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 276

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.

I didn't know until a few years ago that there was such a thing as a selenophile -- someone who loves the moon, is captivated by the moon, who feels a sense of excitement as dusk settles and night takes over.

All I knew was that I loved the moon and moonlight in a way that sunworshippers seem to love their sunny days. Actually, no -- the sun lovers' relationships to sunny days seems to be more of an extrovert thing, while they fill their blue-sky days with lots of activity and feel happy doing it.

My relationship with the moon and the night fits with my introverted self, filling me with a quiet joy, yet a very intense joy. It's just me and the night and no desire to do anything but be. 

1 - Moonlight Bay - Leon Redbone 

2 - By the Light of the Silvery Moon - A Capella Trudbol (Julien Neel) 

3 - Moonlight and Roses - Jim Reeves 

4 - Harvest Moon - Neil Young 

5 - Moonlight Drive - The Doors 

  

5 on Friday -- Set 203

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.

How was your Christmas? Hope it was beautiful like mine was.

That's Brad and me, enjoying our Christmas morning breakfast. (My mom was the photographer.)

Next up on the holiday calendar: New Year's Eve!

2013 has been the Year of the Black Snake according to the Chinese zodiac. Snake years always bring a great deal of transformation, as snakes shed their skin and force change upon us, whether we're ready for it or not.

For this final 5 on Friday for 2013, here are five songs about snakes.

1 - Here Comes the Snake -- Cherry Poppin Daddies

2 - Cotton Mouth -- The Doobie Brothers

3 - Crawling King Snake -- The Doors 

4 - The Voice & The Snake -- Enigma

This one takes awhile to get going. The actual music part gets rolling at the 1:30 mark.

5 - The Union of the Snake -- Duran Duran

Thursday Thirteen - 288 - 13 Songs I've Played Obsessively While Writing

I freely admit to many forms of obsession.

I don't see any of them as minuses in my life as a creative person. An obsessive compulsive disorder detracts from a person's life, getting in the way of doing basic things.

A driving passion, however, is not only to be embraced if you're going to master something enough to truly understand your creative medium (or your sport, if that's what you love to do) -- it's actually necessary.

If I told you someone repeated the same actions in the same sequence over and over every evening before he went to bed, you might think, wow, that person must have OCD. Yet, if I told you that person was an elite violinist and he was working on musical scales, perfecting his technique, you would have a much different view of that person than if I told you it was a guy who re-sorted his DVD collection into perfect blocks of color according to the packaging spines of the jewel cases -- but only if he looked behind each DVD three times.

If you asked hockey superstar Sidney Crosby how many hours he's spent shooting a puck into the net, he probably wouldn't be able to tell you. If he didn't obsessively practise his hockey technique, he would not be the player he has become. For artists and athletes, the word 'obsession' could basically be replaced with 'passion'.

One of my most enjoyable obsessions/passions is listening to music while I'm writing. It often has nothing to do with the tone or subject matter of the scene I'm working on. I just have to be obsessed with it.

I'll know I'm obsessed with a song or a piece of music when I end up choosing it as the first song of the writing session, playing it about six times in a row, and then returning to it a few times during that writing time.

Often, that song will go through my head while I'm riding the bus, and I'll hum it through the day, only to race towards it once again the next evening.

For me, I find that my musical obsessions act as a short-cut to placing me in the head-space I need in order to write fiction. I'm telling my brain 'Write NOW' with my obsessive selection.

So, here are thirteen of my current and former musical obsessions, all of which have led to the scenes that become my books.  

1 -   I'm Your Boogie Man -- KC and the Sunshine Band

2 - Assassin -- Muse

3 - Princes of the Universe -- Queen

4 - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? -- Moby

This version specifically, with all of the Dean and Sam voiceovers from Supernatural

5 - Lies -- The Pierces

Also, this version specifically, because there are Guy of Gisborne scenes in this one that I will stop to watch.

6 -  I'm Crying -- The Animals

I guess I can see a bit of a pattern here (LOL!) Guess that's why I'm obsessed with these ones.

7 - I'm a Man -- Black Strobe

8 - And Your Bird Can Sing -- The Beatles

9 - Sex Crime -- Eurythmics

10 - Peace Frog -- The Doors

11 - The Song Remains the Same -- Led Zeppelin

12 - Closet Romantic -- Damon Albarn

13 - So High -- Elvis Presley

5 on Friday - Set 140

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.

I'm already two weeks into my Spooky Stories Author series here at A Piece of My Mind, so my sets for the rest of October are going to be all-Halloween, all the time.

If you missed the first two interviews, you can catch them here:

Natalie G. Owens, author of AN INCONVENIENT DEBT

Trish Milburn, author of MAGICK 

The tone for this week begins with unchecked madness and spirals into the hell that follows... 

