“Um, Marty, why are you in a suit?”

Marty blinked very slowly. “Why are you in ratty jeans and a Metallica T-shirt? And are you seriously wearing a fake mullet attached to your ballcap?”

“Dude! You said we were going to check out your buddy Igor’s sweet Firebird and listen to music. This seemed like the right kind of clothes.”

Comprehension, horror, and disbelief raced screaming for the crack of dawn on Marty’s face. “What kind of moron are you? We are going to the symphony. To listen to Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite!”

[...] Friday, and again Chuck Wendig has thrown down the gauntlet.  This week’s challenge: Go to Your Favorite Music Player. Dig [...]

It’s almost too perfect, but the song I landed on was “Epithets” by Paul and Storm. Since the song is done in the style of Schoolhouse Rock, I figured I’d go with a teacher and his epithet based lesson plan.

http://www.dlthurston.com/blog/2012/03/02/flash-fiction-epithets/

Hope people enjoy.

WENDIGGY. I cannot tell you how long it took for me to just post this. You would be shocked! Had to type the intro, then paste the story, then I posted it to the wrong place . . . blogs can be evil creatures, especially a tumblr.
Anyway.
Here is the magic story of Shuffle-goodness. Because regardless of the actual song I used for this fic, Everyday I’m Shufflin’.

http://writerpie.tumblr.com/post/18640077966/what-do-you-want

Got “All Apologies” by Nirvana. Hope you all enjoy.

http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2012/03/flash-fiction-challenge-35-song-shuffle.html

http://questionableexclamationpoints.blogspot.com/2012/03/island-in-sun.html

Please don’t be lame 80′s. Please don’t be lame 80′s.
Please don’t be lame 80′s
Jimmy Sommerville – Don’t Leave Me This Way
Damn.

http://toomanydiversions.com/2012/03/03/dont-leave-me-this-way/

Caution – Contains subject matter people may find objectionable.

[...] post on Saturdays, but I figured I’d do something a wee bit different. I saw Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenge and decided to give it a go. The challenge is to hit shuffle on your favorite music player, then [...]

Got “Say Anything” by Good Charlotte.

http://themidnightnovelist.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/prompt-shuffle-and-write/

Pink Floyd’s “Learning to Fly” popped up and I couldn’t resist; it’s my favorite PF song ever. (Sorry the shine hasn’t worn off the blog yet, but I’ll get it properly ink-stained soon.)

http://corsairharbour.blogspot.com/2012/03/learning-to-fly-terribleminds-flash.html

[...] posting this for Six Sentence Sunday.  It was inspired by the new challenge at Terrible Minds, which was to use a song, in turn, as inspiration for the story.  The Song I used was Chasing Cars [...]

This is technically only 6 sentences of my longer piece. I didn’t want to post the whole thing quite yet, as I have other plans for the piece, but as it was inspired by this challenge I thought I’d link up anyway

Song: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.
http://aurora-lee.ca/Creative/?p=1288

It’s Fly Away. I wish I could say it’s the version by Poe, but it’s not. It’s Nelly. I’m deeply ashamed. Please enjoy the following:

http://sixgunwizard.blogspot.com/2012/03/fly-away.html

http://swsondheimer.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/iowa-traveling-iii/

Hope my characters aren’t too annoyed that I’ve alternative universed-them…

Wolfsheim’s Approaching Lightspeed was an interesting inspiration source. One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands.

http://farbeyondneverland.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/flash-fiction-approaching-lightspeed-3/

[...] for the Shuffle Flash Fiction Challenge at Terrible Minds. When I hit shuffle, I got We Rise Above, by [...]

I got ‘We Rise Above’ by Arcana. I’m not sure what that says about my music tastes….

http://suziehunt.co.uk/we-rise-above

I’m loving this challenge! My song was “Dead Air” by Rufus Rex.

http://thatonegirl-ohthehorroranexperiment.blogspot.com/2012/03/flash-fiction-challenge-song-shuffle.html

I apologize if this has already been sent in. I tried it earlier and it said it didn’t send.

