A very quick one today… I slept all of today after having been poorly yesterday. It was freezing all day long and then came the shivers that were so severe, it feels as if I have sore muscles from it. But once the shivers were gone, I started sweating and sleeping. As I mentioned yesterday I need to be able to work this week… I can’t afford to be sick.
But, music
Day 10
A song that makes you sad
James Harris – say something
This song makes me sad and sometimes it makes me cry too. Another one is this Yodelice – talk to me. There are many songs that make me sad, and many more that make me happy. What about you? Which song makes you sad?
Not much blabbering from me today; once again I am sick. Coughing and all. I rarely get a cough, usually when I get head colds, my nose gets stuffed. But this time, it’s different I guess… I cannot afford to get sick now… My next two to three weeks are way too busy at work!
Anyway… Why are we here? Not to read about my health, but to hear the 9th song of the challenge.
Day 9
A song that makes you happy
Gilbert Montagné – on va s’aimer
Obviously, this is a French song. It’s from the year I was born (1983) and whenever I hear it, I turn up the volume, dance and sing along. It makes me happy and I think a big part of that is because it is also very cheesy. I am not a bad-ass. I am not strong, I am not special in any way and I am not a music snob. I like songs that make me react. I like music that makes me smile and I like music that makes me cry – and I am not ashamed to admit to that. You see, I used to be edgier when I was younger. Or I wanted to be. Now I am realizing that I am me and that I don’t owe an explanation to anyone why I am who I am. I only need to answer to myself. In theory. Because I still want to be and feel loved. I want to be and feel cared for once in a while too. As it is, I take care of the people I love and I think that makes them forget that I need a hug sometimes too. The above song is not a substitute for a hug, but it makes me feel good anyway.
It’s never too late to join in on the fun. Tell me, which songs or bands or artists make you happy?
Same place tomorrow? Do we have a date? Have a happy Saturday ❤️
It’s Friday, the sun is shining and the night has been short once again. Work was nice – as always; I really love my job and the kids and my co-workers too.
It’s international women’s day. I think here in my Luxembourgish bubble, gender equality is actually not that bad, but I also know that worldwide, there are many improvements that need to be made. Until every girl has a right to education and self-determination, until genital mutilation, child-marriage and all those inequalities are reversed, we need days like today – if only to remind people that not everything is hunky dory.
I’m stepping off my soapbox and get to what you are here for to see. (Okay… my English seems very bad today – I apologise. I can’t seem to find the right words or the right way to put my sentences.) Let there be music!!
Day 8
A song you like with a food in the title
Daisy Jones & the six – look at us now (honeycomb)
This song is from a show called Daisy Jones & the Six. I liked it a lot and the music this imaginary band created spoke to me. Or easier said, I liked the show and the music. Apparently, the band is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac, but I don’t know. I don’t know enough about the band to judge this. The above song was in my end of year list of my listened songs in 2023, and I have to say that the entire soundtrack of this show is brilliant. Give it a try, if you like this song and a show that is more on the dramatic side, then this is absolutely for you.
It’s never too late to join in on the fun. Challenges like this are sometimes boring and sometimes exciting. At the very least, you might find new songs you like. Which song would you have chosen today?
It’s a bit of a weird time here… I haven’t been sleeping much and last night, I really felt that. I was overwhelmed in a negative way. I was so tired and exhausted… It wasn’t nice. This morning though… I was awake after 4 hours of deep sleep and got ready for work. I even think I did not look all that bad… but maybe I was too tired to judge. Hehe, I took a selfie anyway, and because I am in need of some reassurance and love, I posted it on IG.
This is a song that always gets me moving. Many more songs have the same ability, but this got me dancing through the kitchen an hour ago… So, I guess for me, this was the easiest or most obvious choice today.
It’s never too late to join in on the fun. Notice how I even managed to write “too” correctly? I got so angry with myself when I got it wrong yesterday… urgh! I know those things and I still get them wrong and worst of all, I don’t see it when I am writing…
Bon bref… which songs would you choose? What makes you dance?
another day, another song. You’ve probably seen yesterday’s post advertising myself in a bit of a weird way. I think I need some help there, it’s really not my forte to share my books and successes. Then again, there’s always that voice in the back of my mind telling me that I am overrating myself and my writing, as well as my abilities to share my thoughts in English. I don’t know, I am just very doubting right now and it is not the nicest feeling. I am quite proud of my achievements, but at the same time, since the support is almost non-existent, I worry that I am simply not as good or talented as I thought I am.
anyway… let’s not dwell on that now and get to the music
Day 5
A song that needs to be played loud
Dead Nature – fire in the soul
I follow a couple of people on IG who take part in the challenge too. When an ex-coworker came to day 5 she shared a certain song, and my first thought, which I shared with her was that every song needs (or deserves) to be played loud af. She agreed.
