Musical experiment

[Zoombie]

So, because Jonightshade has created such nice discussion threads, I wanted to do one too.


The basic idea of this thread is an idea that occurred to me while reading Chasm City by Alistair Reynolds while listening to the 500 Greatest Songs of all time, by the Rolling Stone Magazine. And when the list got to “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd, it got me thinking about how well that song fits that book. So I realized that if a book has a strong emotional core, a consistent feeling and theme that goes through it, not only is it a stronger book, but it also can have a song that fits it perfectly (as there are lots of songs, covering lots of emotions).


So I thought about what song fits my WIP. And what songs fit your (yes, YOU) WIPs?


Well...to start it off, the song that fits my WIP is “I love my computer” by Bad Religion. Cause it's got both black humor and its actually factually correct. My main character loves his robot :D






(just so you know, my song list has worked it's way past awsomness like "Sound of Silence", two forms of "Mr Tamborine Man" and "Imagine" And has now hit such...awsomness as "Staying alive." Ba ba ba, stayin alive, stayin aliiiiiiiive!)

[Shady Lane]

Nice thread. Although I kind of hate you for mispelling Pink Floyd.

Every book I write, I make a playlist, and I'll listen to it over and over and over again, whether I'm writing or not, just trying to get into the vibe. And I ALWAYS go to iTunes and find a song with the name of my protagonist. It's amazing how well these songs tend to fit the book...Josiah by Peter Himmalman and Happily Ian by....somebody have been some of my favorites.

My playlist for this book:

We are Nowhere and It's Now by Bright Eyes

Calendar Girl by Stars

No Rain by Blind Melon

The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice

Hate Me by Blue October

Extraordinary Girl by Green Day

How To Save a Life by The Fray

Home by Deep Blue Something

Passenger Seat by Death Cab

Cannonball by Damien Rice

Sasha by Splitsville

and, most importantly:

The Only Child by Jackson Browne

[Stew21]

There are songs that fit with different characters and scenes in my current WIP.
Wilco's song "Hummingbird" fits my character Daniel, because he's dead but lingers through other characters pretty heavily. With lyrics like, "his goal in life was to be an echo" and "remember to remember me" how could it not?

[JoNightshade]

Okay, I know a lot of authors do this music thing, but I totally don't. My books definitely don't have a soundtrack in that sense, and I don't want them to. I think this is partly because my literary foundation is firmly rooted in poetry (even though I'm not a big poetry person), and in a sense I want my writing to have a "rhythm" that creates its own soundtrack. If that makes ANY sense at all. :)

On the other hand, you know how some books have like a quote or two in the beginning that kind of sum up the theme or the inspiration of the work? I think that's kind of similar... sometimes, after I finish writing something, I'll happen upon something that makes me think, "Yes! Exactly!" For the book I'm shopping now, the thing that captures the spirit perfectly is a poem called "You Are Big in Love," by Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Unfortunately it's originally in Russian and there is no good translation online, so I can't link to it. But I love it so I'll share. Here it is. :) (BTW it is from a man's POV)

You are big in love.
And bold.
My every step is timid.
I'll cause you no harm,
and can hardly do you any good.
Seems you are leading me
off the beaten path through a forest.
Now we're up to our waist in wild flowers
I don't even know
what they are, these flowers.
My previous training is of no help here.
I'm uncertain
what to do or how.
You're tired.
You ask to be carried in my arms.
You are already in my arms.
Ahead of us stretches all that is pure,
early,
young,
and what bids us journey on.
How quiet you are!
As you breathe,
your high bosom
raises your dress.
"Do you see?
What a blue sky!
Can you tell
what birds sing in the forest?
Well, what are you waiting for?
Well?
Carry me then!"
And where shall I carry you?

[JoNightshade]

Oh darn, the formatting didn't come through. Oh well.

[BlueBadger]

I don't have a soundtrack, but I will say my novel's major inspiration is "Vaccination Scar" by the Tragically Hip

[Shady Lane]

Jo--that poem is fantastic, and I'm SO not a poetry person.

