We Compose Our Stories Like How We Compose Our Lives, Part 2

Continuing with the reveal of the “development playlists” …

In addition to thinking about what songs could illustrate a certain scene or state, I also made some guidelines that would take advantage of my personal music collection and not weight it toward a certain artist or style.

One condition I had was that an artist would appear either once or in all three. Slowdive, Tearwave and Vangelis are examples of this. The Cure, Joy Division and Gary Numan may appear twice, but each provided the titles for each of them. For an example, The Cure provided the title for On Nights Like This and thus Joy Division and Gary Numan appear in the playlist. The only exception to the “all or nothing” rule was with Harold Budd and Brian Eno providing “First Light” and “Failing Light” on the On Nights Like This playlist.

There are a few songs that I always intended to be the actual cues for the scene. There are also a few that would become a potential cue. There are finally a few that would lead the way to a potential cue. I’ll leave it at that for now =].

See the playlist for All That We Are

SONG, ARTIST			MEANING
“Pulstar,” Vangelis			(General introduction) [My actual source was the compilation Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)]
“Vordhosbn,” Aphex Twin			Thomas’s first lecture: demonstrating his snarkiness.
“Trellisaze,” Slowdive			Thomas brooding at home.
“The Boy with the Thorn in His Side,” The Smiths			Thomas brooding at home. [My actual source was the compilation Singles]
“Lists, Plans,” A Sunny Day in Glasgow			Thomas sees Sophia at Hayden Library
“Kookaburra,” Cocteau Twins			Thomas sees Sophia at Hayden Library
“Gravity of Love (Radio Edit),” Enigma			Thomas’s initial feelings and thoughts about Sophia. [My actual source was the CD single]
“The Noise of Carpet,” Stereolab			Thomas and Sophia’s first meeting: Sophia puts him in his place.
“One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21,” The Flaming Lips			Thomas starts to do things differently, beginning with Kay, one of his students
“A Little Love,” Nice Nice			Thomas’s second lecture: very different than before
“Arterial,” Rachel’s			(A transition)
“Daphnia,” Yo La Tengo			Thomas and Sophia walk together on Memorial Drive.
“Love Only Makes Me Weak,” Tearwave			Thomas feels rejected by Sophia at home.
“Obstacle 2,” Interpol			Thomas begins to withdraw.
“Never Understand,” The Jesus and Mary Chain			Thomas begins to withdraw.
“Plaster Casts of Everything,” Liars			Thomas’s third lecture: his meltdown
“Autosuggestion,” Joy Division			Sophia breaks the friendship with Thomas. She also tells him to “take a chance and step outside” and to “lose some sleep and say you try.” [My actual source was the boxset Heart and soul]
“The Great Below,” Nine Inch Nails			Thomas is put on administrative leave for the remainder of the semester.
“The Christ in the Desert,” Black Tape for a Blue Girl			Thomas is depressed at home.
“The Top,” The Cure			Thomas is depressed at home. He also says to himself: “I don’t care. If only I could say that. If only my eyes would close.”
“Too Late,” Wire			Thomas meets with Michelle, Sophia’s sister.
“Quiet Friend,” Steve Roach			Thomas recounts his life in a letter to Sophia.
“Glink,” Bola			Thomas vows to begin anew in that same letter.
“This Time,” The Verve			Thomas will begin to do things differently.
“Carry You,” VNV Nation			Thomas will begin to do things differently.
“This World,” Zero 7			Thomas has done things differently.
“You Broke My Heart,” Lavender Diamond			Thomas meets Sophia once again.