What's your character's theme tune?

[Quinn]

I was thinking this when I was listening to my MP3 on the bus. If your character had a theme song, what would it be?

I couldn't decide between two for Quinn; Razzle Dazzle from Chicago:

Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?

What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?

Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise!

Give 'em the old three ring circus
Stun and stagger 'em
When you're in trouble, go into your dance

Though you are stiffer than a girder
They'll let you get away with murder
Razzle dazzle 'em
And you've got a romance

... and Balaclava by The Arctic Monkeys:

Are you pulling her from a burning building
Or throwing her to the sharks?
You can only hope that the ending is as pleasurable as the start
Confidence is the balaclava, I'm sure you baffle 'em straight
And its wrong, wrong, wrong, she can hardly wait!

That's right, he won't let her out his sight
Now the shaggers perform
And the daggers are drawn
Who's the crooks in this crime?

Now the shaggers perform
And the daggers are drawn
Who's the crooks in this...
CRIME!

[Lylessa Uluki]

I don't listen to Jewel very much-- I actually have only one of her songs in my playlist-- but I've sort of thought of it as Uluki's theme song for awhile now.

Hands

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these

I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after

We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken

In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands

[Drake]

I don't really have theme songs for my boys, but with a little thought I came up with some songs that kinda fit them.

For Drake: End Of The Line - Devildriver

I do declare, there's something in the air
I'm burning the candle at both ends
Bitter betrayals, skeleton keys
Houses to haunt, well it's alright by me
Rags to ruin, some foolhardy choices
Some would say, not a ghost of a chance
The ghosts in my mind, they're one of a kind
They tell me what to do, and it's shut down you
Some things are best just left unsaid
End of the line, end of the line
One door closes, another door closes
And now you're boxed in
End of the line, end of the line
Feel eyes in the trees, the foreboding path
The turn of the head, I hear it laugh
It says "Hang 'em now," it says "Hang 'em high"
When you are done, then hail to the sky
I've been taught to get the f*** up
To dust myself off, and to go it again
The ghosts in my mind, they're one of a kind
They tell me what to do, and it's shut down you
Some things are best just left unsaid
End of the line, end of the line
One door closes, another door closes
And now you're boxed in
End of the line, end of the line
S***
Bitter betrayals, the foreboding path
I've come to shut you down
Rags to ruin, some foolhardy choices
Some would say, not a ghost of a chance
The ghosts in my mind, they're one of a kind
They tell me what to do, and it's shut down you
Some things are best just left unsaid
End of the line, end of the line
One door closes, another door closes
And now you're boxed in
End of the line, end of the line

For Angren I'm thinking: Valhall Awaits Me - Amon Amarth

Blood gushes from the wound
The cut is wide and deep
And before I turn around
He falls to his knees
A clear song rings in the blade
When steel meets hardened steel.
I hear the sound of wood that breaks,
A swords cuts through my shield.
I drop the shield and grab my axe,
A weapon in each fist.
The first blow makes the helmet crack,
The axe cut to the teeth.
I rip the axe from the head,
covered in blood and brains.
Leave the body lying dead,
Ready to strike again.
My sword cuts through clothes and skin,
Like a hot knife cuts through snow.
I smile as the bastard screams,
when I twist my sword.
Sword in my hand,
Axe on my side.
Valhall awaits me,
Soon I will die.
Bear skin on my back,
Wolf jaw on my head.
Valhall awaits me
when I'm dead.
I raise my axe above my head,
My eyes stare in furious rage.
Yet more blood will be shed,
This is a victorious day
Blood gushes from the wound,
The cut is wide and deep.
As I turn around,
I fall to my knees.
Sword in my hand,
Axe on my side.
Valhall awaits me,
Soon I will die.
Bear skin on my back,
Wolf jaw on my head.
Valhall awaits me
when I'm dead.

For Nichatus I'm not sure, but maybe: Purified - Lamb Of God

Can the pestilence within you be bled out
May I have the honor of this amputation?
Know that you have made an enemy
To show you the meaning of indignity
I live no solely for the pleasure of your slow decay.
Feel the pain of vengeance burn you,
Soon you shall know silence.
With trembling hands you'll beg for mercy.
I'll show you none.
Purified by my hand
In this my world
It is salvation.
Your futile existence draws to a close
A cloak of lies drops.
The lies drop.

[Jenica Sabiny]

I'll just do Jen and Lanya, because Anga would be too hard to sort through which version and what blah blah, and Gelden ironically has the same problem since she's so flighty.

Anyway, first is Jen. Although the metaphor used is somewhat unsavory, the idea being conveyed in the song is perfect, namely numbness of every kind, both emotional and physical. The metaphor works perfectly if you imagine it's "the hunger" talking to her (I went ahead and highlighted the lines that I think are most relevant to the character):

Stinkfist, by Tool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pLGIgyfjw

Something has to change.
Un-deniable dilemma.
Boredom's not a burden
Anyone should bear.

Constant over stimu-lation numbs me
but I would not want you
any other way.

It's not enough.
I need more.
Nothing seems to satisfy.
I don't want it.
I just need it.
To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Finger deep within the borderline.
Show me that you love me and that we belong together.
Relax, turn around and take my hand.

I can help you change
Tired moments into pleasure.
Say the word and we'll be
Well upon our way.

Blend and balance
Pain and comfort
Deep within you
Till you will not want me any other way.

It's not enough.
I need more.
Nothing seems to satisfy.
I don't want it.
I just need it.
To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Knuckle deep inside the borderline.
This may hurt a little but it's something you'll get used to.
Relax. Slip away.

Something kinda sad about
the way that things have come to be.
Desensitized to everything.
What became of subtlety?

How can this mean anything to me
If I really don't feel anything at all?

I'll keep digging till
I feel something.

Elbow deep inside the borderline.
Show me that you love me and that we belong together.
Shoulder deep within the borderline.
Relax. Turn around and take my hand.

Next up is Lanya's. I have no idea why this song is the first one that popped into my head, but there it is. The constant search for wisdom, the learning that certain things just aren't important (like life), the knowledge that if she stopped questioning things everything would be better, the quiet acceptance that some people are smarter even if in reality they're not, the balancing act between the proverbial good and evil forces in the world. Although she doesn't blatantly balance herself between dark and light like the song suggests, it is a very fine line between the caring that she possesses now and the emotional numbness that would turn her into a very scary and cold person.

More than anything, though, is the solitude and loneliness in the song. There's never a "we," it's always "I" and "me." This song talks about one sole person's journey around the world for wisdom - alone.

Indigo Girls, Closer to Fine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY1Bl4nfpdA

I'm trying to tell you something about my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you've ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously
It's only life after all
Yeah

Well darkness has a hunger thats insatiable
And lightness has a call thats hard to hear
I wrap my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
I'm crawling on your shores

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

I went to see the doctor of philosophy
With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee
He never did marry or see a b-grade movie
He graded my performance, he said he could see through me
I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind
Got my paper and I was free

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

I stopped by the bar at 3 a.m.
To seek solace in a bottle or possibly a friend
And I woke up with a headache like my head against a board
Twice as cloudy as I'd been the night before
And I went in seeking clarity.

I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains
Yeah we go to the doctor, we go to the mountains
We look to the children, we drink from the fountains
Yeah we go to the bible, we go through the workout
We read up on revival and we stand up for the lookout
There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
The less I seek my source for some definitive
(the less I seek my source)
The closer I am to fine

[Thelonius Gant]

Well until about 10 minutes ago my characters had no theme tunes, but now they have... songs which vaguely represent them.
Somehow.
But not really.

For Thelonius Gant the Average Man by Simple Kid
Cause he can't face his limitations today.

The average man is 35 years old
He owns a car but he dreams of a better one
He's overweight but he's working on losing some
The average man of the street is not on the street.

And he will fall in love at least two times in his life
And he will be unfaithful at least three times
He loves his wife but he sometimes dreams of a better one
Go-go, the average man, go-go

What are you looking for, average man?

The average man will spend 3 hours
Watching moving images on TV everyday
He spends 20 pounds a week on drinking and cigarettes
But the man says he will give up one day

And he is unhappy with his general appearance
And will spend over 3,000 hours shaving in the mirror
He has a face but he sometimes dreams of a better one
Go-go, the average man, go-go

What are you looking for, average man?

The average man is living for tomorrow
He cannot to face his limitations today
Works hard on 3-2-6 days of the year
For a two week holiday

I saw on TV bout this man from old England
Everyday he works 17 hours
One day he come home and shoot both children
And the neighbors said he was an average man

Go-go, the average man
What are you looking for, average man?
What are you looking for, average man?

