#AtoZChallenge Recap

In April, I participated in the A to Z challenge where each day (except Sundays) you post on a new topic following the letters of the alphabet. So April 1 the topic started with A, on April 2 the topic began with B and so on.

This was my fifth year doing the challenge. The organizers of the challenge suggest you pick a theme for your writing. The first year I didn’t do a theme. The next year it was TV shows, followed by characters and then last year I did antagonists. This year I decided to do songs about magic, which I felt tied into my fantasy writing at least somewhat.

Part of the challenge is also to visit other blogs. You never know when you will find a new favorite blogger. In past years, I have done better at this but this really has been a busy month. I did make it to some blogs and even some that were very interesting.

As always, I enjoyed the challenge and look forward to doing it again next year.

For any of you who have missed out on my blogs from the A to Z challenge, here is a recap of what I covered.

Songs of Magic A to Z Challenge Posts

A is for Abracadabra

B is for Black Magic Woman

C is for Could it be Magic

D is for Do you Believe in Magic

E is for Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

F is for Five Magics

G is for Gwen Stefani (The Magic’s in the Makeup)

H is for Honky Tonk Magic

I is for I Put a Spell on You

J is for Justin Timberlake (Love Sex Magic)

K is for Katy Perry (Dark Horse)

L is for Love Potion No. 9

M is for Magic (by Pilot, The Cars & Coldplay)

N is for Neon Magic

O is for Olivia Newton-John (Magic)

P is for Puff the Magic Dragon

Q is for Queen (A Kind of Magic)

R is for Ramble On

S is for Strange Magic

T is for This Magic Moment

U is for Under Your Spell

V is for Van Halen (Me Wise Magic)

W is for Witchcraft

X is for Xanadu

Y is for You Can Do Magic

Z is for Zomby Woof

Z is for Zomby Woof #AtoZChallenge

For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have chosen the theme of songs about magic. (Fitting for a fantasy author.)

Z is for “Zomby Woof” by Frank Zappa and the Mother of Invention. This song was written by Zappa for the 1973 album Over-Nite Sensation. The vocals for “Zomby Woof” were provided by Ricky Lancelotti. Background vocals were provided by Tina Turner and The Ikettes.

Zappa’s songs were often bawdy, even obscene, and this song is no different. Now while this song may not be about magic, I guess if turning into a Zomby Woof meant you were turning into some sort of zombie/werewolf-type creature it could be magical. But sadly, there is a strong sexual nature to this song which makes it less than magical. The Zomby Woof is a sexual predator. According to the Urban Dictionary, a Zomby Woof is someone who takes part in illegal sexual activities such as rape. But Z was a hard letter to find a magic song, so I will take the turning into a creature aspect as my magical connection.

Previous A to Z Challenge Posts

A is for Abracadabra

B is for Black Magic Woman

C is for Could it be Magic

D is for Do you Believe in Magic

E is for Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

F is for Five Magics

G is for Gwen Stefani (The Magic’s in the Makeup)

H is for Honky Tonk Magic

I is for I Put a Spell on You

J is for Justin Timberlake (Love Sex Magic)

K is for Katy Perry (Dark Horse)

L is for Love Potion No. 9

M is for Magic (by Pilot, The Cars & Coldplay)

N is for Neon Magic

O is for Olivia Newton-John (Magic)

P is for Puff the Magic Dragon

Q is for Queen (A Kind of Magic)

R is for Ramble On

S is for Strange Magic

T is for This Magic Moment

U is for Under Your Spell

V is for Van Halen (Me Wise Magic)

W is for Witchcraft

X is for Xanadu

Y is You Can Do Magic

Y is for You Can do Magic #AtoZChallenge

For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have chosen the theme of songs about magic. (Fitting for a fantasy author.)

Y is for “You Can do Magic” by the folk-rock duo, America. This British group (originally a trio) released the song in 1982 from their album View from the Ground. It was written by singer-songwriter Russ Ballard.