If you had to choose a little bit, I'd make it this part:

Seems you are leading me
off the beaten path through a forest.
Now we're up to our waist in wild flowers
I don't even know
what they are, these flowers.


I like that part. ;)

I have a quote from one of those songs, that I love--

"And so it is
Just like you said it should be.
We both forget the breeze
Most of the time."

That's from The Blower's Daughter.

[Zoombie]

What mispelling ;)

[Shady Lane]

Aw, now I just look like an idiot.

[Zoombie]

Muhahahahahaha...editing strikes again!

[Harper K]

I'm big on coordinating music to my writing, even if I don't often listen to music while I write. I made a soundtrack for my in-progress novel that I often listen to on my drive to and from work. Like Shady Lane said, it's a good way to stay with the vibe of the novel, even at those times when you're not able to write.

Let's see if I can remember all the songs on it...

The Town Halo - A.C. Newman
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists (my main character's theme song)
Hold On, Hold On - Neko Case (main character's girlfriend's theme song)
Sleeping In - The Postal Service
Mass Romantic - New Pornographers
Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne
Angel with an Attitude - The Ditty Bops
The Bleeding Heart Show - New Pornographers (I'd pick this one as the novel's theme song)
Brown-Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Love Her Madly - The Doors
The Likes Of You Again - Flogging Molly

[JoNightshade]

Oh, actually there is a song that kinda fits that same book... Cat Stevens' "Hard Headed Woman." Without all the repeated verses:

I know a lot of fancy dancers,
People who can glide you on a floor,
They move so smooth but have no answers
When you ask, "What'd you come here for?"

I know many fine feathered friends
But their friendliness depends on how you do.
They know many sure-fired ways
To find out the one who pays
And how you do.

I'm looking for a hard-headed woman,
One who will take me for myself.
And if I find my hard headed woman,
I won't need nobody else, no, no, no.

[ChaosTitan]

There is also a rather lengthy thread on novel soundtracks here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51849&highlight=soundtrack) that might interest you.

My current WIP Rhapsody playlist includes:

Bring Me To Life, Evanescence
24, Jem
Fading Away, Jan King
What Kind of Love Are You On?, Aerosmith
Crucify, Tori Amos
Calling All Angels, Jane Siberry
Someday, Nickelback

[Zoombie]

I feel like I have to point out that I was really only asking for one song that sums up your novels in an emotional sense, not a soundtrack.

But those are good too :D

[ChaosTitan]

Then I pick "Bring Me To Life." ;)

[Zoombie]

Good choice.

[Southern_girl29]

Psychic Straits doesn't really have one, but I probably could come up with one if I tried.

Ships That Don't Come In, which is trunked right now, is written in two parts. The first part has an Eagle soundtrack. I listened to them the entire time I was writing it. I even quoted (now I know that's a no-no) Peaceful, Easy Feeling in it. The second half's song is Alibi's by Tracy Lawrence. The title for the novel actually came from a country song by Joe Diffie called Ships That Don't Come In. Here's the chorus and it just sums up the book.

So here's to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don't come in.

[Shady Lane]

I feel like I have to point out that I was really only asking for one song that sums up your novels in an emotional sense, not a soundtrack.

But those are good too :D

Shut up. ;)

"The Only Child" by Jackson Browne. Come on, the book's called Singleton...

Though the world may make you hard and wild
And determine how your life is styled
When you've come to feel that you're the only child
Take good care of your brother

Let the disappointments pass
Let the laughter fill your glass
Let your illusions last until they shatter


yeahhhhh

[Death Wizard]

The lyrics aren't tied to my stories, but I've blasted the melody from Sade's Pearls while I wrote the last page or so of all six of the books in my series. The mood of that song captures the mood I'm trying to create exactly.

[apmom]

Damn Right I've Got the Blues by Buddy Guy, and I'm using the song title as my working title.

