This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Monday, July 1, 2019

Misirlou ( #BOTB ) ( #IWSG )

         Happy Birthday U.S.A.!  The Fourth is upon us along with the downslide toward the coming next year.  Let the fireworks commence!   We'll clean up the mess later.  Please don't start any fires and be safe...

Image result for america's birthday

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog




The co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Natalie Aguirre, Jennifer Lane, MJ Fifield, Lisa Buie-Collard, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!


July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

       When I write fiction I immerse myself into the story as much as I possibly can so therefore it is perhaps inevitable that I'll write myself into the characters.  In fact, I would postulate that what any of us write is actually a look into our personal psychologies and a projection of self into the written work. 

       Though I cannot cite any specific references at the moment, I can recall having read or heard others say something similar.  But from a strictly personal perspective I know that I have written characters with great similarities to who I am and those characters might be analyzed as particular aspects of who I am or who I might have been at some past point in time.

        This is probably why I've been gravitating more towards memoir writing in recent years. Why write cloaked fictional accounts of my life story?   And it's not just wanting to tell a story of my life, but more than that it's a matter of voice--leaving a legacy of what I might have learned from life that I can share with others.

       However, back to the question of writing personal traits (or interests or the like) into fictional characters, one thing that I will often incorporate into my characters is an interest in music, whether it be a matter of style preference or a focus on a particular song or work of music.  And even if the music is not the specific focus within the story, I will usually write with a song in mind about each character or with an imaginary soundtrack playing in my mind as the story proceeds.

        This line of contemplation inspires an idea:  Maybe I should go back through my old stories and book ideas and start turning them into musicals.  Hmm...it might be something for me to consider.

          In the meantime let me turn to the Battle of the Bands....


Battle of the Bands


Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some blogs there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle on the 1st of the month.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.


Misirlou

        In honor of the Fourth of July I'd thought I'd go another try with that all-American tune "Misirlou" which was revitalized in the nineties with an appearance in the film Pulp Fiction.  Oh, but wait--it's not a tune with American roots as was detailed so nicely by Debbie Doglady when she featured the song in her Battle from last year.  For more background about the song please click on the preceding link.  As for my part I'm just going to keep things short by presenting three selections from which you can choose your favorite.


Icy Hot Club    "Misirlou"  (2010)

        Let us start the contest with the song performed by two guys with guitars.




Sephira   "Misirlou"  (2012)

     Or perhaps you'd prefer two viragos with violins




Honoka & Azita    "Misirlou"  (2016)

      Or how about two young ladies with ukuleles.








Time to Vote!

     Three's a charm or something like that.  But one of these choices might be more charming to you than the others.   Which group do you like best?   Pick one and have some fun!  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

         Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.




Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Angel's Bark  


Debbie Doglady's Den

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 


Cherdo on the Flipside

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday July 8th

          It's vacation time so  I might be rushed to get my results up--I'll try my best to post according to schedule, but it might not be much of a post.  But maybe it doesn't matter too much.  Things have been slowing down in blogland.  For me at least and from appearances I'd think you too.  Hope summer is kicking off nicely for you.

          What big plans do you have for the summer?   Do you think your writing reveals much about your inner self?   Can you think of a story you've written or read that might be a good musical?








49 comments:

  1. I don't put much of me into my characters. I'm not that interesting.
    I liked the traditional sound of the first one but the uniqueness of Sephira's version caught my attention. And are they really identical twins?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex, I think everyone is interesting. Sometimes they are more interesting if they keep their mouths shut.

      I'm not sure how to record that vote so I'll use the distinction between "liked" and "caught my attention".

      I'm calling this a vote for Icy Hot Club.

      Lee

      Delete
  2. Hi Lee - enjoy Independence Day ... cheers Hilary

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  3. I love this song and listening to all of them I must give it to Icy Hot Club with their great styling of this song and how professional it sounded. A close second are the 2 ukulele gals who have a true passion and make those instruments be more than one would think they could be. The violin gals were great as well but they would be #3. Right now....Happy Canada Day where I am relaxing right next to the Richelieu River. We are at my hubby’s Aunt’s place and just relaxing for the week. Next week I am also off but hope to get a few things done like my scrapbook for my friend. I am not sure about the rest of my summer but that’s ok. I think one can’t help but write a little bit of oneself into a character. Hmmm, I read the book “Marlene” by Maria Riva which is an excellent biography on this narcissistic woman and could see this being done into a musical since, for some reason, she became a huge hit singing songs and appearing all over the world in the 1950’s and 60’s.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birgit, I think all writers project themselves into their works. It makes sense. Marlene sounds like a story with potential--especially if she was a singer.

