https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/ulhfrxzn
## In Love with Nature and Mother Earth

This great sing-along-song was released in 1971 and put West Virginia into people's minds worldwide. I dare say it is one of those songs that any guitarist would have had a go at at some point and it sure gets the audience joining in.

When I listen to the first lines of the song I instantly see a lovely country side in front of me, and I assume the theme this week was all about that too and that we should take care of our natural environment, treasure and protect it.

As we get to the second verse however things are not quite so rosy anymore as we learn about the fact that the county is very beautiful indeed, but also the home of a mining industry that appears to do the opposite to protect its surroundings.

"Miner's Lady, stranger to blue water"... we can only imagine what the water might have looked like in the past or still does.

I hope you like this one. Thanks for listening!

Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong

All my memories gather round her, miner's lady, stranger to blue water

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong

I hear her voice in the morning hour, she calls me, the radio reminds me of my home far away

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong

Take me home, down country roads

Source

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/xelwhicuuw
The bells of St Neots Parish Church this Saturday morning viewed from the wooden footbridge across the road.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/ofkwdcyw
Hopeful is this week's theme and I've seen some fantastic entries already published.

My song for this week is about losing someone very suddenly and wishing to still being able to connect to that person.

In 1912 the Titanic sank and in 1914 the First World War started; both events had people lose their loved ones, the war in much, much greater numbers of course. Both these events were covered in the program showing people who tried to get into contact with their dead, especially if the loss was sudden and there was no way of saying good bye. So called mediums were in high demand, getting people around tables and supposedly bringing the dead back for a short time.

I don't believe in an afterlife and mediums therefore are just good magicians to me making believe. However, if the hope that their loved ones are happy where they are helps people to overcome their grieve then that has to be a good thing!

Moonlight Shadow is a song we've been practicing with our band and I thought this theme would be an opportunity to play it on my own. It still needs polishing and I was struggling with those fast strums.. My fingers are very sore right now from too much playing..

The last that ever she saw him

The trees that whisper in the evening

I stay, I pray

Four A.M. in the morning

I stay, I pray

Far away on the other side

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/uvlzxrzn
## Pasión por el Arte

Well, I decided that my passion lies with films and music which made my choice very easy in the end: Marilyn came to my mind very quickly, but initially it was going to be a different song, instead it will be one that we've done with band.

Today I will publish my shortest song ever! 😄

When I was a kid my Mum and Dad used to go out bowling with colleagues leaving me and my sister to watch TV all night.. haha, fun times! 😄

Marilyn Monroe was, of course, a major feature in many of those films, not just the music ones, but drama and comedy too.

A young and cute Marilyn in Some Like It Hot... looking sexy and sounding amazing! In some scenes she plays a little uke, or is she just holding it? 😄 I have a hunch she might...

I hope, you like this song which is a bit different to the usual stuff I do, especially because of said dress! haha Thanks for giving it a listen anyway!

In case you do need the words, here are the lyrics

These sort of pictures are my favourites; they seem to really show her vulnerable side.

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/kdqcnlof
## Be OK

For me being ok means being positive and happy as much as possible, although that doesn't always work.

For this theme I have chosen a song that simply bursts of energy and good vibes!

You can find the lyrics here

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/kgeijavw
## My Original Song

Our dear friend Glenn came to the rescue on this occasion with one of our favourite songs that he wrote many years ago; Some of our Arlesey Jammers have performed it in the past at our outings, but I cannot remember anybody adding a harmonica to it, so this will be my special version here on Hive.

Sadly, Glenn passed away some years ago, which makes the lyrics of this beautiful song very poignant. He is dearly missed by everyone as a person, as the marvellous musician that he was and a pillar of our community, getting everybody involved in our musical adventures.

I won't write much about the song itself, but I will say one thing, that it always brings back happy memories to all of us Jammers.

Putting together this video turned out to be a

(Image source) Watch the performance on Facebook.

You are the brightest star

I don't wanna clip your wings

You're always on my mind

I live for your life

You're always on my mind

I don't wanna clip your wings

You are the brightest star

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/tmabwddg
## Fraternidad

The song has been on my "to learn"-shelf for some time as it's been one of those songs that just never wanted to stick in my head, and I don't like using sheets. These weekly Open Mics are always a great opportunity to finally learn those as well as new ones.

The lyrics of this song, which was released in 2004, are just so magical!

There she is being curiously observed by a swan.. and by me...

I have done a double-take on this one again, using my little Lumix camera for the bigger picture and a phone for the close up recording both at the same time.

As always: Thanks for watching!

You can find the lyrics here

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/kmkdjblg
### A Good Friend

My choice fell on a song that has been covered here many times before; I wanted to learn it on the piano, so when the theme came up I just thought.. YAY!

Bruno Mars has had a string of great songs that I have only started to discover; most of them have a light hearted touch to them and "Count On Me" is no exception!

I am getting more adventurous with my videos and for this week I have added soft edges to my guitar part. For anybody interested: I use Kdenlive for the video and Audacity for the audio part.

Pretty happy how it's coming along and I hope, you like it too! 😀

You most likely know them, but, hey, I do it every week, so here we go:

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/uoxmynhz
## Derrotemos a la distancia

With a "distance" theme I have the opportunity to play a song by one of my favourite artists, the Scottish singer KT Tunstall, who has been in the public eye since around 2000 and has created some great tunes during that time! She's got an amazing voice and is very cool when she performs, especially when using her loop pedal, which has inspired a great many people to incorporate it into their own repertoirs, including some of my friends. Watch @steve-o2023 using it expertly here.

I very much assume that this week's theme is meant in a "stick together" sort of way as in Steve's song up there, even if that should be across borders, which is a fantastic thought!

Usually keeping in contact with family members is a given, you are normally more or less strongly connected, and most of us will try to put some effort into at least the family abroad and with some close friends.

However, this can be different for a love relationship, where the lack of intimacy for long periods of time can be the make or break factor for some.

I have had a play with video editing after seeing Steve's excellent production and he gave me some tips on how to go about it; still learning, but quite happy with the result and I am looking forward to do more.

You can find the lyrics here

Thanks for looking!

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=anna-newkey/mmqxvkcu
## Al Dios Que Adoramos

When I saw the word "admiration" The Picture of Dorian Gray instantly came to my mind; a novel written by Oscar Wilde and first published in 1890.

Unlike the admiration for God as in our theme is it the story of a young man who admires himself too much and destroys the lives of some of the people around him in the wake of it.

I have been learning a new song that has been on my list for some time, and I find it to almost be a real-life story matching that of Dorian Gray.. In this day and age, sadly, a lot of people admire mostly themselves without regards for others and this song is about such a person.

Carly Simon released this song in 1972 and for many years people speculated if it was about her previous partner and actor Warren Beatty. A few years back, however, she revealed that he was only covered in verse two and two others gave the ideas for the rest of the song.

There you go, there are loads of people on this planet, who could be Dorian! 😉

I have shortened my version a little for this presentation, there is an instrumental bit that I'm skipping on this occasion and I still have find a suitable ending for my acoustic version, but I hope, you like it anyhow.

As always: Thanks for listening! 😊

You can find the lyrics here

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1890) by Oscar Wilde

OPENMIC,PROOFOFBRAIN,TEAMUK,MUSICFORLIFE,MUSIC,PALNET,LIVEMUSIC,GUITAR,VYB

Thanks for looking!