5 on Friday -- Set 316

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Although I started this year's April A to Z Blog Challenge with a strong opening week, I'm also continuing to retrain at my day job following a year-long medical leave. In the new era of pacing for strength and endurance, my old mind-over-matter thing is now history. Once again, I'll get back to the entries for the remainder of the challenge over time. I've missed three 5 on Fridays, so I've adjusted the set list number to reflect a total that includes the three missing sets -- they'll be posted as soon as I can get to them.

Now, onward to 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.

May belongs to Cole Porter. 

My attraction to his work definitely began with the Sergio Mendes Brasil 66 version of Night and Day, which has been a favorite of mine since childhood. I've been lucky enough to sing some of his pieces in choir, which gave me a deeper insight into just how brilliant he was.

There's a reason that some artists' work rise above their contemporaries to become standards and classics, performed over changing decades and in all kinds of styles. The reason is simple: the authenticity of the work resonates deeply, speaking to all of us about what it feels like to live, to love and to survive.

The hardest part of getting this set list together was not the exquisite pleasure in assembling a long 'short list' of songs. The hard part was leaving off so many glorious gems.

1 - Let's Misbehave - Irving Aaronson and his Commanders featuring vocals by Phil Saxe 

2 - So In Love - k d lang 

3 - Night and Day - Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 

4 - You're the Top - Ella Fitzgerald 

5 - I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra 

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 303

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.

February belongs to Burt Bacharach. 

Along with his longtime lyricist Hal David, Bacharach is responsible for so many of my favorite love songs that I simply had to turn the month for valentines over to him.

Nine years ago, on February 5th, 2007 I posted my very first blog post here at A Piece of My Mind. Crazy to think that next year I'll be celebrating an entire decade of blogging.

And now, it's over to you Burt Bacharach.

1 - The Look of Love -Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 - 1968

This one is simply it for me. The song itself and this version of it. 

2 - Baby, It's You - The Beatles -1963

If you're going to spend the rest of your career writing legendary songs, you might as well cover a songwriting giant like Bacharach on your debut album. This song's lyrics were written by Luther Dixon and Mack David.

3 - Walk on By - Dionne Warwick - 1964

What's a love song set without a little heartache?

4 - What's New, Pussycat? - Tom Jones - 1965

Is it me, or did it just get a little hotter in here?

5 - This Guy's in Love With You - Herb Alpert - 1968

It's probably not very fair to follow Tom Jones' powerful voice with Herb Alpert's, but the unaffected delivery of this song is a huge part of its charm for me. I just adore the fact that this love song compelled a trumpet player to become a singer. That's the power of the Bacharach/David one-two punch. 

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 239

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.

Now that September 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.

Here are five of my favorite bossa nova artists and the songs that brought them to the masses.

1 - Chega de Saudade (Enough Longing) -- Joao Gilberto -- original recording 1959 (I believe this version was recorded in the 60s)

2 - Desafinado (Out of Tune) -- Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd -- 1962

3 - The Girl From Ipanema -- Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz, from a composition by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes -- 1962

4 - Agua de Beber (Water to Drink) -- Antonio Carlos Jobim -- 1963

5 - Mas Que Nada (But That is Nothing) -- Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 -- 1966

5 on Friday -- Set 214

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 was recently tagged on Facebook by Anna Campbell to list the top ten albums that have stayed with me over the years. Talk about a challenge for a 5 on Friday blogger!

Five albums were full ballet scores or film soundtracks. The other five were these artists:

  

1 - Look Around -- Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

2 - Sexy Sadie -- The Beatles

3 - Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want -- The Smiths

4 - Behind the Wheel -- Depeche Mode

5 - P Machinery -- Propaganda

5 on Friday -- Set 210

Five on Friday

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.

Hope you're having a lovely Valentine's Day!

This week's set will take a look at love... 

  

1 - The Look of Love -- Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

2 - Night and Day -- Frank Sinatra

3 - You're the First, The Last, My Everything -- Barry White

4 - Until (from the Kate and Leopold soundtrack) -- Sting

5 - You Made Me So Very Happy -- Blood, Sweat and Tears

5 on Friday - Set 157

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.

That's my anniversary rose bush which is currently dormant beneath the snow at the edge of the woodland garden. Brad gave it to me instead of a bouquet of roses for one of our anniversaries, knowing how much joy it would give me. Can't wait to see the first buds in a few months!

As Valentine's Day approaches, this is for all of you lovers out there - especially you, Brad.

  

1 - Vechnaya Lyubov (Eternal Love) - Anton Makarsky

This is a favorite from one of my Russian playlists on You Tube. The clips are from Admiral, a favorite film about the Russian Revolution. The song is a Russian version of Une vie d'amour by Charles Aznavour, sung here in Russian by Anton Markovsky, whom I discovered as an actor in the Russian historical series Bednaya Nastya which I feel in love with last spring.

2 -The Wonder of You - Elvis Presley

3 - Love Cats - The Cure



4 -All Through the Night - Cyndi Lauper

5 - Pretty World - Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

I have to end this set with Brad's and my song. It's just how we roll.

5 on Friday - Set 137

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.

This week's set is dedicated to my agoraphobic husband, who worked my Indie Artist Alley booth for all four days of Fan Expo last month.

1 - My Funny Valentine - Frank Sinatra

2 - I Will - The Beatles

3 - The Look of Love - Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

4 - Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Andy Williams

5 - The Wonder of You - Elvis Presley

5 on Friday - Set 118

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.

Okay...my manuscript is now delivered to the editor.


After shooting the Scorpius book covers and book trailers two Saturdays ago, and taking part in Free Comic Book Day last Saturday, I'm most definitely looking forward to a weekend where I can catch my breath and get some rest.


What better way than to look back at a time in my life when my whole future still beckoned to me? Let's go back to when I was a young girl and my parents and aunt & uncle often listened to bossa nova. In fact, my uncle is a musician and plays this fabulous samba/jazz fusion style on his guitar with a rich, buttery tone. Over the years my aunt has learned to play jazz flute alongside him.

1 - Chovendo Na Roseira - Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim


I can't describe the feeling this piece gives me. It transports me to childhood, and I'm filled with all the sensations of knowing a sophisticated adult life waited for me one day, one as dreamy and serene and hopeful as this song. Even the fact that it's in a different language always appealed to me.

2 - Aqua de Beber - Astrud Gilberto

3 - Look Around -  Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

4 - Ela é Carioca - Joao Gilberto

5 - O Morro Nao Tem Vez - Stan Getz with Luiz Bonfá