Tag: music

TMP – TV Edition: TV Score and/or Theme

Kat Impossible16 Comments

It’s Thursday and I’m back with a new Thursday Movie Picks feature post. This series is hosted by Wandering through the Shelves and offers you a weekly prompt to post some movie recommendations/talking points according to the theme. Usually, you are supposed to post about 3-5 examples, which I find a very manageable amount.

As it so happens once per month though, we focus our attention on television content instead, making this the TV Edition about themes and scores! Some of you might remember how I could barely contain myself last month, when we talked about intro sequences (click here to check it out), but today I find it harder. Music and sound is an integral part of any production, but I would be lying if I said I played extra attention to it. However, as per usual, I’m going to do my very best to give you examples of scores I enjoyed!

Doctor Who

Murray Gold is a genius and has brought that extra bit of magic to Doctor Who. There were several episodes where I remember that his score elevated scenes and brought characters to life. I am personally partial to anything to do with our impossible girl, Clara, which is why I used her theme as an example, but anything would have been a great pick! I mean, the episode with Vincent van Gogh is still one of my favorites and “With Love Vincent” remains a classic example of Gold’s beautiful work.

Bridgerton

Bridgerton did something I enjoy a lot in general and that is remix modern day music into classical pieces performed by string quartets and whatnot they had back in the day. It offers a great connection to our time while not entirely disregarding the time period it is supposed to play in. I personally enjoyed the ball scenes all the more because of it.

Game of Thrones

There are people who would go to a concert just made up of Game of Thrones music, so, I could not not include it. We all know that the intro is iconic, but they also had an amazing score and themes throughout the show as a whole. Ramin Djawadi really understood the assignment here.

The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale is a very impacting story either way, but the music manages to elevate the atmosphere on several occasions. Here I wouldn’t claim to know the name of many titles, but I know that some of those notes vibrated through my body during certain scenes and that in itself was memorable.

The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit surprised me in so many ways I cannot even describe. I didn’t think I could find a show revolving around chess as exciting as I did, but I was fully invested. The score was masterfully done and I don’t know how else to describe it except for outstanding!

What are some of your favorite scores? If this was a post on soundtracks, I may have decided differently, but with just the score … I had to think hard!

Even More Songs I Wish Were Books!

Kat Impossible13 Comments

I have done this before (check out the old post here) and everyone always really seemed to like me sharing some of my at times strange and at times super mainstream music selection. Just to summarize what this post is, I will be sharing songs that I think either make for a great story based on the lyrics or the music video and then describe what I’d expect the book to be like in a couple sentences. I hope you all enjoy and feel inspired to maybe do the same!

Hard Place by H.E.R.

This makes for the perfect base for a toxic relationship novel. I’d imagine this to be more in the adult genre than YA, but it could be on the cusp between the two. Either way, I think it shows the struggles of loving someone deeply, putting them before yourself and losing bits of yourself through that, because nothing ever changes and resentment grows. The challenge and ultimate goal would be to break free from being stuck and accepting heartbreak (the hard place) rather than a love that does you wrong.

 

Pleader by alt-J

When I first saw this music video, which is basically a short film in itself, I was so mesmerized. I wouldn’t want it to be the exact same glum thing as the video (which is based on Tarkovsky’s The Sacrifice along with the music), but here’s what I imagine: A small, close-knit community has been prophesied a life altering extinction-level event (the meteor), but they manage to save one child. The story follows that kid as it grows up in an unfamiliar environment and as to reclaim its roots.

 

I Lost a Friend by FINNEAS

I just think there aren’t nearly enough books about friend-break-ups, which can honestly be just as heartbreaking and earth-shattering as romantic break-ups. I don’t know what specifics I would give for this book, I’d just like people to talk about this more, because not everyone has the same best friend from High School to old age?

 

IDK You Yet by Alexander 23

In my head, this is not a contemporary novel, but something with Fantasy or Science Fiction elements instead. The main character would go through a hard time (“cause lately it’s been hard”) and maybe they’re not human (let’s take the lines “They’re sellin’ me for parts, And I don’t wanna be modern art” literally). An old model of an android, forgotten by humanity and used for parts, yearning for a place in this world, until they meet the person that fits them (does not need to be romantic).

