I thought it would be fun to kind of explore my characters and think about what they would listen to on their iPods/Mp3s, etc. and so I made up a list of songs for the two of them. What do you think your characters would listen to based upon their personalities/life experiences/etc.? Please describe your character a little (if possible) and then also his/her/its personality.
Paige--(12-year-old girl from a small town in Illinois, comes from a Iroquois Native American, African American and European American background, has black, crimpy hair with blonde highlights and dark tan skin, parents are in the Iraqi war currently, has two little sisters and lives with her grandparents currently. Loves baseball, is very opinionated, sweet, a little bit of a temper, best friend is Abigail.
"7 Things" by Miley Cyrus
"The Great Escape"--Boys Like Girls
"Gold Digger"--Kanye West
"Go, Cubs, Go"--Steve Goodman :) (Did I mention she likes baseball?)
"Permanent Marker"--Taylor Swift
"My Wish"--Rascal Flatts
"Rockstar"--Miley Cyrus (she's twelve still)
"Take a Bow"--Rihanna
"Irreplaceable"--Beyonce
"Invisible"--Taylor Swift (and basically anything else by Taylor Swift)
"All Star"--Smashmouth
"Whaddaya Want From Me?"--Adam Lambert
"Radio"--Shaun Fisher and the Jukebox Gypsies (and all the songs on their first album)
"Sober"--Pink
"Brave"--Idina Menzel
"Don't Stop Believin'"-- the original by Journey
"Jessie's Girl"--Rick Springfield
"My World"--Avril Lavigne
"Just the Way You Are"--Bruno Mars
That song called "Calling All Angels" from "Pay it Forward" (so sad but great)
"All the Young Dudes"--Mott the Hoople
Abigail (Part Hopi Native American, Japanese and European American, long, chestnut-brown hair, tan skin and huge smile, sensitive, less easy to anger than Paige, loves baseball, not as opinionated as Paige, older brother Andy is in the war in Iraq too, loves little kids and hanging out with friends):
"Remember Me This Way"--Jordan Hill (from the movie "Casper")
"Bubbly"--Colbie Caillat
"Nothin' on You, Baby"--B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars
"Whaddaya Want from Me?"--Adam Lambert
"Piece of Me"--Britney Spears (all of us have our stuff that goes against our personality)
Ditto on Shaun Fisher for what Paige said
"Toxic"--Britney Spears
"Sober"--Pink
"Break Your Little Heart"--All Time Low
"Take it Easy"--The Eagles (everybody likes a little oldies--at least a little bit--most people)
"The Best Day"--Taylor Swift
"Never Gonna Be Alone"--Nickelback
"Tattoo"--Jordin Sparks
"Over the Rainbow"--Judy Garland
"Born in the U.S.A."--Bruce Springsteen
"Heels over Head"--Boys Like Girls
"Just the Way You Are"--Bruno Mars
"Naturally"--Selena Gomez
"Summer Girls"--LFO
Okay, procrastination is officially over. :)
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50,271 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2010 - 22 27
Both of my MCs have eclectic taste in music. :) I just find making a playlist for them helps to let me figure out their personalities. I do it for almost all my MCs. There's only been one or two I haven't done it for.
50,038 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2010 - 21 46
Some songs that i've had on repeat are:
orenda fink - bloodline
ride - vapour trail
veruca salt - shimmer
bikini kill - suck my left one
tegan & sara - my number
st. Vincent - now, now
arcade fire - ready to start
kate bush - cloudbusting
built to spill - the weather
I don't know if they're on my MC's playlist, but they do make me think of her...
----------The day is slipping away, why am I
out here, what do they want?
I am sorrowful in November...
- Anne Sexton, from "Hurry Up Please It's Time"
53,546 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2010 - 20 19
Love this topic. (And not a bad way to procrastinate) A few months ago I was at a conference where a published author said that part of her creative process is to listen to each character's given playlist while writing.
I don't know that I have individual playlists, really, but, like elbakerone, I do have a soundtrack.
My novel spans about 25 years in the lives of four friends, one of whom has gone missing.
A few songs most readily bring me to my story:
All Right (Christopher Cross)
All Summer Long (Kid Rock)
All Star (Smash Mouth)
C'mon Feel the Noise (Quiet Riot)
Caught Up In You (.38 Special)
50,105 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2010 - 10 30
Wow! I've never stopped to put much thought into what music my characters would listen too. Perhaps the fact that I don't own an iPod has kept me from wondering if they do. ;)
I do however tend to hear songs on the radio that mentally become a soundtrack for my novel or my writing experience. The other day I was scanning stations and hit an old REO Speedwagon song and the line "what started out as friendship has grown stronger, I only wish I had the strength to let it show" fit my main character perfectly. (Which was good from an inspiration perspective, but awful for going into the next hour of novelling with REO Speedwagon stuck in my head. Something about that band is just meant to be belted out Karaoke style, not running through your head when you're trying to work. "I'm gonna kee-eep ooo-on loooo-ving yoooouuuuu...")
----------http://herbookself.blogspot.com