Category: Music

What I’m listening to, and why I’m listening to it.

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music-Something Rotten Sound Track

A couple of years ago, one of my crit partners saw the musical SOMETHING ROTTEN on Broadway. She immediately dashed out and purchased the CD of the sound track. On our next excursion into the woods, she shared the plot and the music with us.

We fell in love.  Several of us (myself included) also purchased the music. One of the songs, “It’s Hard to Be the Bard” has become our anthem. We listen to the sound track on every road trip we do together.

Last fall, a touring version of the show was in a nearby city. I dragged TV Stevie to see it. He enjoyed it. He didn’t love it the way I do,  but he enjoyed it, and even asked to listen to the sound track the next day.  I purchased a tote bag at the show.

I am my local RWA chapter’s Book-in-a-Week Babe this year, and I use the tote bag to hold the monthly prizes as I dole them out, while “It’s Hard to Be the Bard” blares from my phone.

 

Enjoy!

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music–BEWARE OF THE MOON Soundtrack

As is my practice, I created a playlist for Beware of the Moon.  I listened to it while writing, while commuting–any time I needed a connection to the story.

One caveat–some of the older tunes on this list are from pre-music-video days, so I had to rely on live performances.

  1. “Girl From the North Country” (Bob Dylan)
  2. “Losing My Religion” (REM)
  3. “Set Fire to the Rain” (Adele)
  4. “Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” (Bob Dylan)
  5. “Like a Hurricane” (Neil Young)
  6. “Riders on the Storm” (The Doors)
  7.  “Take Me To Church” (Hozier)
  8.  “Breath (2AM)” (Anna Nalick)
  9.  “Dust in the Wind” (Kansas)
  10.  “Fire and Rain” (James Taylor)
  11.  “Common Bond” (The Kennedys)
  12.  “I Bring You to My Senses” (Il Volo)
  13.  “Drops of Jupiter” (Train)
  14.  “Guiding Light” (Mumford & Sons)
  15.  “Shelter from the Storm” (Bob Dylan)
  16.  “Leather and Lace” (Stevie Nicks & Don Henley)

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music-Aida Soundtrack

Y-Chromo was in his high school production of Aida. To this day, it remains my favorite of his school play (including the role of Tony in West Side Story, which he rocked!) The story is based on the opera, with music and lyrics by Tim Rice and Elton John.

I’ve heard people say the only good song in the play is “My Strongest Suit.” They would be wrong. There are many wonderful tunes.  There’s a CD of covers,  including such artists as The Spice Girls, James Taylor, Sting, Tina Turner, Boyz II Men, Shania Twain, Lenny Kravitz, and others. It’s a good CD, although I still prefer the original Broadway sound track.

When the show came to our city, almost everyone from the high school cast went, even though it was several years after the fact. The consensus was our kids were better in their roles than some of the professionals we saw that night.

While I was researching this blog, I learned that my favorite Monkee, Mickey Dolenz, played the same role on Broadway my son played in high school.

How cool is that?

 

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music-1776

I like musical theater. I like to listen to the sound tracks. One of my favorites is 1776.

A friend had told me it was his favorite musical. We made tentative plans to see it together. A few weeks later, he passed away. Several months later, a local theater troupe put it on, so my husband and I took our children to see it.

I fell in love.

I was amazed at how the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence could be made into an entertaining musical. I have since seen the movie several times. I talked to my children’s high school drama teacher about it (except I doubt any high school could find that many males to mount a performance).

History doesn’t have to be dry and boring. This musical proves it.

MJ Monday: MJ’s Music: Summer Songs

Is there anything in the world better than cruising down a road, wind blowing through your hair, and your music cranked? It is surely one of the joys of summer.

Many years ago, on the first fine spring evening in our neck of the woods, my husband had the music blaring…and was pulled over. He didn’t realize he’d been speeding. He explained to the officer: “It’s warm, the Beach Boys  were on, and I got caught up in.” The cop understood and let my husband go with a warning.

When I say summer songs, I don’t mean songs about summer, but songs that are from my younger days. Songs whose artists now go on tour, traveling from State Fairs, to minor league baseball stadiums, to any other kind of outdoor venue you can think of. The Grass Roots. Jay and the Americans. Day long, night long concerts out of doors. The (surviving) Monkees, Flo and Eddy (The Turtles), Gary Puckett. BJ Thomas.

What music makes you want to celebrate summer?