Thunder & Lightning or Thunder and Lightning BOTB Showdown

The weather proverb starting with April showers does not include July, but one source indicated that some adaptions might include the line “July heat brings harvest treats”.

Doing a little digging, I found a piece of weather lore that goes like this…

“Ne’er trust a July sky” and “If the 1st of July be rainy weather, it will rain more or less for three weeks together.”

Ideally, I wanted to find two covers of the same songs. I came up empty handed and so I’m running with two different songs with similar titles for this battle. Will it be Thunder & Lightning or Thunder and Lightning?

Contender #1 Gotthard song lyrics: genuis.com

Thunder & Lightning is off Gotthard’s March 2025 Stereo Crush (14th studio album). Unknown to me, they are a successful hard rock Swiss band who’s been around for more than 3 decades. According to Wiki the bands’ last sixteen albums reached #1 in the Swiss charts. As well, the group has sold 3 million+ albums and have received multi-platinum awards around the globe.

Contender #2 Chi Coltrane song lyrics: genius.com

Until now, I don’t believe I’d heard of the blue-eyed soul American singer, Chi Coltrane. I learned her song, Thunder and Lightning released in 1972 from her self-titled debut album. It did well, hitting the US Billboard Hot 100 at #17, Cash Box at #15, and Record World at #14. Also, it made it’s way on to the Canadian RPM Magazine singles chart at #18.

There you have two different bands, songs, and genres in this showdown. The question now is who gets your vote? Will it be Gottard or Chi Coltrane?

Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!

I hope you had fun listening. Now, it’s up to you to tell me in comments who you like and why (optional), then next week on the 8th I’ll drop the results in my comments.

At the top of this page on my main menu, you’ll see page dedicated for BOTB where you’ll find a list of possible bloggers participating today. This is CAAC signing off, have a bandtastic day!

Belle & Sebastian Write About Love Playlist

This week’s theme is whatever music moves you!

I was sorting through my music archives when I found a link for today’s artists, Write About Love (#7 on playlist), that I saved last year. Listening to that track again, I thought their voices sounded a little familiar, but I thought the discovery last year was my first time to hear them until now. I did a quick search of my blog and found that I was initially introduced to Belle & Sebastian in 2018. I used a different song in my B post for the A2Z Challenge. This week, I’m bringing to you their Write About Love playlist!

Belle & Sebastian is a Scottish Indie pop band that formed in 1994. The group has been in the industry for more than three decades and even though I stumbled on them several years ago, I had to wonder why their music never reached my ears until then. They have a US streaming presence, but it appears none of their songs have landed on any of the billboard charts in the state, just in the UK.

Are you ready? It’s now your turn to share what music moves you!

This is a music link up. Music themes are only a suggestion. Your post must contain at least one song or your URL is marked “No Music”.

Everyone has time restraints. Please if you can, when you add your link to make an honest effort to visit, comment, or click ‘like” to let your bloggy friend know you stopped by. For some a small gesture means a lot. 🙂

I’m squeezing in Ellen & Lorraine’s Friendly Fill-ins.

1. My summer ~~bucket~~ list includes figuring out vacation plans, if any and continue repairing my blog.

2. 1976 was one of the best summers that I ever had.

3. I’m getting ready for honestly not much by doing the same ole same ole stuff.

4. Being too hot immediately makes me want a creamy cold strawberry milkshake.

June’s birthday salute goes to Birgit from BB Creations (2nd), my sister (9th), Marie from Xmas Dolly (13th) , Eugenia from Poesy Perspectives (17th), and today is our oldest daughter turns another year older.

Now that it’s officially summer, I thought it was time to finally share my colorized version of my original Summer Breeze pencil sketch. I hope you enjoyed the music. Remember, if you have music posts we’d love to tune into what you’ve shared. Have a restful Sunday and a boogietastic week!

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Anyone for Tennis?

Wimbeldon kicks off soon. Let a tennis player, the game, England, or Wimbeldon traditions guide you in your music discovery for some fun song picks!

In our courtship days, DH and I occasionally played tennis. I’m fairly certain in the mid-70s, I had no idea what the game was and definitely didn’t know how to play. I didn’t even own a racket. DH took care of me, though. He bought one for me at Kmart. They had some inexpensive wooden Wilson rackets. It was heavier than a badminton racket so the weight felt odd in my hand. I was quite terrible at the game. I spent more time chasing the ball than keeping the game moving. The worse thing was when I lobbed it over the very tall fence. How embarrassing was that? In the beginning it was, but since I did it so frequently I accepted it and even though I was bad at the game, I had a ball playing!

The first thing that came to mind for today’s music prompt is keeping score in Tennis. 40 Love means the player with possession of the ball has 40 and the opponent has zip, notta, nothing, zero points. I came across two instrumental track titles “Forty Love” by different artists, Jose Givron and Migo 755.

