Music soothes the savage beast (or, in this case, the weirdo writer)

[changeyourstars8]

Music's always been one of the hugely important things in my life. One of the pictures framed in my parents' house is of me at about 7 or 8, holding a tape player that contained the Big Chill soundtrack, headphones on, grinning away.

I've always loved musicals-- Disney, live-action, whatever. I nearly wore out copies of FernGully and Beauty and the Beast and Newsies and The Little Mermaid and Singin' in the Rain when I was a kid.

When I was in high school and dealing with the guidance counselors, I'd go home and blast "You Don't Own Me" and remind myself that this, too, would pass.

Now, no matter what kind of a crappy mood I'm in, I can listen to "Come What May" and feel better. The beginning rhythm of it is calming enough, but then it gets to the first verse with him singing quietly and it's like the musical equivalent of a soft fuzzy blanket. And then the song moves from quiet to passionate and by the end of it I'm singing along (in fact, I am doing so even as I type this. Be glad this is not a phone post) and feeling fine.

Given all this, it's really no surprise that just about every actor I've had a crush on sings.

Scott Bakula sang quite a bit throughout Quantum Leap, and my thirteen-year old self was hooked. I like Broadway shows, but there is one main reason I watch the Tony Awards and Hugh Jackman is it. When Christian Slater sang a Sinatra song on Jay Leno, one of my friends IMd me immediately afterwards to say, "He started that and I thought, 'Stephanie's gotta be on Cloud 9 right now'", and I said, "No, I found Cloud 10".

Whenever I hear "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" on the radio I grin, because I think of Heath Ledger performing it in 10 Things I Hate About You. I love the movie My Own Country for many reasons, but when Naveen Andrews starts singing (I don't know the name of the song, it's in a language I don't know and if I tried to type out any parts of it I'm sure I'd butcher the spelling) I melt into a little puddle. Albeit a puddle with eyes so I can continue watching the movie. I rented Prince of Egypt just so I could hear Ralph Fiennes sing. And do I even have to mention all the many reasons I love Ewan McGregor?

Some people have food fetishes, some have shoe fetishes, I have a voice fetish. Flowers, they're nice; jewelry, can take it or leave it; sing to me, I'm yours. ;-)

What about you guys? Music an obsession, more of a background noise? Favorite songs and why? Favorite musical? Etc. and etc.

Comments

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

And as long as we're mentioning Moulin Rouge music--

"Elephant Love Medley" has just about the same effect on me . . . I love that song so much that I suggested naming one of Kath's and my novels after it in a way (Stealing Time) That part of the song where they're singing lyrics from "Heroes", the way he sings 'forever and ever'-- words cannot express the sheer ::ZONE:: factor of that part. :-)

[newredshoes]

Oh, for that one for me it's the transition into "I Will Always Love You." Purr.

And his "Why does my heart cry?" bit on "Roxanne" is great too. Plus the first and last verses of "Your Song" -- "and this one's for you... and you can tell ev'rybody..."

Also, the first "I will love you" at the end of the "Come What May" finale -- that's beautiful harmony between him and Nicole Kidman.

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

That part, too. I'd always felt kindof ambivalent about the song "I Will Always Love You" because I heard it so much when I was younger, but man, talk about suddenly gaining a whole new appreciation for it. Heh.

And the Roxanne Tango-- I love the setup of that song, how the two main voices contrast so much . . . one of them rough and angry and cynical about having been through the situation, and the other going through it right then and just sad and crying out for answers.

I did accept a dare from my friend and play that one at the wedding reception. ;-D

[rosevaughn.livejournal.com]

You should have played it during the wedding. ;)