So sorry it has been so long since I updated the music section on this blog, I guess it was the Prodigy. It tends to shake me…
So let’s dive right in to Chapter 15, and get to the music! Earbuds in, here we go.
Chapter 15
This End of the Telescope, Jakob Dylan
This song just feels sweet and unhurried, lazy and warm, like an afternoon in the sun. It’s romantic but thick, like when you’re bundled up in a blanket and the temperature is just perfect, not quite hot, but more than cuddle.
Afterglow, INXS
To be clear, I am still in mourning for Michael Hutchence. But I do sincerely love this song. I feel like had it been written in the 80s, it would have made the soundtrack in any John Hughes movie.
Chapter 16
Swoon, The Mission U.K.
This is a band Mr. Alice introduced me to years and years ago, and I’ll be god damned if you can find me a sexier song than this one. *shivers*
Cry Love, John Hiatt
I learned about John Hiatt when I first moved to LA, and fell in love with his rich voice and sultry/silly lyrics. You will see that John Hiatt is peppered throughout the Redhead Soundtracks, as he has such a strong storytelling voice. He served as the inspiration for many scenes, and this seemed appropriate at Jack and Grace begin to explore their silly side, mixed with serious sexy.
Break Stuff/Limp Bizkit
There are days man, there are days. When screaming won’t suffice, when driving fast won’t suffice, when shit needs to break.
Don’t Go Away, Oasis
I won’t lie, I love me some Oasis. There is such a specific sound to this band, such a specific image that I get when I listen to their songs. Bowl cuts and sibling rivalry aside, they were a great band. Don’t go away? Sums up the subtext perfectly I think.
I have to tell you, going back through these songs again is making me really miss these two. I have been outlining and outlining my buns off, and I am finally ready to start writing Book 3 in The Redhead Series right after the New Year. So stay tuned for that…heh heh heh For now Nuts Girls, let’s dive back into the soundtrack, shall we?
Chapter 13 Laid, by James The Morning After. Isn’t this always the worst? You are never quite sure how things are going to be, the morning after orgasms have been singing and zinging all around the joint. Will Jack cut and run? Will he stay and make pancakes? Will he make things sing and zing again? Sigh… This song was chosen specifically for the line about “the neighbors complain about the noises above,”. Poor Holly, was that girl had to listen to.
Chapter 14 Wonderwall, by Oasis So now they are settling in, having the breakfast, having the counter encounter. What a lovely feeling, what a lovely song.
With or Without You, U2 I loved this scene, where Jack meets Grace at her home and walks through it with her. Watching him watch her, I always saw this so clearly in my mind. And whenever something is really speaking strongly to me, that’s when the U2 comes out. In my head, I see warm afternoon sunlight, green leaves brushing against the windows, rich warm–toned wood floors, and Jack Hamilton ready to kiss her into outer space if he could just get her close enough to a furniture pad.
OK, that’s all I got for now. Are you enjoying this? Getting anything out of it? At least, are you having fun watching the videos? Let me know, send me an email at alice@aliceclayton.com and tell me what’s going on out there…hit me up Nuts Girls!!
Hello there Nuts Girls. I think it’s time, high time, that we spend a little time with our Jack, and our Prodigy. Shall we?
Chapter 11 Until She Comes, Psychedelic Furs. This is, at the same time, one of the sexiest and sweetest songs I have ever heard. I knew, I just knew, I had to use it somewhere in this story. Besides, the title alone is something that both Jack and Grace would have a chuckle over.
Firestarter, The Prodigy Oh my goodness. May I share for a moment? If I hear this song, Firestarter, I can’t help but turn it up loud enough to make my ears bleed. Why does this song turn me on so much? I have no idea, but it definitely does. And when I was gearing up to write this scene, and I was quite nervous you know, this song found its way onto my iPod and I played it on repeat over and over again, until I was done writing. Whew. The pace, the pulse, the pounding, the thrashing, it builds and builds until you just can’t take it anymore. Oh my my my…
Chapter 12 These Arms Of Mine, Otis Redding Who doesn’t hear this song and think about Dirty Dancing? I admit it, I loved that movie. And the feel of this song, the sexy and the slow and the richness of his voice just seemed to lend itself to a little afterglow.
Rock DJ, Robbie Williams Have you ever seen this video? Robbie Williams is darling and cheeky, and just all around fun. And when I think of Holly and Nick, bursting into Grace’s room to torture her and her Brit, this song just fit that scene so well for me in my head. Truth be told, Nick is one of my favorite characters in this entire series. I have a wonderful friend who would, if given the chance, absolutely sit outside my bedroom door with a bowl of popcorn and listen in…
I will be back soon for another round of Why Did You Pick That Song…see you next time!
OK Nuts Girls, we’re back for another round of Name That Song. Although not really, as technically, I am the one naming each song, but I digress.
Ear buds in? Chair dancing? Ready to kiss Jack? Heh heh heh, I caught you…
Chapter 9 Pretty Vegas, INXS
OK, I know it seems a little blasphemous for the first INXS song I am featuring here to be the non-Michael version, but this was a really great song and it still makes me nod my head a bit. This scene is one of the first where Jack is actively pursuing Grace, getting her to come over for smooches under the guise of coffee. Works every time…
Paradise City, Guns n Roses
OK, I have to admit. When I wrote this scene, I really did see it as though it was already a movie. In the movie version (yet to be filmed, ahem) I picture the beginning of this song coinciding with Grace walking up the steps to Jack’s apartment, perhaps casually glancing around as she balances her coffee while trying to smooth her hair back. Wordlessly, he answers the door, ushers her inside, and begins to do unspeakable things to her. This music? Man, it takes me right there.
Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop, Landon Pigg
The first time I heard this song was while shopping. I loved it, asked the lady in the store who it was, and made her run to the back to look. Its sweet, it’s lovely, it’s timelessly romantic. While Jack and Grace are wild and crazy, their quiet moments? Are very very quiet.
Again, Lenny Kravitz
Once the decision was made that Jack would be British, my childish mind started thinking of ways to work in the “The British are coming” jokes. The end of this scene seemed to fit perfectly. I love the beginning, when its nothing but lust and hormones and your body betrays you at every turn. And the thought of poor Grace, outside on the porch with her sad little dress bunched up around her hips with the porch light turned out on her…God bless.
Chapter 10
Close to Me, The Cure
This is one of those songs that I can’t help but smile when I hear it. I just can’t help it. Again, the phone calls, the texting, the making Holly act as their go between, the beginning of their relationship just makes me laugh. And this song seems to fit them really well.
Make it Go Away, Holly Cole
Again, Holly Cole is a genius. When I was thinking about what songs Grace would sing, not only just on stage, but the first time Jack heard her sing, this song came to mind right away. This song is powerful, and heartbreaking, and perfection.
Strong Enough, Sheryl Crow
I was in college when Sheryl Crow hit it big, and I will never forget playing this song on the jukebox at our favorite bar over and over again, much to the dismay of all the guys in the bar. The words are actually very fitting, especially for someone so outwardly as confident as Grace, but inwardly such a small girl. Plus, it’s a beautiful song.
Anything Anything, Dramarama
This song screams car chase. This song screams sex and fast cars and hormones chasing hormones. I played this song again and again when I was writing this scene, I actually used the beat to type to, forcing me to propel these two up the mountain faster and faster. I can see him, screeching to a stop and stalking to the car, pressing her up against him and then….well.
California Love, Dr Dre and Tupac
I had a lot of fun with this scene, and just when you think it’s gonna be all love and lust, of course something like this would come blasting out of the speakers. Sometimes though, the laughing before the loving is the best of all, ya know??
OK chickens, that’s it for now. Next time?? Prodigy…heeheehee
Back again with another edition of listen-along! I am jumping right in today with the songs, so ear buds in, and get ready to chair dance!
Chapter 7: You Learn, Alanis Morrisette
Oh Alanis. If you are a certain age, this album was issued to you in college. You were required to purchase this album, along with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Hootie. Yes, I said Hootie, but I digress. The entire album Jagged Little Pill was brilliant, and I think we forget how different this record was, how it gave girls permission to scream and yell and not sound perfect and pretty all the time. I listened to this song a lot when I was writing the scene at the restaurant, Gladstone’s. This just felt like an outdoors song, a sun-in-your-face, drinking-beer-by-the-ocean-, flirting-your-buns-off kind of song.
Elderly Woman behind the Counter in a Small Town, Pearl Jam
Nothing turns me into a puddle of goo faster than Eddie Vedder. Except maybe Jordan Catalano. But for this scene, where Jack and Grace kiss for the first time, this song was very inspirational. I listened to it over and over again; in fact I put it on a continuous loop while I wrote. When I wasn’t grinning like a fool, I could feel the sand clinging to Grace’s fingertips, could feel the pinch of the tiny shells under Jack’s arms as he leaned in for the kill, and then the anger/humiliation when that wonderful moment is spoiled by…well…a rather rude bird. Play this song, and then go roll around on a beach somewhere. No beach? Roll in the dirt. Do it.
Chapter 8 Hold You in My Arms, Ray LaMontagne
This is when I really started to see a pattern in the music that inspires me, and in so doing, inspired this entire novel. It’s easy, it’s easy going, it’s a little silly, and a lot schmexy-times. This song I imagine playing as they are driving back from the beach, fully aware of their kiss and fully aware that they have taken the first step in their new wonderful “thing” that is developing between them. But it’s still easy, still mellow. And then when Jack backs away, and leans against this car, I saw this so clearly in my mind. What is it about a guy leaning on a car? It’s built in sex, and Jack was built to lean.
Onion Girl, Holly Cole
I found this singer late one night, flipping through channels and stumbling onto a Sessions show in PBS. And thank goodness I did, as she became one of my favorite singers. This song in particular, suggests Grace to me in so many ways.
I’m a bit unstable She says, with a Cheshire grin So many cracks in my sidewalk, boy Well don’t you fall in.
Everyone has those layers, but when you start to peel, you don’t always find exactly what you want…right? Holly and Grace begin to discuss some of Grace’s fears about pursuing a relationship with Jack, and Holly true to form, bounces it right back at her.
Pretty in Pink, Psychedelic Furs
I have to admit, I had a blast writing this scene. As always, when I write Holly and Grace, I giggle and smile the entire way. And this scene gave us the title of the book, The Unidentified Redhead. Poor Grace, she just can’t catch a break. However, as fun as this scene is, and the back and forth between Jack and Grace is off the charts, this is the first time Grace is photographed, having a simple lunch at the beach. As we will soon see, life with the new It Boy is anything but simple.
That’s all for today, see you again soon! And make sure you drop me a line! alice@aliceclayton.com. Let me know what you think about all the song choices, and if you have been listening right along with me!
