14
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My Top 5 Songs to Write By

posted December 21, 2008 - 2:17am
My Top 5 Songs to Write By

Grammar note: I wrote the title knowing it ends in a preposition but just couldn't find better wordage for this piece. You'll see this glaring error show up again in this story if you decide to forgive my mistake and read it anyway. Sorry grammarians!

I always, always< span> have my headphones on when I'm writing articles for Xomba. This method serves two main purposes for me. I can effectively ignore everything going on around me at home during my writing/editing time (kids, phones, television, etc.) and music inspires me to write well. In fact, some of my xombytes exist only for the song to which I was listening at the time, simple as that.

I thought I would share my top 5 favorite songs to write by with you. They can help me turn a phrase in the right direction or help me know when to scrap my junk - hopefully!

Enjoy and happy writing....

Mad World from the very strange Donnie Darko movie:


Hurt sung by Johnny Cash but written by Trent Reznor (embedding was disabled so here's the link):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

All These Things That I Have Done - UK Version by The Killers:


The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen:


And Carry Me, Ohio by Sun Kil Moon:


Author: Mia Northwest
-A +A


Comments

@Mia Northwest-kjh-jdh--Grammar V Linguistics, Linguistics Wins

mythman - Sat, 2008-27-12 1:19 pm
"TO WRITE BY"! people DO NOT SAY 'by which to write'! (and yes, I am a 'Cunning Linguist' ... har-har-harrrr ...) I remember a friend of mine was dating a nerdy chick, and asked her 'where she wanted to eat at.' Rather than let it slide, she replied, "You CAN'T end a sentence with a preposition!' To which he replied, 'Okay, where ya wanna eat at? whore' Grammarians are to Words as Accountants are to Money. ---Uncle MythMan of the Professional Friends who GET MONEY for Echoing the Universe (the Wonderful World Above & the Beauty Amidst)

---when You Join Xomba, you can join this- and MythMan's other-hot discussions!

Love Listening to New Music

simplelife - Thu, 2008-25-12 4:19 pm
I love finding new music ... new to me, that is! I'm working through all the songs posted and have to just say thanks to all who have shared their own favorites. It just lights me up to find a new band, song, or style of music. My own playlist is all over the place ... from Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, to Plain White T's, White Stripes, The Cure (Lovesong), James Blunt, ... oh, I think I forgot to say Nirvana, ... and Andre Segovia, Foo Fighters, Counting Crows, R.E.M., Audioslave, Pearl Jam, Incubus, Faith No More, Crash Test Dummies, Morphine (In Spite of Me), Sugarcult, The Clash, ... and a couple of Patty Griffin (Carry Me)... way too much to list. Even several from Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals and Tim Rice musicals ... I'll just stop and say I hope you all post more of your favorite songs, I'll be listening! Please visit www.simplelifecorp.com How to articles www.ehow.com/members/simplelife.html

Please visit www.simplelifecorp.com

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That's why I prefer 80's music most of the time

jdubhub - Mon, 2008-22-12 9:00 pm
There is a lot more to 80's music than the pre-packaged cotton candy that most people associate with that era. I was a New Waver in high school and I've been listening to it ever since. The only thing that really makes me feel, well, a bit older than I used to be is when they play songs I listened to in high school on the "classic" rock station here. Then, again, my tastes are classic so it might just be appropriate. I suppose that perception regarding the "greatness" of music we listened to when we were younger is better than the stuff they play today is universal. I still believe much of the music that was released during the 90's and early 2000's was crap. I'm sure that someone who graduated high school during the 1970's feels the same way about the 80's. JOIN US IN TOASTING YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS!

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@kjhack: Exactly! This is a time where proper grammar

Mia Northwest - Mon, 2008-22-12 2:38 pm
was so not cool. Nice take on the Mad World lyrics/tempo which explains why it was a perfect choice for Donnie Darko. Peace, Mia NW Please visit my recent posts here Get paid to be a xombie! Join us here

~Peace, Mia

Top Five songs by which to

kjhack - Mon, 2008-22-12 2:32 pm
Top Five songs by which to write? Nahhhhh! About the Tears for Fear song: The original version of Mad World is a weird mix of somber lyrics and up tempo music, I have to agree. In a way, it makes the lyrics even more depressing. Pehaps the music, joyous and dancable, represents the facade we put on for the world; while all the while, harboring a darker perspective. Hmmmm. :) ↑ Grab this Headline Animator

 
 

@jdubhub, you're right about the sounds of silence!

Mia Northwest - Mon, 2008-22-12 2:11 pm
I don't like T for F Mad World, the tempo is too fast for me. I have forgotten about Ms. Benatar!! I may have to rock out later. Especially since we've had now over 10 inches of snow and this city is completely shut down. Cabin fever has set in...AAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh!! Peace, Mia NW Please visit my recent posts here Get paid to be a xombie! Join us here

~Peace, Mia

Mad World is a Tears for Fears cover

jdubhub - Mon, 2008-22-12 2:06 pm
I really like the Donnie Darko version and it's one of the reasons that my wife and I own the DVD, but everytime I hear it I want to listen to Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair or their greatest hits CD. I have a number of CD's ripped to my hard drive and I listen to different albums depending on my mood. If I am feeling mellow, meaning I have journaled just before I write here, I listen to 80's love songs or Celtic Woman. I will even listen to Van Halen's 5150, Pat Benatar's Anthology, particularly her early stuff, or even the soundtracks for Barrage or Wicked. If I've had an especially challenging day with my son, I will listen to nothing and enjoy the silence of writing late at night with everyone else asleep. Great article! +1 JOIN US IN TOASTING YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS!

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I love James as well

Mia Northwest - Mon, 2008-22-12 1:55 pm
Yep, you're right, these songs are definitely you! Thanks for sharing...I'd never heard the Staind song and I liked it very much. Peace, Mia NW Please visit my recent posts here Get paid to be a xombie! Join us here

~Peace, Mia

Mine

Darrell Curts - Mon, 2008-22-12 10:02 am
Yours were very good and really show up in your style. Here are mine and you will defintely see where I am coming from. The Killers - Mr. Brightside James - Laid toadies - possum kingdom van halen - unchained staind - so far away Visit my homepage here

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