5 On Friday - Bluebird Edition

Five Tweets In Waiting

Our friend Travis over at Trav's Thoughts invented the 5 On Friday meme.  Hop over to his website for instructions, the join in to share your musical selections for the week.

On Wednesday morning, Roseanne Cash tweeted the following: "Listening to Joe Henry's new record 'Reverie' all morning. Like listening to Gabriel Garcia Marquez with a backbeat."

If you mention one of my favorite authors, you get my attention. Based on this tweet, I went hunting for another musician I had never heard and discovered songs with lyrics in which you could drown. I don't have a clue what he will say to you, but he will make you hear it.

His web page is on the link above. Here is his Wiki for even more information

5 On Friday - Chanukah Edition

Five on Friday is a delightful meme invented by our friend Travis of Trav's Thoughts.  To participate, click the link, sign in and go forth to share your selections for the week.

This week's Five on Friday just happens to fall on the Fifth Day of Chanukah.  The first song is my favorite Chanukah song courtesy of Peter, Paul, and Mary.  Then four samples of Klezmer music which is one of strains of music plus jazz that was woven into the music that became the Great American Songbook.

5 On Friday - Travel Progression

Travis has issued the following request for this week's Five on Friday. To join in, click on the link and sign in before sharing your progression with the world.

Remember this? Volume 3 was way back in April. I started thinking about doing another one to celebrate the end of the year. And wouldn't you know, Cherie suggested it in comments last Friday!

In case you don't remember what I'm talking about, the basic idea is to start with a song and then let something about the song...a lyric, the artist, the way the record was produced, etc...lead you to the next track. And keep following that progression until you have a 5 song Set.
When we did this back in April, I gave you the first song. This time around, I'll give you three possible avenues to take in building your Set. Ready?
This one is "easy". Just come up with whatever strikes your fancy.
Define 2011 with a progression that reflects how your year went.
Set the stage for what you expect in 2012.
What do you think? Are you up for it?

Let's set the date to post our progressions for 16 Dec. That gives everyone three weeks to get organized and decide on a Set. Then it's your choice whether to post the explanation of your progression with your Set, or post it later and give us all a chance to interpret it.
I hope you play along. And if you've never tried this fun way to enjoy music, this might be a good way to introduce yourself to it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a small child, this was my favorite song.



March is my birthday month.  You will have to wait until next year for the story of why this video goes with that fact and why this far away place is the setting for  my favorite movie.



After attending 21 schools in many cities, I finally graduated from high school the year that the next song became a hit.




Now another "travlin' man", my son Christopher, got a promotion and as a result he has been traveling for one to two weeks out of every month this year from one side of the US to the other.  As a result instead of traveling everywhere, I've been stuck in place as grandmother in charge at home.





Almost to the New Year and I really need to hit the road!!!

5 On Friday - I Am Woman

Our good friend Travis invented this meme. To join in, hop on over to Trav's Thoughts for an explanation, sign in and share your musical selections for the week.

Dec 9, 1972: "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy tops the U.S. pop charts.  This group of songs is dedicated to some of the powerful women Singers.  There were way too many possible selections (I changed my mind over and over), so feel free to nominate even more great ladies.





Helen Reddy



Sarah McLachlan



Billy Holiday



KD Lang & Melissa Etheridge



Emmylou Harris

5 On Friday - Turn Up The Heat

Our good friend Travis invented this meme.  To join in, hop on over to Trav's Thoughts for an explanation, sign in and share your musical selections for the week.

It's been cold and rainy in the northwest so I thought it would be a good time to create a little heat.
Find a partner and let the "dirty" dancing begin

5 On Friday - Piano Man

Our buddy Travis of Trav's Thoughts has invented this delightful meme. To join in simply click on the link, sign in and go forth and share your musical selections for the week.

A mere 33 years ago, Billy Joel had his first number one album with "52nd Street" on November 18, 1978.  Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of any of the songs on the album so I had to go hunting for Billy Joel songs that I did like.  As Travis would say, "My blog.  I can do what I want!"  :-)

Because I like history and this one is literally my life story:  We Didn't Start The Fire




You want to ask me out on a date? Irresistible: A Broadway musical or a Piano bar. I love a good piano bar, and I adore men who can play a piano.



Find me a dance floor: It's still Rock and Roll



A love song for a city that I really want to see



Saving the best for last. Billy Joel's music. Twyla Tharp's choreography. The 2003 Tony's featuring the music and dancers of "Movin' Out"

5 On Friday - A Country Farewell

(1945 - 2011)

A Special version of Five on Friday for the meme invented by Travis of Travs Thoughts.  To join in simply click on the link, sign in and go forth and share your musical selections for the week.


Last Sunday I received the sad news of the loss of a lady that I only knew from on line, but whom I considered both a friend and kindred spirit.  This 5 on Friday is dedicated to Patsi Bale Cox.  Her career in life was the "As Told To" writer for many celebrities, most of them the ladies of Country.  So here for Patsi is a musical farewell from the ladies whose stories she told with links to the books she wrote.




Tanya Tucker - Nickle Dreams



Loretta Lynn - Still Woman Enough



Wynona Judd - Coming Home to Myself



Pat Benatar - Between a Heart and a Rock Place




Georgette Jones - The Three of Us

Patsi didn't neglect the men either.  Here are some of them:

Garth Brooks - The Garth Factor

Ralph Emery - 50 Years Down A Country Road

Tony Orlando - Halfway to Paradise

Dona Nobis Pacem -

As many are aware every Friday is 5 on Friday. A Chance to share music with each other started by Travis of Trav's Thoughts. This year Friday falls on the date set for the annual DONA NOBIS PACEM the Blog Blast for Peace started several years ago by Mimi Lenox also lovingly known as Queen Mimi of Bloggingham Castle.

Because of her actions, thousands of people in 55 countries now devote one day each year to these three simple words: GRANT US PEACE (Dona Nobis Pacem) and dedicate themselves to encouraging peaceful actions within and among the countries of this blue globe we all share.

Therefor, this week's 5 on Friday are songs of peace.  I hope you enjoy the music and heed the words.

By Royal Decree of Queen Mimi the return and command performance by 

Bear 339 and the Bear A Tones

All We Are Saying

Is Give Peace A Chance

5 On Friday - Blogging Under Protest

Travis of Trav's Thoughts invented the 5 On Friday Meme.  To join in, visit his page for instructions, sign in and go forth to share your selections for the week.


On this date in 1967, 100,000 took to the street to protest the war in Viet Nam by marching on the Pentagon.  One of the biggest weapons the peace marchers had was the protest song. In this time when people are once more hitting the streets to let their government know that things are seriously wrong, here is a musical reminder of the power people acting together can have.

U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday - On the surface, this is a song about Bloody Sunday, an infamous incident where British soldiers shot at peaceful Irish protestors. At a deeper level, it's about the stupidity of warfare, the pointlessness of harbouring hatred and how important it is to seek peace and reconciliation.

Joan Baez - Joe Hill - The classic song about unions supporting the working man

John Hurt with "I Shall Not Be Moved" - Old spiritual that has now become an anthem for any group protesting for better treatment here sung by Pete Seeger for Union protestors.  It was also used for the Civil Rights protest era both as spiritual and with additional lyrics.

Peter Paul and Mary - El Salvador protesting The Disappeared political prisoners

5 On Friday - The Opera Opus

Welcome to another 5 on Friday courtesy of Trav at Trav's Thoughts. To join in, just visit his site, sign in and go forth to add more music to the blogosphere on your own site. This week I have it really easy as this is the day in history when we lost the in person voice of the glorious Maria Callas. So here are five very popular arias thanks to the fact that sound was recorded and is now available full time on You Tube.

First up one of my all time favorites: O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi with a very weird video of "DRAMATIC" Callas expressions but no open mouth, just the recording.





The beautiful vissi d'arte from Tosca





One of these days I have to figure out why the first six notes of this aria make me tear up every time. Un Bel Di Vedremo from Madama Butterfly. Unfortunately for this high quality version, embedding is denied, so you will need to click on this link to You Tube.


The flirtatious gypsy seductively dances to every note with the Habanera from Carmen





And last, the Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Drinking Song) duet from La Traviata

5 On Friday - Is It Getting Hot In Here?

Another Friday rolls around and It's time to check in with Trav's Thoughts to sign in and share your music choices.

September 2, 1666 - Great Fire of London Begins - In remembrance of this rather momentous event and few melodies to make the temperature rise.


Burning Down The House



Ring Of Fire



Fire - Babyface



I'm On Fire




We Didn't Start The Fire

5 On Friday - Defying Gravity

Another Friday rolls around and It's time to check in with Trav at Trav's Thoughts to sign in and share your music choices.

This week I'm in a mood to get my feet off the ground. I'm reading the Wicked trilogy and have finished Wicked, Son of A Witch, and starting A Lion among men. Sometimes you just have to root for the witch!!!















And finally the amazing Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth "DEFYING GRAVITY" in Wicked.

You need to click on it as more than 3 million people already have because Everyone Deserves A Chance to Fly!!!

5 On Friday - Down The Yellow Brick Road

Lion - Tin Man - Toto - Dorothy - Scarecrow

5 On Friday

Another Friday rolls around which means another chance to play along with 5 On Friday courtesy of Travis at Trav's Thoughts.  To play along, just sign in on his blog and create your songs to share with the world.

August 12, 1939 is a special date in that it was the first day, the world got to see The Wizard of Oz when it premiered in the birthplace of Frank L. Baum.  The score was by Harold Arlen and E. Y. "Yip" Harburg.   Although they worked together frequently, this movie was about the only place where Arlen and Harburg had a truly successful collaboration and created songs that are still performed to this day.  Most of their biggest hits were with other partners.  This 5 on Friday is dedicated to those songs where changing partners can be a very good thing. Of course to make it fair, it's three each for a six on Friday.

