5 on Friday -- Set 230

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.

Happy 4th of July to my American family and friends! If you're not on the eastern seaboard, may you have a great long weekend. For those of us in the path of Hurricane Arthur, take cover and be safe.

Up here in the Great White North, we celebrated Canada Day on Tuesday, which split up the work week into manageable little chunks.

Now that July has arrived, it's time for my monthly feature for 5 on Friday -- The Hit Makers.

Once a month I'm going to feature the songs that launched careers. I'll be looking at different musical styles and the groups or singers from those styles who I love the best.

To celebrate my home and native land, here are five of my favourite Canadian artists and the songs that brought them to the masses.

1 - High School Confidential -- Rough Trade

2 - Lovers in a Dangerous Time -- Barenaked Ladies

3 - Constant Craving -- k d lang

4 - Building a Mystery -- Sarah McLachlan 

5 - Brother Down -- Sam Roberts

5 on Friday - Set 39 by Guest Blogger Taylor Keating

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.

Today I've got debut author Taylor Keating dropping by to spin some tunes and give us a few insights into her debut novel, Game Over, which released this week from Tor.


















Thanks for being my DJ, Taylor!

If your main character Chase Hawk, who is prisoner of The Dark Lord, could be represented by a song, which one would you choose?

1 - Brother Down - Sam Roberts

There's a man over there says he's tougher than me
But I got eyes that can see through fantasy

I think my life is passing me by
I think my life is passing me by

Someone else telling you what you're living for
Been knocking you down, now you're looking for more
Then the only sound you hear is a closing door
Been looking for peace, but they're bringing you war

- Sam Roberts



So what about River Weston, the video game designer who becomes trapped in her own program that is not a program but an alternate universe?

Her song would be:

2 - Somebody to Love - Queen

Each morning I get up
I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet

I take a look in the mirror
And cry
Lord, what you're doing to me

I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can't get no relief
Somebody
Somebody
Can anybody find me
Somebody to love?

- Freddie Mercury

CLICK HERE to watch the video













When Taylor needs a bit of inspiration, what kind of thing kick starts her writing mojo?

3 - Enter Sandman - Metallica

Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land

- Hammett / Hetfield / Ulrich



If Game Over had a soundtrack, what tracks would we discover there?

4 - Joy to the World - Three Dog Night

If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
Make sweet love to you

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me

- Hoyt Axton



5 - I'm a Believer - Smash Mouth

I thought love was only true in fairytales
Meant for someone else, but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seems
Disappointment haunted all my dreams

And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried

- Neil Diamond




Yeah, baby!

Thanks for the set, Taylor. Gives me a wonderful feel for Game Over, which was described as Faust meets The Matrix in an Amazon review. Hope your debut release week is everything you've dreamed of.