UGC Week: Project Mixtape: Soundtrack

C says, “Compile a 15-song soundtrack for your life so far.”

What would a movie of your life be like?

That’s the first question that I landed on when I started tackling this post. Trying to imagine what kind of soundtrack requires a knowledge of the movie; is it a sweeping, strings-lush instrumental score, 80s covers by nu-metal bands, pop songs reinterpreted by the film’s cast or a selection of self-consciously indie songs designed to sell records to college students.

What is, for instance, the story in my life? I don’t know, and it troubles me that I don’t know. My perspective, maybe, is skewed: I’m too close for analysis. Is it the story about a decent guy who got damaged by a bad relationship and then found love again? An artist or academic who gave up on the things he used to be passionate about to nuzzle up to corporate stability? A sad, introspective film about an aging, out-of-shape fanboy who realizes that his Wolverine action figures won’t keep him warm at night? What is the throughline of my life? I started thinking about it chronologically, but that’s a fool’s errand. I mean, a movie about my life wouldn’t encompass all 31 years, and besides that leaves me with only one song per two point whatever years.

And I haven’t even thought about the music at this point.

When I say that I find Rob Gordon a sympathetic character, this is the sort of behavior and thinking that I’m referring to.

I tried to establish a theme. I worked on this for awhile. Was that theme something about living the face of emotional adversity or about, I don’t know, using only Beta Band songs? There are plenty of soundtracks that have been effective using gimmicks like that, but they tend to be exceptions to the rule.

What rule? That soundtracks are collections of songs completely devoid of a binding cartilage. The Anchorman soundtrack, with its connecting intros by Ron Burgundy, is not subject to this rule, by the way.

So I set out to put together a list of 15 songs that could play in the background during montages, be featured in set pieces or at least one embarrassing karaoke scene, and of course have an upbeat indie song for the titles and an awkward song choice that has nothing to do with the rest of the already kind of fractured song list to play over the end credits as a marketing hook to bring in band completists, the sort of people who’d buy the New Moon soundtrack even though “Meet Me On The Equinox” isn’t a very good Death Cab for Cutie song.

Anyway, after some introspection and some polling among my friends, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that my life story is an awkward indie dramedy. One of my friends posited that I might be played by Michael Cera, which made me cry a little bit, but is hilarious in its dissonance (I hope).

So…

1. The Mountain Goats – Alibi (which will play over the scribbly-looking, poorly animated opening credits)

2. Kenny Ellis – Swingin’ Dreidel

3. Frank Black and the Catholics – Nadine

4. Nostalgia 77 – Seven Nation Army

5. Stellastarr* – Prom Zombie

6. Elvis Costello and the Impostors – Uncomplicated

7. David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust (this would be the awkward karaoke song)

8. REM – Redhead Walking

9. Stan Bush – The Touch (this is the song that everyone will assume is the awkward karaoke song if they haven’t seen the movie)

10. Ben Folds – Give Judy My Notice

11. Manic Street Preachers – Your Love Alone Is Not Enough