 

Now You’re Gone by Tom Walker feat. Zara Larsson

Again, this is very much inspired by the video. Let’s make him a real magician, constantly putting the life of his true love and assistant at risk, because he wants more global recognition. His mania and drives him to desperation, making it impossible for her to stay. I’d imagine this to be the kind of cruel book with an open end where you don’t find out if she survived the last trick or not.

 

Devil Town by Bright Eyes

This is a comedy about a person who’s living in “Devil Town” and all their friends are vampires as well as themselves, but due to some curse, they keep forgetting it and always have to rediscover it again. Underlying messages about consumerism and the darker side of human nature are an option, but it would generally be on the light-hearted side.

 

Graveyard by Halsey

Honestly, lesbian ghost love story and have it set at a deserted amusement park. Enough said.

 

Every Time I Breathe by Arlissa

I just want this to be a love story spanning over decades, where one tiny decision in the grand scheme of things tore them apart while they are still pinning for each other. (Or, considering it’s connection with Charmed just more Hacy fan fiction. I’d be down either way)

 

Play With Fire by Sam Tinnesz feat. Yacht Money

A firefighter with secrets they can’t share with anyone else. They live on the edge, “playing with fire”, but are at a breaking point when they become too reckless and endanger their entire team. Will they be able to overcome their need for adrenaline?

 

Gosh, I hope I articulated myself alright with some of these, but I’m pretty sure everything sounded better in my head? What did you think of my selection and book wishes? Let’s talk!

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby (Review + Movie Trailer)

Kat Impossible14 Comments

Publisher: Penguin
Page Count: 249

It’s been so long since I have done a regular review for a book and I know because I checked (for real, I haven’t written one since the end of July). I am not exactly ecstatic that the first book after all these months is Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby now to be honest and it’s a little tough to explain the why of it all.

First, Juliet, Naked isn’t a bad book. It’s about people who feel they have wasted years of their lives, whole decades even, due to wrong decisions and a lack of action to change their less than ideal situations. Even as someone who isn’t in her 40s or 50s, I can relate to that topic. There are times I wonder what I am doing with my life and whether I have gotten into enough trouble, taken enough chances or simply whether I am on the right path for future me. This book chronicles how Annie, Duncan and Tucker have to live with their regrets and make the best of it, all packaged with a good measure of dry English humour, a deep fascination with 80s music, a spin on modern day online conversation/dating and unhealthy fandom culture.

Usually, all those aforementioned elements would draw me in immediately! Who am I kidding? The mere suggestion of them here was the reason I picked up the book and in the beginning it was all really funny. I could see myself in parts of each character, like in Duncan’s passion for something he loved (although I never was on his level of obsession for anything ever and I go deep sometimes), Tucker’s ability to share his deepest thoughts with a stranger on the internet but his inability to do so with his closest family and friends or Annie’s fear of having missed the opportunity to have a family of her own by getting comfortable in a situation because it was easy rather than the right one. I don’t mind having people be the main characters who aren’t perfect. In my eyes, it makes them more realistic and human to have various flaws and even flaws that you don’t have to forgive sometimes.  got all that and I felt that and even though it all sounds rather serious and gloomy, it also had some great humour sprinkled in.

But then there were also all these disjointed parts and characters that truly weren’t necessary. And worst of all the conclusion … it felt so open-ended and with a lack of, well, closure. I understand that not ever story needs to tie all ends together, but here it felt like we stopped a couple chapters short of where Juliet, Naked was supposed to end. I didn’t need for them to live happily ever after, but I did need a couple more infos on their fate. So, while I enjoyed the themes and characters (to some extent), the ultimate execution of the story just lacked something for me. I feel like there was a lot more in there we didn’t get to see.

Fazit: 2.5/5 stars! A rather average story that could have been more.

Now, as the title promised, I am also going to share the movie trailer here. I believe, and please don’t hold me accountable on this, the movie is currently in theaters (at least at the time of writing this post). I haven’t seen the movie yet, so no comment on that, but from what I gathered from the trailer, it looks like a faithful adaptation that expands on all the elements that were lacking or not quite right for me in the book. I am curious to see if I am right and whether they will change the end, but take a look for yourself:

Have you read or watched Juliet, Naked? Are there any other Nick Hornby books you’ve checked out? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West (Book Review)

Kat Impossible30 Comments

ps

Publisher: Point
Page Count: 330

For all of you who don’t know, P.S. I Like You was included in the August OwlCrate box. You can find my full unboxing post here. A couple years back, regular contemporaries were all I ever seemed to pick up, but nowadays Fantasy mostly rules my shelves This in no way should mean that I don’t still enjoy the genre. In fact, I like reading it very much, I just don’t seem to buy them as often. However, after my massive reading slump the past weeks, this was the PERFECT book to read.

