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James Young

Science fiction and alternative history author

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Music to Write By

Music Monday–Auschwitz and Sabaton

January 24, 2022 by James Young Leave a Comment

The Historian and His Metal Habit Greetings all. Welcome back to another edition of Music Monday. Wasn’t sure what I was going to do with this one. Then “Ye Olde Sentient Ipod” decided for me by randoming to Sabaton’s “Final Solution.” Why did this resonate? Well on 18 January, I went to the Auschwitz Exhibition […]

Filed Under: Museums and Exhibitions, Music Monday Tagged With: James Uses His Essay Voice, Music to Write By, Sharing

Music Monday–To Valhalla!

May 17, 2021 by James Young Leave a Comment

Today’s selection is another song by Miracle of Sound. Originally inspired by the latest iteration of the Assassin’s Creed  franchise, Miracle of Sound put out a harder, metal version that harkens to the TV Show Vikings. https://youtu.be/mh8FZZc6r2o

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

Music Monday: A Classic Gets the Epic Treatment and Some News

September 16, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

It’s the third Monday, and you know what that means–SCORE DAY! A big trend in trailer music lately has been to update classic, recognizable songs and give them the “Epic” treatment (i.e., soaring instrumentals and drum tracks).  If you can hear the “Trailer Voice” guy narrating your book trailer to one of these songs, that’s […]

Filed Under: Air Warfare, Con(vention) Life, Music Monday, Sales! Tagged With: Coming Attractions, Music to Write By, Signings and Cons

Metal Monday: The Last of the Romanovs [sic]

September 9, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

One of the more romanticized hoaxes of the 20th Century was that of Anastasia Romanov.  Basically, for those who are unfamiliar (and don’t want to click on the link), there were numerous women who claimed to be Tsar Nicholas II’s youngest daughter.  While their versions of survival differ, all basically rested on the fact that […]

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

Metal Monday: Exodus and Metal…

September 2, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

So fans of the blog may remember I’ve mentioned how heavy metal lends itself well to certain historical events.  You know, things like Biblical Plagues. Well today on Metal Monday, we’re going back to the well.  Folks who were around in the 1990s might remember The Prince of Egypt.  One of the musical numbers covered […]

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

Music Monday–It's Epic!

August 19, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

This is another song I’ll put on heavy rotation when it’s time to get some writing done.  From the “Epic Score” stable of composers. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh8ERImE-d8&w=560&h=315]

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

Music Monday-Sabaton Rides Again

August 12, 2019 by James Young 3 Comments

Sorry I let this lapse—things got kind of hectic in editing To Slip The Surly Bonds.  Which, by the way, has completed editing, is with Chris Kennedy Publishing for layout, and is expected to drop on 13 September.     Which is why I picked today’s song. “But wait, wasn’t Those In Peril the naval alternate history?”–Peanut […]

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

The One Time Mussolini and Ghandi…

July 1, 2019 by James Young 1 Comment

…both got mentioned in the same song.  In Living Colour’s classic “Cult of Personality” is both lyrical gold and cautionary tale: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0&w=560&h=315]    

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

One for the Protoculture Addicts…

June 24, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

Robotech Third Generation had a character called Lancer / Yellow Dancer.  The former was his [male] official name.  The second was his cross-dressing rock star alter ego.  Robotech was a strange time, but it did produce some good music like the in universe song “Look Up (The Sky Is Falling).”  The one below has been reproduced […]

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

Dire Straits

June 17, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

Often time in a book, the mood needs to be set that this action is what the whole book hinges on.  Today’s music selection is my go to track with regard to getting myself into that mindset for my characters.  Plus, I also love Hans Zimmer.  😀 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3iAzdbg3mo&w=560&h=315]

Filed Under: Air Warfare, Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

Hurt By the Ones We Love

June 10, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

A few years back, Apocalyptica and Cristina Scabbia (of Lacuna Coil) collaborated on “S.O.S. (Anything But Love),” a song that touched upon mental abuse and control.  I think it’s particularly haunting given some friends’ terrible relationships.   [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFZ9e4wx1H8&w=560&h=315]

Filed Under: Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By

At the Sharp End

June 3, 2019 by James Young Leave a Comment

This was the runner up for last week’s Memorial Day edition of Metal Monday.  Like Five Finger Death Punch, Avenged Sevenfold has done a lot to support members of the Armed Forces by putting in their time with tours.  “Danger Line” is a pretty intense song about a soldier’s last moments and the chaos of […]

Filed Under: Air Warfare, Music Monday Tagged With: Music to Write By, Writing

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