Fly Away With Me... #4M

This week’s theme for #MusicMovesMe is one of my favorites - Free Choice! Because you know me - I am a bit of a rule breaker and when there is no theme - I have free reign. Muahahahah. Just kidding. I do like being confined to themes. It helps keep me from getting too distracted!

We’re now into the month of August, and I’m not too shy to admit that I’m the Guest Conductor this month for the #4M (#MondayMusicMovesMe) peeps. That means on the weeks that aren’t Free Choice - I’ve had the pleasure of choosing the themes. 

This comes with the good and the bad.  The good meaning I can pick any theme I want, the bad - There are so many good ones to choose from! Ha.  Nah. It’s not so bad.  But I did struggle a bit with this freebie week as next week’s theme is pretty awesome (if I say so myself!), and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to expand upon it this week and possibly the week after, or if I wanted to go with something a little different.

So, I split the difference.  I went with something kinda sort in the same arena (close enough for hand grenades and horseshoes, but far enough away that it’s not the same).  Plus… I’m tossing in a little something extra this week :)

This week, you may have guessed that I’m going with the theme of BIRDS



I’ve picked 5 songs with types of birds in the title.

"Rooster" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains, featured on their second studio album, Dirt (1992). The song was released as the fourth single from the album in 1993. It is the fifth song on the original pressing of the album and sixth on others. "Rooster" spent 20 weeks on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at No. 7.

"Blackbird" is a song by the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"), which was performed as a solo effort by Paul McCartney. The song was also written by McCartney, although it is credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney has stated that the lyrics of the song were inspired by hearing the call of a blackbird in Rishikesh, India, as well as by the unfortunate state of race relations in the United States in the 1960s.

"When Doves Cry" is a song by American musician Prince, and the lead single from his 1984 album Purple Rain. It was a worldwide hit, and his first American number one single, topping the charts for five weeks. According to Billboard magazine, it was the top-selling single of the year. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, shipping two million units in the United States. It was the last single released by a solo artist to receive such certification before the certification requirements were lowered in 1989.

"Rockin' Robin" (originally released as "Rock-In Robin" on the Class Records 45 single) is a song written by Leon René under the pseudonym of Jimmie Thomas and recorded by Bobby Day in 1958. It was Day's biggest hit single, becoming a number-two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent one week at the top of the charts (number one hit) in R&B sales.
"Fly Like an Eagle" is a song written by Steve Miller for the album of the same name.The song went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of March 12, 1977, kept from the top spot by "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" by Barbra Streisand. The single edit can be found on Greatest Hits (1974–1978). The song has an unusually mellow and "dreamy" feel. It is usually played in tandem with "Space Intro", but the song also segues into "Wild Mountain Honey".




And I’ve picked 5 bands with types of birds in their name.

Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones (former member of Led Zeppelin) on bass and keyboards, Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters and formerly of Nirvana) on drums and backing vocals, and Josh Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal and formerly of Kyuss) on guitar and vocals. The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances. The band began recording in February 2009, and performed their first gig on August 9, 2009, in Chicago, followed by a European debut on August 19. On October 1 the group embarked on a worldwide tour titled Deserve the Future with dates going into 2010. The band's first single "New Fang" was released in October 2009, followed by the group's self-titled debut album the following month, debuting at number 12 on the Billboard 200. The group won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for "New Fang".

A Flock of Seagulls are an English new wave and synth-pop band originally formed in 1980 in Liverpool by Michael "Mike" Score (keyboards, vocals) and his brother Alister "Ali" James Score (drums), with their most famous line-up consisting of the Score brothers along with Francis Lee "Frank" Maudsley (bass) and Paul Reynolds (guitar).
The group had a string of international hit singles including "I Ran (So Far Away)" (1982), "Space Age Love Song" (1982), "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" (1982), and "The More You Live, the More You Love" (1984). They became notable in the 1980s for their video for "I Ran (So Far Away)". The band won a Grammy Award in 1983 for their instrumental "D.N.A" (1982).