The whole score thing never made sense and why say love instead of zero? At Merriam Webster you can read about the history.

The song that captured my ear and put me in a good mood is a group called 40 Love, “A Song By 40 Love”. There’s little info on the YT channel. The song released in 2021. The artists have that 60s throw back vibe. I can’t understand the lyrics, but I’m pretty sure the words do not reference the sport at all.

Are you ready? It’s now your turn to share what music moves you!

I’m so happy you joined me for Monday’s Music Moves Me. I hope you enjoyed the memories and music. I am going to leave you with a fun version of the Wimbledon Theme song done in 2020. Have a blessed Sunday and a boogietastic week!

I got curious about the original by Keith Mansfield and if you’re interested you can listen to it, too. Mansfield’s song is titled, World Champion.

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I changed the original for Dads with more than one child, then used the Brushstrokes app for a painting like effect. I like the texture of the do-over as it makes the fur stand out.

Time of Change Chris Standring

This week’s theme is whatever music moves you!

I like doing things kind of easy over the summer. While sorting through my digital slush pile, I found a guitarist John from The Sound of One Hand Typing put me onto one 4M three years ago. I clicked on the first and most recent album release playlist and it was an instant hit with my ears. Here’s the Time of Change album by Chris Standring!

Chris is a British is a jazz guitarist. His career started in 1998 with the release of his first album, Velvet. Since that time he has recorded nearly two dozen studio albums. His best album to do well in the US thus far has been Sunlight from 2018 ranking #7 on the Jazz chart and has several singles to top US Billboard Smooth Jazz Airway – Bossa Blue (2008), Oliver’s Twist (2010), Sneakin’ Out the Front Door (2014), Like This, Like That (2016), Category A and Piccadilly Circus (2017), Is There a Doctor in the House? and Shake You Up (2020), Change the World (2021), and Top Hats & Tails (2025).

Are you ready? It’s now your turn to share what music moves you!

That’s a wrap for now. Take time to enjoy life away from cyber world during these slow Internet traffic days to get outdoors or break away to do whatever makes you happy. Have a boogietastic week!

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Summer Madness

June boasts the most daylight hours. Share music about long sunny days. Express yourself in song however this prompt moves you!

I love the long days of summer! In particular, I love being outdoors in the late to early evening hours. The temperatures are cooling down and if lucky a nice breeze is moving. The ambient light at that time is beautiful golden and relaxing. When the children were young, we’d frequently visit DH’s parents in southern WV and often enjoyed hours around an open fire until long after the lightning bugs came out. Reluctantly, we retreated to the indoors smoky scented and mellowed.

Today’s feature song, Summer Madness is off the Kool & The Gang’s Light of the World album and for those interested, here is the YouTube playlist.

Are you ready? It’s now your turn to share what music moves you!

In a couple days, DH and I celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary. I’m blessed more than I deserve and thank God for a wonderful husband.

Have a boogietastic week!

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A beautiful sunset from 2012 at Mt. Mitchell just off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Junebug VS June Bug BOTB Songs

If you’re looking to for the 4M party, it’s now being published on Sundays. No need to rush off just yet, though. I need for you to have a say-so in this Battle of the Bands installment. 🙂

I’m continuing to roll with my seasonal themes for Battle of the Bands. Maybe, you picked up on that already. The old weather proverb that inspired my line of thinking says…March winds and April showers bring May flowers and June bugs. I don’t remember all of it, but it’s pretty accurate.

This time, instead of using two cover versions of the same song, I am putting up two different Junebug or is it June Bug songs to vote on.

Contenter #1 The B-52s. I was surprised to learn this American rock band started in 1976. They had a few hits Love Shack, Roam, Rock Lobster, Private Idaho, and Good Stuff. Honestly, I don’t remember much about this band and all of these hit songs aren’t jingling any bells…well, Love Shack and Rock Lobster maybe. Okay enough rambling, you know what to do! Here’s B-52s with Junebug!

Contender #2 Mac Powell. This guy didn’t sound familiar, but I really like his voice and I think y’all will, too. I did a little digging on him and learned that he founded the early 90s Christian rock band, Third Day. I feel confident I have heard of that group. Anyway, here’s Mac Powell with his June Bug song.

Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!

I hope you had fun listening. Now, it’s up to you to tell me in comments who you like and why (optional), then next week on the 8th I’ll drop the results in my comments.

At the top, the main menu you’ll find a dedicated BOTB page with a list of all participants. I can’t guarantee whose playing along, you’ll have to pop in on each one to see. That’s it for this time, I’m closing with another artist discovery of an instrumental June Bug song by Stanley Turrentine for your enjoyment only. Have a bandtastic day!

This artist/song is not part of the battle showdown. 😉

Old Salt

This week’s theme is whatever music moves you!

For the duration of the summer, I am moving 4M back to Sundays and when things work out beautifully I hope to work in bits of musical inspirations through song and words.

