Don’t Ask: The Glee Edit
This is a crosspost to the Torquere Author Social list.
Suppose Don’t Ask were set in the world of Glee where everyone is always
breaking into a thematically appropriate pop song in the middle of the
school hallway, and nobody seems to notice unless it’s convenient to the
plot. I’ve made a playlist of the songs I’d include. Feel free to
contribute! My notes are below. I tried to keep them brief enough to
tantalize rather than spoil, but read each chapter first if you’re a purist.
(Starred songs are not presently available on Spotify.)
* The Donnas - New Kid in School (2007) Chapter 1: I picture Cat and a
chorus of girls doing the singing as they lead Windy around the school, with
Mike sort of bouncing around smiling and giving Windy “what are you gonna
do? girls!” reaction shots.
Jill Sobule - I Kissed A Girl (1995) Chapter 2: Spoiler alert in the title
of this song! Cat, of course. I’ve always preferred Jill Sobule’s “Kissed a
Girl” to Katy Perry’s -- it’s just so much gayer.
Ludwig von Beethoven - Piano Sonata no. 14 (1802) Chapter 3: Mike on piano.
The first and third movements are mentioned, but I’m including the third in
the mix because it’s speedy and mixes better with pop music.
Christina Aguilera - Glam (2010) Chapter 4: Cat, playing fashion show.
You’ll notice a lot of these songs are from 2010, since the story is set
between September and December of 2010. It’s a historical novel!
David Bowie - Boys Keep Swinging (1979) Chapter 5: For the inevitable
military montage which will try its darnedest not to be campy, and fail.
The Smiths - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (1984) Chapter
6: Cat’s prayer. Okay, Cat is probably not into The Smiths, but I do;
they’re absolutely the best at melodramatic, melancholy teen emotional
turmoil.
Madonna - Ray of Light (1998) Chapter 6: Cat, with Rainbow Alliance for
Youth. (Get it? Get it??) Okay, basically any gay anthem would work here.
Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004) Chapter 7: Mike in the Color
War. You’d think it would blow his cover to be singing.
Robyn - Dancing On My Own (2010) Chapter 8: Cat at the party.
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire (1963) Chapter 9: Windy plays this song on the
guitar, but I imagine it’s Mike who gets the vocal solo in a sequence that
Windy will neither acknowledge nor remember.
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (2009) Chapter 9: Mike’s feverishly imagined
piratical interlude. I am challenging casting to come up with a singer who
can do both Johnny Cash and Lady Gaga.
Lily Allen - F*** You (Very Much) (2009) Chapter 10: Cat, out in school.
Bruno Mars - Grenade (2010) Chapter 10: Cat to Calliope at the coffee shop.
Substitute Bon Jovi’s “Shot Through the Heart” if you want to keep this mix
ALL UP.
Seether - Fake It (2007) Chapter 11: Mike, to himself, somehow unheard by
the Brotherhood.
The Association - Windy (1967) Chapter 12: Cat’s Thanksgiving thank-you to
Windy. If you hate this song as much as everyone else does, feel free to
substitute “Thank You For Being A Friend (Golden Girls Theme).”
* Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog - My Eyes (2008) Chapter 13: Cat is the
light; Mike is the darkness.
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now (1979) Chapter 13: Mike and the hot rod boys!
System of a Down - Chop Suey! (2001) Chapter 13: Fightin’ Mike, with Van as
back-up (“you wanted to!”). Or you could just say eff it and go with
“Rumble” from West Side Story.
Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (2009) Chapter 14: Cat,
finding Mike standing at her door. (Guess that means he’s sorry.)
* Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Machismo (1991) Chapter 15: Mike,
reflecting on manhood.
Green Day - 21 Guns (2009) Chapter 15: Mike, giving up the fight. I know
this is the second Green Day song, but, well, I love them. Blame my 90s
upbringing. Anyway, they’re not the only repeated artist in this mix; I’ll
have another Bowie in a second.
John Butler Trio - Zebra (2003) Chapter 15: Mike, embracing contradictions.
Windy could do some sweet rhythm guitar on this.
Katy Perry - Firework (2010) Chapter 16: Cat and Mike dance.
Pink - Raise Your Glass (2010) Chapter 16: Ensemble dance.
Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over (2008) Chapter 16: Cat, Mike,
ensemble. The big news. I know this song is heavily associated with the Eat
Pray Love trailer, but doesn’t that make it a true Sound of 2010?
