Writer's Block: More than words

[raeschae]

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I guess it's not a huge secret that I'm seriously inspired by music, especially when I write. And it's also no secret that the Jeff Buckley version of Hallelujah is my favorite song of all time. In his version, the line 'Love is not a victory march, it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah' is probably my favorite.

But the Leonard Cohen version has my favorite, favorite Hallelujah line of all time - actually, it's an entire verse:

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

I've always loved the I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch line. And in a totally fandom-centric way, this verse plays in my head every time I watch the SPN S5 finale while Sam is about to fall, to throw Lucifer (and himself) into the pit, while Dean looks on all broken and destroyed.

Comments

[aythia.livejournal.com]

Gah, now I need to re-watch 5x22 just to see it from your POV! And I have yet to see that episode without crying!

But yeah, music is kinda great. There is a reason all my fic titles are from lyrics, and why I pretty much always listen to music. Silence is not for me...

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I've gotten more accustomed to silence over time, but I agree that a few years ago, you would have never caught me without something going on in the background!

Check it out - sync up the song with that last scene and just *sigh*.

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

I love music - but not in the same way. I don't know if it has to do with language. I understand English just fine - but English lyrics doesn't get to me that much.
Might be because I learned to listen to the music, without really hearing the words, way before I knew English. So even though I know English now, I still just listen to the music without really hearing the words.
When I listen to Norwegian songs though (with good lyrics mind you) I get totally caught - way more than any English lyrics can. I guess it can be that way for you - that has English as first language. Makes me a bit sad really, considering most music is in English... even here in Norway. Because I don't get flooded by the emotions by music I can share with my friends. Because the songs that really get to me are songs you cannot understand the words of.

Anyway - after all that rambling.

I have a fav version of Hallelujah too. It's four Norwegian guys singing it, and the first time I heard it (with them) was in a Norwegian talk show.



It's probably a bit better in this clip, from their concert (that was also recorded and given out as a live CD that I have), but I wanted to show you the other clip first - because that was how that particular version was first presented to me.

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

I have to write more.... because when I think about it.... most of my fics, either phrases used in them (which is often the starting point of the fic), titles or just ideas are born out of Norwegian songs (Norwegian lyrics) - so I think I am more affected by music than I thought.

I'll have to learn to LISTEN to the words I think, when I hear English lyrics as well. It is a huge problem for me. I never learn lyrics in English, because when I hear songs, I just cannot understand what they are singing, even though I have no problem when I read or listen to spoken English.

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I can see where the language barrier would definitely be a problem. And I actually saw these videos when I was listening to another version of the song before! How 'bout that?

God, I love that song so much.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

Its not so much a song with lyrics that affects me. Its the classics. Like, every time I listen to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" better known as his 9th Symphony I just... I don't know. Its so overwhelming and beautiful. It soars and sinks and makes me FEEL like no modern music can. Depending on my mood, it can make me cry, feel inspired or energized. Add that to the fact that the man was deaf when he wrote it and...yeah. Its awesome.

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. There are very few classical pieces that I feel that deeply about, but I love that music affects everyone so differently.

My favorite instrumental works are by Apocalyptica - have you heard of them? They play modern metal music, but it's all on orchestral instruments. It's kind of amazing.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

Modern metal music played with an orchestra. That sounds like something I would really like to hear. Do ya have a link to thier stuff?

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

This link is for Nothing Else Matters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTozgoj9OQ), by Metallica as played by Apocalyptica. From there, you can jump around to some of their other songs, but this one is one of my favorites. They do a lot of Metallica stuff actually.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I love Metallica!

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Then I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

I LOVE that icon, first off. Second, their interpretation of Metallica is interesting. I watched them play "Fade to Black" a song that I love and that has a very personal meaning to me and I just....it was haunting and beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with me. <3

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I do love Sam's tongue. *sigh* And pretty much all of his other parts, too.

OH I'm so glad you like them! It's definitely not a straight-up interpretation, but it's pretty amazing, I think.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

Does that mean you're a Sam Girl then? Cuz i gotta tell ya, hon, I don't play well with other Sam Girls. *grins*

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty straight-down-the-middle bi-bro, actually. I started as a giant Dean girl, and then my opinion started to shift. Now I'm pretty equal on my love for both of them.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

Well, that's OK then. *nods* I can be pretty territorial when it comes to my Sammy. *wink*

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness he has you to protect him.

[sd-singer.livejournal.com]

Me and Dean. I don't mind sharing Sammy with Dean.

[plasticine-star.livejournal.com]

As if I didn't ♥ you enough already.

I love that song, I have a bunch of versions but it never fails to make me cry.

((Jeff)) *sniffles and goes off to listen to Last Goodbye*

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Guh. Last Goodbye. I ♥ you, too!