Friday, August 29, 2014

5 on Friday -- Set 238



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.

A more welcome Friday there never was, as the Friday before vacation begins. That's what this Friday is for me!


1 - No Particular Place to Go -- Chuck Berry







2 - Holiday Road -- Lindsey Buckingham






3 - Ramblin Man -- The Allman Brothers 







4 - Magic Carpet Ride -- Steppenwolf









5 - Fly Away -- Lenny Kravitz 



Friday, August 22, 2014

5 on Friday -- Set 237



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.

At last -- at lo-o-o-ng last -- the television adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander premieres on Showcase this weekend.

Sunday at 10:00 pm Toronto time, 11:00 pm here on the east coast, to be exact.

I have only been waiting 22 years to see Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall come to life.

To set the mood for this At Last! At Long Last! weekend, here are five Scottish tunes to tide you over until the series begins.


1 - The Water is Wide -- Orla Fallon

A psalm version of this tune was sung during my wedding ceremony. Just love it. 







2 - Skye Boat Song -- Rowena Taheny (Celtic Dreams) 






3 - Ye Jacobites by Name -- Moonrakers 







4 - Eightsome Reel -- Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

It's not hard to tell what gives Cape Bretoners their characteristic lust for life! Cape Breton is the northeastern part of my home province, Nova Scotia -- or New Scotland. Cape Breton is actually an island that is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Anyone actually from Cape Breton calls himself or herself an Islander, and refers to the rest of us as mainland dwellers.

The spirit of the Scottish highlands is alive and well on the Island, including a vibrant Gaelic-speaking revival, as well as Celtic-based music that embraces its roots as though they were only yesterday.

My grandfather's family came from Cape Breton, and my mom grew up in Sydney until she was a teenager and the family moved to Michigan for work in the 1950s. Though our family is French Acadian, the mixing of cultures on the Island meant that my grandmother played the cording piano for fiddle players. Cording piano means the keyboard turns into a sort of rhythmn accompaniment for the melodies played by the fiddle players.







5 - Medley of Jigs -- Buddy MacMaster 

Here in Nova Scotia, the master of fiddler players -- Buddy MacMaster -- has been a revered teacher of several generations of fiddlers, including his famous niece, Natalie MacMaster.

He just passed away Wednesday night at age 89, so in honour of his remarkable legacy, here is a clip of a concert performance he gave at age 80. The music begins at the 1:49 mark.



Thursday, August 21, 2014

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today



Join me at The Popculturedivas for The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is Totally Making My Summer.

Friday, August 15, 2014

5 on Friday -- Set 236



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.

Brad and I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy last week, which we both loved and which has an awesome soundtrack.




Here are five of my favorite music tracks from the film.


1 - Fooled Around and Fell in Love -- Elvin Bishop 







2 - Come and Get Your Love -- Redbone 






3 - Moonage Daydream -- David Bowie 







4 - Ain't No Mountain High Enough -- Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 







5 - Hooked on a Feeling -- Blue Swede 



Thursday, August 14, 2014

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today



Join me at The Popculturedivas for Cannon Fodder Storms the Bastille of the Publishing World.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

5 on Friday -- Set 235



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.

As I was enjoying last Sunday night's episode from the final season of True Blood, it was great to hear Roy Orbison's In Dreams as Arlene danced with vampire Keith at Bellefleur's (the former Merlotte's.)

I found the song staying with me as the week progressed -- so it's launching this week's set. 


1 - In Dreams -- Roy Orbison 







2 - In the Midnight Hour -- Wilson Pickett 






3 - In the End -- Linkin Park 







4 - In a Big Country -- Big Country 







5 - In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning -- Frank Sinatra 




I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today



Join me at The Popculturedivas for My Staycation is Unlocking a World of Wonder.  

Friday, August 1, 2014

5 on Friday -- Set 234



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 August 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 progressive rock bands and the songs that brought them to the masses.


1 - Roundabout -- Yes -- 1971







2 - Dancing With the Moonlit Knight -- Genesis -- 1973






3 - I'm Not in Love -- 10cc -- 1975







4 - The Spirit of Radio -- Rush -- 1980







5 - Plug In Baby -- Muse -- 2001