5 on Friday -- Set 280

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.

280 music sets! That's only 20 more sets before A Piece of My Mind celebrates its 300th 5 on Friday post. A little mindboggling, really.

So many musical roads I've meandered during these 5 on Friday sets, both by listening to the sets put together by the other bloggers, and by putting together my own.

When 5 on Friday began, there were about ten of us spinning the Friday tunes. I encountered so many wonderful new-to-me tunes, as well as being reacquainted with songs whose title I would never have remembered or even who played them.

Travis, the originator of the Friday blog event, decided to call it a wrap after his 200th set, but Mike Golch and I kept going, and now we're the only two still doing it.

This week's set is a nod to the gypsy caravan nature of 5 on Friday.

You never know where the muse will take you. I just go along for the ride. It's good for my creative well -- in fact, I know my creativity thrives on musical journeys like these.

1 - Spanish Caravan - The Doors 

2 - Caravan - Van Morrison 

3 - Minor Swing - Russian retro jazz manouche or gypsy jazz band 

4 - Amari Szi Amari - Csokolom 

5 - Super Taranta! - Gogol Bordello 

5 on Friday -- Set 216

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 bloggers -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

I've been meaning to do an instrumental set for awhile now. So today's the day!

Here are five tracks done by groups normally known for the full meal deal.

  

1 - Frankenstein -- Edgar Winter Group

2 - The Other Way of Stopping -- The Police

3 - Immigrant Punk -- Gogol Bordello

4 - Oscillate Wildly -- The Smiths

5 - YYZ -- Rush

5 on Friday - Set 121

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.

Release Day for Scorpius!


BOUND BY DRAGONSFYRE is now available at Amazon and Smashwords!

Thanks to model Bobby Rossong, DOP and editor Caroline Ruyle and producer Tara MacDonald for superb work on this book trailer.


Let's partay!



1 - Super Taranta! - Gogol Bordello

2 - Don't Stop Me Now -  Queen

3 - Timebomb - Beck

4 - Holiday - Green Day

5 - Rock n Roll Queen - The Subways

Nearly Wordless Wednesday - 171

Today is Anti-Homophobia Day. A day to wear purple in support of your gay loved ones and friends.

A perfect day to listen to Start Wearing Purple, don't you think?

5 on Friday - Set 15

My love of world music brings me to today's set.

I realize I've been drawn to the sounds of other cultures for my whole life. I adore listening to people speak in other languages - just adore it. That's why I can't bear to listen to an English-dubbed foreign film. No sir. No way, no how. I need to hear the original actor's voice, his emotions, his phrasing - everything.

When I was a kid and listened rapturously to my Nutcracker full-length album, I loved the Arabian dance and Russian dance best.

And so it goes. I'm constantly drawn to pop music collaborations with world music. For today's 5 on Friday, I'm featuring two songs that embrace India, one that reaches out to Bulgaria, one that joins with Algeria and one that melds a Latin feel with a Russian Gypsy traditional folk tune.

To check out more great tunes, drop by Travis' blog at Trav's Thoughts.

1 - Within You Without You - The Beatles

Try to realize it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small
And life flows on within you and without you

- George Harrison, 1967



2 - Rocket's Tail - Kate Bush with Trio Bulgarka

And dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge
Nobody seems to see me
Then with the fuse in my hand
And now
Shooting into the night

And still as a rocket I land in the river
Was it me said you were crazy?

I put on my cloudiest suit
Size 5 lightening boots
Cause I am a rocket on fire
Look at me go with my tail on fire

- Kate Bush, 1989



3 - Desert Rose - Sting with Cheb Mami

I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand

I dream of rain
I lift my gaze to empty skies above
I close my eyes
This rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love

- Sting, 1999



4 - La Isla Bonita / Lela Pala Tute - Madonna with Eugene Hutz and Sergey Ryabtsev from Gogol Bordello

I want to be
Where the sun warms the sky
When it's time for siesta
You can watch them go by

Beautiful faces
No cares in this world
Where a girl loves a boy
And a boy loves a girl

- Bruce Gaitsch/Madonna/Patrick Leonard/Susan Leonard, 1987
- performed at Live Earth, 2007

Lela lela lela
Lela pala tute
Giascanamés
Del balla late

Lela lela lela
Lela pala tute
Jas kana medess
Medess anda latay

Translation:

Get her, get her, get her
Get her for yourself

And then, when you die
You'll die for her

- Traditional Gypsy song, performed at Live Earth, 2007



5 - Chiggy Wiggy - Kylie Minogue with Akshay Kumar

Every man who ever sees me
Wants to hold my hand
And be the one to get me
To say, oh, I do

They swear eternal undying devotion
Yes, they swear that they will
Love me forever, love me true

But I don't need a shining star
And I don't want to be rescued
No, neither frog nor charming prince
Nor my summers barbequed

- Abbas Tyrewala, 2009



Naquility says Before hearing Chiggy Wiggy by Kylie Minogue I was going to say Desert Rose was my favorite of the five here. Can't say that now. I love Chiggy Wiggy.

