Thursday, February 13, 2014

8 Songs About Love That I Wish Were Novels

If you read my (Jamie's) personal book blog (The Perpetual Page-Turner),  you know that I'm obsessed with music. I don't know that obsessed is even the right word for it. I think I live because of music. I'm always amazed at how a song can make me feel anything -- exuberance, deep despair, nostalgia, love, etc. I feel it deeply.  With my whole being. I think a lot of good songs tell a story that can affect you just as profoundly as words in the pages of books can.

So, in honor of Valentine's Day tomorrow, here are 8 songs about love that I wish were books because I want the whole story. Love is a complex and the stories in these songs reflect how messy love can be. SO sorry..most of these aren't cute love songs. haha. But love is so complicated and messy and crazy. 

1. Explosions by Ellie Goulding




 This was actually the song that made me think about this. Funny because it's about a breakup (I think) but it speaks to how deep down love affects us and the power of that loss on us. I want to know this story so bad. I want a story about a breakup that really makes me feel how devastating a break up can be that shakes me like this song.

2. Dust To Dust by The Civil Wars




I just want to know the story of the two in this song. The breaking down of the walls we construct because of the past. The loneliness we feel because of those walls. I want to know the past and the pain that led them to this part. I think the bringing down of those walls would be a beautiful story.

3. Let Me Hold You by Josh Krajcik




This song kind of reminds me of Fault Line by Christa Desir actually but I want this song to be a novel of its own. I want to meet the guy that would be in this story and I equally want to know the girl he's trying to save and why. I just love this song and the lyrics and the feel behind it.

4.  Shape of Love by Passenger (ft. Boy & Bear)




This would be a great start to a story. I want to know what he observes about this stranger in the coffee shop that makes him think she's the shape of love. Do they talk? Do they leave together? I NEED TO KNOW.



5. Across The Ocean by Azure Ray




 THIS SONG. Everything about it. It would make a great story. A love that is no longer -- are they broken up? Where has she traveled? How long has she been gone? Could it ever be again? It's just, to me, about those people who linger deeply within you even after it may be over/there's distance/etc.

6. Your Ex Lover Is Dead by Stars


I can see this one so clearly. Meeting up with someone that you used to love. That nostalgia -- remembering the good and bad of the relationship. "Not sorry that I met you, not sorry it's over, I'm not sorry there's nothing to save." I like the image of these ex lovers sharing this taxi together and all the memories and feelings that must be running through their head. 

7. The Summer by Josh Pyke

 

I love summer love stories and this song is just amazing and I need to know the story. Young love, the idea of how life is fleeting...I don't know but this song is just perfection. So many ideas for stories because of this song.

8.  Blood Bank by Bon Iver


 

Pretty much I need novels out of every single one of his songs because he is an amazing storyteller and his songs just always haunt me.Who knows what this song is really about but I love the story told and I want something similar to it. Finding love in an ordinary place...a chance meeting. And just the getting stuck in the car during the snow and spending all that time together getting to know one another. I NEED THIS NOW. 



SIGH I could go on and on about songs that I want to be books (um Sufjan Stevens songs FOR SURE) but I'm just going to give these ones. I just love how some songwriters/bands can really tell a story that makes me FEEEEL and want to know more. 

Are there ever any songs that you hear and think would make amazing books or is that just a me thing? I know lots of people hear a song and relate it to a story (myself included) but there are some songs that just warrant this NEED for me to know more and wish there was a book version. haha.

22 comments:

  1. LOVE Ellie and completely agree that it would make an amazing book!

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    1. She's just perfection. I love her voice and how it haunts me.

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  2. I completely agree re: Dust to Dust and Across the Ocean! One of my favourite musical anecdotes is about Mat Kearney's "All I Need": he wrote it about his friends who were trying to escape the floods during Hurricane Katrina. I've always thought it was such a majestic and poignant song, and it would certainly make a great book.

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    1. OOOH I love Mat Kearney. That song really would be a great book. PLEASE GET ON THIS, author friends!!

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  3. YES! As soon as I read the title of this post I thought of "Eavesdrop" by The Civil Wars!

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  4. Love that Stars song. I always thought Does he love you? by Rilo Kiley would be a great book.

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    1. JENNY LEWIS <33 Love her so much. One of my all time favorite songs. SO AGREE. i can't believe I didn't think of that one!

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  5. Your Ex-Lover is Dead is a song I've loved for a long time and I've often thought it would make an amazing story. Great choices!

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    1. It's just such an amazing song. All these years later and it still just haunts me.

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  6. This is such a great post! I'm happy you put an Azure Ray song because there was one song by her that I really liked, but I haven't really taken proper time to listen to her. I'm listening to "Across the Ocean" right now; it's really pretty!

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  7. Ah I love this! I would want to read all of these stories!

    I'd also really like a story based on "The Tide," by The Spill Canvas. The song is pretty much a short story already, but I'd love a long expanded version!

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    1. I'm familiar with The Spill Canvas but not that song! Will check out!

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  8. Jamie I LOVE this idea, great post! My song to book/movie would be Harbour Lights by A Silent Film :) xo

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  9. Whenever I hear "Explosions" all I can think of is that movie coming out called "Endless Love." I've lost count of how many times I've seen the trailers on TV, and that song is almost always in them.

    I think for my song I'd pick "Skinny Love" by Birdy. It's sad but so beautiful.

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  10. Love this post!
    I became obsessed with "Dust to Dust" while I was reading Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. And if you listen to the lyrics, it really reflects the relationship of the characters in my opinion. Some day I'm going to write a post about all the songs that remind me of books!

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  11. This is SUCH a creative post! I love it.

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  12. This playlist made me very very happy. Thank you so much for sharing. You have excellent music taste.

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  13. Such a fun idea! Can't stop thinking of it...

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  14. I love this post (and the songs), and yes, I'm always hearing songs I wish were books. I've even tried to write a few myself before (they never turn out how I want them to though, sadly).

    A few recent ones I wish were books are Laughter Lines by Bastille and Travelling Soldier by The Dixie Chicks (the latter isn't my usual type of music, but I like the story in the song and I wish there were more good YA books set during wars--the story in the song is so sad and would probably make such a lovely book).

    Oh, and The Girl by City and Colour (with the talk of sailing around the world, and diamonds and pearls, could be so fitting of a book about pirates...). And The First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes would be good too... I'll stop now.

    But yeah, great post. :)

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