Last September I stumbled across Old Salt with track #7 on this morning’s playlist. You can read the group’s bio, if you’d like to learn more about the Transatlantic folk and roots band.

I like how inspiration speaks to you without thought. For instance the name of this band remind me of the Bible verse in the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 13 says, “Ye are the salt of the earth…” Just like salt is used to keep food from going bad, we the believers in Christ are called to preserve our faith as a counter influence against moral decay and corruption.

I found another moving song capturing the essences of Matthew 5:13, but am unable to embed the video on my site because the creator has playback restrictions. To listen to it click the YouTube link —> Salt of the Earth. I think it’s an AI production at least in part, but nonetheless nice.

Are you ready? It’s now your turn to share what music moves you!

Swing by tomorrow morning for my June 1st BOTB. Have a boogietastic week!

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Grillin’ and Chillin’

In the US, May is National Barbecue month. It’s time to go hog wild! Share music that make you think of a great cook out.

Welcome to Monday’s Music Moves Me! It’s Memorial Day in America and many homes across the country are fixing meals over the grill. It’s been years since I actually made anything on the grill. In recent years, I’ve perfected my version of oven-roasted barbecue pork with my homemade barbecue sauce. Now all of this talk of food is making me hungry. Click play to spin Sammy Kershaw, Grillin’ and Chillin’ from his 2015 album I Won’t Back Down.

This song track is off the band’s 2025 album Mutiny in the Parlor.

I have one birthday to announce, Deidre from at Landmark Sounds turned another year older on the 8th. 👏🥳

Remembering and honoring those who paid the ultimate price this Memorial Day. Those who lost their life in service, I want to say thank you to their loved ones and may God bless you!

I’m going to finish things up with Friday’s Friendly Fill-ins.

1. I would be willing to pay more for USA made products, as long as it’s reasonable.

2. I refuse to spend money on greeting cards, especially since this is something I enjoy making and seems more personal.

3. My blogging life is a bit chaotic.

4. A fun fact about me is that it annoys me when something isn’t completed.

Although it’s felt like summer for months already, it is now unofficially here and I’m going to take a partial blogging break. I am bringing back Monday’s Music Moves Me on Sundays starting this week, so join the fun when you can. Have a boogietastic week!

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Originally I sketched this for DH one Father’s Day. For a quick look, here’s that illustration. Like most of my first attempts, I wanted to redo it focusing mostly on my VPG’s face. I did some minor touch ups and still I see where I need to improve.

Homemade Barbecue Sauce Download

My World Needs You

Songs to lift the body, soul, and mind!

My prayer every day is for all hearts to surrender to God. When that kind of change happens, the mind can separate the truth from the lies. Satan pulls out every trick to fool people and he knows precisely how to push the right buttons. This is why our world is in such a mess. The Prophet Isaiah foretold of these times.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20 KJV

Thank you for visiting. I’ll be back in the morning with Monday’s Music Moves Me. Remember, no words necessary, just visit and rest. Have a blessed Sunday!

4M link up party⬇︎

NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch passed away on Thursday. As I’ve said before, I’m not a close follower of the sport, but I do know the most recognizable names as DH frequently watches the races.

While I write this, I have not heard the exact cause of death. DH told me that in Sunday’s race, he went into it not feeling well and by the time it was over he requested a doctor meet him. I read that he was dealing with sinus problems, maybe an infection, and the G force created by fast driving may have complicated this issue, but is this the reason he died?

The times I saw Kyle’s interviews or with his family on camera, he just seemed like a nice guy and I’m pretty sure that’s who he was, too. I always liked it when Kyle drove the M&Ms logo car. I just loved the fun, vibrant colors which that alone was reason enough to rally him on to victory.

He leaves behind a wife, two children, other family, and a lot of fans to grieve. This tugs heavily at my heart. Please keep Busch family in your thoughts and prayers. May God’s love sustain and lift them up during this difficult time.

Scissors Cut

This week’s theme is whatever music moves you!

Welcome to Monday’s Music Moves Me! I’m pulling out a 4-year old saved playlist that I stumbled on while researching music for a past post. Simon and Garfunkel were a childhood favorite, still are, but after they broke up it seemed to me that Paul Simon was the more prominent member. It was a nice discovery when I came across Art Garfunkel’s Scissors Cut playlist and am bringing it to you this morning

Are you ready? It’s now your turn to share what music moves you!

Have a boogietastic week!

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Curious as a Cathy

Thunder & Lightning or Thunder and Lightning BOTB Showdown

Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!

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Belle & Sebastian Write About Love Playlist

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Anyone for Tennis?

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Time of Change Chris Standring

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Summer Madness

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Junebug VS June Bug BOTB Songs

Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!

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Old Salt

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Grillin’ and Chillin’

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My World Needs You

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Scissors Cut

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Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!

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Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!

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