I came across this song on a compilation I heard years ago. Ever since then it has been in my Spotify list and it came on earlier today… I turned the volume up and that’s the reason why I chose this song.
Have a nice Tuesday… It is not to late to join in on the fun. Which songs would you choose? I am curious.
I actually had no intention of posting twice today, but the poem I shared asked to be put on the blog, So I did. I am a slave to my writing.
Day 3
A song that reminds you of summertime
ASG – Gallop Song
The challenge is as much about music as it is about memories. For me, those two go hand in hand. This song was sent to me in the summer of 2020 via Instagram. My life was different back then. I was in constant pain (still am, but I am now used to it) and I was hungry for connection. I was active on social media (I am quieter there now) And I was unhappy. With everything. It was not the best summer, hence the less mellow song. Though laces with uncomfortable and nearly forgotten memories, for me personally the Gallop song fulfills today’s challenge as it reminds me of summertime.
Life in general was different back in summer 2020 and the world was hesitantly waking up from the pandemic induced paralysis. Years later, we are almost back to where we were. We’ve learnt nothing from it all, or the few things we did, were quickly and easily forgotten and dismissed. The world is in a worse state than it was before the pandemic. People are sicker, greedier, more selfish than before. Politics are failing everywhere in the world. The rich are getting richer while the poor are fighting for their lives. It’s just… it makes me angry. It makes me mad. We might as well be marching toward the sun.
A bit of a heavier song for this Sunday. Still, enjoy it, and consider joining in on the fun. Which song reminds you of summertime?
Day two of the song challenge. Let’s see what I can come up with today:
Day 2
A song you like with a number in the title
New Order – 1963
This may come as a surprise to most, but this is one of my absolute favourite songs ever. But, it has to be this version, there is another version around that’s rather “meh” for me. I remember that I heard this on the radio and immediately hit the pause button. Let me explain this… I was one of the kids who had a tape in all the time, ready to record songs that I liked. As most, the two buttons you needed to press to record something were always pressed, as was the pause button, I only needed to release the latter to record a song. Yeah, I am that old… then again, I was young when I did that. Anyway… I never heard that song before, but it grabbed me right from the start. As it was years before the internet and search engines, I had no clue who the band was nor what the title of the song was. Years later, with Napster becoming a thing and Yahoo too, I put parts of the lyrics into the search bar and was rewarded with the title of both the song and the band. Quite a special song, laced with memories. And I still listen to it daily and never skip it when it comes on in one of my playlists.
Have a nice Saturday
Feel free to join the fun…it is never to late to start the 30 day song challenge, I am curious to see your songs and hear new stuff…
It’s March 1st. What could be a better day to start a 30 day song challenge?
A couple of friends over on IG took or are taking part in this fun little game, and I decided to give it a go.
Day 1
A song you like with a colour in the title
Agent Fresco – The Autumn Red
I chose the above, from an Icelandic band. The song was on an album called Destrier.
Enjoy… I am off to bed very soon… Yeah… At this early hour… This morning I woke up earlier than I usually do because I had nightmares again – and now, of course, I am tired.
It’s Weikie’s birthday today. A great and talented young Brit who can play every instrument you can think of, even the theremin.
When I was a bit younger, I had the pleasure to meet this musician. He was the drummer (and played many other instruments) for a band called Her Name is Calla. We spent a (for me) memorable night in Brussels, talking, laughing, drinking beer. To this day, it is one of the most important events of my life. Adam sat next to me the entire night. It was the first time I held a spoken conversation in English, but I was able to hold my own, I think. I am making this about me, but at the end of that night, I mentioned it many times before, two men hugged me. Because they were apparently huggers, or it was the alcohol, or whatever. They had no idea that they put broken pieces together that night.
It’s going to be 10 years this year. Her Name is Calla disbanded. The members all have their own projects and Weikie (Adam) is still very prolific as a musician. We like each other’s IG posts and I’d say there is care, but we are no close friends. Still, Adam plays a big part in my life and in the way I am.
As most of you faithful or long-term readers know, I am a big fan of music. In the beginning the blog was all about music and I shared a weekly Friday 5. Those were links to songs I listened to a lot that week. Most Friday 5 posts have since been deleted and the blog transitioned into something different, more personal. Even more personal than music. For me, the genre is not very important, but I tend to be drawn to rock, alternative, indie, and mostly prog-rock. There is something about guitar riffs, bass drums and bass lines, something I enjoy. I also love 80s music, so many great and/or cheesy songs were written in that decade – my birth decade . And, even though only few would expect it, I love piano music. It is calming, soothing. It can be very sad and emotive; and it sounds beautiful on vinyl or live.
