Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell – It’s Your Choice! #music #art

Awww Mondays hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus


Now that I have your attention…

Welcome to Monday’s Mewsic Moves Me on Sunday! 

Today’s mewsic theme is either about or song titles featuring ‘Heaven or Hell‘.  We all want to climb that stairway to heaven but all too often it’s hard to get off that highway to hell for this life-altering decision.  

 

 

My playlist is a blend of rock n’ roll tunes with a spatter of contemporary Christian mewsic in the mix.  Are you ready to dance? 

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The English rock band Led Zeppelin released Stairway To Heaven in on their untitled fourth studio album in 1971 often referred to as Zeppelin IV. This song popular song is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time. I thought it interesting that Jimmy Paige, band member & lyrists, told Rolling Stone magazine in 1975 that they were careful to never release the song as a single forcing people to buy the entire album to get the one track.  That’s rather ingenious!  

I don’t think I knew until know that hard rockers AC/DC is an Australian band.  In July 1979 only days after DH’s 20th birthday, the group released their first LP to break the US Top 100 chart at 17 with Highway to Heaven off their second highest selling album, Back in Black. 

The Righteous Brothers covered Rock n’ Roll Heaven in 1974 taking the song to number to #3 on Billboard Hot 100 after Climax (not to be confused with the British blues band) failed to chart with the original a year before. This oldie is an olde to mewsician who’d passed on mentioning some of the greats like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding to name just a few. It’s been rewritten over the decades to include new artists who joined the heavenly chorus. At least we hope that’s where they wound up.  

American rock band, Kiss released the single Heaven’s On Fire in 1984 in several countries. The song never topped the leaderboard but it did chart. In the US landing at #11 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Track as well peaked 49 on Hot 100s.  

Pop singer/songwriter, Bruno Mars lead single Locked Out of Heaven ~from his 2012 album, Unorthodox Jukebox, becoming his 4th #1 Billboard Hot 100 single as well and hit the top 10 charts in twenty countries. Mars work in his those first few years seemed explosive but nothing since that time really grabs me. Is that the way you feel, too? 

Canadian singer/songwriter, Bryan Adams, wrote Heaven in 1983.  It first appeared on A Night in Heaven (I don’t remember this film) soundtrack the same year. The following year,  it appeared on his Reckless album and eventually released as his third single going straight to the top of Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1985. 

American country singer/songwriter, Vince Gill, co-wrote Threaten Me With Heaven with wife, Christian pop artist, Amy Grant along with studio musician and songwriter Dillon O’Brian and Grant’s touring guitarist Will Owsley.  The song’s inspiration initially came from a joking comment from Amy’s ex-FIL after getting some bad mews.  He said, “Well, what are they going to do? Threaten me with heaven?”  After recording the song sometime later the meaning took a different shape with Grant after Owsley killed himself. 

Just Like Heaven is British alternative rock band, The Cure, 3rd single from their 1987 Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me album doing well in their home country #29 UK Singles and hitting three US Billboard charts – Hot 100 #40,  Hot Dance Music/Club Play #28, & Hot Dance Music/Maxi Single Sales #27.

Little did I know that GNR Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door is a cover. Bob Dylan did the original (1973). The hard rock band began purrforming the song in 1987 and later in the year released as a maxi-single of Welcome to the Jungle.  In 1990, the band recorded and released the studio version for the Days of Thunder soundtrack that reached #18 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks as well, ranked #3 on Poland’s LP3 charts.

My last song in the set is Heaven and Hell by English rock band Black Sabbath from their 9th studio album bearing the same title (released 1980). The platinum album certified in 1986 with a million sells in the US and ranks at #11 in Martin Popoff’s book, The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Times.

 

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ATTENTION, please!! Marie is having computer problems and is unsure when she’ll be back in Blogosphere. She’s asked I keep things running in her absences.  

