Thursday, February 19, 2009

Writing and music. A playlist.

I know some writers prefer to write without music but most of my friends put together playlists. I do as well. Music helps me get into the world.

If I’m dealing with a tricky piece of dialogue I will switch to classical or jazz so there are no distracting lyrics.

I’m the middle of rewriting one spec after receiving notes from the producers. I really love these characters.

I was already warned this script would be a tough sell. Wedding movies are considered commercial but see there are black people in this one so there you go.

All I have to say is, whatevs. It’s been almost 10 years since the “Best Man” and other commercial, not super broad urban movies like “Soul Plane”.

One screenwriter friend said I should write a script called “STD, A Love Story”, that one would probably sell. ha

What are some of your favorite love songs? I have fifty songs on this playlist. Below are a few in no particular order.

The Wedding March (of course) – Mendelssohn
A Song For You – Donny Hathaway
Nothing Can Come Between Us – Sade
Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley
I Know You, I Live You – Chaka Khan
Love Will Save The Day (Jellybean Benitez & David Morales Mix) – Whitney Houston
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
Love Lockdown – Kanye West
The Way He Makes Me Feel – Barbra Streisand
Moonlight Sonata, 3rd Movement Presto Agitato – Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symptom Unknown – Maxwell
Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra in D Minor - J.S. Bach
Waiting For You – Seal
I Was Brought To My Senses – Sting
Maxine – Donald Fagen
As – Steve Wonder
These Words – Natasha Bedingfield
Other Side Of The World – KT Tunstall
I Couldn’t Love You More – Sade
L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole
Sta Passando Novembre – Eros Ramazzotti
I Say A Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin
You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone

Happy writing!!! *I* would *love* to see your movie!!! (loved Best Man)

Anonymous said...

Off the top of my head I can only come up with "You Do Something to Me" by Paul Weller and "Something" by the Beatles. But there are many, many more. I love working to music too. Really helps me concentrate.

Sherry said...

Love you list. Here are some faves to add:

"You give me something" - James Morrison

"Lovers Rock" - Sade

"Beyond" - Amel Larrieux

"At Last" - Ella Fitzgerald

Italianissima said...

Here are my top songs:

Thank You by Led Zeppelin
All I Want is You by U2
You Belong to Me by Anastacia/Eros Rammazzotti (this was our wedding song)
Ti Sposero Perche by Eros R.
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel(sp?)

OK I know there are more but my baby is crying - he is hungry! I will comment again with more :)

Anonymous said...

Is it terrible that I initially read that line as 'STD: The Courtney Love Story'?

I get so engaged in music that it's difficult for me to write to anything but classical. BUT I take musical breaks every 40 minutes or so to crank the tunes and clear the keyboard cobwebs from my head.

Today I've been writing most of the day, so there have been several breaks filled with a little Ray Charles, Queen, Robbie Williams' Swing When You're Winning, Prince, the Red Hot + Blue Cole Porter compilation, and LOTS of bossa nova.

Happy writing, m'lady!

Anonymous said...

Human Touch - Bruce Springsteen

Liz Dwyer said...

Has it REALLY been 10 years since Best Man? Gosh, it has ben forever. Yeah, that STD thing would be a very easy sell. I think some of this is why I'm feeling a little anxious about "Push" coming out. My initial thought was, of course THIS gets made into a film!

Anyway, I love Sunshine by Alexander O'Neal. That's a true love song right there!

Anonymous said...

Music is a must when I write.

Let's see...I'd have to say:

"Promise Me" by Beverley Craven
"God Put a Smile on Your Face" by Coldplay
"Ache" by James Carrington
"Annie Mae" by John Lee Hooker
"Everything" by Lifehouse
"Love Will Come Through" by Travis

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

kim b - that is on my playlist. It was my college roommate's wedding song.

milanese - Music helps me concentrate too. There are a few Beatles songs on zee list.

ram -?

sherry - love your list too. Can't have too much Sade.

italianissima - fantastic list. I have a few Eros songs on my list.

yvonne - ha. Your list reminds me I need to add Queen's "Someone To Love" to the playlist. Happy writing to you too.

ms. violetta - Forgot about Bruce. Hungry Heart is another great song.

los angelista - I haven't read the book. Lee Daniels seems to be attracted to very dark material. I'm anxious about the movie too. I love Mr. O'Neal.

thisismewriting - For me too. It's also healthier than you know needing drugs. Great list.

Fly Girl said...

Not that I can ever get any writing done listening to these because I have to listen to the beauty of the lyrics but here are a few faves:
Tupelo Honey- Cassandra Wilson and Van Morrison's orginal
Women's Work -Maxwell
I Can't Make You Love Me- George Michael's Version
Hey, Hey What Can I do- Led Zeppelin
Sweetest Taboo- Sade and Les Nubiennes version
So Sick -Neyo
Sweet Thing- Chaka Khan
Roxanne- Police
Alison-Elvis Costello
You Send Me-Sam Cooke
These Arms of Mine-Otis Redding
Can't Hide Love-Earth Wind and Fire
I Want You Back-Jackson Five
Warrior Love-Etana
Lenda-Ceu
The Sweetest Thing- U2

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

fly girl - fantastic list.

I need to put Alison on my list. Beautiful song. These Arms Of Mine reminds me of my parents. They are big Otis Redding fans.

Jen said...

"At Last"
"Unchained Melody"

Those two can not be beat as far as I'm concerned.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

jen - both of those are timeless.