I am a moody person, but I am also open and curious. In my experience there is a fitting song for very situation and for every emotion. Sometimes music also triggers certain emotions and those inspire my writing more often than not. I think it is a beautiful way to create art and to leave an impression on the listeners. Through the years, I made many memories that are pinned to a song. It created a soundtrack to my life. And that’s a comforting thought for me.
This is a link to my music collection. Eclectic at best. It’s the good, the bad, and the embarrassing, I’d say. But it is also the music that kept me company over the years.
And here is a link to many hours of music on Spotify. I know, musicians don’t get paid and all. And I am torn about using the platform at all, but in the end, I listen daily and almost all day long. The easy way might be the lazy way, but it is what it is. To be fair though, I buy many records and CDs.
There is something about unwrapping and album from it’s cellophane wrap and holding it for the first time. I study the cover, the lyrics (if they are shared) and read the booklet from front to back. Like a little ritual.
Today, I had a beautiful album in my mailbox, and I did what I described before. I studied it from every side, enjoying this new arrival. It’s moody piano music with impressive vocals. The lyrics are poetic and the piano create a beautiful atmosphere. I am talking about a record by Martin Herzberg & Felix Räuber called “the art of dreaming”. It was released recently (October 20th) and only a limited number of vinyl was made. I was lucky enough to be in time to get a signed green copy. I listened to it a couple of times this afternoon and it is wonderful, just the right music for rainy and grey autumn days. It sets a fantastic mood.
Fun fact: I met Felix in 2013 and wrote about it here: https://micqu.org/2013/02/05/go-see-maximilian-hecker-felix-rauber-now/ I never forgot that night, even though it was quite embarrassing for me. You want to know more? Read the old post. It was a night to remember indeed. Do you have encounters that stayed with you through the years? I’d love to hear about it.
I am passionate about music, but I am very bad at describing it or reviewing it. I like most music I like because it triggers a kind of emotion in me. To me, that is like magic.
What’s the last song you listened to? Mine was “come around” by a British band called Corella. Corella were suggested by a playlist that focussed on Paolo Nutini’s music.
Do you still buy physical music or do you stream? (Which platforms do you use?)
In my life, music is very important. How about you? Do you have a favourite song or artist? I am curious to know about you. To be honest, right now I don’t have a favourite artist and somehow my favourite song was played so much lately that it is has lost it’s magic. I used to love Kate Bush’s running up that hill. It was the perfect mix of beautiful vocals, music to remember and poetic lyrics. Curiously, while I wrote this, another favourite came on: New Order’s 1963. I heard that song on the radio when I was a kid. I was one of those recording songs off the radio, and this one grabbed me right away. I had no idea who it was or what the song was called. Mind you, this was before the internet invaded our homes. It took many years before I found the song. There are two versions, but only one of them gets me in the feels.
I could ramble on and on about memories and meaning of this or that song. And I will, if you leave a comment for me. 🙂
Thank you for your continued support, and happy listening.
Thank you to everyone who supported WORD THIEF so far.
Here’s a little resumé of where to find what; an overview if you will. The links in the post below will take you to an external site. (PayPal and/or) SoundCloud.
* WORD THIEF by Catherine Tricarico can be found as paperback or ebook on your local Amazon site. I do have a couple of (faulty) copies at home. If you are interested in a personalized copy of WORD THIEF either get in touch in the comments or use this PayPal link. Don’t forget to mention your full name and address. The books are sold for 25€, international shipping and handling included. ❤️
* Word Thief – the poem was made into a piece of music, narrated by Daniel Cavanagh. It can be found on Soundcloud. Soundcloud is an external site where artists can share their music. The site is free.
* The Best Pessimist taken out of the book WORD THIEF was made into a song. All music and vocals by Weather Systems. This one can be found on SoundCloud too. It’s a melancholic piece of music, but as my dad said: one needs to listen to it a couple of times to understand it’s beauty.
* The Best Pessimist also has some kind of video clip that is exclusive on this blog. The video is made of pictures I took myself. It is more of an experiment and is in no way even remotely professional, but it exists and has nice moments.
* WORD THIEF and some of my other books can now be found in the Bibliothèque National du Luxembourg (national Library) and at the Centre National de Littérature (national centre for literature). They also interviewed me to have my profile added to the Autorenlexikon (dictionary of national authors). I am checking their site daily, but it has not been updated yet.
* Coming soon: Fly, lady butterfly will be made into a piece of music too. It will not be a song like The Best Pessimist, but a narration like Word Thief.
Once again, Thank You. Your support, no matter how small matters.
As mentioned previously, Daniel Cavanagh and I teamed up to bring some poems from my latest release WORD THIEF to life. Here is the world premiere of the video for The Best Pessimist.
reflections of an unquiet mind 