I Don't Want You to Leave, Will You Hold My Hand?

#MusicMonday after the Grammy's choice for me was a difficult one, but I am going with Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" because I love this rendition with Mary J. Blige. They sound beautiful together. Enjoy!

Music Monday: John The Revelator

Now that Christmas is behind us, and I think I might have finally stowed all the decorations away until next year, its time for some music to get me in the mood to write a bad boy.

When I think of bad boys, naturally Sons of Anarchy comes to mind and all the Men of Mayhem. So here's a tune featured in the show and by the Forest Rangers for your Monday Music Mayhem. Enjoy!

Full Speed, I've Got My Heart on My Sleeve

New #MusicMonday - Mary Lambert's "Heart on My Sleeve" is my new jam. I love the lyrics and the upbeat tone of the tune. Definitely some song inspiration for my new WIP.

 

 

 

 

 

And just because I can't resist a little geekery, here is where the term Heart on My Sleeve came from:

 

 

We use the phrase casually, to mean exposing our true emotions, making ourselves vulnerable and letting it all hang out. The phrase is so pervasive that from Ringo Starr to Eminem to Mary Lambert, those words-turned-lyrics have found their way into a range of musical genres.

But, what kind of sleeve? And why on a sleeve and not a pants leg or around your neck? There’s no clear answer. But many legends attempt to get at the heart(pun intended) of the matter and may explain the source of the saying.

The three most popular stories:
1. In the Middle Ages, Emperor Claudius II believed unattached men made better soldiers so he declared marriage illegal. As a concession, he encouraged temporary coupling. Once a year, during a Roman festival honoring Juno, men drew names to determine who would be their lady friend for the coming year. Once established, the man would wear her name on his sleeve for the rest of the festival.
2. Around that same time, it’s speculated, when a knight performed in a jousting match in the king’s court, he’d dedicate his performance to a woman of the court. By tying something of hers, like a handkerchief, around his arm, he’d let the court know the match would defend the honor of that woman.
3. Or, we can credit Shakespeare, where it may have first been recorded in writing:

Iago:
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end;
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In complement extern, ’tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.
– Othello, Act 1, Scene 1, 56–65

In the circa 1603 play, Iago confesses to treacherous acts and says that by “wear my heart upon my sleeve,” or truly exposing himself, he’s basically invited black crow-like birds to peck away at him.



We've got so good at pretending

I always look for new music to inspire my writing, and today my inspiration comes from "Holding Onto Heaven" by Foxes. While her music has a pop-like quality, its also cozy and warm, like something I would listen to on a rainy Monday morning with my hot cup of Irish Breakfast tea with pen and paper by my side.

What music inspires you?

And when I find what I was made for, this soul of mine will finally find some peace

Some songs, you can't escape from. They haunt you, gripping you back into the moments when you first heard them. I know that is always how I will feel about this song. Part of it makes me run screaming from the memories attached to it, and part of it will always hold it in my heart, close to where you left that empty mark on my soul.

I See You, And I Don't Know If I Want to...

Last week's season finale episode of Dallas was full of its expected, unexpected plot twists and turns, but this little unexpected gem is my choice for Music Monday - "I See You", the title of the song playing in the background while John Ross(Josh Henderson) breaks down in the elevator is by none other than the actor himself. So far, I've been unable to track down a full version, so this will have to tease your ears for now. Enjoy!

I'm Giving You a Night Call

Binge-watching me was back at it again last night, watching the two-parter season finale of Reckless, when this song popped up during the final scenes. I've been unable to get the scenes or the song out of my head since. Enjoy!

Vanguard Worthy

According to the dictionary, a vanguard is the following:
leading position or people: the leading position of a movement, field, or cultural trend, or the people who are foremost in a movement, field, or cultural trend.

In that light, Beyoncé as the recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award should come as no surprise. She is certainly at the forefront of culture trends and proves so in this week's Music Monday selection.

Her re-imagined version of "Crazy in Love" for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie trailer is nothing short of brilliant. In collaboration with her producer, Boots and violinist Margot, the move has brought new fans to Beyoncé's music.

In a recent Time interview Margot mentions the following about the new track, “Obviously I know how ‘Crazy in Love’ goes, but I knew there was the possibility her vocals would be different. It’s almost more vulnerable and beautiful this way, because you do do crazy things when you fall in love. To hear the mood reversed and flipped makes it even more powerful.”

So even though you probably have Fifty Shades adaptation overload, take another listen to the song, and imagine how vulnerable being in love makes you feel...

Girls Who Read

So I think I am a bit in love with this guy, or at least enamored because he recognizes the value a woman's mind holds. I also think its something perfectly offbeat for Music  Monday. Enjoy!

 

 

Marc Grist is a poet. You can check out his website here. 

International Earworms

I keep hearing this French song on the local radio(even though it was released years ago), I can't get the thing out of my head, and it has burrowed into my stream of consciousness. I'm not sure how to get it removed, so I thought I would infect everyone else with it :) Happy Music Monday!

Songs about Rain

Its raining here in New York, so this song is perfect for a wet music Monday. Hot heartthrob rancher, Colt McCord in Heartbreak Ranch would definitely have a listen to this, especially in that stormy bit of weather he encounters in his relationship with Graysen. You can pick up my steamy western romance on Amazon.



PS - Gary Allan is pretty easy on the eyes too. Enjoy.

We're Already Wet and We're Going to Go Swimming...

Its music Monday, and I thought I would post something I heard on one of my new favorite radio stations, JACK FM 92.9 out of Buffalo, NY.

They played this little number from Liz Phair  recently. I don't know about you but I think there's a romance novel in the making waiting in these lyrics.

Enjoy!

Music Monday: From Can to Can't

I stumbled across this incredible song about a week or two ago, and I can't get it out of my head. I think there's a short story there, if not more, and its been tempting and teasing me with its lyrics. What about you do you have a song that you find you could use as inspiration for a short story or a novel?

#MusicMonday - Toby Keith's "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This - Slow Dancing with Colt McCord

Its Monday, and it couldn't be a better time for a little music. Songs and their lyrics are a huge part of what unfolds into a passionate romance between HEARTBREAK RANCH's Colt McCord and Graysen Beaufort.

Graysen finds herself swooning to Colt's rendition of Toby Keith's "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" as he pulls her in closer during a private slow dance in the lodge.

Here's a Youtube clip of that tune: