Nick Steffel: Meme Rebel
So a dear associate of mine posted a little livejournal thing where you set iTunes to random and assign whatever song pops up to one of the life events below. I believe that these events are ostensibly placed within the framework of a movie. This, in my humble opinion, is a waste of a perfectly good livejournal thing. Lord knows there's enough memes in my prior entries where I've selected random music to share with you all under some flimsy context or another -- feel free to ask me for random selections from my iTunes library any time if you need any more.
This said, I haven't ever shared with you what song I'd play for my birth or funeral. So, without further ado:
Opening Credits:
Ready Lets Go by Boards of Canada
It's a very gentle opening that would segue nicely into the next song. Short too -- I'm not the biggest fan of opening credits anyway.
Birth:
Main Theme from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I was never the biggest fan of the movie really, but the opening theme alone is enough to justify owning it (or the soundtrack, I suppose). Jon Brion is a wicked genius and there's something just so beautiful and appropriate about these two-and-a-half minutes.
First day at school:
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon
Perhaps it's just the mental image of Gene Hackman throwing (as well as encouraging the throwing of) water balloons at a police car, but this seems a perfectly cute and appropriate song for one's first day of school. The presence of the word "school" in the song's title is certainly an asset in this regard.
Falling in Love:
Here With Me by Dido
It is, by my estimation, probably the cutest love song ever. It is also from, by my estimation, the cutest love story motion picture ever -- a little flick called Love Actually. What could be sweeter?
Fight Song:
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmerelda
Everyone here seen Kill Bill? Good, let's move on.
Breaking Up:
Stay Home by American Football
As a young man, I dabbled in the fine art that was emo (note my use of the past tense). As a withered old man of 21 who finds himself generally happy with life, this love has passed. Nonetheless, I like to think that this is a fine example of that time and place as well as a suitable song for all of my (and your own!) breaking-up period needs. "She Sends Kisses" by The Wrens comes in a tight second, so kudos for it as well.
Prom:
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
"Hey, have you ever heard this song by Eric Clapton called Wonderful Tonight? It'd be, like, totally perfect for our senior prom's slow dance. To the best night of our lives!"
Yeah yeah, it's a cute song. If the prom was underwater themed, I would be willing to swap it with "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid.
Life:
The Dead Flag Blues by Godspeed! You Black Emperor
One song to represent a whole life, eh? I picked this one mainly because it has five distinct movements to it and weighs in at about 16 minutes. In a way, these movements represent the movements of life, no?
Mental Breakdown:
Any of Bartok's String Quartets
Many years ago, when I was first gaining a vague appreciation for classical music, I asked my dad what sort of classical music he liked. He introduced me to Bartok, and since then I've been convinced that there's no music better for a mental breakdown than one of his wild-ass string quartets.
Driving:
Anything off of Tweekend by The Crystal Method
I can't operate a motor-car, but I imagine that the proper music to do so would need to be fast and hard. This is the Crystal Method. Plus they use their music for car commercials, and I figure that's gotta count for something.
Flashback:
The Noise Wayne and Garth make in Wayne's World
Come now, a flashback song? Flashbacks get a noise, and that noise is Wayne and Garth's.
Wedding:
All You Need is Love by The Beatles
Come now, what could be more perfect? See Love Actually for an example of how perfectly it works.
I would also accept such appropriate songs as "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails and "Fuck the Pain Away" by Peaches.
Birth Of Child:
Pacific Sun by Force & Styles
"Sing me another love song
and I'll sing you a lullabye.
And it won't be long until you see me coming
to be with you by your side."
This is pretty much the perfect lullabye, which seems appropriate for a birth. All they do is sleep anyway, right? Hell, assuming I procreate I'd sing it to the rapscallion after he/she's born. And yes, it's one of those technological-music songs I listen to, so don't feel bad if you've never heard of it.
Final Battle:
Battle Without Honor or Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei
We've been over the whole Kill Bill thing, right? Right right.
Death Scene:
Untitled 2 by Sigur Rós
A fine song to celebrate one's leaving of the mortal realm. Specifically, I'd like to kick things off at about 2:10 in when the vocalist comes in for the first time.
Funeral:
Glósóli by Sigur Rós
Hey, it's remorseful music. When I first heard this song, I immediately knew that it was the single most absolutely perfect song to play at my funeral. Granted I was on LSD at the time, but hey -- take it with a grain of salt, not the whole fucking shaker. It starts out so solemn yet beautiful, then these kicking guitars kick in around 2/3rds of the way and it suddenly feels so celebratory and uplifting (not to mention goddamned rocking). Perfect for a funeral, in my opinion. If the unthinkable should happen and I kick off anytime soon, take note that this song is to be played.
Ending Credits:
No Surprises by Radiohead
If we're talking about Radiohead songs to play over one's closing credits, you may think that Exit Music (For a Film) would be the logical choice. Ah ah, not so my dear sir. The latter half of OK Computer deserves a lot more credit than it gets -- that credit starts here.
This said, I haven't ever shared with you what song I'd play for my birth or funeral. So, without further ado:
Opening Credits:
Ready Lets Go by Boards of Canada
It's a very gentle opening that would segue nicely into the next song. Short too -- I'm not the biggest fan of opening credits anyway.
Birth:
Main Theme from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I was never the biggest fan of the movie really, but the opening theme alone is enough to justify owning it (or the soundtrack, I suppose). Jon Brion is a wicked genius and there's something just so beautiful and appropriate about these two-and-a-half minutes.
First day at school:
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon
Perhaps it's just the mental image of Gene Hackman throwing (as well as encouraging the throwing of) water balloons at a police car, but this seems a perfectly cute and appropriate song for one's first day of school. The presence of the word "school" in the song's title is certainly an asset in this regard.
Falling in Love:
Here With Me by Dido
It is, by my estimation, probably the cutest love song ever. It is also from, by my estimation, the cutest love story motion picture ever -- a little flick called Love Actually. What could be sweeter?
Fight Song:
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmerelda
Everyone here seen Kill Bill? Good, let's move on.
Breaking Up:
Stay Home by American Football
As a young man, I dabbled in the fine art that was emo (note my use of the past tense). As a withered old man of 21 who finds himself generally happy with life, this love has passed. Nonetheless, I like to think that this is a fine example of that time and place as well as a suitable song for all of my (and your own!) breaking-up period needs. "She Sends Kisses" by The Wrens comes in a tight second, so kudos for it as well.
Prom:
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
"Hey, have you ever heard this song by Eric Clapton called Wonderful Tonight? It'd be, like, totally perfect for our senior prom's slow dance. To the best night of our lives!"
Yeah yeah, it's a cute song. If the prom was underwater themed, I would be willing to swap it with "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid.
Life:
The Dead Flag Blues by Godspeed! You Black Emperor
One song to represent a whole life, eh? I picked this one mainly because it has five distinct movements to it and weighs in at about 16 minutes. In a way, these movements represent the movements of life, no?
Mental Breakdown:
Any of Bartok's String Quartets
Many years ago, when I was first gaining a vague appreciation for classical music, I asked my dad what sort of classical music he liked. He introduced me to Bartok, and since then I've been convinced that there's no music better for a mental breakdown than one of his wild-ass string quartets.
Driving:
Anything off of Tweekend by The Crystal Method
I can't operate a motor-car, but I imagine that the proper music to do so would need to be fast and hard. This is the Crystal Method. Plus they use their music for car commercials, and I figure that's gotta count for something.
Flashback:
The Noise Wayne and Garth make in Wayne's World
Come now, a flashback song? Flashbacks get a noise, and that noise is Wayne and Garth's.
Wedding:
All You Need is Love by The Beatles
Come now, what could be more perfect? See Love Actually for an example of how perfectly it works.
I would also accept such appropriate songs as "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails and "Fuck the Pain Away" by Peaches.
Birth Of Child:
Pacific Sun by Force & Styles
"Sing me another love song
and I'll sing you a lullabye.
And it won't be long until you see me coming
to be with you by your side."
This is pretty much the perfect lullabye, which seems appropriate for a birth. All they do is sleep anyway, right? Hell, assuming I procreate I'd sing it to the rapscallion after he/she's born. And yes, it's one of those technological-music songs I listen to, so don't feel bad if you've never heard of it.
Final Battle:
Battle Without Honor or Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei
We've been over the whole Kill Bill thing, right? Right right.
Death Scene:
Untitled 2 by Sigur Rós
A fine song to celebrate one's leaving of the mortal realm. Specifically, I'd like to kick things off at about 2:10 in when the vocalist comes in for the first time.
Funeral:
Glósóli by Sigur Rós
Hey, it's remorseful music. When I first heard this song, I immediately knew that it was the single most absolutely perfect song to play at my funeral. Granted I was on LSD at the time, but hey -- take it with a grain of salt, not the whole fucking shaker. It starts out so solemn yet beautiful, then these kicking guitars kick in around 2/3rds of the way and it suddenly feels so celebratory and uplifting (not to mention goddamned rocking). Perfect for a funeral, in my opinion. If the unthinkable should happen and I kick off anytime soon, take note that this song is to be played.
Ending Credits:
No Surprises by Radiohead
If we're talking about Radiohead songs to play over one's closing credits, you may think that Exit Music (For a Film) would be the logical choice. Ah ah, not so my dear sir. The latter half of OK Computer deserves a lot more credit than it gets -- that credit starts here.