5 on Friday - Set 10

Welcome to my first single-artist showcase for 5 on Friday. The clear choice for me is to give this honor to Gogol Bordello.

I'm still deeply infatuated with this new discovery. Six months ago, I didn't know this group existed, even though they've been together, recording and touring since 1999. But a series of events led me to them and there's been no looking back since.

I featured lead singer Eugene Hutz in a post last October over at my group blog, Popculturedivas. There are songs and clips featured in this post: Nothing Attracts Women Quite Like the Unattainable Man

In November I featured the lyrics from Letter to Mother as a Poetry Train Monday post while I was deep into NaNoWriMo. I also included the full song: Letter to Mother

Following my triumphant finish to the 50,000-word mark, I featured Forces of Victory in this post: 13 Things That Kept Me Going During NaNoWriMo. I dedicated the same song to the Canadian Olympic hockey team for my third set for 5 on Friday.

For my first Thursday Thirteen for 2010, I featured Eugene's offshoot group J.U.F. as well as Gogol Bordello: 13 Songs to Get Your Blood Pumping For All of Those Get-Fit Resolutions

This new group of songs debuts at A Piece of My Mind for my tenth set. This meme is hosted by Travis at Trav's Thoughts.

1 - Avenue B

Eugene speaks about growing up before the song begins at the 1:20 mark. Keep in mind that Eugene has a habit of singing in English, Ukrainian and Roma (Gypsy,) and all in the same song!

Sitting in a Russian bathhouse on Avenue B
No matter how much we sweat we just can't agree

Tall little Sally, my darling
Your panic's so charming
Your shopping techniques are amazing
Celebrity erudition disarming

- Eugene Hutz




2 - Ultimate

If we are here not to do
What you and I wanna do
And go forever crazy with it
Why the hell we are even here?

- Eugene Hutz




3 - My Strange Uncles From Abroad

Bright open eyes
That are still looking
They are still finding
A few unpoisoned hearts
No matter where you are exiled
You are exiled

- Eugene Hutz




4 - Oh No

Oh yeah, oh no, it doesn't have to be so
It is possible any time anywhere
Even without any dough
Oh yeah, oh no, it doesn't have to be so
Forces of the creative mind unstoppable!

- Eugene Hutz




5 - Super Taranta!

Second time I read the Bible
I was thinking, 'It's alright, man'
I was thinking najdedajdaj
I v dushe vse na gitarkah

Ai, ai, shadows of forbidden existence
Come with me, to the future now!

- Eugene Hutz



Linda says This is what I love about Travis' meme - those are five songs that I had never heard of and never would have if you hadn't shared them with us!

Travis says I really enjoyed the first video, listening to the guy speak about his influences. I think it demonstrates how a culture can stagnate if creativity and artistry is never nurtured.

Bond says Interesting find indeed.

5 on Friday - Set 3

We're in the final days of the Winter Olympics, and for Canada that means we're on the edges of our seats over men's hockey.

Canada played as expected over Norway and Germany, and by 'expected' Canadians mean demolished.

Switzerland and Team USA gave Canada some spirited resistance. And by 'spirited' we discovered having to go to a shoot-out against the Swiss really sucked. Of course, losing 5-3 to the Americans meant we played Russia. Sometimes it hurts to set something up as sweet as keeping Ovechkin from scoring. But mostly, it's worth it.

Tonight we're taking on the giant-killer Slovak team. They elimated defending gold-medal winner Sweden, and have an exceptional player in the net - Jaraslav Halak.

So for today's 5 on Friday, hosted by Travis at Trav's Thoughts, I dedicate my third set to Team Canada.

1 - Forces of Victory - Gogol Bordello

I can't go on
I will go on
I can't go on
I will go on
Joining the forces of the victory - Eugene Hutz



2 - Wonderboy - Tenacious D

Now it's time for me to tell you about Young Nastyman
Archrival and nemesis of Wonderboy
With powers comparable to Wonderboy
What powers you ask?
How 'bout the power to kill a yak
From 200 yards away
With mind bullets! - Jack Black and Kyle Gass



3 - 1000 Stars - Big Country

Now we play our final hand
Move in closer, understand
This time like never before only the black queen scores
A card so high and so wild we should burn it - Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler and Bruce Watson



4 - I'm on My Way - The Proclaimers

I'm on my way from misery to happiness today
I'm on my way from misery to happiness today
I'm on my way to what I want from this world - Charlie Reid and Craig Reid



5 - Ecstasy of Gold - Metallica

Composed by Ennio Morricone



Debby says DO YOU BELIEVE!!! I BELIEVE!!! Can hardly wait for the game.

