Category: Melodies and Memories: Music, Songs, and Singers
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Musings and Movie Music for a Sweltering Spring Sunday in South Florida
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Blogging, Books, Boy of Harvard (Men of Harlech parody), Creative Writing, Florida Weather, John Williams (Composer), Life in Florida, Melodies and Memories: Music, Songs, and Singers, Michel Legrand, Movie and TV Soundtracks, Movies, Music, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: Coda, Song Parody, Spring in Florida, Summer of ’42 (1971), Uncategorized, Zulu (1964)Afternoon, Sunday, May 18, 2025, Miami, Florida Man, it’s hot. It’s like Africa hot. Tarzan couldn’t take this kind of hot. – Neil Simon, Biloxi Blues It’s another searing subtropical spring day in South Florida, the hottest day I’ve experienced since my return home from New Hampshire last October. The temperature is 90°F (32°C) under…
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More Musings for Mother’s Day 2025: Of Mothers, Sons…and Music
Evening, Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Miami, Florida Mother’s Day always brings a mix of emotions. The ache of missing my mother is ever-present, but today, I choose to celebrate the memories—the quiet, joyful moments that defined our bond. Mom and I shared an unspoken connection through the things we loved: books, films, dogs, and…
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A Musicale for the Last Monday in April 2025
Late Morning, Monday, April 28, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, there. Here in my corner of South Florida, it is a hot, sunny first day of the regular workweek. Currently, the temperature is 82°F (28°C) under sunny skies. With humidity at 58% and the wind blowing from the east at 9 MPH (15 Km/H), the heat…
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It’s a Slow News Day, So Here’s a Sunday Musicale….
Early Afternoon, Sunday, March 16, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s a nice Sunday afternoon in South Florida, with sunny skies and sultry summer-like temperatures. It’s also quiet in my neighborhood, so it’s a perfect place to rest and relax – which is what I’m doing so I can dive back into Reunion: Coda tomorrow.…
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A Saturday Musicale for the Ides of March 2025
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, March 15, 2025 (the Ides of March), Miami, Florida It’s been a long, tiring, and oftentimes frustrating week on the novel-writing front, and since it’s Saturday, I don’t feel much like penning a long blog post. So, how about some nice YouTube music videos instead?
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A Rainy Monday Musicale!
Midday, Monday, February 24, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi there! It’s a cool and rainy late February day in South Florida. The current temperature is 74°°F (23°°C), and unfortunately, it’s not an ideal day for tourists hoping for sunshine and fun in the Magic City. Today’s forecast predicts more rain in the afternoon, and the high…
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A Sunday Musicale for Groundhog Day 2025
Late Morning, Sunday, February 2, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. Happy Groundhog Day! It’s a beautiful, warm, and sunny late winter morning here in South Florida. The temperature is a delightful 80°F (27°C) under mostly cloudy skies. It’s the kind of day that lures tourists and new residents from colder climes to the Sunshine…
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Sunday Serenade: Songs and Compositions I Enjoy
Midday/Early Afternoon, Sunday, January 5, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. Well, while I am feeling a bit better today, I’m still under the weather. So, instead of the usual narrative blog post or occasional review, here’s a selection of music from YouTube for this first Sunday of 2025! Enjoy!
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Saturday Serenade: Some of My Favorite Piano Pieces*
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, January 4, 2025, Miami, Florida * Including piano transcriptions of orchestral compositions. Hi, everyone. I’m feeling a bit better today, but still dealing with a persistent cold. I’m exhausted from the symptoms and medication. Instead of my usual long blog post, here are some of my favorite piano performances. Enjoy!
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Music Album Review: ‘Kiri Sings Gershwin’: A Swinging Tribute to Timeless Classics
Kiri Sings Gershwin (1990) Label: EMI Records Genre: Standards/Crossovers Artists: Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano), John McGlinn (conductor), New Princess Orchestra Release Date: October 25, 1990 Regular readers of this blog won’t be surprised. Still, I seem to follow the beat of a different drummer because I prefer older musical styles to contemporary ones, especially when…
A Certain Point of View, Too 