On behalf of the 4M gang, I want to thank Michele for doing a stand-up job as this month’s honorary co-host while your shoulder continued to heal and dealing with your poor mama’s health crisis. Saying prayers for a speedy recovery from the brain surgery and the treatment to follow. Blessings to you, my dear!  Now…I invite you to step out onto the dance floor!

 

🎶  This is a mewsic linky party, all other posts are subjected for removal or labeled – NO MUSIC! 🎶

[tweetthis]Hit the #MondaysMusicMovesMe dance floor with me! @xmasdolly [/tweetthis]

A Year Drawing Adventurously is a bi-weekly art challenge hosted by Meg Sorick. This week’s prompt is ‘Birds‘.

Since I began sketching, I’ve drawn a few birds like an eagle, a nightingale, owls in 2017 & 2018, the Roadrunner, parakeet, and xenops. I drew Foghorn Leghorn with the little chicken hawk on DS’s birthday in 2017 but forgot to snap a picture of my finished card.  That’s what happens when you work rushed. I’ll be doodling more birds in the foreseeable future which I’m certain will include another chance to illustrate Foghorn. 🙂 

 

Inspired by an online image of a hummingbird & flower drawing, I sketched one to used on birthday card creations for my mother and youngest daughter.

Keep those tunes playing, your body swaying, and I’ll be boogieing over to see you soon.  I’ll see you next time with not-so-Wordless Wednesday. Be safe this Memorial Day weekend and while you’re taking easy think of the many who gave their all to keep us safe in the good ole USA! 🇺🇸

 

X💋X💋, Cathy

 

 


  

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45 comments

  1. Cathy I love the bird sketches! I’ve just begun experimenting with Procreate so I appreciate these so much! Maybe I’ll try using Procreate for my attempt this week. Thanks so much for joining in!

  2. Hi Cathy :)) I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day!! Your bird doodles are so nice, I love them! Keep it up!!! 🙂 Oh the Heaven songs…I love GNR’s version of Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door-ee-ore… 🙂

  3. Hi Cathy. First of all, thank you so much for the nice recognition at the end and the prayers for my Mom. I’m about to head to the hospital now. She still sedated and on the ventilator but I believe they are slowly withholding some of the sedation and going to wake her up very slowly. So I think our prayers are being answered because this is definitely heading in the right direction!

    LOVED your Aww-Monday picture! So funny! Made me laugh out loud.
    Great playlist. We had some in common but you had several that I didn’t think of and that was cool to learn about them. I love how surprised you were that GNR wasn’t the original artist for Knocking on Heaven’s Door. There are so many people that have no idea Bob Dylan did that song. That just goes to show how well GNR did with the cover. I love that song so much. I used a cover first because the video had such great pics of Bob Dylan from back in the day, and then I ended the set with the BD original.

    I totally forgot about Bruno Mars! I like his sound and his energy. I need to keep him more top of mind. I love “Locked Out of Heaven”. Such a great song.

    “Threaten Me With Heaven” is new-to-me. Great sound! I didn’t know that Vince Gill and Amy Grant were married! How sad about her guitarist Will Owsley.

    I hadn’t heard the Cure’s Heaven song in a long time so that was a nice 80s treat!

    Your bird sketches are awesome! They’re so good Cathy! You are really coming into your own with your talent. Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing.

    Now I’m off to the hospital to see mama.
    Thanks again, for everything! <3

    Michele at Angels Bark

    1. Michele,

      Oh, you’re welcome. I hope your sweet mama is recovering nicely and that the surgery is a huge success. I know it has to be a scary thing for everyone just waiting. Oh, I’m sure all of my songs made it to your remarkable playlist. Thanks for your lovely comment on my artwork. You’re so nice. 😉 Thanks for boogieing with me and it’s been an honor having you aboard this month!

  5. Fantastic songs, CK, we’re having a few the same Hell of a songs. so we can really swing all together now…YEAH! We had a great time here and the Aww-picture made us MOL…so cute <3 Pawkisses for a Happy Memorial Day to all of you🐾😽💞

    1. Binkie,

      Thanks for listening to this week’s YT playlist of ‘heaven or hell’ songs and for boogieing with me. Have a furtastic week!