Harold Arlen and Others

Harold Arlen

The Man That Got Away (Ira Gershwin)



I Got A Right To Sing The Blues (Ted Koehler)



Come Rain or Come Shine (Johnny Mercer)




E. Y. "Yip" Harburg and Others

E. Y. "Yip" Harburg

Brother Can You Spare A Dime (Jay Gorney)



April In Paris (Vernon Duke)



How Are Things In Glocca Morra (Burton Lane)

5 On Friday - The Way Out Edition

Five on Friday is the creation of Trav of Trav's Thoughts.  To take part, drop by his web site to sign in and then create your own five selections to share with others.


On this day in 1958, the U.S. Congress passed legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  NASA has since sponsored space expeditions that have yielded vital information about the solar system and universe.  With the end of the Space Shuttle program, this seems a good day to dedicate a little music in it's honor.

5 On Friday - A Purrrrrfect Set

Today our "I think I'll move in here" stray kitty is off to the dentist.  In Ebony's honor, I'm using Trav's 5 On Friday to do a collection of cat songs.  To join in stop by Trav's Thoughts, sign in and go forth to share your music of the week.

5 On Friday - Happy Birthday Paris

Another week rolls around and 5 On Friday as created by Trav at Trav's Thoughts presents another musical interlude.  To join in simply visit Trav, sign in and share your selections with the other participants.


On this day in history in 1951, the city of Paris became 2000 years old.  In honor of it's 2060th birthday, a few songs set in, around or about Paris.








Short intermission here simply because you really need to see some of the scene from the show "Josephine"   If you can take the time to see all the pages and art associated with the phenomenal Josephine Baker.  The next song is simply my favorite Edith Piaf song:  No Regrets





And of course the show, Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living In Paris

Which means you get Amanda McBroom who played off Broadway in Alive and Well, singing Jaques Brel's "Carousel" and it's tribute (?) to modern life:



With a bonus because even Jimmy Buffett had something to say about the City of Lights

5 On Friday - Old Hong Kong

Travis over at Trav's Thoughts has instituted our weekly "Five On Friday" meme. To join in, simply visit Trav to sign in and then post your musical selections for the week on your blog for all to share. This week, I'm orienting myself towards the Orient.

At midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Over many decades motion pictures and music have been set in whole or in part in Hong Kong. This week's 5 On Friday includes just a few of the themes from these movies.




Enter The Dragon



The Man With The Golden Gun - James Bond



Love Story



You Only Live Twice - James Bond



Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

While it did have a theme, it was more of the "mood music" idea, so I didn't include one of my favorite pictures set in Hong Kong: The World of Suzie Wong. If you have never seen it, it is well worth hunting for to see Nancy Kwan in her first major role opposite William Holden in an East meets West melodrama well worth your time.

5 On Friday - Noteworthy Soul

Our friend Travis over at Trav's Thoughts has this fun Friday meme.  To join in, simply sign in on his website and then share your selections with the world.

On June 24, 1964 Sam Cooke, preceded by a 70-foot billboard in Times Square began a famous two-week engagement at New York's Copacabana that would come to define the beginning of "supper-club soul." He sang everything from soft rock to standards of the previous thirty years.  Here are some of his hits and a couple of my favorites such as the one below:  The theme song from "Moulin Rouge" starring Jose Ferrer shown here with the images of Toulouse Lautrec and his paintings.













Sam Cooke is sort of like potato chips. You can't listen to just one. This amazing entertainer that we lost way too young has many more cuts on You Tube.  Feel free to browse among some of the others.


Keep Movin' On

Good Morning Heartache

Stand By Me

Hold On

5 On Friday - Legses for Travis

5 on Friday - The Legses Edition

Travis of Trav's Thoughts invented the 5 On Friday meme.  If you would like to play along, just click the link to visit Trav for the simple rules, sign in, and share your musical selections.

Today is a sad anniversary as Cyd Charisse passed away on this date in 2008.  My only connection to her was one of those six degrees of separation examples in that my step sister studied dance under Cyd's first husband,  Nico Charisse.  There are times when a city of millions actually can feel like a very small town if you happen to be anywhere close to one of its major industries.  Despite the sad date, we all know there are two things beloved by Travis in addition to his lovely Pam:   Dancers and Legses.  Give him a dancer with long, beautiful legses and he is a happy man.  So here is a dancing lady with a pair of legses that have never been equalled.

5 On Friday - Go Fly A Kite

Go Fly Five Kites

This great meme is brought to you by Travis of Trav's Thoughts.  Simply click on the link for the rules/no rules and to sign in so that others can share your selections of weekly music.

On this day in history in 1752, Benjamin Franklin got the bright idea of flying a kite in raging lightening storm and not only survived this challenge to Darwin's theory but ended up inventing the Lightening Rod.  Since he was successful with one toy, I thought five more might be in order.