Music of the heart


Good heavens, I’ve had “guest stars” on my day on Word Wranglers for so long that when I actually had to write a post, it snuck up on me. So here I am on Sunday morning. Thinking. I’m wanting to do a list-type post, or a go-down-seven-lines-on-page-three, because D’Ann’s are always so much fun—-however, there is an important lack in this particular writer’s makeup.

Imagination. I don’t have one. And maybe I’ll write about that sometime, but not today. Today I want me a good list. Something interactive because you (the people reading this) are the ones that make it fun in the first place, with a little help from D’Ann’s imagination. Did you know she had two books out this past week? Two! And Kristi Knight had one, too—see their covers over there? Aren’t they cool and isn’t it great what the Wranglers are doing?

Thinking. Really. I am.

Okay, I’ve got it. I’ve got it! This will be the non sequitur of writing blogposts, but—for someone who writes in silence—this is something that has affected my writing always, simply because the items in question and their artists show up in manuscripts. All the time. Ready?

What are your three favorite songs—regardless of artist, genre, time period, whatever other criteria—just the three that speak loudest to your heart? In no particular order, mine are:

1.   Desperado (any version, though the Eagles are my favorite)

2.   Country Roads (John Denver)

3.   Amazing Grace (Judy Collins, or any church congregation that's feeling grateful)

Your turn! Thanks for playing.


Comments

  1. Hi Liz,

    Poor, Poor Pitiful Me by Linda Ronstadt--always played it after a breakup, even when I was the cause of the break :)

    You Are My First, My Last, My Everything by Barry White--this I played with the relationship was going well.

    Waterloo by Abba--because it is a fun sing along song, and is featured in so many movies.

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    1. Good ones, Morgan! I like them, too. I remember playing "Leaving on A Jet Plane" ad nauseum when the boyfriend was in Vietnam and "Arizona" when an OLD boyfriend took off for those parts, so my idea of relationship songs is probably skewed. :-)

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  2. Sade's "Kiss of Life", Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway", Etta James's "at Last" These are theme songs for my three book, "Em" series.

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  3. Rod Stewart singing any of the Great American Songbook classics, but my favorite is "You Send Me." Norah Jones and "Come Away with Me," and the Dana Fuchs/Martin Luther (Across the Universe) version of the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down." If you haven't seen Across the Universe yet, rent it! Absolutely best covers of The Beatles and a great story!

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    1. Oh, I love Norah Jones, and even though I don't want to love Rod Stewart, I love him, too. Their voices just ripple along right under my skin. Another one is Rhiannon Giddens from the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Her "Leaving Eden" is on my short list of songs, too.

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    2. I second the love for "Across the Universe" -- love, love that movie.

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  4. Judy Garland's Somewhere Over the Rainbow (because I believe in dreams), the Beatles' Hands Across the Water (the lyrics and melody just fascinate me), and Danny Boy (you already picked Amazing Grace and this one, when I allow it, just breaks my heart).

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    1. Oh, yeah, on all counts. I have cold chills just typing this!

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  5. The Star Spangled Banner
    Sung traditionally by anyone with a powerful voice, it reduces me to tears.

    Mony, Mony by Tommy James and the Shondells
    Awesome song for dancing.

    Viva La Vida by Coldplay
    It always seemed to be playing on the radio when I was in the pool so it makes me think of summer.

    Fun post!

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  6. Okay, my choices are:

    American Pie by Don McLean. It reminds me of a special moment with a special person who is no longer with us.

    December, 1963 (Oh, what a night) by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I don't know why, but I just love this song. And will stay in the car until its over.

    and Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers. Because it's just a fun reminder of my teenage hood.

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    1. Oh, American Pie--the rock 'n' roll anthem to end all anthems!

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  7. Love this! I'm an eclectic listener...and my favorites lists are ever changing..but here are 3 of my faves right now:

    Imagine, John Lennon/Beatles
    What a Wonderful World/Somewhere over the Rainbow by Isreal Kamakawawioe
    Dancing Away with My Heart by Lady Antebellum

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    1. Good ones, Kristi. Imagine can still make me cry for John Lennon after all these years.

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  8. Hey, Liz!
    Thanks for the shout out!
    Shawn has a new release, too!
    Oh, lord. 3 songs?

    Nothing Like a Woman--Vince Gill.
    All I wanna Do--Heart
    Maggie May--Rod Stewart

    Fun!

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    1. Good ones, D--and my apologies, Shawn! LIFE AFTER is a most excellent read, too!

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  9. It varies but the 3 that come to mind today are
    We All Fall in Love Sometimes by Elton John
    In My Time of Dying by Led Zepplin &
    Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley
    I must be feeling nostalgic today!

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    1. Nostalgia's never a bad thing! Thanks for coming.

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  10. I have to agree American Pie by Don MacLean would be one. Anything by Enya would be two, and I'd go for something vastly different for three and that would be Nessun Dorma-probably the Pavarotti version. though the longer I consider the more likely I am to change them....

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  11. Interesting post and timely because I've been thinking about music a lot lately. With the passing of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Donna Summer, it occurred to me that many of the people on the sound track of my life are gone. That said my three favorites are:

    1. The Congo Man by the Mighty Sparrow (my parents are West Indian so we grew up listening to a lot of Calypso. "Congo" was the first song I learned by heart.

    2. MacArthur Park by Donna Summer (What can I say?)

    3. Where There Was Darkness by Randi Crawford (a long-time favorite, her voice is amazing and the song sums up love so well that when I needed a song to symbolize the relationship between the lovers in What Binds Us, this was a no brainer. I then spent months tracking down the out-of-print song on CD.

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    1. I don't know any of these (except MacArthur Park by--who was it? Richard Harris?), but you definitely illustrate the connection between music and our writing. Thanks for coming!

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  12. I have hundreds, literally. My sister and I have made the playlist. But here are three of my favorites:
    1-Country-Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band
    2-Jazz-Crazy Love by Van Morrison
    3-Raggae-It Wasn't Me by Shaggy

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  13. Sorry, but here's three more:
    1-Classic Rock-Keep Your Hands to Yourself by Georgia Satellites
    2-Classic Rock-Come To Papa-Bob Segar
    3-Country-I Can't Sleep by Clay Walker
    and here's a bonus:
    Reggae-Sweat by Inner Circle
    I promise I'll quit now. Leaving the blog...

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    1. You sound like me, Sandra! It took me forever to get it down to three, and I've been second-guessing mine all day.

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  14. At Last - Etta James
    Over the Rainbow - Israel kamakaawoie
    I Want to Know What Love is - Foreignor

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  15. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skinner
    All Night Long - Eagles
    Rock and Roll Band - Boston

    I love just about any classic rock from the 70's.

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    1. I'm the same way with a different decade--I still love the 60s best. I like your songs, though.

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  16. Oh man! I can only pick three? Here ya go, in order: 1)Ebony Eyes by Smokey Robinson and Rick James 2) Chocolate High by India Arie and Musiq Soulchild 3)This Ain't a Love Song by Bon Jovi. Hey, you've got to admit, John Bon Jovi has the sexiet smile EVER in this video.

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    1. John Bon Jovi's smile is ALWAYS sexy. Thanks for playing, Shawn!

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  17. Johnny One Note and How are things in Gloccamora? (Because I usually got a job when I auditioned with them.) Along Came Bill from Show Boat because I realized altos could get jobs in musicals.

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  18. This is really hard for me because my favorite songs change constantly. Okay, let's see...

    Bright Lights by Matchbox 20 (this has pretty much been a constant)
    Amen by Kid Rock
    Somebody That I Used To Know by GOTYE

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