[gem1122]

Really interesting topic. I don't listen to music when I write, but I suppose my stories are very much influenced by the themes in music by the Jayhawks, Wilco, Old 97s -- any kind of "cowpunk"/roots rock music, I guess. Loneliness, heartache, a dash of quirkiness, and everyday strangers just trying to make it.

[Danger Jane]

Ahh I don't even know where to start with this...I don't have a set playlist for my WIP...I've cast off The Playlist because it causes me to forget everything not on The Playlist.

The Only Moment We Were Alone by Explosions in the Sky, but then that could sum up practically everything for me. Freaking incredible. No lyrics, but there are like 4 guitars and it's just so great. It has all the emotions.

It's fun to write something solely based on a song. To try and capture exactly what the musicians did. It's hard for me to re-express something, but I like the results.


ETA: AH! I've got it. "Hercules" by Mercury Rev. If you don't know them, look them up, they're brilliant most of the time. So here's some lyrics:

In the morning your face cracks and falls to the sea
The sun follows your step and leads you back to me
You keep telling yourself that you're here but you're not alone
And you get the feeling that your mind is not your own
In the evening the sun's red gown turns to brown
The moon follows you to the beach then it swallows you down
Strange how you can change and end up at her feet
You keep telling yourself but you know you're not to be believed

You and me and Hercules in between
You and me and Hercules in between

[Stew21]

Really interesting topic. I don't listen to music when I write, but I suppose my stories are very much influenced by the themes in music by the Jayhawks, Wilco, Old 97s -- any kind of "cowpunk"/roots rock music, I guess. Loneliness, heartache, a dash of quirkiness, and everyday strangers just trying to make it.

Jayhawks? AH! I haven't heard another human mention them in years. Nice to see another fan. (and of course Wilco - be still my heart.) I'll have to check out Old 97's. If they are anything like the other two, I'm in! :)

[mscelina]

Nice thread. Although I kind of hate you for mispelling Pink Floyd.

Every book I write, I make a playlist, and I'll listen to it over and over and over again, whether I'm writing or not, just trying to get into the vibe.

I do too! I have to admit, however, that I tend to listen to classical music when I write. I have playlists for different moods. Fights are almost always to any fight music from Star Wars *glares around and dares someone to say a word* The only song that isn't classical on this current playlist is "Overcome" by Live, although a few gamers might recognize "People Seized with Life" from Chrono Cross. But the music that encapsulates this novel? *evil grin* Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky.

[Sean D. Schaffer]

I would imagine my WIP being akin to the Eagles' Desperado album in almost its entirety. With the exception that Desperado is a musical Western and my work is a Science-Fantasy, the fact one of the main characters is so hopeless in his life as the bad guy reminds me a lot of the songs within the Desperado album ... especially Doolin' Dalton and the reprise of Desperado itself.

[swvaughn]

Music -- we must have music while we are writing. Or not. We prefer music. Currently we prefer this music:

The Red (Chevelle)
Running Blind (Godsmack)
Happy? (Mudvayne)
My Immortal (Evanescence)
Coming Undone (Korn)
So Cold (Breaking Benjamin)
Outside (Staind)
Everybody's Fool (Evanescence)
Dare You to Move (Switchfoot)
Over (Evans Blue)
Blue on Black (Kenny Wayne Shepherd)
Away From the Sun (3 Doors Down)
Pain (Three Days Grace)
Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi)
Living Dead Girl (Rob Zombie)
Nymphetamine (Cradle of Filth)
Fade to Black (Metallica)
Fall Into Sleep (Mudvayne)
This Is the New Shit (Marylin Manson)
Shelf in the Room (Days of the New)
Disarm (Smashing Pumpkins)
.45 (Shinedown)
Youth of the Nation (P.O.D.)
Go to Sleep (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Obie Trice)

[RG570]

Probably Double Agent by Rush.