      A vote for Icy Hot Club.

      Lee

      Delete
  4. Oh on another different note, I had quite a long dream last week but in one spot, I was with George & Amal Clooney. She bought the coffin with the mummified remains of Michael Jackson who was wearing his red sequinned military jacket and they brought it everywhere they went.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birgit, it wouldn't surprise me if your dream came true. These days it seems like anything can be possible.

      Lee

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  5. Thanks for the mention and link back, Arlee! ☺ Yes, Misirlou has some interesting roots. All three selections here are showcasing talented musicians but for me, Sephira gives it the best dramatic flair. Please give my vote to them.

    In regards to fiction writing, I'm also more inclined to memoirs and have the same tendency to use real stories, slightly disguised. And yes, soundtracks are ever present.

    We are celebrating Canada Day here today, but wish you a fabulous 4th of July and also, happy holidays. No big plans here, because we have doggy houseguests, but we love hanging out in the backyard. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie D, we're going to my brother-in-law's house for the 4th, but it's very close to our house which is nice.

      These days I not only prefer to write memoir, but that's what I prefer to read as well.

      A vote for Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  6. Hi, LEE ~
    I'm voting for Dick Dale, of course!

    Huh? Oh...

    Well, alright then... all three were pretty good. But by comparison, I thought the first one was pretty basic. I really liked the percussion and prominence of the violins in the second one. And the third one was very well and excitingly played but... ukuleles sans Tiny Tim? Not happening in my Weird World.

    So, I submit an enthusiastic vote for Sephira.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. STMcC, I wonder if Tiny Tim could play the ukulele as well as the young ladies?

      A vote for Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  7. Seems like Sephira, who might also be called "two floozies with fiddles," is getting all the votes, including mine. As for the Icy Hot Band, Django reinhardt is probably turning over in his grave, and while Honoka and Azita give it a spirited performance, ukuleles are meant for Hawaiian music and George Formby. Sephira it is!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John, I started to describe the violinists as "two females with fiddles" but I liked the sound of "viragos". "Floozies" might be a bit disrespectful perhaps.

      A vote for Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  8. Oh, wow, this was a goodie!

    I love the first one, but then I liked the second one MORE...and if you have category for fun, please give it to the ukeleles, ha ha.

    SEPHIRA for the win!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cherdo, no category for fun since hopefully it's all fun.

      Again it's Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  9. Well, I thought I might be voting for Icy Hot Club, but after listening to my top 2 contenders again, I've decided to go with the flow and vote for Sephira. I like what they did.

    ~Mary

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    Replies
    1. Mary, there is a definite flow going on in this contest...

      Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  10. Just out of respect for the talent involved at a young age, I'll go with the two youngsters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CW, the girls needed your vote! Not sure about their ages, but I'm sure they are too young for me.

      Honoka & Azita.

      Lee

      Delete
  11. You never can tell about these contests, can ya?

    I am very surprised at the dominance that the two floozies with fiddles are showing here. I mean, they're pretty good... but not good enough for the stomping they are exhibiting.

    I am going with an enthusiastic vote for H&A. I've never seen ukes played that way or that well! Usually it is just a light "strum, strum, strum" and a "Ka makani hele uluulu" or something.

    I hope you use these two in some future battle so I can vote for 'em again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 6-Gun, I am a bit surprised at the trending in the voting, but I often am.

      The uke playing impressed me as well, but I'll expound on that in my results post. They've got a number of videos so a repeat visit from them is not out of the question.

      A vote for Honoka & Azita.

      Lee

      Delete
  12. Sephira, without a doubt. Classy and talent altogether.

    But, I am with Cherdo. The ukeles were a lot of fun.

    We have been on-the-go since May 1. We want to have the next 6 weeks to run errands, go pick up meds, watch movies.

    I am writing more than ever. More bloggers are checking in on my posts, invigorating me. I have resurrected some ancient posts, culled through them and re-wrote. Good times.