1 - Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

2 - 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson

3 - All the Madmen - David Bowie

4 - Riders on the Storm - The Doors

5 - Home by the Sea - Genesis

5 on Friday - Set 95

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 goes out to all you Walking Dead fans out there, or lovers of apocalyptic fiction.

1 - It's the End of the World as We Know It - R.E.M.



2 - Until the End of the World - U2



3 - The End - The Doors



4 - The End of the World - Skeeter Davis



5 - Nothing But Flowers - Talking Heads

5 on Friday - Set 90

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.

Susan @ West of Mars has been hosting Rocktober over at her blog, so for this week's 5 on Friday I'm taking part in the festivities.

Celebrate the collision of music and books however you see fit says the All-Access Pass on her blog. Susan invites us to share fiction, biographies or non-fiction that celebrates rock 'n roll in all its glory throughout the month of October. I'm sneaking in at the tail end, but the party's still in full swing. Let's rock!

Two of my dear blog buddies and writer friends have published stories set in the world of rock.


















Wylie Kinson's Law of Averages tells the story of British rocker Gabriel Law, known as the Dark Angel of Rock, who needs to reconnect with his missing songwriting spark and books a vacation spot in Bermuda to regroup.

For this week's first track, Jim Morrison from The Doors will stand in for Wylie's Dark Angel of Rock.

1 - Strange Days - The Doors



Megan Frost, worn-to-a-frazzle restaurateur - is already at the double-booked vacation home. When the Dark Angel realizes she doesn't know who he is, he's in no hurry to sort out the confusion.

I think if Gabriel dedicated a song to Megan on an upcoming tour, it would be this one:

2 - Little Wing - Sting



Wylie is giving away a free copy of Don't Ask, Never Tell, an anthology which includes Law of Averages to one lucky commenter.


















Hostess for Rocktober herself, Susan Helene Gottfried's Trevor's Song follows the story of a rock band whose sarcastic bass player finds it hard to weather the change in band dynamics when his lifelong friend and the band's lead singer builds a future with his lady love - especially when a secret Trevor keeps makes a friend's support even more prized.

Standing in for Trevor's bass playing in this next track is Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler.

3 - Supernaut - Black Sabbath



ShapeShifter front man Mitchell Voss is the rock god whose change in life path sets Trevor's equilibrium on edge. Standing in for Mitchell is Led Zeppelin's Uber Rock God Robert Plant.

4 - Communication Breakdown - Led Zeppelin



To finish out the set, here is my salute to Wylie and Susan and their fictional rockers.











5 - Paperback Writer - The Beatles

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today / 5 on Friday - Set 66

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today - drop by for a look at how my junior bridal party blossomed into brides and a groom when I wasn't looking.













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.

I'm currently in post production on the book trailer for my vampire story - for more on that, scroll down to yesterday's post. Not to mention final revisions on the book itself!

Since I've got my vampire story on the brain, here are five songs that represent the five main characters.

1 - Clocks - Coldplay - representing Peredur, a Dark Age warrior who becomes a vampire



2 - You Make Me Wanna Die - The Pretty Reckless - representing Tanwen, Peredur's love interest



3 - Touch Me - The Doors - representing Cavan, who is consumed with unrequited love for Tanwen



4 - Gabriel - Lamb - representing Melnak, Peredur's vampire mentor



5 - It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr - representing the Saint, whose bones became amulets used by Peredur's vampire brotherhood

5 on Friday - Set 55

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.















Continuing with my series on popular music through the decades, let's dive into the 1960s.

1 - Crazy - Patsy Cline - 1961

Worry
Why do I let myself worry?

Wonderin'
What in the world did I do?

Crazy
For thinking that my love
Could hold you

I'm crazy for tryin'
And crazy for cryin'
And I'm crazy
For loving you

- Willie Nelson



2 - Corcovado - Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto - 1962

Quiet nights of quiet stars
Quiet chords from my guitar
Floating on the silence that surrounds us

Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams
Quiet walks by quiet streams
Window looking so to Corcovado

Oh! How lovely

- Antonio Carlos Jobim



3 - Route 66 - The Rolling Stones - written in 1946, released by The Rolling Stones in 1964

If you ever plan
To motor west
Travel my way
Take the highway that is the best

Get your kicks
On Route 66

- Bobby Troup



4 - Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - 1966

Lay down all thought
Surrender to the void

It is shining
It is shining

That you may see
The meaning of within

It is being
It is being

- Lennon / McCartney



5 - Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) - The Doors - written in 1927, released by The Doors in 1967

Show me the way
To the next whisky bar

Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why

For if we don't find
The next whisky bar
I tell you we must die
I tell you we must die

I tell you
I tell you
I tell you we must die

Oh, moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
Must have whisky, oh, you know why

- Brecht / Weill

5 on Friday - Set 19

A big Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there - and for this week's set, I've put together five songs that always make me think of my dad, the moment I hear them.