[WordGypsy]

This is an AWESOME thread! My writing is totally dependant on music...I let it draw me into the scene. It helps sooo much. If I had to sum up my novel in one song it would be Trigger Happy Jack by Poe. Actually the whole Haunted album is one of my playlists for some of the scenes. Also high up on the list is I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally by Nine Inch Nails. Don't worry, I forgive him for the adverb :D I love Trent Reznor's voice when he sings the soft sad songs. I'm in the "put one song on repeat until your head splits in two" crowd. I'm also partial to David Shehane's Jaded Rose. It's on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/davidshehane ...such a beautiful love song and describes Emily and Aiden's relationship perfectly.
Heaven's shining down from above you
and I wanted you to know
There is someone here who loves you
and a hand for you to hold...
And I'm downloading almost all of the songs on all your lists so keep them coming! I love new music!

[Red Robin]

Anything and everything by Basil Poledouris.

[Zoombie]

Good responses...though some people are a little trigger happy when it comes to their music. Remember, ONE song that sums up your WIP. ONE!

Not that I don't like lists...lists for scribbling and semi-legal downloadation.

[maestrowork]

I had a theme song for The Pacific Between, and I actually put that in the story (without quoting the actual lyrics). It's Sarah McLachlan's Angel. If you listen to the lyrics, you may know what the themes of the story are:

Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always one reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memory seeps from my veins
Let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight...

In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there...


That pretty much sums things up...

[gem1122]

Jayhawks? AH! I haven't heard another human mention them in years. Nice to see another fan. (and of course Wilco - be still my heart.) I'll have to check out Old 97's. If they are anything like the other two, I'm in! :)

Hey! Yeah, once I heard "Hollywood Town Hall" I knew I'd found what I was looking for. Such a great album, and nice to meet another fan.

Old 97s are more rockin' than the Jayhawks. They remind me of Uncle Tupelo, where there's a clearer link to punk influences on their earlier albums. I'd recommend "Satellite Rides" which is tamer and shows off their twang/harmony tastes very well, like the Jayhawks.

I listened to "Satellite Rides" A LOT when I first started my current WIP, and songs like "Designs on You" and "Buick City Complex" really struck a chord (pun intended). In fact, the narrator mentions people having 'designs' on someone else a few times. The original WIP idea took place over one summer, where a boy and girl fall in love in a dying, mostly deserted town, which is "Buick City Complex" completely --

They're tearing the Buick City Complex down / I think we're the only people left in town / where you gonna move? where you gonna move? / do you wanna mess around?

So simple. So sad, yet so hopeful.

The book is totally different now in terms of plot, but that longing remains (I hope).



p.s. That's my one song, Zoombie: "Buick City Complex" by Old 97s.:Guitar:

[WordGypsy]

Zoombie,
I could no sooner pick a favorite star in the heavens! To choose just one! You don't know what you ask!!!

[Devil Ledbetter]

Good responses...though some people are a little trigger happy when it comes to their music. Remember, ONE song that sums up your WIP. ONE!
I can do that. Without question, the soul of my novel is Pearl Jam's Of The Girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_fi85pNukY).

[Tornadoboy]

I guess I'm reading Zoombie's brainwaves on a subconscious level tonight, because I started another thread on this question without realizing he had already long since beaten me to it! ;)

Ok we're talking ONE song here....hmmmm....

For my WIP in progress I guess it would have to be "Run" by Collective Soul

[Danger Jane]

Zoombie,
I could no sooner pick a favorite star in the heavens! To choose just one! You don't know what you ask!!!

WORD.

But I sadly did find one perfect one. But I still say WORD. I have tons of songs that don't fit the WIP at all but are so great I just want to saaay them.

[Zoombie]

We all know that there are lots of good songs. But it's just one song that covers your book, the important spark in your book. I'm thinking, if you can find a song that fits your emotional core, then you know what that core is and you can refine it, use it and generally be awesome.

[Danger Jane]

yeah it's a cool thing to do. Sooo hard :P but then defining themes isn't necessarily easy...I stick with Hercules.

