It Might as Well be Spring #MusicMoves Me

It's Monday, and it's time for music. 

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?

We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   We have occasional theme weeks, but you are welcome to ignore the theme and use music of your choice.  Why not join us?  You don't have to sing, or play an instrument.  All music lovers are welcome.  

Last week, our theme was: "the early Roman began the calendar year with March because it brought the first day of spring and new beginnings. The approaching changing seasons with the evidence of life’s return is visible in our area and perhaps where you live, too. Pick songs that reflect the mood of sunny spring weather."  I am a week late, but, hey, today we are even closer to spring where I live.

Ah, if only we had sunny spring weather in my area, but many of the signs of spring being just around the corner are here.  We've had unseasonable warm weather the last two days, but it will all end by Thursday, when the cold weather returns.  But it will be back!  So, on to the music.

1965 brought us Feeling Good from Nina Simone. This is a cover of the song from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, but Nina Simone's version is what many think of when they hear this song.

It Might as Well be Spring was a song in the 1945 film State Fair and has been covered many times.  This is from Frank Sinatra.  

April in Paris, from Count Basie and his Orchestra. 

The birds are singing once again.  Cosmo Sheldrake created an album based on the songs of endangered birds in Great Britain.  This is his Dawn Chorus. 

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me. 

Snow and Grass #ShadowshotSunday

Late February and March weather, where I live, is changeable.  

Take these two selfies, taken a day apart.

March 1.

February 28 (near to where the first picture was taken).

We briefly hit 60F (15.5C) yesterday.  It may be in the 70's (21C) by Tuesday.  The snow is almost melted.

Then, back to the freezer, and maybe snow showers by Thursday.  Meanwhile, I'll try to recover from the change to Daylight Saving Time.  

Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.
 

Blood Moon Fail #SkywatchFriday

Weather is not the friend of someone wanting to see celestial events, especially if you live in the Southern Tier of New York.  And, it's the winter.

I've been clouded out of meteor showers, eclipses of the moon, and even a total eclipse of the sun. 

So, March 3 around 6:33 am, there was a blood moon, a total eclipse of the moon that was setting as totality began, and a sunrise, all at the same time.  A once in a life time event.  

For some people, anyway.  Here, the sky was (surprise) white.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Afternoon of March 2.  Looks promising, doesn't it?

"Enjoy your clear sky while you can", the sky seemed to say.  "You know what's going to happen next, don't you?"

That night...yes, there come the clouds. 

The almost full moon is the big white dot.  The small blue dot is an iPhone thing and you can ignore it.

It was darker than it looks.  I had to leave my porch light on because I have poor night vision.  I somehow knew that the following morning would be an epic fail.
At least I got some good sky pictures and some fresh air. 

I hope someone from #SkywatchFriday, brought to us each week by Yogi, was able to take some pictures.

Did you get to see it? 

Flowers in Winter? #WordlessWednesday

This white Lenten Rose has been buried under snow in my Southern Tier of New York garden since late December (more or less).  

Finally, this weekend, with snow melting, it made an appearance but the buds already weren't looking good.   

After these pictures were taken, a cold front came through, and the temperature dipped down to 11 degrees F (-11C). Because we had freezing drizzle yesterday, I haven't gone out to see if the buds survived.  

But now the temperatures will be warming up again.

Sometimes, when there is no snow cover, this plant's buds die and there are no blooms for another year. The next few days will tell the story. 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

Goodbye Neil #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, and it's time for music. 

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?

We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   We have occasional theme weeks, but you are welcome to ignore the theme and use music of your choice.  Why not join us?  You don't have to sing, or play an instrument.  All music lovers are welcome.  

Today, our theme is: "the early Roman began the calendar year with March because it brought the first day of spring and new beginnings. The approaching changing seasons with the evidence of life’s return is visible in our area and perhaps where you live, too. Pick songs that reflect the mood of sunny spring weather."  But, my mood isn't sunny today because I have to report on another induction into Rock and Roll Heaven.  (I'm delaying my theme post until next week).

Neil Sedaka, singer, songwriter, and a favorite of my childhood, died Friday at the age of 86.  His musical career spanned several decades, from the 1950's to the present day.

He was an original member of the Tokens before leaving for a solo career in 1958 (before the Token's iconic hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight).  His first solo hit was Breaking Up is Hard to Do (see more below), but his career stalled when Beatlemania arrived on our United States shores.  But he returned to the chartsin the 1970's, encouraged by Elton John, with Laughter in the rain.

Sedaka collaborated with many greats, including Connie Francis, Tom Jones, and Frank Sinatra. One songwriting partner was Howard Greenfield (a neighbor).  Sedaka usually wrote music, but could also write lyrics.

Written or co-written by Neil Sedaka: 

Connie Francis and Stupid Cupid. 

The Captain and Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together.

The Monkees - When Love Comes Knocking (At Your Door).

And his own hits:  first, Happy Birthday Sweet 16. 

Calendar Girl.  

Laughter in the Rain. 

I'm closing with a song that created two hits for Neil.  Here are both versions of Breakin' Up is Hard to Do.  First, the original, from 1962.

Finally, this is the slow version from 1975, which I am more partial to.  I chose a live version.

May you forever rest in peace. 

And that's another sad wrap. 

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me. 

Shadowy Park #ShadowshotSunday

March has arrived where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.  The sun reappears, along with shadows.

Let's take a walk in a local park.  I took these pictures the last two days of February, but that's close enough to March, right?

Hard to see, but there is also a reflection of the sky on ice in the middle of the snow sandwich.

The snow is melting, although we got another dusting this morning.

Joining up with Lisa at This and That: A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday.
 

 

Skies of Almost Spring #SkywatchFriday

In three days, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, it will be meteorological spring.  

The sky is starting to change.  True, enough times it is still the white-grey that so many of us dislike.  But then there are days like yesterday. 

You can't see it in the photo, but tree buds are swelling.  The sun is less shy.

The sunlight seems brighter.  The clouds are more varied.

Snow is melting.

The clouds and blue make a delicious sky layer cake. 

Look over to the right. There is a dot. The dot is the moon.

All the while I was walking, and taking pictures, I heard at least one Northern cardinal singing.

We still have weeks of winter yet, but I thank Nature for the sneak preview.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.