Julio Iglesias

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Son of a doctor (who expected said son to follow in his medical footsteps), would-be footballer whose music career ultimately springboarded from an injury that destroyed that dream, not-winner of Eurovision…

…chose his own path…

…altered his route in response to circumstances outside his control…

…and gained fame as a celebrated international music artist.

♦

Takeaways:

You do not have to be what anyone else wants you to be.

When life throws you a curveball, you can choose to hit it out of the park.

Just because you aren’t declared a ‘winner’ by someone else’s standards doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. (Use it.)

for the 2021 April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge: letters IJ

Hovhaness

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lightning flashing over a snow-capped mountain -- image via pixabay
header image via Pixabay

It is a crashing thing; a delight beneath fingertips pressing light-heavy over ivory keys, a conversation between clouds coming to life, a minor-key clash-roll of thunder preceding the deceptively pretty patter of rain before the beautifully riotous cacophony of mountain storm.

Atonality has never appealed.

But ordered disarray — ranging from rolling-start mezo-piano to pianissimo possibile near-silent rainsong to forte fortissimo lightning storm sudden-stop — especially when it mimics nature so soundly…

Yes.

Alan Hovhaness’ Mountain Dance No. 2: It’s long been my favorite piece to play.

for the 2021 April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge: letter H

My theme for this year’s challenge is Music as Muse.

Guitar

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The restaurant is full – or as full as is possible given the COVID restrictions; ‘full’ is relative, but this relative fullness is uplifting to see – and, unexpectedly, it is also filled.

With music.

There is a single musician, mask-faced and stool-seated, caressing a set of strings with well-grooved fingers, adding to the evening-meal bustle an overtone of unhurriedness.

Mexican folk, jazzy classical, well-known hits of yonder years… There is no limit to genre or timing; a Spanish waltz fits smoothly between an instrumental rendition of LaBamba and a piece of improvized bluesy jazz, a classical standard is spruced new with fingerstyle picking on electrified acoustic, wordless melodies soothe and uplift.

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[SNF] Ella Fitzgerald: Dream…

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~ but in your dreams whatever they be ~

close up of woman's face superimposed over clouds and moon

…dream a little dream of me…

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