Song: “Dead Air” by Rufus Rex

http://thatonegirl-ohthehorroranexperiment.blogspot.com/2012/03/flash-fiction-challenge-song-shuffle.html

[...] that there has been some pretty serious progress with other writing. First, I have taken another flash fiction challenge by internet madman Chuck Wendig, and this time I will actually do some outlining instead of rushing [...]

[...] the Terribleminds Song Shuffle Part II, Winamp suggested a song by Nigel Godrich from the score to Scott Pilgrim vs. The [...]

Winamp suggested a song by Nigel Godrich from the score to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2012/03/05/flash-fiction-this-fight-is-over/

My story.
http://kerry-mutterings.blogspot.com/2012/03/chuck-wendig-flash-fiction-name-of-song.html

Always Something There To Remind Me

[...] the latest flash fiction.  This week’s prompt from Chuck Wendig required me to put my music collection on shuffle. The first song to come on was to become the [...]

Birth, School, Work, Death

http://columbibueno.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/birth-school-work-death/

http://faeanddragons.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/loaded-gun/

My song was Loaded Gun by Flatfoot 56

My rockin’ tune: I’m on Fire by Bruce Springsteen.

[...] Feelin’ Chicken March 6, 2012Posted by Jim Franklin It’s that time again. It’s time for Chuck Wendig’s Friday Flash Fiction Challenge. It’s another song shuffle flash fiction and after being given ‘Needledick’ by Placebo last [...]

I was given ‘Feelin’ Chicken’ by ohGr.

Hope this does it justice… and no, it doesn’t include any kind of poultry abuse.

http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2012/03/06/flash-fiction-feelin-chicken/

Thanks

I just figured out I should probably paste the link in the BODY of the message… geez, Lais..

So yeah..”I’m on Fire” Springsteen

http://pluckyquill.blogspot.com/2012/03/im-on-fire.html

Got mine done! The song that populated first was “Strange Desire” by The Black Keys.

http://t.co/2n6jaE7I

[...] detailed instruction and for links to other entries, head on over to the contest blog on his terribleminds [...]

The song my player came up with was “Moments Are Forever” by Moon Project. Enjoy!

http://avriburgerwithfries.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/moments-are-forever/

Posting my story, take two. I don’t know if there’s a waiting period before comments are supposed to show up, but if so I apologize for the double posting.

http://amalgamatedwords.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/les-chansons-des-roses-rose-songs-or-the-songs-of-roses/

Since I don’t have a blog I’m posting the story here.

iTunes tossed out “Ordinary Average Guy” by Joe Walsh at me.
So I’m tossing this story out based on that song…