1 - Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

Dad used to sing the opening lines to this song when he drove. Or thought about driving. He was a car lover. Car mechanic. Car salesman. He loved cars.

Keep your eyes on the road
And your hands upon the wheel

Yeah, we're goin to the roadhouse
We're gonna have a real good time

Let it roll, baby, roll

- Densmore / Kreiger / Manzarek / Morrison



2 - Mystery Train - Elvis Presley

Dad was a big Elvis fan. And he was also a big fan of the Chet Atkins sound, so the early Sun Records combine that feeling for me.

Train, train
Comin' down, down the line
Train, train
Comin' down, down the line
Well it's bringin' my baby
Cause she's mine, all, all mine

- Parker / Phillips



3 - Birthday - The Beatles

He always called me on the phone when I lived in Toronto and sang this to me on my birthday.

They say it's your birthday
Well, it's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy Birthday to you

- Lennon / McCartney



4 - Our Love is Here to Stay - Billie Holiday

This was our father-daughter dance at my wedding. I'd prepared a recording of Cleo Laine's version, but my sister secretly switched it with an accapella one of herself singing, which she recorded with the help of my brother-in-law, Jeff.

CLICK HERE to listen to the song

It's very clear
Our love is here to stay
Not for a year
But ever and a day

The radio and the telephone
And the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies
And in time, may go

But oh, my dear
Our love is here to stay

Together we're going a long, long way
In time, the rockies may crumble
Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But
Our love is here to stay

- George and Ira Gershwin


















5 - Go Down Gamblin - Blood, Sweat & Tears

Once upon a time, back when the Superbowl had marching bands for the half-time show, my dad turned the sound down on the TV and put on his Blood, Sweat & Tears album. The visuals of the marching band matched the blaring horns of Blood, Sweat & Tears so perfectly we were all in tears of laughter.

Besides which - the it-ain't-over-till-it's-over philosophy of this song pretty much sums up my dad.

Down in a crap game
I've been losin' at roulette
Cards are bound to break me
But I ain't busted yet

Cause I've been called a natural lover
By that lady over there
Honey, I'm just a natural gambler
But I try to do my share

Go down gamblin'
Say it when you're runnin' low
Go down gamblin'
You may never have to go

- Lipsius / Clayton-Thomas






For more fabulous musical sets, visit Travis at Trav's Thoughts.

Jamie says Oh those are all wonderful picks and very nice dedication to your dad.

Travis Cody says I had never heard Mystery Train. Thanks for bringing me some "new" Elvis.

5 On Friday - Set 6

Yay! Time for another set for 5 on Friday!

This has quickly become my favorite post to put together, eclipsing Thursday Thirteen which has been the highlight of my week for the past 150 weeks. Travis, you're brilliant for starting such a fun meme. I invite any who wish to participate to drop by Travis' blog at Trav's Thoughts and sign up.

For today's set, I turned it into a defining exercise for one of the characters I'm currently working on. I based all the song choices on Peredur, the Dark Ages Welsh vampire from one of my works in progress. He's the product of two NaNoWriMo writing marathons. If you want to read a poem based on his character, CLICK HERE.

The five songs represent his character arc throughout the story. I thought I had already drawn a good bead on him, but I was delighted to discover that placing these five songs in this order helped me realize a few important things about him. This exercise has already helped me with the revisions I'm doing with this current draft.

Travis - thank you, man.

1 - The Gael - Clanadonia



2 - Love Me Two Times - The Doors

Love me one time
Could not speak
Love me one time
Yeah, my knees got weak
Love me two times
I'm goin away

- Densmore / Krieger / Manzarek / Morrison



3 - Secret Journey - The Police

Upon a secret journey
I met a holy man
You will see light in the darkness
You will make some sense of this
And when you've made your secret journey
You will find the love you miss
And when you've made your secret journey
You will be a holy man

- Sting



4 - Dr. Mabuse - Propaganda

NOTE: The music doesn't start until the 0:16 mark.

The man without shadow promises you the world
Sell him your soul
Never look back
Glamorous death is his destination
Why does it hurt?
You've already lost the chance of your lifetime
There's no way back

- Dorper / Mertens / Thein



5 - I Who Have Nothing - Tom Jones

Believe me dear, when I say
That he can give you the world
But he'll never love you the way
I love you

I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else
When darling it's I
Who loves you

- Donida / Leiber / Mogol / Stoller



Jamie says Interesting group of songs. Good luck with the character development in your story. I agree that this meme on Friday is excellent.

Debby says Oh, The Doors......love them..that was many, many years ago.

Shelley Munro says What a great way to get a handle on a character. Tom Jones was down here in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago rockin' his stuff.