    1. Mary,

      I was going to add your link this morning but noticed that you got it added. Sometimes crazy, unexplainable things happen in Blogosphere. Thanks for joining the 4M gang on the dance floor this week!

  10. Love the playlist, Cathy! 🙂 I used one of your selections, as well. Your lovely bird drawings are real mood-lifters! I hope you and DH are having a good long weekend. Happy Memorial Day to you.

    1. Debbie,

      DH & I had a great weekend together. It was just what the doctor ordered after such an exasperating week. I’m afraid last week’s drama will carry over into this one and the next until the said issue is cleared up.smack forehead (or the kid causing the problem) 😀

  11. This may never happen again but we chose one of the same songs! Your list has a bunch of familiar songs which I’ll listen to tomorrow. I’ll choose hell songs any day but I’m a cat from hell.

    1. Cathy,

      Well, that’s interesting to know that we matched with one of my songs. I can’t wait to discover which one that is. Thanks for boogieing with me and hitting the dance floor, my dear.

  13. Beautiful bird drawings. Great music choices too. I love Stairway to Heaven, it reminds me of high school dances. XO

    1. Ellen,

      ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is a classic and recognizable song for all times! Thanks for joining me on the dance floor. 😉

    1. Thank you for joining me on the dance floor, Kathe and for remembering with me our national heroes who gave so much. Have a great week! 😉

  15. Believe it or not, I’ve been struggling with this theme. I’ve rewritten part of my posts several times now – I think the “hell” part of mine has gotten a bit grim, but I wanted to connect it with war (after all, Memorial Day is all about honoring our fallen soldiers). I wonder how many of us included the iconic Stairway to Heaven. (I did!) You had a good set here, including the Cure’s Just Like Heaven, one of the few songs of theirs I like (I know, strange statement from a big fan of 80’s music). I way prefer Guns and Roses’ cover of Knockin’ on Heavens Door to the Bob Dylan original. The “Threaten Me with Heaven” song is new to me and I enjoyed it. And I enjoyed the bird sketch shout out, especially as you did the parakeet one for me. Yes, I remember..thank you again!

    1. Alana,

      Using ‘hell’ for a theme to honor our fallen and/or vets is great but I get it does paint a rather gloomy picture. I’m sure those in active combat felt very much like they were in a living hell. I cannot imagine what our young men/women deal/dealt with in wartime. I was happy to give credit to you for the parakeet challenge which I really enjoyed doing. 🙂 Thanks for joining me on the dance floor, my dear! 😉

  16. Love it. I’ve not heard this in a long time. I so remember 1971. We were young back then.

    I love the Awww Monday kitties. Made me laugh out loud.

    I love your sketches. Birds are so precious. We feed them here.

    I love your Memorial Day video. Those that gave all, thank you.

    Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous day and week, Cathy. Hug and love. ♥

    1. Sandee,

      Thank you for adding me to your linky over the weekend. I enjoy seeing the birds in our backyard. The other day I saw two cardinals; one was feeding the other and I tried to get a picture but by the time I got my camera the male bird flew away. 🙁 Have a furtastic week!

  17. Looks like you almost did what I did: I don’t have any “hell” songs. I didn’t feel comfortable with them… you came up with a great set here!

    1. John,

      I get where you’re coming from regarding ‘hell’ songs. Although most are quite popular hits and while I like them, the subject isn’t my favorite. I hoped my approach might turn someone undeciding heart toward Jesus. The path of destruction is wide but the road that leads to righteousness is narrow that only a few find. Thanks for hitting the dance floor with me, ole chum!

  18. Great songs. I’ll use this playlist later while I’m crafting. We are going to see Daughtry tonight and one of his newer songs is “Just Found Heaven.” I love it.

    1. Janet,

      I’m not sure if I listened to Daughtry’s new song, Just Found Heaven. I have it playing right now. Great message! I hopes these words are telling us of Daughtry’s personal walk with Christ. Thanks for introducing me to his newest track, my friend!