    How are you faring? What is your summer looking?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan K, good to hear that you've been writing more. That will take up some of my slack I guess. I've been off to a slow summer start, but with my upcoming trip things might be looking up.

      A vote for Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  13. From Facebook a vote from my cousin Tom for...

    Honoka & Azita.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lee,

    I'm taking a semi-hiatus in Blogosphere, so there won't be any BoTB at my place until mid-September. This brings me to your showdown at hand. All three instrumentals are interesting and enjoyable selections but I preferred the fun energy from the cover by Honoka & Azita and therefore getting my vote.

    We don't have any summer plans here to speak of other than some day trips to the mountains but we hope to get outdoor things done that we put off over the winter. Of course now we have to deal with the rain, heat, & humidity. If we don't get washed out then it's better to do the jobs at hand when it's too warm than when it's too cold.

    Have a funtastic summer, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy, plenty to do in East Tennessee as I also know from having lived there. I miss my summer evening drives on the back roads.

      A vote for Honoka & Azita.

      Lee

      Delete
  15. I think most of us include a part of ourselves in our characters. Though, like Alex, I don't think of myself as all that interesting. Happy Holiday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Natalie, I think we often see ourselves as less interesting as others might see us, but we know more including all the mundane stuff.

      Lee

      Delete
  16. I think this question made a lot of us think about our writing...especially the older stuff. Happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C.Lee, I should think about my writing more and then maybe I would be inspired to write more.

      Lee

      Delete
  17. I think that's really neat how you incorporate music into your writing and your writing process!

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    Replies
    1. Sailor, music is almost always in my head.

      Lee

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  18. My summer is mostly me going to various events to sell my books, so a little fun trip most weekends. Bowing out of fireworks this year. I'm sure the neighbors will provide a suitable show.

    As for my writing, many of my characters have a snarky streak, which is straight from me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean, selling books sounds like a fine excuse for travel.

      Lee

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  19. Great song! How to choose the best version in my opinion... Gotta go with twins with violins due to the uniqueness of that!

    I am visiting family in South Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois this summer. My workload is a little lighter in the summer.

    I don't tend to read memoirs and it sounds difficult to write one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, that's a wide range of places--sounds like fun!

      A vote for Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  20. I think putting music in fiction is brilliant. I don't think I ever have. Time to change that. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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    Replies
    1. Anna, I might not say brilliant, but it's the way I "hear" stories--to me it's like watching a film in my mind and the music just seems normal.

      Lee

      Delete
  21. First BOTB: great choice all round from song to variety of instruments. I liked them all and almost went for the shear fun of the ukulele version. However the guitars won through - I vote for Icy Hot Club.

    As for traits, I can see how one's own careers/professions and tastes work their way into the fiction. However, I consciously sound out new musical tastes for my MCs - well I have with my current as I showed in my A to Z post footnotes.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Roland, "write what you know" is the common advice given to writers. We know ourselves--at least to some extent.

      A vote for Icy Hot Club.

      Lee

      Delete
  22. Two girls with violins for me.
    I'm fascinated by your idea of combining music and fiction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Olga, the music + fiction is essentially a musical--or can easily be.

      Sephira.

      Lee

      Delete
  23. My second novel was written with the theme of divorce, and with the Tim McGraw/Faith Hill song LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL as the sound track. Music is a great story inspiration.

    BoTB
    I'm listening to the beginnings of Icy Hot and thinking "how can anyone top this?" Listened to the entire song and my opinion never changed.

    Then I started Sephira's version, and those fiddles just blew me away. Ghads!! Serious dilemma here.

    H & A are very good. If any of this competition was being followed by them, I'd vote for them.

    Between us though, the only thing that would beat the Sephira twins playing the fiddle would be a duo playing the Cello.

    Its real close though for Icy Hot. If I watch this tomorrow I might change my mind. Tonight though, give it to Sephira.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Dolorah, love songs can be such an inspiration in writing. Probably why they are so popular from films.

      A vote for Sephira (for now).

      Lee

      Delete
  24. nice music….
    Thank you for sharing videos
    Happy 4th July

    ReplyDelete
  25. Replies
    1. Mike, in at the last moment...

      Icy Hot Club.

      Lee

      Delete

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee