Monday, February 14, 2011

Other Songs in the Crowners Story

Here is a list of other songs used in the story, what they mean, and where they're used.

And Now My Lifesong Sings: This is a beautiful song, not only reminiscent of Amazing Grace while being soft and quiet, but it is probably the most spiritual song I’ve ever heard.  When I hear it, I swear, the peace of God surrounds me, my sins are forgiven, and I’m so overcome with love and beauty that I cry.  This song gains another meaning in the book, it is sung by Rachel after she stops the drug use.
Here Comes the Sun: This song isn’t in the concert (yet) but I think it’s important to have, it is used in a scene where the characters play Beatles; Rock Band.  Much like how Beatles; Rock Band portrays it; it is much the anti-While My Guitar Gently Weeps.  The song is beautiful; it is about the return of the song and with it, happiness.  I also love how everything in the song flows together (which is why I don’t care as much for the Concert for Bangladesh version), Ringo gives a solid drum part while Paul plays the bass well, and I also love the orchestra and Moog synthesizer on this track.  I need to play this more often when I’m sad.
Helter Skelter: This song is loud and rowdy, something odd for a Beatles song.  It defines the feelings one gets when the world stops making sense, it’s good to scream.  Rachel sings a drunk, slurred cover of this after she is abused by her fundamentalist boyfriend as her life goes crazy.  I love how loud and angry this is, it’s really one of the first Metal tracks.  Lines like “you may be a lover but you ain’t no dancer” also come to mind as to why this was good at that point in the story, the boyfriend may say he’s a Christian, but he’s not nice due to his fundamentalism.  John delivers a great bass, Paul and George’s guitars are awesome, and Ringo’s drums deliver, and I also love his cry of “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!!” (made even more awesome by John casually asking “how’s that?” beforehand)
Dig a Pony: Another Rock Band track, it’s one of my favorites for its rhythm and randomness in lyrics.  I also love that its recording comes straight from the rooftop, and would love to see Miley sing this song on a rooftop as well.
Don’t Let Me Down: A good Beatles blues-rocker in the Rock Band portion, it’s a song I think would be nice to hear Miley sing, it reminds me of the rooftop concert and I love the love present, the guitar work and keyboards.  Miley once faved a video of this song and the next one.
Get Back: Another good Beatles Rock Band song, this was included due to the video above and the fact that I love the rooftop concert.  I love this song for Paul’s vocals and the guitar and keyboard solos, as well as Ringo’s drums.
All You Need Is Love: Originally to end the concert, it was removed when I thought the concert was too secular.  It’s a beautiful song and I love the message, it was going to work for the book, it may still do so in its current spot as the Rock Band finale, but I’m not sure.  It would’ve been fun to see everyone sing it, but it’s okay that it isn’t happening, I think The Climb is a better ending song.
More Than Anything: This is a beautiful song by Point of Grace, sung at a concert they perform in the book, it’s a great CCM song that really defines God’s love well.  If I had to pick one song to define the Christian message, it would be this one.
Free Bird: This song was included because at the time, I didn’t know any other Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, it is used by the Billy Ray Cyrus character before he reveals the family's imperfections to an outsider.  However, I think how it opens and its lyrics about an inability to be changed suit the scene it’s in, and it’s a very good song.  It would be cool to the see the Crowners perform this song and/or other Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, but it’s okay if they don’t.
Awesome God: This is one of the first CCM songs I ever heard (by the way, CCM stands for Contemporary Christian Music, if you’re wondering), and it really defines who God is, showing Him through many Biblical References and displaying that He is true.  This song defines who God is to me; He does reign above with wisdom, power and love and He is Awesome.  It is used as a song the group sings in Church.
Jealous Guy: This is a beautiful John Lennon song, I would consider this the anti-I Want You (She’s So Heavy) to a degree as I Want You (She’s So Heavy) is obsessive and possessive, while Jealous Guy is apologetic, sorrowful, and beautifully sad.  It is used as a reference by Rachel as to why people are complex and have many more sides to them than we see.  When I hear this, it makes me sad that its composer got shot.
Give My Heart To You: This is a soft Billy Ray Cyrus song that I love, used at the wedding in the story.  It is the song I wrote Billy Ray’s character to sing at the wedding, it’s very poignant and passionate.  I love how honest it is, how it shows such a real life, and it’s got a part where he gives his soul to Jesus, so that’s cool.  I was honestly surprised that though it seems to BE Billy Ray Cyrus (based on what I know about him), he didn’t write it.  Billy Ray’s got a good heart, and he really shows it here.
I Will Be Here: This is my Mom’s favorite wedding song, it's used as a wedding song, and it's an appropriate wedding song.  Steven Curtis Chapman does well here and it’s one of his best.
Revolution: I love how loud the song is and it’s another Beatles song that I identified with when I wrote the story, we can change the world, but first we should change ourselves and accept God’s plan, only fight in self-defense.  This could still be worked in as a Beatles Rock Band song.
Sgt. Peppers/With a Little Help from my Friends: This was originally present to fulfill my desire to have "Billy Shears" in the film.  However, it seemed the presence of two Beatles bands glorified them, rather than God, which is why it, Revolution and Oh Darling are not in the ending concert, though they were considered.
Oh Darling: One of my favorite Paul McCartney songs, I love how this sounds like a Southern US love song.  I considered putting it in the concert as a Crowners cover, but I felt there were too many songs as is.  I still love it and it could be in the Beatles Rock Band sequence, if possible (that sequence may be cut from the film for time and to make it have less songs).
Octopus’s Garden: One of my favorite songs, written by Ringo Starr, this song is fun and it’s the song that makes me regret cutting the second band the most, as it doesn’t feel like a song The Crowners should sing, it feels out of place compared to the others.  At least I put it in the Rock Band sequence.

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