  19. Wowza Cathy! You covered all bases with this post. Excellent selection of mewsic and love your birdies sketches. Also, nice tribute to Memorial Day and Btw, have a good one! 😎

    1. Eugenia,

      I tried covering the bases as my heart was lead to pick mewsic selections for the dance floor. I’m so glad you found time to join me for a little boogie time. 🙂

  20. Love the birdies and we remember all of the heroes on Memorial Day too. I like Highway to Hell, the other one puts me in snoozy mode!

    1. Brian,

      Thank you for joining me on the dance floor and for your nice comment on my birdie sketch. Have a furtastic week, my friend!

  21. Hi, Cathy!

    Happy 4M Memorial Day Monday on Sunday, dear friend!

    I got a giggle from your Awww Mondays Game of Thrones kitty meme.

    You did a great job picking songs with heaven and hell in the title. Some of my favorite bands and songs are on your play list. They include Led Zeppelin doing their epic signature song “Stairway To Heaven” and the rough and rowdy AC/DC with “Highway To Hell,” In 1983, nine years after The Righteous Brothers scored a top 3 charting hit with their single “Rock And Roll Heaven,” I took the woman I was dating to see their live show at a venue in Valley Forge, PA. It was one of the most exciting nights of my life. The audience gave the Brothers a standing ovation after every song they sang, including that one. Bobby has been entertaining in heaven for nearly 16 years now while Bill is still with us and turns age 79 later this year. That video for the Kiss klassic “Heaven’s On Fire” played heavily on the MTV style station where I worked in the 80s. The first week of January, 1986, a little over a year after “Heaven’s On Fire” was hot on the Rock chart, I took our heavy metal veejay and my production crew to a venue in the Tampa Bay area where the band was set to do a live show along with another band W.A.S.P. We went backstage into the Kiss dressing room and watched the guys apply their makeup and fix their hair. By this time they used only regular stage makeup, not their trademark character makeup from the early years of their career. We interviewed Kiss drummer Eric Carr who, sadly, died and went to rock & roll heaven five years later. Guns N’ Roses was another very popular band on our mewsic TV station and I well remember them performing the Dylan song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

    Two different music videos were shot for Bryan Adams’ hit song “Heaven.” The version that played most often on the station where I worked was the one I posted below which features actress Lysette Anthony, the lovely English rose who also appeared in the Bryan Adams videos for “Summer of ’69”, “Somebody” and “Run to You” plus vids for other bands.

    I love your birdie sketches, Cathy! They are natural looking as can be, wild but innocent, and nicely proportioned. The hummingbird appears to be hovering over that flower in mid air as the tiny creatures do.

    This was a wonderful post and very entertaining, dear friend Cathy. I wish you and your family a safe and restful holiday.

    1. Tom,

      Thank you for joining me on the dance floor! DH & I are probably the only two people on the planet to have not watched a single episode of The Game of Thrones and that’s only because it’s on HBO which we do not subscribe to. I had hoped this show would’ve made its way to Amazon Prime like other HBO series but it never did. I guess there’s always hope now that it’s ended to show up. This was an interesting prompt and I’m certain many songs on my playlist will be repeated but that’s fine. Michele came up with some creative, fun themes for this month. I’m glad to know that you enjoyed my mewsic featured. During those MTV days, I rarely watched the program because it aired too late for me. So, I don’t remember the video you shared nor much of what I share but the mewsic definitely I recall. Thank you for your kind comment once more, my friend regarding my artwork. You’re so kind and I surely appreciate the encouragement. Have furtastic week! I’ll head over to see you in a few!

  22. That’s a great line-up of songs. I’d rather hear heaven songs than hell songs and I’d much rather hear songs in heaven than songs in hell.

    Nice bird art. I think “bird” was an excellent prompt.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    1. Lee,

      Your comment made me giggle. Who wouldn’t rather hear songs in heaven than in hell? Thanks for dropping in to see how my last showdown played out and to see my little birdie sketch!

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