Your Life…The Movie (Your Life’s Soundtrack W/O) Aug 27 '04 (Updated Aug 08 '05)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line This w/o is still going strong. So what the hell are you waiting for? I’ve always had a desire to do a write-off but could never think of an interesting idea until I got a little inspiration. Thus, the Your Life’s Soundtrack was born. Simple concept; I believe that everyone’s life is like a movie and every movie needs a good soundtrack. And I’m sure we all have those certain songs that we feel apply to our life so fantastically well. So below is a list of different “scenes” in your life and your job is to picture your life as a movie and pick the song that you want played during that specific scene. Get it? Got it? Good! Here are the scenes: Opening Credits: Waking Up: Average Day: First Date: Falling In Love: Love Scene: Fight Scene: Breaking Up: Getting Back Together: Secret Love: Life’s OK: Mental Breakdown: Driving: Learning A Lesson: Deep Thought: Flashback: Partying: Happy Dance: Regretting: Long Night Alone: Death Scene: Closing Credits: And after some long thinking, here’s my entry: Opening Credits: P!nk - “M!ssundaztood” From the moment I heard this song, I felt this was the best representation in song format of who I am. I truly do feel I’m misunderstood and after listening to P!nk’s mantra, I’ve come to embrace that aspect of my personality even more. I also made the lyrics a staple in my mentality: there’s a song I was listening to, up all night There’s a voice I’m hearing saying it’s alright When I’m happy, I am sad but it’s all good It’s not that complicated, I’m just misunderstood!” Waking Up: Madonna - “Ray of Light” I thought long and hard about my choice for this one and this one just fits. I love the mellow intro that segues into the hyper/frenetic techno-tronic production and then calms back down before speeding up again. Perfectly suited for one of my more frenzied days. And I just had to have a Madonna song on the list. Average Day: Jason Mraz - “The Remedy” I love the cheerful, carefree, happy-go-lucky demeanor of this song. Instantly, I’m put in a good mood whenever I hear it & it helps me maintain that cheerful, carefree, happy-go-lucky demeanor. Plus, I love the line, “if you’ve gots the poison, I’ve gots the remedy…” First Date: Cherokee- “Runaway” The funky R&B vibe of this record coupled with the seductive/poetic lyrics really sum up my feelings for a first date. I would use the first 2 verses to reassure my lady friend that she has nothing to worry about because we’re about to throw caution to the wind. And the bridge contains the lyrics describe the feelings I would want my lady to feel and reciprocate: I’ll create the perfect world for you Grow your favorite tree and make your garden bloom And I will paint the moon burgundy, all the grass will be yellow Cause that’s how you make me feel baby Poetry in motion. And I would plan to put this blueprint in motion. Falling In Love: Mya - “Fallen” Now you know I had to include my girl Mya on my soundtrack. And I always had an affinity for the sweetness and understated purity of the song. The lyrics may appear to be a bit saccharine and corny but they really do describe the feelings one does have when they recognize they’re falling in love. Not to mention I enjoy the Pharcyde sample. And it is Mya so I really need to say no more. Love Scene: Aaliyah - “Rock The Boat” Criticize me all you want but I always felt this song was one of those records that seemed to epitomize both sensuality and sexuality without being raunchy or tawdry. That hypnotic percussion mixed with the barely-there bassline, fingersnaps meet drum taps and those throbbing strings just seemed to ooze forth with a subdued eroticism. And Aaliyah managed to effortlessly maintain a level of classiness and sophistication that enhances the sensuality even more. Say what you want, there’s no denying the magnetism of this record. Fight Scene: Prince - “Eye Hate U” To me, Prince is the paramount songwriter and his ability to craft such captivating songs on a variety of subjects is just amazing. His wellspring of creativity will seemingly never run dry and this is a shining example. I first heard this when a radio station down in Houston had a Prince marathon and just the passion and anger in Prince’s vocals matched with his stellar production really expressed the feelings of hatred one can have towards another that they still claim to love. Prince is a genius, plain and simple. Breaking Up: Jill Scott - “I Think It’s Better” Even though this song is only 1:44, I loved the sincerity with which Jill delivered it. She really does seem deeply troubled by the fact that she has to inform her love that she has found someone better and how she thinks it’s better they separate. I appreciate the fact she musters the courage to let the relationship die and how she sounds concerned for the other party by doing so. The pain and conviction in her voice is subdued yet beautiful and the piano backing set the perfect mood. Almost softens the blow. Getting Back Together: Van Hunt - “Down Here In Hell (With You)” I know I may be viewed as a twisted child for this but after one listen to this record, I found it encapsulated my feelings of the perfect relationship. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong and how fractured their relationship is, Van decides to take a slight tongue-in-cheek approach to it and decides to revel in the unhealthiness of the union. My feelings exactly. Everyone seems to search for their own personal fairytale but let us take joy in the fact our relationship is damaged, possibly beyond repair. You drive me past the point of insanity but I wouldn’t have you any other way. I think I’m saving myself With nothing to complain about in heaven, what would I do? I think I’m saving myself I really wanna work it out down here in hell…with you Secret Love: Alicia Keys - “U Don’t Know My Name” The sophisticated mystery behind this track really enhances the fact of being enamored over someone that probably doesn’t know of your existence. There’s an understated desperation and secrecy in the track that made it my choice. Almost as if a sideway glance would suffice to quench the unrequited desire that you hold for that someone. Just to know they acknowledged your presence would make it worthwhile, even if they never learned your name. Life’s OK: Maxwell - “Lifetime” After taking that emotionally draining ride on the love roller coaster, I felt this song would best sum up my life at this point, assuming I had found true love. This may very well be my favorite love song period. Just the beauty and