P.S. I Like You is pretty much what you would expect it to be: fluff-galore, laugh-out-loud-funny, relatable and super fast-paced. This was my first Kasie West book, but I regret absolutely nothing. At first the anonymous-note-writing reminded me a little of Simon vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda, but it definitely is a story all of its own. In the beginning you try to figure out who Lily, the main character, is exchanging letters with and I think it’s not that difficult to figure out. At least I wasn’t surprised, because it is never the person the main character wants it to be … that’s like a universal law to not make it that easy.

Generally I really liked Lily, even though she could have a tendency to get annoying when she doubted herself to much. Quite frankly I thought what she called “awkwardness” was a brilliant sense of humour … but then again I am also more on the awkward-spectrum of human beings. I sort of expected there to be more conflict between her and her best friend at some point, but then again I am also very glad that wasn’t the case. I feel like there are often very toxic friendships in books, where things never get talked through and it slowly sours the relationship, which is probably why I expected some sort of explosion at one point or another here. As I said, they are super cute though and it never happened, which is a nice change.

Lastly, I enjoyed how much of a focus there was on family. As we have all discussed numerous times in the past, there is a real lack of involved parents in YA, but not here. The parents were present, annoying and did not let their children do whatever they pleased at whatever time of night they wanted – which seems realistic to me. There was also the opposite spectrum of parenting. So, I liked how they showed all kinds of relationships a kid could have with their parents and siblings and other relatives.

So, the plot might have been a tad predictable, but it was still done in such an enjoyable way. The characters were very likable and fun to be on the journey with.

Fazit: 5/5 stars! It was exactly what I needed when I needed it, so no complaints from me.

5starsI am really happy that all my OwlCrate-books were 5-star-reads so far! Keep it up! Did you read this one as well? Do you have a favourite Kasie West book?

Top Ten Tuesday: Songs I Wish Were Books

Kat Impossible55 Comments

top-ten-tuesday

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday post, which is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish, if you want to know more about it, you can just click on the name! Here’s what she had in mind:

This week is all about music & books. We previously did books we’d give theme songs to so feel free to do that! Or 10 songs I wish that were books (check out my love songs I wish were books for an example of what I mean)

It sounds like a really cool idea and I always love to share some of my favourite songs! I am not sure how exactly to explain why I would want them to be books. The lyrics or maybe the music video were probably the reason, I’ll just leave it at that for now.

I Found by Amber Run

Falling for your kidnapper? Classic story! There’s another music video that continues the story, but it leaves on a cliffhanger and I would love to know what comes afterwards!

Nature Boy by AURORA

AURORA’s voice is magical! It makes everything sound enchanted and surreal and I know that she only covers the song, but it makes me that much more intrigued about the story from the lyrics.

Bloodsport by Raleigh Ritchie

I don’t really know how to explain this. I could see a story about a poisonous relationship though.

Magnets by Disclosure feat. Lorde

This would be such a good revenge story! Put some more background info on all the characters in it and voila – new book!

From Eden by Hozier

You’ve just watched the video, right? I apparently seem to have a knack for people who connect to their abductors.

Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift

TayTay always has really great music videos and this one seem cool, set in old-fashioned Hollywood-ish times. Love between colleagues, regret and longing – I am totally in!

The Stranger by Lord Huron

A stranger appearing in someone’s life. Do they know each other? Suddenly they are both in danger and need to trust each other to get out of the mess.

Katie Queen of Tennesee by The Apache Relay

A tale of unrequited love – who is this Katie person? Is the guy really in love with her or only with the idea of her?

Let It All Go by BIRDY + RHODES

I imagine a heartbreaking love story, but it’s set in some sort of fantastical realm. Definitely not just a normal contemporary, yet something that pulls on your heartstrings like crazy!

Half Light by BANNERS

People drifting apart from each other, one of them is changing and the other one doesn’t understand what’s happening. They aren’t realising the full potential of who they could be.

My explanations aren’t the most detailed, so if you want to discuss bookish ideas, I’d love to do that in the comments. What are some songs you would like to see extended in form of a book? Did you know/like/dislike some of my examples? Don’t hesitate to share a link to your TTT below!