Opposites Day and One Direction #MusicMovesMe

 It's Monday and it's time for music!

Today I am joining up with other 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 may be labeled "No Music".)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week, we have a theme.  On alternate weeks, we can blog on any music theme we want. This week's theme is "Pick a song or build a playlist of your songs opposite to what you usually listen to."

Well, it's a fact.  Too many of us get into musical ruts.  We listen to the same genres, day after day.  So today, it's time to break free.

Actually, as a co-host of Music Moves Me, I have listened to various participants and their selections, which can differ from my usual listening.  And that's not a bad thing!  But I do have my preferred genres, and I rarely listen to songs outside of them.

I got to thinking about some other genres and it turns out there are songs from each of them that I do like.  It's just that I don't listen to them, so here's my chance to showcase some of them.

First up, country music.  As I scrolled through a Rolling Stones article "The 200 Greatest Country Songs", I realized I had heard a fair number of these songs.  Today, my first choice is  Dolly Parton (because I admire her as a human being in addition to being a great artist and businessperson), with her song Jolene from 1974.  Some consider this the best country song of all time.

Next: Hip-hop music.  Considering that I lived just a handful of miles from the iconic apartment building on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx where hip-hop originated, I owe it to its fans to pick a good song.  As it happens, there are a number of hip hop/rock collaborations with rockers.  One that immediately comes to mind is 1986's Walk this Way, Run-DMC feat. Aerosmith.  OK, it is a cover of a rock song from 1975 featuring the original artist, but never mind that.

Next up is gospel music.  I immediately thought of a crossover song from 1967 by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, which became a hit in 1969.  This is a modern arrangement based on a 1755 hymn written by Philip Doddridge.  In turn, the Edwin Hawkins version was covered by the Four Seasons in 1970, and also many other artists. Here are the Edwin Hawkins singers.  If this interests you, here is an article on the song.

Last but not least is pop, and I will use this space to pay tribute to Liam Payne of One Direction, who died Wednesday at age 31.  The death was caused by a jump from a third floor balcony in Argentina. Sadly, it appears Payne had trouble with both alcohol and suicidal thoughts.  

After listening to the two songs I selected, I am saddened that I had never listened to this group.  

First, a song (above) co-written by Liam Payne.  Here's 2014's Fireproof. 

Second, and my last selection for today, is 2012's Little Things.

 And that's a wrap.

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