eloquence of Maxwell’s lyrics seem to dig deep into one’s soul and pulls out their innermost feelings of finding true love and contentment in life. And the calmness and assuredness with which he sings it makes it sound like it’s truly worth the wait. Now…I can let my life pass me by Or I can get down and try Work it all out this lifetime…lifetime I can let it all pass me by or I can just…lifetime Mental Breakdown: Van Hunt - “Dust” Although I’m not 100% clear about the meaning of this record, my interpretation led me to make it my selection for this “scene.” I think the premise of the song is that Van Hunt has already become rattled and burned by life in itself beyond the border of insanity and he’s now taking everything in stride since, and I quote, “I’m already insane/I’m already in pain/I’m already insane/I am dust blown away over the edge.” He’s already cracked so he’s developed an immunity of sorts. Not to mention I love the upbeat, cheerful production that perfectly counteracts the “mental breakdown” theme but what I would like to be playing if I turned into a babbling idiot. Oops, too late… Driving: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - “Summertime” Yes! The ultimate driving song and the best summer anthem of all time, IMO! Ever since I can remember, I remember hearing this song at various summer functions and how it seemed to unite everyone and make it official that summer had begun. And it can be the dead of winter and I could be in the foulest mood and as soon as this record comes on, all troubles and worries melt away and I’m instantly transformed to the brightest sunny day my mind can conjure. Learning A Lesson: Liz Phair - “Red Light Fever” Being my favorite song from Liz Phair‘s latest record, I just felt this song was fitting here. In the song, Liz is trying to shake this guy out of his fear of commitment but I felt it was applicable for a broader reason. I love the concerned and sympathetic tone of Liz’s vocals as it sounds like she’s telling him for his own good. And just little lines like “you only want to forget” & “how you gonna make it through?” impressed upon me that we may be too scared to take action for fear of whatever but Liz is reminding me that fear only leads to misery and that I have to make a move…do or die. Deep Thought: Norah Jones - “Don’t Know Why” I don’t know why I chose this particular song. Just felt fitting as Norah was doing some serious self-examination to come up with an explanation for her absence and I find myself in her shoes in certain situations, pondering why I did or didn’t do something. Flashback: Bilal - “Reminisce” Even though this record is primarily talking about reminiscing over a past relationship, it did stress to me the impact of a single person. How their presence could trigger an instant flashback, welcome or unwelcome and how deeply it could infect your life. Partying: TLC - “What About Your Friends” Yet again, this was one of my sister’s favorite songs when I was little and I remember me bugging her to play it for me. The overall vibe of the track is feel-good and also teaches a semi-life lesson to examine who your true friends are and then to hold on to them really tight. Happy Dance: Teedra Moses - “Complex Simplicity” Even though this song is fairly new, once I listened to it, I thought it would be fitting here. The slightly nostalgic, 80s vibe of the production is joy-inducing and the feel-good lyrics, including some of Teedra’s mom’s words of wisdom, really do encourage being happy. Similar to what my mother tells me, life only gets rougher so I should enjoy my youth while I can. So I’m like Teedra and I’m working to keep my youth alive. Not to mention that I’ve been playing this song whenever I’m in a happy mood and it just enhances my feelings. Regretting: Tweet - “Drunk” The total bizarre vibe of this track to me summarizes this woman’s regrets in such a artistic manner. The haunting, mysterious, kinda ethereal vibe with her distorted and slurred verses really augment her compunction of thinking a drunker stupor would alleviate her problems. Not saying I would drink myself to the brink of death and then later regret but just her penitent vocals and overall remorse of the track makes me feel regretful for her, and myself. Long Night Alone: Prince - “Reflection” The acoustic guitar and percussion tap sets the perfect mood for looking back over your life during a long night alone. After everything has been said and done, this is the song I would want to be played while I make a final assessment of my life and see how far I came in accomplishing my goals. Death Scene: Teedra Moses - “Last Day” Here, Teedra is speaking of what she would do with her last day on Earth and it is the perfect summation of what I would do as well. Hang out with my friends and have the biggest blowout of the century while taking it all in and hoping people will have a fond remembrance of me. Then my heart would stop for whatever reason and it would be over. I would die, preferably with a smile on my life. No matter how retched my life may end up being, I still want to die with a smile on my face as a proverbial smack in the face to all those who are glad to see me gone. Closing Credits: Ice Cube - “Today Was A Good Day” I know my life doesn’t consist of the events of one day but as the curtain closes on my life, I would want this being played as the screen faded to black. Once all has been said and all has been done, I want to have the same appreciation Ice Cube had for that day. I want to be able to say, “my life was a good life.” Now, I’m a very indecisive person so these selections are bound to change but these songs are what I felt are best a representation of my life...for now! So if you’ve been intrigued and would like to enter, feel free to do so. Just post your entry link in the comments section and I’ll put it up. (And if you’re having a really tough time choosing between songs for a sequence, you can choose two) I realize this idea isn’t highly original but I like the creative aspect of it by using various sequences instead of naming songs. If it’s been done before, inspiration drove me so blame my imagination. Have fun! PS: If you want to do a more extended version, you can check out Ulfson's entry. YOUR NAME HERE!!: poeticone16 SixerMan Jev04again treeseed insomniac1587 speeddemon531 JiggyJay grandpa_riot helenekhoffman flamepillar skbreese factotum Ulfson. archer347 deaser26 snik1 russianraiderz mecca_abstrak zenmachado swytchblade nasty01 smarterthan3 discoinfernal nosoyloco kyklops blindsider tigger500 beekd91 aniym (part 1) shaky_jake mcheadcase

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