Today is the last day to join, so if you want in on it, be sure to read over the rules and PM Shakespearicles!Music for Writing: Post Diez - Proddin' the Muse (Songs to Get Started) · 9:12pm Sep 5th, 2019
Whee, it's back! My weird post series of music shares for writing inspiration. I've also gone through my previous posts (which you can find by clicking here, or just doing a blog post search for 'Music for Writing') and removed all the dead links.
So today is a bit different. I'm not sharing anything instrumental, because the purpose of these songs is not for buoying your creative voyage, but rather, starting it. The artists you may recognize, and the songs you may have heard, but maybe you just needed to be reminded of them like how I was reminded of Natasha Bedingfield's "These Words" today? If you're familiar with the songs, I task you with listening more closely to the lyrics. Try to ignore the surface sounds. Put on some headphones and try to find the other instruments in the background. Play with the equalizer.
I'm choosing these songs because they are intensely evocative to those who really give them a listen. Visualize! What characters and settings can you start to imagine after hearing these?
Get 'em after the jump!
First up is from Florence + The Machine, "What The Water Gave Me"
Honorable mentions go to "Dog Days Are Over", "Cosmic Love", and "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)". Honestly, there's too many good songs to mention from her. I've always loved her powerful use of imagery (whether she's singing about the cosmos, becoming an unhallowed beast, being sacrificed to powerful forces of nature... etc.) Can't comment on her newer stuff as much.
Next, we've got St. Vincent's "Actor Out of Work"
First off: love this music video. Honorable mentions go to "The Strangers", and "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood". Like Florence, she has a lot of stuff that are muse jump-starters. While I like her newer work, I still feel her earlier work is better for igniting the creative fire.
Third is The Good Natured's "Your Body Is A Machine" remixed by Aspirins.
Sadly, The Good Natured is no more, but you can still find some of their music online. Honorable mentions go to "Warriors", and "Kingdom".
Final one is from Kate Bush, "Cloudbusting".
People always remember Kate Bush for "Running Up That Hill", "Army Dreamers", and "Wuthering Heights", but this song's line: “You’re like my yo-yo/ That glowed in the dark/ What made it special/ Made it dangerous/ So I bury it/ And forget” is basically worthy of a mic drop. It's relatable, and it's something you can use when needing inspiration.
That's all I got atm! I wish I wasn't so pressed for time (in fact I think I may be late to work). There's tons of other artists I'd like to share songs from-- Joy Division, Oingo Boingo, Bauhaus, Gnarls Barkley, Restoring Poetry in Music, and even Tupac. But I'm sure if you guys are stuck, if you look and listen, you can find something that'll awaken your ideas!
Till next time guys. Hope you liked it.