Counting Crows is an American rock band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1991.[1] The band consists of Adam Duritz (lead vocals, piano), David Bryson (guitar), Charlie Gillingham (keyboards, piano, accordion), Dan Vickrey (lead guitar), David Immerglück (guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, bass guitar), Jim Bogios (drums, percussion) and Millard Powers (bass guitar, piano, guitar).
Counting Crows gained popularity following the release of its debut album, August and Everything After (1993), which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones". They have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and received a 2004 Academy Award nomination for their song "Accidentally in Love", which was included in the film Shrek 2.

The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band is known for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists.[4] The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things" and "Over Under Sideways Down".

The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert (born June 16, 1942), Walter Williams (born August 25, 1943), William Powell (January 20, 1942 – May 26, 1977), Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with "Lonely Drifter" in 1963, but reached their greatest level of success once Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, signed them to their Philadelphia International label in 1972. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with "Back Stabbers" (1972), and topped the Billboard Hot 100 the following year with "Love Train". Numerous other hits followed through the 1970s and into the 1980s and 1990s, and The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.




Now, because I’ve limited my selections to just 5 each, tell me in the comments what additional songs or bands that I could have included. I know there are more!


Oh… and before I forget… If you haven’t already voted in Round Two of the Battle of the Bands Tournament, now would be a good time to do so.  The winner of this Round will take on the winner of Round One, and will eventually be taking on those dogs.

Now, this is a blog hop! So, don't forget to support the other participants :)








Comments

  1. Birds. A perfect "freebie" theme - so many of us love our feathered, singing friends, the musicians of the natural world! And what a way to start the day, with A Flock of Seagulls and Them Crooked Vultures.

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    1. Alana - I couldn't leave out Them Crooked Vultures. So much talent in that group! I was actually pretty surprised at how many different songs there were out there, and there are really quite a few artists, too. I may have to revisit this theme.

      ~Mary

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  2. Mary,

    You have cats and dogs fighting it out in your BoTB,so why not bring flock of birds to the dance floor with song titles and band names? lol What a cool theme for 'freebie' week.

    I had not heard the song "Roosters" before now but then Alice in Chains isn't a group I normally listen to. :) It wasn't a bad song, though. So, thanks for the introduction.

    I've heard of all but one of your bird band names (A Flock of Seagulls). It seems Them Crooked Vultures is a group introduced to me from a fellow BoTBer but I can't swear to that. I was not familiar with either of these bands song choices you shared. I think a fellow blogger shared Casting Crows' mewsic in the past but I do not recall "Mr. Jones". I thought for sure, I'd know The Yardbirds "For Your Love but it didn't ring any bells for me. Your last song, "Love Train" is the only one I knew on this playlist. Years ago, we met one of the O'Jays, Nathan Best, who at the time lived in Knoxville. If I remember correctly, he served as a minster for a local church. I don't know if he's still in town but that was a nice experience. Thanks for sharing and for being this month's guest co-host. I know you're gonna do a fabulous job, too!

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    1. Thanks Cathy!

      I was pulled in all sorts of directions with today's post. Previously I had a Feral Cat Battle and then a Dog Fight Battle. Then Michele suggested we do a Dog v Cat Tournament. I knew I had this month coming up soon and next week's theme is Animals. I had to do some quick thinking of a way to tie it all together. I'm excited for next week as well. I'm hoping it goes off without a hitch.

      ~Mary

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  3. Oh my gosh, all tunes from when I was out on the prowl.. ~snicker-snicker~ We even have the same tune. Well, as my Aunt use to say, "Great minds think alike". I do have to cut this short I need to get new brakes. Mine are really bad & making big noise. You logo has been changed too, so you know. Luvin' your collection & listening to while I'm typing. Them crooked vultures... nope that's an introduction.. never heard that one before, but I think my musician hubby will love that one. I'll have to slide that one off to him... THANKS! YOU'RE A PEACH! I have to say out of the bands The O'Jays are my favorite, but out of the tunes... I'd say has to be "Love Train" by the O'Jays too. I use to dance the hell outta this one! hahaha Thanks for the memories brought back! HUGS

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    1. Hi Marie! Sure hope you get those brakes fixed. One less thing to worry about. I've always been a huge fan of Dave Grohl - so it just seemed natural to include Them Crooked Vultures - plus the other two guys in the group are pretty talented as well. I tried to give a wide spread of generational music for everyone to enjoy. Sounds like I did a decent job :)

      ~Mary

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