100 Awesome Musical Things - Part 8 - From the Vault 2012

Another from the 100 Awesome Musical Things series, still from 2012... As it happens, I've posted more recently about this particular music video,but I'll include this for completeness now.

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I had a bit of a break as you might have noticed... I also started writing Post 8 around the Sgt Pepper movie but it was so abysmal (the film more than the post itself) that I had to abandon it... and I don't think it's very nice to tear it to shreds in the immediate aftermath of the death of one of its stars... so anyway...

Why The Hell I Write - From the Vault 2010

From 2010, I find this hilarious and sad by turns... almost all of this is still true, seven years later...

I've intentionally not edited as I might some items. It felt like something I should leave as-is, like some kind of painful, stream of consciousness word vomit.... 

100 Awesome Musical Things - Part 7 - From the Vault 2012

More from 2012, more from the 100 Awesome Musical Things series...

Today I decided that I was going to post something I really love. Not sure what, I headed to my iTunes to check out my 'Top 25 Most Played' list.

100 Awesome Musical Things - Part 6 - From The Vault 2012

More from 100 Awesome Things, written in 2012...

It's funny how things work sometimes. When I was a child, my favourite band name ever was 'The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band'. My dad liked them and used the name as a punchline and such every now and then. It sounded like the name of a really madcap, awesome group.

FridayFiction - The Road - From the Vault 2012

 I wrote this in 2012, and I only vaguely remember the exact circumstances behind the writing but the images? Still seared in my head.

~~~2012~~~

Just something I've been thinking about for various reasons.

The narrow, empty rural road stretched and faded into the mountains of the far distance. I squared my shoulders, pulled my jacket closer to me and took the first step.

100 Awesome Things - Part 36 - Brand New And Hot Off the Press

OK, I know that as far as the New Blog is concerned, the next part of 100 Awesome Things should be numbered Six, not Thirty-Six.

Except, of course, parts Six-Thirty-Five already exist and they're scheduled to post over the next couple of months.

This couldn't wait. Why?

Today, there's a new soul in the world to whom a part of my heart belongs. Today, one of my dearest friends was delivered of a healthy baby girl. Anyway, I'll get back to that...

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In the 1970s, when rock music, private golf clubs and the Church had similar admissions criteria for membership (must be a dude, even if you're a total arsehole), there were a few women who made a place for themselves in the world of rock music.

Most of those women made it by getting up on stage, and you know them already. There weren't many women who were able to take positions of power or influence behind the scenes.

One woman who did was Rosalie Trombley, of whom I do not know a great deal, but I do know that her work as music director for one of Canada's most important radio stations influenced the content of radio across Canada and the US, and from there the charts and music itself.

Power and influence? She's the reason "Bennie and the Jets" became a hit, and so she's the reason for that bit in 27 Dresses.

Bob Seger wrote a song about her, which a little band from Ireland then covered live...

When I started writing the story that would become Walking in the Shadowlands, the main female character was immediately named Rosalie Cochran. Rosalie, for the song; Cochran for Eddie.

In time, I discovered that I had named a fictional rock music pioneer after a real one, which was the kind of awesome universe glue that I enjoy.

The lyrics wot Seger wrote can be taken super-literally - Rosalie Trombley did have 'the tower', hence the stations' broadcast power. On the other hand, it's a story about a girl who loves music.

The Rosalie I wrote was devoted to the power of music, for better or worse. She was a bit imperious and bossy, but she had a heart the size of Jupiter. She was smart and empathetic. She was defiantly independent, unapologetic for who she was and endlessly, but not unquestioningly loyal.

The Rosalie I wrote lived an extraordinary life.

So, I hope you'll forgive me hijacking the 100 Awesome Things, because today, there's a new soul in the world. Shiny, new and full of potential...

Every so often, something so marvellous happens that the scars upon one's heart are eased a little. Today is such a day.

There is a new Rosalie in the world today, and I hope her life will be as extraordinary as that fictional Rosalie's... and then far surpass it. I will do what's in my power to help make that happen.

100 Awesome Musical Things - Part 5 - From the Vault 2012

More 100 Awesome Musical Thingsand oh, this reminds me how much I miss seeing Craig Ferguson every evening....

~~~wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey ... stuff is rarely more appropriate than now~~~

I pondered what to post today... and after spending most of the evening catching up with The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, I thought to post one of his musical openings.