ORDINARY AVERAGE GUY
a flash fiction story
by Jim Bartlett

Lee stepped out of the car and stretched from the long ride under a sky that looked like rain. He glanced over at Frazier, still behind the wheel listening to the radio.
Around the car the employee parking lot was still only half full, but it was early. And it was a Friday.
“Gonna be a big day today,” Frazier said, finally stepping out from the car.
Lee shrugged, saying nothing. He watched Frazier move to the front of the car and light a cigarette.
“Not sure why that asshole is comin’ through these parts, ain’t no one here gonna vote for him no way.”
Lee crossed his arms and smiled, but remained quiet.
“You ain’t votin’ for him, is you?”
“Nope.”
Frazier cocked his mouth to the side and blew off a long stream of smoke.
“Think you and the miss’us will be gettin’ back together?”
Lee shuffled his feet. “Not that it’s any of your business, but, ain’t likely.”
Frazier shook his head, took a final long drag and tossed the cigarette. “Didn’t mean to get you all in a huff. Just askin’, ya know?”
Lee nodded. “Your mom’s real nice for lettin’ her stay there. Appreciate that.” He paused and looked up at the clouds now starting to part revealing a promising sun. “Things are starting to happen. Only a little longer and this will all be over.”
A faded red Buick pulled up in the space one over from Frazier’s Chevy, leaving a trail of blue smoke in its wake. Lee could hear the radio blaring even with the windows closed. Much the same as Frazier, the man, red-faced with a barrel chest, was listening to the news.
Lee moved around to the front of Frazier’s car and leaned against the hood just as the radio went quiet and the man pushed open his door.
“Morning there, boys,” he called out. The voice was every bit as deep as his chest.
Both Lee and Frazier nodded back.
Frazier slid across the front next to Lee and glanced down at his watch.
“Looks to me like we have more than ’nuff time to grab a cup of coffee before our shift starts. What’dya say we head in?”
“Okay.”
Lee straightened and started to follow Frazier as he headed for the loading dock on the backside of the tired-looking brick building.
“Hey there,” called out the older man. “Don’t forget your package.”
Lee spun around, his face suddenly flush. A slender package wrapped in newspaper leaned against the Chevy just behind the passenger door.
“Thanks,” he said as he retrieved it. “Curtain rods for the apartment.”
The man stuck out a big calloused hand.
“You must be new here. Don’t reckon I’ve seen you around. I’m Mel Johnson…work on the fifth floor.”
Lee shifted the package and met Mel’s hand.
“Lee Oswald. I’ll be on the sixth.”

Shuffle Challenge #2 entry – Truth doesn’t make a noise.

http://scottweberwriter.wordpress.com/

FLOOSH. IN YOUR FACEHOLE, WENDIG.

The song: “My Hero” by Foo Fighters.

http://polishsnausage.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/my-hero/

[...] Flash Fiction Challenge made by Chuck Wendig at Terrible Minds: Go to Your Favorite Music Player. Dig out your digital music collection. Maybe this is iTunes or Spotify, or use Pandora if you’d rather go that way. Hit SHUFFLE, then “Play.” Translation: pull up a random song. The title to this song is the title to your story. Use the song for inspiration, too, if you feel so inclined. Word count is the full-bore double-barrel 1000 words, as usual. [...]

I got “Town Without Pity” by Gene Pitney.

http://comradecharlie.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/town-without-pity/

[...] Greg: Flash Fiction Challenge: Song Shuffle, Part II [...]

Huh. Musical craps rolled me a Kingston Trio ditty called “The Reverend Mr. Black”. My offering: http://lesannberry.com/2012/03/the-reverend-mr-black.html

Nina Simone, Ne Me Quitte Pas, it means dont leave me. So many ideas. This is the one that got written.

http://alreadynotpublished.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/flash-fiction-success/

This was to me a very difficult challenge. But I think I have an interesting story. Maybe better than usual. I did research. A friend of mine shuffled her ipod and got the title for me. By the Hoosiers;

A Sadness Runs Through Him http://wp.me/p1BAlV-2s

[...] unhappy with this one but figured a boring story is better than none at all. Another stab at Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge, the song being Big by the Japanese iteration of Aerosmith: [...]

People discount both rewards and penalties, if they are far enough in the future. Even an event which will destroy earth and end humanity is of no concern if it happens in 150 years.

Big – http://kaimicheals.com/wp/?p=46

Here is my story. I got a lecture as the first song, MatteraLund1. I did enjoy writing it so I guess the penmonkey is active still.

http://smygerivassens.ridakademi.se/artikel_3863/Not+necessarily+a+nice+story+%28not+horse+related%29

I give you a “twofer” this week.

The first song I pulled up randomly was “The Dawning Of The Blackest Day” by my old band Forsake The Flesh, from an unreleased demo. Hardly fair, so I called it a mulligan, but I wrote a story on it anyway.