Ain't nothin average about me, man

Anton Lyssak would groove only to the sound of the Decemberists with You'll Not Feel The Drowning.
Cause it's creepy and kinda unsettling.
Which is about right

I will dress your eyelids
With dimes upon your eyes
Laying close to water
Green your grave will rise
Go to sleep little ugly
Go to sleep you little fool
Forty-winking in the belfry
You'll not feel the drowning
You'll not feel the drowning

Forget you once had sweethearts
They've forgotten you
Think you not on parents
They've forgotten too
Go to sleep now little ugly
Go to sleep now you little fool
Forty-winking in the belfry
You'll not feel the drowning
You'll not feel the drowning

Go to sleep little ugly
Go to sleep little fool
Forty-winking in the belfry
You'll not feel the drowning
You'll not feel the drowning

Hear you now the captain
Heed his sorrowed cry
"Weight upon your eyelids
Is dimes laid on your eyes

[Julen]

Wow! Everyone came up with really cool, really appropriate tunes. Very interesting reading!

Are we allowed to make suggestions for other characters? Every time I hear "From Yesterday" by 30 Seconds to Mars, I can't help thinking of Krevster:

He's a stranger to some
And a vision to none
He can never get enough,
Get enough of the one

For a fortune he'd quit
But it's hard to admit
How it ends and begins

On his face is a map of the world

From yesterday, it's coming
From yesterday, the fear
From yesterday, it calls him
But he doesn't want to read the message here

On a mountain he sits
Not of gold but of sin
Through the blood he can look
See the lives that he took
From the council of one
He'll decide when he's done
With the innocent

On his face is a map of the world

From yesterday, it's coming
From yesterday, the fear
From yesterday, it calls him
But he doesn't want to read the message
He doesn't want to read the message
Doesn't want to read the message here

On his face is a map of the world

As for Julen, I have yet to find a song that's generally appropriate to him. But I do have a few that reflect his relationships with various people.

"In Her Eyes" by Josh Groban describes his relationship with Rosemary, and comes the closest to being a general Julen song -- maybe because his relationship with Rosemary is such a huge part of his life. And yes, it's really smarmy. I apologize.

(Interestingly, if you subsitute "him" for her", and think of it being directed at Aorle, it still mostly works. Hmm...)

She stares through my shadow
She sees something more
Believes there's a light in me
She is sure
And her truth makes me stronger
Does she realize
I awake every morning
With her strength by my side

I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
A man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am

This world keeps on spinning
Only she stills my heart
She's my inspiration
She's my northern star
I don't count my possessions
All I call mine
I will give her completely
To the end of all time

I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
A man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am

In her eyes I see the sky and all I'll ever need
In her eyes time passes by and she is with me

I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
A man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am
In her eyes I am

When I first heard "She's Too Much" by Duran Duran, I iknew it reflected Julen's feelings for Kaydee. Since then, I've tried desperately to convince myself that it really applies to Rosemary, since Julen shouldn't be feeling that way about Kaydee...but my first impression still remains the true one.

She's gentle to the touch
She's everything head first
So happy to be causing trouble

Sometimes
The pressure gets too much
And you think she's going to burst
And shatter like a Christmas baubble

I'll be there
When the world is coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner

She cries when she's alone
For all life's little knocks
Everything that's supposed to make us tougher
Thinking it doesn't really show
But I know how she hurts
And I can't bare to see her suffer

I'll be there
When the world is coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
I'll be there
When the world is closing to surround her
In the air
As she falls with my arms around her

Holding on
I'm looking out for
Her thin skin
Because she's everything
And I don't think she knows

She's such a gentle touch
She's too much a gentle touch

She likes to catch the sun
Plays with it like a ball
And never mind whatever keeps it burning
Someday, she might just be the one
Who's going to save us all
If this apocalypse is coming

I'll be there
When the world is coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
I'll be there
When the world is closing to surround her
In the air
As she falls with my arms around her

Holding on
I'm looking out for
Her thin skin
Because she's everything
And I don't think she knows

And finally, here's one for chat Julen and his relationship with chat Jenica. "Cold" by Breaking Benjamin:

Crowded streets are cleared away
One by One
Hollow heroes separate
As they run

You're so cold
Keep your hand in mine
Wise men wonder while
Strong men die

Show me how it ends
It's alright
Show me how defenseless you really are
Satisfied and empty inside
That's alright
Let's give this another try

If you find your family
Don't you cry
In this land of make-believe
Dead and dry

You're so cold, but you feel alive
Lay your hands on me one last time

[Alibi of Tyrants]

I have to say that Everett doesn't embody a particular song. Unlike most of my characters (most of which are one hundred percent derived from a particular piece of music), the gumshoes takes certain little bits of some songs and throws them together into a veritable melting pot.

