Soundtrack for the Shadows

Is there anyone who doesn't like music? That is a serious question. Barring some fundamental issue involving one's hearing, it's impossible to not be exposed to music in some form or fashion. As such I would like to share a few thoughts on music and its impact on the Book of the Shadows.
Yesterday I finally was able to upload the final chapter of Book I of the Book of the Shadows. I hope that it proves an enjoyable read, despite my imperfections in style and delivery. In the next couple days I hope to start uploading to FanFiction.net the second book. That one will be posted at a rate of about one or two chapters a week. It is a much more engaging story I believe.

But music is what I'm posting about today, because I like music. Most people like music. I don't "love" music.

I say that I don't "love" music because while I listen to music all the time, even while sleeping, I'm not like others who will go to great lengths to learn everything about music or about their particular song. I don't read up on the artists, or have to own every piece of music, or even every favorite song, or hold in my hands a copy of the lyrics. I think I've been to two concerts in my entire life - they were free (for me). Pop, hip-hop, rap, J-pop, rock, dub-step, country, jazz.... there isn't a genre except maybe grunge, metal, and heavy metal, that doesn't have at least one example that I can say that I don't like at all. I can listen to about anything.

So I like music... a lot. But I don't love music.

Music does play some role in my story. Beyond the noting of a few Legend of Zelda songs in chapter 12, the song I mentioned, Endless Waltz of Time, was a song my brother and I partially composed. We never finished it, partly due to lack of general skill, so I never engaged that song into the story as I intended.

The effect of music on my personally is a part of the story process. When I began writing I didn't intend to use music in any real respect. But one of the things about me, and I suspect many people, is that listening to music helps calm me and helps me think.

The one thing I have yet to do, but would like to try at some point, is to write at least a chapter based around a single song. I thought about doing something like this based around Christmas Eve Sarajevo by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (possibly my favorite Christmas song), but I wasn't really able to figure out where I wanted to begin with that.

What I started to do at one point was to think about what I was writing, think of a song I knew of that matched up with that part of the story, either in the lyrics or in the general tone and tenor to the song, and had a running list of those songs. Essentially I attempted to generate a soundtrack.

From the time I started writing Book II around 2004/2005 I made an effort to be sure I was listening to music when I was writing. Not to include the use of that music into my writing the story, just whatever kind of music fit my mood as I was getting ready to write.

Unfortunately I lost that original list along the way over the years, so I don't have that original list anymore. I did, however, start a new one. So below I share that list. It is song and artist, linked to an example of the song on YouTube in case you're unfamiliar with the particular song. No, I didn't upload any of these videos, so I can't attest to anything regarding their quality or alternate versions or anything like that.

I was thinking about coming up with some kinda snappy name for the soundtrack, like "Shadow Tracks" or something, but I can't think of a good one right now, so here's the list;

I Turn To You (Hex Hector remix) by Melanie C   (one of my top favorite songs)
Don't You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin    (sort of a good Yami/Yugi song)
Wasted by Cinephile
Fight Together by Amuro Namie   (should be mostly self explanatory)
Kiss From A Rose by Seal 
Manifest Destiny by Jamiroquai
Headstrong by Trapt   (good for most duels)
Breathe by Telepopmusik
My Long Forgotten Cloistered Sleep  by Kaijura Yuki   (makes a lot more sense by Nocturne of the Shadows)
A Little Taste by Skyler Stonestreet
Fly Me To The Moon (Climax)    (just a great remix of a great classic song)
Awake by Electric Guest   (matches Tea either in Book II or in the far off Book IX/X)
Bring Me To Life by Evanesence feat. Paul McCoy (this one covers much of Book II)
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
One Sweet Day by Boyz II Men/Mariah Carey
Once Upon A December by Deana Carter
This One (Crying Like A Child)  by Utada
Too Close by Alex Clare   (this song applies to the Third Moon saga, which is very far off)

Enjoy music!

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