The song was a comeback hit for the group whose last Top 40 hit was six years earlier in 1976. The song hit number 8 in the U.S. in 1982.

“You can do magic
You can have anything that you desire
Magic, and you know
You’re the one who can put out the fire”

Again a song about a bewitching woman…

Previous A to Z Challenge Posts

A is for Abracadabra

B is for Black Magic Woman

C is for Could it be Magic

D is for Do you Believe in Magic

E is for Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

F is for Five Magics

G is for Gwen Stefani (The Magic’s in the Makeup)

H is for Honky Tonk Magic

I is for I Put a Spell on You

J is for Justin Timberlake (Love Sex Magic)

K is for Katy Perry (Dark Horse)

L is for Love Potion No. 9

M is for Magic (by Pilot, The Cars & Coldplay)

N is for Neon Magic

O is for Olivia Newton-John (Magic)

P is for Puff the Magic Dragon

Q is for Queen (A Kind of Magic)

R is for Ramble On

S is for Strange Magic

T is for This Magic Moment

U is for Under Your Spell

V is for Van Halen (Me Wise Magic)

W is for Witchcraft

X is for Xanadu

X is for Xanadu #AtoZChallenge

For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have chosen the theme of songs about magic. (Fitting for a fantasy author.)

X is for “Xanadu” by the Canadian rock group Rush. The song was written by drummer/lyricist Neil Peart for their 1977 album A Farewell to Kings (their fifth studio album). It is 11 minutes and 8 seconds long with the first five minutes being instrumental.

The song was never released as a single. It is about searching for a place called “Xanadu” where the narrator will be granted immortality. He succeeds in his quest and a thousand years pass, leaving him a “mad immortal man.” Sound magical to me.

Previous A to Z Challenge Posts

A is for Abracadabra

B is for Black Magic Woman

C is for Could it be Magic

D is for Do you Believe in Magic

E is for Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

F is for Five Magics

G is for Gwen Stefani (The Magic’s in the Makeup)

H is for Honky Tonk Magic

I is for I Put a Spell on You

J is for Justin Timberlake (Love Sex Magic)

K is for Katy Perry (Dark Horse)

L is for Love Potion No. 9

M is for Magic (by Pilot, The Cars & Coldplay)

N is for Neon Magic

O is for Olivia Newton-John (Magic)

P is for Puff the Magic Dragon

Q is for Queen (A Kind of Magic)

R is for Ramble On

S is for Strange Magic

T is for This Magic Moment

U is for Under Your Spell

V is for Van Halen (Me Wise Magic)

W is for Witchcraft

W is for Witchcraft #AtoZChallenge

For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have chosen the theme of songs about magic. (Fitting for a fantasy author.)

W is for “Witchcraft.” This song was composed by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It was released in 1957 by Frank Sinatra. It reached number six on the U.S. music charts, spending a total of 16 weeks on the charts.

“Witchcraft” has been recorded by a variety of artist included Bing Crosby for his 1958 radio show.

At the 1st Grammy Awards, Frank Sinatra’s recording of the song was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Previous A to Z Challenge Posts

A is for Abracadabra

B is for Black Magic Woman

C is for Could it be Magic

D is for Do you Believe in Magic

E is for Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

F is for Five Magics

G is for Gwen Stefani (The Magic’s in the Makeup)

H is for Honky Tonk Magic

I is for I Put a Spell on You

J is for Justin Timberlake (Love Sex Magic)

K is for Katy Perry (Dark Horse)

L is for Love Potion No. 9

M is for Magic (by Pilot, The Cars & Coldplay)

N is for Neon Magic

O is for Olivia Newton-John (Magic)

P is for Puff the Magic Dragon

Q is for Queen (A Kind of Magic)

R is for Ramble On

S is for Strange Magic

T is for This Magic Moment

U is for Under Your Spell

V is for Van Halen (Me Wise Magic)