[Zoombie]

I know defining terms isn't easy. It took me weeks to choose "I love my Computer."

But then I was watching an AMV with that and Cho-Bits, and I said: "Yeah...that's pretty much it. But my cyborg is less god damn annoying than that stupid Chi."

[JeanneTGC]

For my novel set in the Old West -- Born to Rasie Hell, by Motorhead.

[Chasing the Horizon]

I always listen to music while I write and it has to match with the scene I'm writing or I just get annoyed with the scene and the song. I do know the themes for all my books.

A World Without Heroes by Cher for the first book in my fantasy series

The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails for book two in the series

The Power by Cher for book three

And Alive by Meatloaf for book four (yeah, it's got a happy ending). I'd also choose Alive as the theme for the overall series too. (But zoombie can't complain, since I only posted one song per a book. :D )

[Zoombie]

One of my short stories could be summed up by Queen's "Princes of the Universe."

No, it wasn't a Highlander fan-fiction.

[callalily61]

Traditional Irish reels and jigs.

See, when I was writing an intense 2nd-last draft, I also had to take my son to violin lessons. That was an hour of nothing-but-writing time--and my son's teacher is a traditional Irish fiddler (amazing musician!). He'd teach my son, then he'd play, so the music became a part of the book.

(I still think listenting to him play at the end of the lesson was my reward for lisening to my son...attempt...the reels. :tongue )

[swvaughn]

Good responses...though some people are a little trigger happy when it comes to their music. Remember, ONE song that sums up your WIP. ONE!

Not that I don't like lists...lists for scribbling and semi-legal downloadation.

Some people? We would not be referring to me, would we? :D

What if I'm not sure what my WIP is at the moment? What if I have six of them? Eh? :)

*sigh* Okay. One song. *grumble how am I supposed to pick one song, just one, it's impossible, grumble grumble*

I'll get back to you on that...

[tammieofmi]

Great thread. I'd have to say mine would be THE STORY by Brandi Carlile which I just recently came across even though the ms is completed. I'm even thinking of incorporating the following lyrics into the beginning chapter:

You see the smile that's on my mouth,
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess

Which really describes the main character. The last chapter would then have the rest from that song:

So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true... I was made for you

Ever think a time will come when cd's of either appropriate mood music or music mentioned within the story get packaged together? Think I've read that it has happened before I just can't recall to what book????

[BlueBadger]

Remember, ONE song that sums up your WIP. ONE!

Hooray! I followed the rules for once, even though I wasn't really intending to! :D

Ohh, I'm going to say my story's also inspired by "Keep the Car Running" by the Arcade Fire. There, I'm a rebel. :O

[Sean D. Schaffer]

Good responses...though some people are a little trigger happy when it comes to their music. Remember, ONE song that sums up your WIP. ONE!

...Snipped.



Hmmm...


In that case, my one song that would encompass the entirety of my WIP would have to be (and it's different than before, now that I think about it):

Don't Stop Believing by Journey.

[III]

Downfall by Matchbox 20 was the theme for my first two books. I listened to the CD constantly, but that song in particular captured the "feel" I was going for in the novels. I don't have a song for the current WIP, but maybe that's why it's going so slowly.

[alaskamatt17]

The Blight's soundtrack is an album by Apocalyptica called Inquisition Symphony. If you haven't heard this band, I would recommend checking them out. They're a hardcore metal cello quartet, although they've added a lot of classical qualities to their music.

[swvaughn]

Okay, I've got it.

She Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd.

(I know y'all were just waiting with bated breath for my response. :D)

[alaskamatt17]

Oops, to narrow it down to one song on that album, I'd say it would be "Nothing Else Matters." No lyrics, and kind of weird. That fits The Blight perfectly.

[Sean D. Schaffer]

Every time I listen to it, 25 or 6 to 4 from Chicago 18 inspires me immensely when it comes to the subject matter of my WIP. So I think maybe I'll have to retract what I said in my previous post.