The second song was “Watching Me Fall”, by The Cure.
http://corpse-to-be.blogspot.com/2012/03/flash-fiction-challenge-song-shuffle.html

You can read the story based on the FTF song here:
http://corpse-to-be.blogspot.com/2012/03/flash-fiction-challenge-song-shuffle_08.html

[...] Writing my 1,000 word flash fiction piece now. See the challenge here. [...]

[...] I really want to do this competition posted over on the Terrible Minds blog – where you hit shuffle on your music device and write a 1000 word short story using the song [...]

I had a great idea for a story, and I decided that one way or another, whatever song came up on my shuffle, I would find a way to work them together.
The song that came up was from The Who’s album Quadrophenia, “Cut My Hair.”
So I did that instead. Sometimes I’m a literalist.

Thank you, Chuck — enjoyed this one. The song is “Gimme Sympathy” from Metric.

Hope you and the readers like it:

http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2012/03/gimme-sympathy.html

This was a fun one. 995 words. Shuffle Tune: “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” the version recorded by The Chieftains and Brak from _Space Ghost Coast to Coast_.

http://ayehli.com/blog/archives/446

Managed to get something trown togther in the last minute. Really just a drabble, but hey, it counts. http://eileen-alphabet.livejournal.com/19782.html Song is ‘I Sing the Body Electric’ by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

[...] week’s challenge — Song Shuffle! — is alive and absorbing your [...]

Pandora treated me well. I got “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” by Annie Lennox.

http://janelsjumble.blogspot.com/2012/03/dont-let-it-bring-you-down.html

OK — my first one. The song I got was Paris, 1919 by John Cale:

It is the City of Lights. At night, the Eiffel Tower is a beautiful blaze of individual spots against the blue-black sky, surrounded by the softer glowing jewel of the city itself. Street lamps illuminate dark passages and crowded streets, lighting the way for lovers and friends, marking the paths to adventure, to romance, to wine and pastries and joie de vivre. Pinpricks of dreams, vast golden clouds of shimmering mist, burning beacons of life.

And more than life. And less.

It is a mistake to think it was born of electricity. Yes, Edison’s invention added more, changed the light and enhanced the glow, but before him, it was the gas lights, and before that, the torchieres raw fire. But there were others even before that. It has always been the city of lights; there gleaming has been there for centuries, in one way or another.

The Place de Greve, for example, always had a glow. It was not an incandescence. The lights didn’t so much illuminate the dark; rather, they accentuated it. The lights were shallow, dim. They had no spark — or, rather, they were the last breath of a spark, like the afterglow of a candle flame just after it is extinguished, when the flame is still reflected in your own eyes. It was a shadow of light, a negative after-image burned not just on the retinas but in the air itself. Those lights, sickly yellow or barely white, are remnants, will o’wisps of the executed, one last, desperate visual cry of the condemned dead.

The Ile de la Cite is the heart of Paris and its light has always been there. It was the light of the Parisii, the light that brought the Romans, the Merovingians, the Vikings. The light of the Ile is proprietary. It covets. It captures. It is the light that shifts and shimmers and works its way into the smallest cracks and fissures of heart and brain and bone. It possesses and tricks and adores, until you can believe it is your light, yours in a way no one else can know, will ever know. The Ile light is what can make anyone feel at home in Paris, and therefore lost anywhere else. It loves you, this light, and as they say, love conquers all.

The lights of the Siene are memories of the melusine. Whether there are any left is difficult to say. Legend sent them off to Avalon long ago, banished by the hearts of fickle men who couldn’t keep their promises to their fae wives, and everyone knows the far are not forgiving. But the Seine shimmers with remembrance of sunlight glinting off scales of emerald and sapphire, and precious metal shades of long, flowing hair. The people of the Ardennes claim the lights live again once every seven years, when the lights of the water coalesce into the shape of impossible, beautiful women beneath the surface. And if you look closely when one of them smiles, you can just catch a bright spark of gold between her lips, a key she holds in her mouth. The one who can claim it claims her. But years have past — seven and seven and seventy times seven and more — and now the only golden sparks in the midnight Seine are the reflections of headlights and the bright lights of the waterside cafes.