David Bowie - Heroes (1977) Mike. Epilogue.
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.
Suppose Don’t Ask were set in the world of Glee where everyone is always
breaking into a thematically appropriate pop song in the middle of the
school hallway, and nobody seems to notice unless it’s convenient to the
plot. I’ve made a playlist of the songs I’d include. Feel free to
contribute! My notes are below. I tried to keep them brief enough to
tantalize rather than spoil, but read each chapter first if you’re a purist.
(Starred songs are not presently available on Spotify.)
* The Donnas - New Kid in School (2007) Chapter 1: I picture Cat and a
chorus of girls doing the singing as they lead Windy around the school, with
Mike sort of bouncing around smiling and giving Windy “what are you gonna
do? girls!” reaction shots.
Jill Sobule - I Kissed A Girl (1995) Chapter 2: Spoiler alert in the title
of this song! Cat, of course. I’ve always preferred Jill Sobule’s “Kissed a
Girl” to Katy Perry’s -- it’s just so much gayer.
Ludwig von Beethoven - Piano Sonata no. 14 (1802) Chapter 3: Mike on piano.
The first and third movements are mentioned, but I’m including the third in
the mix because it’s speedy and mixes better with pop music.
Christina Aguilera - Glam (2010) Chapter 4: Cat, playing fashion show.
You’ll notice a lot of these songs are from 2010, since the story is set
between September and December of 2010. It’s a historical novel!
David Bowie - Boys Keep Swinging (1979) Chapter 5: For the inevitable
military montage which will try its darnedest not to be campy, and fail.
The Smiths - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (1984) Chapter
6: Cat’s prayer. Okay, Cat is probably not into The Smiths, but I do;
they’re absolutely the best at melodramatic, melancholy teen emotional
turmoil.
Madonna - Ray of Light (1998) Chapter 6: Cat, with Rainbow Alliance for
Youth. (Get it? Get it??) Okay, basically any gay anthem would work here.
Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004) Chapter 7: Mike in the Color
War. You’d think it would blow his cover to be singing.
Robyn - Dancing On My Own (2010) Chapter 8: Cat at the party.
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire (1963) Chapter 9: Windy plays this song on the
guitar, but I imagine it’s Mike who gets the vocal solo in a sequence that
Windy will neither acknowledge nor remember.
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (2009) Chapter 9: Mike’s feverishly imagined
piratical interlude. I am challenging casting to come up with a singer who
can do both Johnny Cash and Lady Gaga.
Lily Allen - F*** You (Very Much) (2009) Chapter 10: Cat, out in school.
Bruno Mars - Grenade (2010) Chapter 10: Cat to Calliope at the coffee shop.
Substitute Bon Jovi’s “Shot Through the Heart” if you want to keep this mix
ALL UP.
Seether - Fake It (2007) Chapter 11: Mike, to himself, somehow unheard by
the Brotherhood.
The Association - Windy (1967) Chapter 12: Cat’s Thanksgiving thank-you to
Windy. If you hate this song as much as everyone else does, feel free to
substitute “Thank You For Being A Friend (Golden Girls Theme).”
* Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog - My Eyes (2008) Chapter 13: Cat is the
light; Mike is the darkness.
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now (1979) Chapter 13: Mike and the hot rod boys!
System of a Down - Chop Suey! (2001) Chapter 13: Fightin’ Mike, with Van as
back-up (“you wanted to!”). Or you could just say eff it and go with
“Rumble” from West Side Story.
Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (2009) Chapter 14: Cat,
finding Mike standing at her door. (Guess that means he’s sorry.)
* Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Machismo (1991) Chapter 15: Mike,
reflecting on manhood.
Green Day - 21 Guns (2009) Chapter 15: Mike, giving up the fight. I know
this is the second Green Day song, but, well, I love them. Blame my 90s
upbringing. Anyway, they’re not the only repeated artist in this mix; I’ll
have another Bowie in a second.
John Butler Trio - Zebra (2003) Chapter 15: Mike, embracing contradictions.
Windy could do some sweet rhythm guitar on this.
Katy Perry - Firework (2010) Chapter 16: Cat and Mike dance.
Pink - Raise Your Glass (2010) Chapter 16: Ensemble dance.
Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over (2008) Chapter 16: Cat, Mike,
ensemble. The big news. I know this song is heavily associated with the Eat
Pray Love trailer, but doesn’t that make it a true Sound of 2010?
David Bowie - Heroes (1977) Mike. Epilogue.
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.