Janet says Enjoy the game Julia - I've just finished watching the nailbiting curling match where Canada lost the gold to Sweden. I don't think I have any more adrenaline left - I'll hear about it tomorrow. Go, Canada, Go!

Travis says Congrats on making it to the gold medal final! I couldn't believe Slovakia made that big rush in the third period. But Canada held them off and now we get the rematch on Sunday! Good luck!

Thursday Thirteen - 140 - 13 Songs to Get Your Blood Pumping For All of Those Get-Fit Resolutions

All of these are guaranteed to make me groove. Enjoy!



1 - J.U.F. - Super Rifle (Balkan Express Train Robbery)




2 - Gwen Stefani - Don't Get it Twisted




3 - Beck - Timebomb




4 - Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way




5 - Jimi Hendrix - Dolly Dagger




6 - Lady Gaga - Love Game

I just couldn't use the official Lady Gaga video for this. The True Blood version is the one that's on my playlist. I need Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) to play the love game. Unfortunately, looking at Lady Gaga takes away from my ability to enjoy her music.




7 - Sean Paul - Get Busy




8 - Blackstrobe - I'm a Man




9 - Gogol Bordello - Not a Crime




10 - OutKast - Hey Ya!




11 - Kylie Minogue and Akshay Kumar - Chiggy Wiggy




12 - Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca




13 - Tito Puente - Tito Timbalero

Americanising Desi says You have my blood pumpin :D

Hazel says Oh my Livin La Vida Loca! :-)

Hootin' Anni says Jimi Hendrix!!! ♥

Poetry Train Monday - 127 - Letter to Mother

I'm deep in the midst of the writing marathon known as NaNoWriMo. I can't possibly write any poetry for the remainder of this month, not even found poetry, because that too requires a calm, clear focus to hear what the found words are saying to me.

So I'll share with you some lyrics I really like from mad genius Eugene Hutz, the songwriter for Gogol Bordello.

Yesterday I tappity-tapped a record-breaking (for me) 4000 words into my NaNo first draft novel. So Eugene, give me a hand here.














Photo by Pavla Fleischer


Letter to Mother


The noise in this joint is unearthly
And soon I awkwardly say,
'Oh look, there it is, my whole life in the ashtray
I can go back to her that way.'

Cause in blue darkness of the night
She keeps imagining one thing:
Someone stuck his Finnish knife
Under my heart

I know that even though she doesn't show it
She grieves sorely for her son
And often walks out to the road
In her old fashioned coat

And in blue darkness of the night
She keeps imagining one thing:
Someone stuck his Finnish knife
Under my heart

I know she's there grieving sorely for me
I know she's there turning grey for me
When I come back she'll forgive me
So motherly, motherly, motherly

- Eugene Hutz, 1999



For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!

Blog Blast for Peace - Dona Nobis Pacem 3 - Grant Us Peace - Scroll down for Thursday Thirteen

Click to enlarge Peace Globe



Welcome, brothers! ((hug)) Welcome, sisters! ((hug))

It's Blog Blast for Peace Day in the blogosphere.

Bloggers from all over the world are sending their desire for peace into the universe today. Join us by visiting the hundreds of bloggers taking part in this beautiful event.

Just CLICK on Blog Blast for Peace and you will discover
a world where hope reigns,
hands reach across the globe in friendship
and voices rise in glorious harmony.

At the main site, you'll find a Complete Alphabetical List of Participants in the left-hand sidebar - click on the 'plus' sign and this will open up to links to every post taking part in the Blog Blast.

For my Peace Globe today I'm featuring a band who epitomizes my own philosophy regarding world peace.

If you're busy playing music, dancing, singing and celebrating life, there is no room for aggression, destruction and suffering.

As this band likes to sing: Party! Party! Party! Party! Party! Party! After party!

Gogol Bordello is a band made of members from all around the world:

Ukraine
Russia
Ethiopia
Ecuador
Israel
United States
United Kingdom

They come from a wide assortment of ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Eastern European, Gypsy or Romani, African, Indigenous people of the Americas and Asian.

There are men and women.

Their ages range from 30 years old to 54.

If you watch the clip, you'll catch the infectious delirium of joy this group exudes. The crowd is jumping!

Lead singer Eugene Hutz sings in a mixture of English, Ukrainian and Gypsy/Romani. Here are the lyrics from the song that I offer to the Blog Blast today:

Mishto means "Good"

Sha bu'et kruto blya! Sha bu'et kruto! means "This is gonna kick ass!"

T´aven saste taj baxtale means "You should be healthy and lucky"

Is this what we really need?

What if this is my only chance?

What if this is my holy war?

What if this is my stupid dance?

What the f#%k you waiting for?

Let's go!