If your life was a movie — and really, shouldn’t it be?? — what would the soundtrack be? Sorry, no original music allowed, even if you’re BFFs with John Williams, Danny Elfman AND Randy Newman.
Here’s how it works:
1. Open your music library on iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, or whatever
1. Shuffle it
3. For every ‘scene’ below, type the title and the artist in the order the songs come up
OR
1. If you’re old and don’t have your tunes online, close your eyes and pull out 16 CDs, albums, cassettes, 8-tracks or 78s.
2. Actually shuffle them. Be careful, though — they’re antiques.
3. Type in the first title and artist for each scene below
4. Whichever way you do it, no cheating!
Waking up:
Falling in Love:
Fight Song:
Breaking Up:
Prom:
Life:
Mental Breakdown:
Driving:
Flash Back:
Getting Back Together:
Wedding:
Birth of a Child:
Final Battle:
Death Scene:
Funeral Song:
End Credits:
Here’s the soundtrack of my life …
Waking up: Something Bad — from Wicked
Falling in Love: Let’s Get Mesolithic — by Eddie From Ohio
Fight Song: Make Someone Happy — by Jimmy Durante
Breaking Up: Superstar — by Sonic Youth
Prom: Mony Mony — by Tommy James and the Shondells
Life: Where Have All The Cowboys Gone — by Paula Cole
Mental Breakdown: I’m Not That Girl — from Wicked
Driving: Hand Jive — from Grease
Flash Back: Best Shot — by Pat Benatar
Getting Back Together: Words of Love — by Buddy Holly
Wedding: As We Stumble Along — from The Drowsy Chaperone
Birth of a Child: Schadenfreude — from Avenue Q
Final Battle: Our House — by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Death Scene: Loose Lips — by Kimya Dawson
Funeral Song: Whip It — by Devo
End Credits: Don’t Ask Me Why — by Billy Joel
Most of them are perfect. Some made me laugh out loud. For instance, picture doing the Hand Jive while driving. Oh wait. I think I’ve done that … no, nevermind. I’m thinking of when I go to the dentist.
And for those of you who are not Eddie From Ohio fans, “Let’s Get Mesolithic” is a sort of love song, in that drag-your-mate-by-the-hair kinda way.
Benatar as my flashback song? Perfect, as she was the mini-soundtrack of my life for every event I attended in college. And, by ‘event’ I mean anything other than classes. Always after dark. Usually in a large crowd. Often with my fraternity brothers.
I’ve already left instructions for my survivors to play “Whip It” at my funeral. Try to detect it. It’s not too late. To whip it. Whip it good. Devo definitely puts the fun in funeral!
And Jimmy Durante? I don’t care who you are, that’s just funny.
What’s the soundtrack of your life?
Waking up: Forth Eorlingas – London Philharmonic
Falling in love: High of 75 – Relient K
Fight song: Cry Tough – Poison
Breaking Up: Social Disgrace – Rock Star Supernova
Prom: Everytime – Simple Plan
Life: Home – Smash Mouth
Mental Breakdown: Duel of the Fates – London Symphony
Driving: We Ridin’ – Boyz N Da Hood
Flash Back: Yesterday’s Papers – Rolling Stones
Getting Back Together: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind – Randy Travis
Wedding:Superman – Five for Fighting
Birth of a Child: The Gangs All Here – Dropkick Murpheys
Final Battle: Pour Some Sugar On Me- Def Leppard
Death Scene: Never Die Young – James Taylor (Wow, perfect timing)
Funeral Song: Rock the Casba – The Clash
End Credits: Hold on – Blink-182
Flash Back: Yesterday’s Papers – Rolling Stones
Getting Back Together: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind – Randy Travis
Birth of a Child: The Gangs All Here – Dropkick Murpheys
Death Scene: Never Die Young – James Taylor
Are you SURE you didn’t cheat??! These are too perfect! What a hoot!
So, I’ve played along. Now I just have to figure out what songs will go along with my upcoming dream sequence. (It’s late and I’m going to bed.)
Alejna … I wouldn’t let just anyone cheat, but since you’re feeling poorly, I’ll give you a pass. This time. Hope you’re dancing again soon!
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Ahh, you got me – I couldn’t name a show tune even if it was stuck in my head for hours on end. Isn’t my wedding song funny? – Over My Head – hilarious!! And my flashback song … the chorus goes “Where were you when we were getting high?” Uh oh, am I being watched?!? I’ll need to go back to my CIA code name! Although the fact that people have to stop and stare upon my awakening pretty much sums up the quirkiness of my life
Bethany … you and I are very simpatico! I think everyone should leave explicit instructions for their funeral and “Tell Me Something Good” is an excellent idea.
Victoria … your fight song and your life song are perfect!
Mary … I have heard several of the artists you list, and quite possibly some of the songs. But before you groan, how up-to-date are you on your show tunes? Hmmmm???? That’s what I thought.
Well, it took me awhile to be able to do the random thing – damn iTunes made by Mac people – but here goes!!
Waking up: Stop and Stare (One Republic)
Falling in Love: Lost (Anouk)
Fight Song: Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood)
Breaking Up: Move Along (The All American Rejects)
Prom: In Your Eyes (Craig Lyons)
Life: Home (Daughtry)
Mental Breakdown: Love me Dead (Ludo)
Driving: I will follow you into the dark (Death cab for cutie)
Flash Back: Champagne Supernova (Oasis)
Getting Back Together: I Don’t Care (Fall Out Boy)
Wedding: Over my Head (The Fray)
Birth of a Child: Human (The Killers)
Final Battle: What are you Looking for? (Sick Puppies)
Death Scene: I don’t want to be (Gavin DeGraw)
Funeral Song: Better Days (The Goo Goo Dolls)
End Credits: Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer)
Wow, that worked out pretty well … please tell me you’ve listened to some of these songs before!!!
Jeez, Beckster, this is pretty involved. All right, I’ll play–
Waking up: Fields of Gold, Sting
Falling in Love: Graceland, Paul Simon
Fight Song: Hard Day’s Night, Beatles
Breaking Up: Memory of Trees, Enya
Prom: Both Sides Now, Judy Collins version
Life: On The Road Again, Willie Nelson
Mental Breakdown: The Leader of The Band, Dan Fogelburg
Driving: Shape of My Heart, Sting
Flash Back: Pilgrim, Enya
Getting Back Together:The Boxer, Simon and Garfunkel
Wedding:
Birth of a Child:
Final Battle:
Death Scene:
Funeral Song:
End Credits:
OK, I am cheating, I am short on time, so can’t do your fun suggestion, but couldn’t resist answering!
I do have a soundtrack song for my life (and death – I tell everyone I want this song played at my funeral and then everyone has to tell a great story about something fun or funny that we did together!) The song is “Tell Me Something Good!” by Rufus and Chaka Chan