The New Hello: Novel Soundtrack(s)

Cover Art

I'm a bit obsessed with The Hawk In Paris' song "The New Hello" right now. I'd probably be obsessed with all their other songs  too, if I had them. I got "The New Hello (Hers)" on a free download online from Noistrade.com, so it's the only one I have right now. And I love this song. There's so much in it and I can definitely see a lot of this song coming out in my novel. I'm not sure if that's because I'm writing based off of this song or if I love this song because it's a reflection of what I'm writing and thinking about a lot lately. Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Whatever the case, this song is kind of the theme of this story.

She was falling down the mountain, an avalanche of human stone.
As she tumbled to the valley, she thought she's better off alone.
He felt the pressure of a million miles underneath the sea
Still taking in water from a love that couldn't be.

It was girls on one side, boys on the other
No one was dancing or looking for love
Sometimes it's over before it begins.
No one takes a risk and everyone wins.
If you love someone, then let them go.
'Cause goodbye is the new hello.
The new hello

She was hanging in the shadows, a ghost along the flowered walls.
And when she stepped out of the darkness, she thought she'll never love at all.
He felt the measure of a million lives underneath his skin
Still waiting for the courage and the music to begin.

It was girls on one side, boys on the other
No one was dancing or looking for love.
Sometimes it's over before it begins
No one takes a risk and everyone wins
If you love someone, then let them go
'Cause goodbye is the new hello
The new hello

As the boys took the hands of the angels
She watched him frozen to the floor.
When the lights slid off of the mirror ball
She couldn't see him anymore.
She walked right out the door.
Sometimes it's over before it begins.
No one takes a risk and everyone wins.
If you love someone, then let them go
'Cause goodbye is the new hello

The new hello

( from "The New Hello" by The Hawk In Paris)

So that is the soundtrack for my novel. I know this song sort of sounds like a love story gone wrong...my novel isn't really a love story gone wrong, it's simply a story about love gone wrong in terms of family trust, loyalty, and responsibility. And then the idea of "the measure of a million lies underneath his skin" makes me think of Clem and "as she stumbled through the valley, she thought she's better off alone" is very much a reflection of a lot of the characters in this story who think they're better off alone.

I haven't been focusing on individual characters very much and so I'm sorry if you're a little lost as to how these songs/music all work with my characters. Well, my intention with doing this is really to help me more than my readers get to know my characters. There's something about finding a soundtrack for your story and for your characters that brings them to life. And there's something about music that inspires scenes and emotions and dialogue in me.

Well, for Athol, Aiden, and Koltan Maccallum I decided to make their "soundtrack" song "Hot Air Balloon" by Owl City.

We wrote a prelude

To our own fairy tale

And bought a parachute

At a church rummage sale

And with a mean sewing machine

And miles of thread

We sewed the day above L.A.

In navy and red

We roamed a racetrack
Through your mom's kitchen chairs
And fought the shadows back
Down your dark basement stairsI
I lit a match, then let it catch
To light up the room
And then you yelled as we beheld
An old maroon, hot air balloon
I'll be out of my mind
And you'll be out of ideas pretty soon
So let's spend the afternoon
 In a cold hot air balloon
Leave your jacket behind
Lean out and touch the treetops over town
I can't wait to kiss the ground
Wherever we touch back down.
(from "Hot Air Balloon" by Owl City)

And then I chose "The Real World" by Owl City, not really for any specific character, but really for the forest. "The Real World" sounds to me like their journey through the forest and through the entire story, really...

From the green belt balcony
The wildfires look so pretty
Ponderosa canopy
I'd never leave if it were up to me
To the ruby redwood tree
And to the velvet climbing ivy
Painted all mahogany
I'd never leave if it were up to me
With a starry brush
Paint the dusk venetian blue
'Cause in the evening hush
You'll never believe the view
And when the leaves return
And their whisperings fill the night
They'll freeze and burn
Where fire and ice collide
Where fire and ice collide
Can you feel a silk embrace
In the satin air?
If we dissolved without a trace
Would the real world even care?
Downy feathers kiss your face
And flutter everywhere
Reality is a lovely place
But I wouldn't wanna live there
(from Owl City's "The Real World")

I decided for Clem, he needed something more "hard core". Haha. Practically the entire Switchfoot album "Hello Hurricane" summarizes his character, specifically the songs "Mess Of Me" and "Yet".

All attempts have failed

All my heads are tails

She's got teary eyes

I've got reasons why

 I'm losing ground

And gaining speed

I've lost myself for most of me

I'm heading for the final precipice

 But you haven't lost me yet

No you haven't lost me yet

I'll sing until my heart caves in

No, you haven't lost me yet...

If it doesn't break your heart it isn't love

No, if it doesn't break your heart, it's not enough

It's when you're breaking down, with your insides coming out

That's when you find out what your heart is made of   

And you haven't lost me yet

No, you haven't lost me yet

I'll sing until my heart caves in

No, you haven't lost me yet...

(from "Yet" by Switchfoot)

And that is all I have for you tonight concerning all things NaNoWriMo. I know you must be fearing for my sanity at this moment, but don't worry...Novemeber will be over soon enough!