Here’s my story – based on the song I Remember, the Deadmau5 version – http://www.ravensview.ca/ravens/2012/03/i-remember.html

[...] This is in response to Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenge “Song Shuffle part 2″ It can be found here. [...]

This story is based on the song “Us” by Regina Spektor

http://razorwiretightrope.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/us/

Uh Oh. Looks like mine might have fucked off… just in case, here it is again. It was inspired by John Cale’s “Paris, 1919.”

It is the City of Lights. At night, the Eiffel Tower is a beautiful blaze of individual spots against the blue-black sky, surrounded by the softer glowing jewel of the city itself. Street lamps illuminate dark passages and crowded streets, lighting the way for lovers and friends, marking the paths to adventure, to romance, to wine and pastries and joie de vivre. Pinpricks of dreams, vast golden clouds of shimmering mist, burning beacons of life.

And more than life. And less.

It is a mistake to think it was born of electricity. Yes, Edison’s invention added more, changed the light and enhanced the glow, but before him, it was the gas lights, and before that, the torchieres raw fire. But there were others even before that. It has always been the city of lights; there gleaming has been there for centuries, in one way or another.

The Place de Greve, for example, always had a glow. It was not an incandescence. The lights didn’t so much illuminate the dark; rather, they accentuated it. The lights were shallow, dim. They had no spark — or, rather, they were the last breath of a spark, like the afterglow of a candle flame just after it is extinguished, when the flame is still reflected in your own eyes. It was a shadow of light, a negative after-image burned not just on the retinas but in the air itself. Those lights, sickly yellow or barely white, are remnants, will o’wisps of the executed, one last, desperate visual cry of the condemned dead.

The Ile de la Cite is the heart of Paris and its light has always been there. It was the light of the Parisii, the light that brought the Romans, the Merovingians, the Vikings. The light of the Ile is proprietary. It covets. It captures. It is the light that shifts and shimmers and works its way into the smallest cracks and fissures of heart and brain and bone. It possesses and tricks and adores, until you can believe it is your light, yours in a way no one else can know, will ever know. The Ile light is what can make anyone feel at home in Paris, and therefore lost anywhere else. It loves you, this light, and as they say, love conquers all.

The lights of the Siene are memories of the melusine. Whether there are any left is difficult to say. Legend sent them off to Avalon long ago, banished by the hearts of fickle men who couldn’t keep their promises to their fae wives, and everyone knows the far are not forgiving. But the Seine shimmers with remembrance of sunlight glinting off scales of emerald and sapphire, and precious metal shades of long, flowing hair. The people of the Ardennes claim the lights live again once every seven years, when the lights of the water coalesce into the shape of impossible, beautiful women beneath the surface. And if you look closely when one of them smiles, you can just catch a bright spark of gold between her lips, a key she holds in her mouth. The one who can claim it claims her. But years have past — seven and seven and seventy times seven and more — and now the only golden sparks in the midnight Seine are the reflections of headlights and the bright lights of the waterside cafes.

[...] Fiction Challenge! I’m taking last week’s “Song Shuffle, Part II” (that I missed) and smashing it together with this week’s “I’ve Chosen [...]

I leave comments where the blog allows it, but some of the sites seem to swallow my comments and they disappear.
All the stories on this site are (awesome, terrific, incredible) what’s a word for great that isn’t overused?
Really good stories!!!

[...] Flash Fiction Challenge – Song Shuffle ReDux I’ve been working to meet the weekly challenges set by Chuck Wendig at his blog, to write a new piece of Flash Fiction every week. Well, last week I didn’t actually accomplish that goal, but this week I wrote two stories!Of course, I’d be lying if I said that I did it to play catch-up. Truthfully, I wrote two because his prompt this week was to use shuffle on the music player of my choice to pull up a random song to use as the inspiration for my story.  You can read all about it here. [...]