS is proudly taking part in this exciting month-long e-book sale.

Browse through 11 genres by 100 independent authors

For more information,
CLICK HERE to visit the BOOK LOVERS BUFFET

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~









Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Merry Almost Christmas, everyone! And here on Canada's east coast, we've got magical Christmas snow today - a BIG dumping. To celebrate the arrival of the white stuff, here are five snowy songs.

1 - It Snowed - Meaghan Smith



2 - Snow - Carolyne Mas

This is one of my husband's favorite singers. I'm glad he introduced me to this lovely song.



3 - Let it Snow - Dianna Krall

So fine.



4 - Snow - Loreena McKennitt

Truly magical.



5 - Snow - Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen

My sister, my mom and I started up a new tradition a few years ago - I think actually it was in the wake of my gram's departure from this life into the next. We decided to shake up Christmas a little bit, and we began to watch White Christmas every year. This is now a big favorite of mine.



Hope you enjoy the snow, if you get some!

Thursday Thirteen - 143 - 13 Songs About Canada By Canadian Artists

As we head ever closer to the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, here is a tour across the country I'm honoured to call home:

1 - We are First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

Hina Na Ho Ho (Celebration) - Susan Aglukark



2 - We love hockey.

The Hockey Song - Stompin' Tom Connors



3 - We stride through our days with our past in every heart beat.

Cape Breton fiddle music - Buddy MacMaster and Ashley MacIsaac



4 - We carve our future through The True North, strong and free.

Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Gordon Lightfoot



5 - 'Mon pays, ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver' ('My country is not a country, it's winter')

Montreal -40°C - Malajube



6 - We stand on guard for thee.

Hero - Nickleback



7 - 'And for those who like to rock, a rocking chair in the middle.'

Oowatanite - April Wine



8 - We define who we are by who we are not.

American Woman - The Guess Who



9 - We show the kiddies how it's done.

YYZ - Rush



10 - We shrug off genius as mere poetry.

Dance Me To The End of Love - Leonard Cohen

CLICK HERE to watch Dance Me To The End of Love














11 - 'Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix!' ('As in thy arm ready to wield the sword, So also is it ready to carry the cross.')

Time For Mercy - Jann Arden



12 - With glowing hearts we see thee rise.

Departure Bay - Diana Krall



13 - O Canada! Our home and native land!

Home - Michael Bublé



Janet says Thanks for the reference to the Friendly Giant - I always called for the rocking chair before my brother.

Anthony North says It's always good to celebrate one's country.

MommyBa says Canada's always been on top of my list as the best place to go to in the world.