I have to say edgy, rebellious music has fueled his creation and his characters. Though viewed as somewhat lighthearted in comparison to other bands in the ska/punk genre, I'd have to say that the playfulness and humor that exists behind Everett's character stems from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. In some songs, these guys address some of society's pressing and under-appreciated issues in such a way that while it makes you tap your feet and smile it also makes you think and ingrains this sort of attitude within you. The sort of, "wtf? That's not cool!" or "Hey! That shit's happening in my backyard!". That's the basis behind Everett. While not as lighthearted, the syntax of my writing style with him is oft-times lighthearted and meant to make you chortle. However, the cynicism and the assholery that he brings to the table is also supposed to convey a deeper message. The bridge-line in the "Rascal King" sums up his character quite nicely, as found in his signature. While the song itself talks about how awesome a bartender would be in the world of politics, that particular line speaks to me about Ev's character. Is he just an asshole? Or a great guy? That's for the situation to decide, but even that's a little unclear at times because everyone's else's perspective gets in the way.

Whew.

[Metarie]

I'm going to have to ponder this one for Metarie. Anyone have any thoughts while I ponder?

[Drake]

How about......Brick House by....some old band....

She's a Brick *dun duh-du* House *dun duh-du*

[Pagusel]

I don't know, for Dorcas, seeing as it's hard to capture teen angst seriously.

I hadn't really thought of theme songs for my characters, but this one came to me for Pagusel--it's not specifically relating to her and her story, but the combination of the chord progression, the instrumentation, and both the general tone of the song as well as the cryptic, foreign-type mindset behind the message all seem to come together into something I like for her.

The Gladiators--Looks is Deceiving (listen to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrl8-Cg_Zkw )

Ah ah ah - it gwine red down here inna Babylon
So me give it to ya in a parable:

Old time people them used to say:
When short mouth tell you you can't hear
so when long mouth tell you ya a go feel it, feel it
You talk too much , you will pay for what you don't eat
Goat never know the use of him tail till the butcher cut it off
Goat never know the use of him tail till the butcher cut it off

Looks is deceiving, man - don't underrate no man
Looks is deceiving, yeah - don't underrate no man

Don't watch the tool, the work it can do
Watch the man that behind it
The man laugh first, him nuh laugh
yet the man laugh las', get it full.....

[Lucian]

For Metarie:

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

Ooh, now let's get down tonight
Baby I'm hot just like an oven
I need some lovin'
And baby, I can't hold it much longer
It's getting stronger and stronger
And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me
Whenever blue tear drops are falling
And my emotional stability is leaving me
There is something I can do
I can get on the telephone and call you up baby, and
Honey I know you'll be there to relieve me
The love you give to me will free me
If you don't know the things you're dealing
I can tell you, darling, that it's Sexual Healing
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up, let's make love tonight
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, 'cos you do it right
Baby I got sick this morning
A sea was storming inside of me
Baby I think I'm capsizing
The waves are rising and rising
And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing is good for me
Makes me feel so fine, it's such a rush
Helps to relieve the mind, and it's good for us
Sexual Healing, baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me
And it's good for me and it's good to me
My baby ohhh
Come take control, just grab a hold
Of my body and mind soon we'll be making it
Honey, oh we're feeling fine
You're my medicine open up and let me in
Darling, you're so great
I can't wait for you to operate
I can't wait for you to operate
When I get this feeling, I need Sexual Healing

[Metarie]

[Lucian]

Heheheh.

Man, I've never actually heard more than three seconds of that song, but WOW. It sucks, so much.

"Baby, I'm hot just like an oven."

WTF.

[Daq Bekkar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYV9gFsp ... re=related

It has this sort of.. underwater quality to it.. Like when you've taken some pretty strong medicine or something like that, which is how I envision Daq going through his day-to-day--not drugged, but with a deliberate, escapist sort of numbness. This all hints to elements of the character's past, which I've not revealed.

The repetition gives it a persevering stubbornness, which also echoes a lot of his personality and the years he spent traveling before arriving at Thar, and the final break from the repetition has a happier sort of bent, which is what I had imagined for Daq's (perhaps distant) future.

Oh and in the video they're doing all kinds of science-y stuff, which is nice. A little modern day alchemy maybe.

[Goeffrey Coward]

Samahazai's is probably BLACK DOOR by the Black Keys...
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Black+Keys/_/Black+Door

Not much in terms of lyrics, but it's just so perfectly dirty...

also, @Dorcas... Have you ever heard of Be Your Own PET? They're pretty much teen angst personified...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lBhVJzF_QE

What punks... I love them