INTRODUCTION
Music has always had a strong pull for me. Right from the moment I wrote my first novel as a 15 year old, I have used songs as a way of understanding my characters and getting into and developing their emotional lives. Songs in themselves tell stories - frequently of deeply or strongly held feelings and I harness the resonances in lyrics and music as part of my creative process. I had popular music soundtracks to my novels long before film makers started using them regularly in blockbusters, on TV and to sell cars and insurance! Indeed, I was rather miffed when the Heath Ledger film A Knight's Tale came out, because it had pinched my way of marrying the medieval story with the Medium of the rock song!

People are often surprised to know that I use such contemporary music to inspire my novels, but it's my opinion that society changes, not people. The lyrics in a song such as Cat Stevens' Father and Son is as relevant to the Middle Ages as it is to today, juxtaposing as it does, the impatience and fire of youth with the tolerance and knowledge of maturity and slowing down.
My tastes are eclectic, although I tend not to go for opera, rap or hip-hop. I have a weakness for guitar-driven metal and rock in most of its incarnations. I own most of Bruce Springsteen's albums. I was a fan of Bryan Adams long, long, long before he performed the theme to the Kevin Costner Robin Hood film. As a teen my favourites included the aforementioned Cat Stevens, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Bad Company, Eric Clapton, Amazing Blondel, Stevie Wonder and Joan Baez - eclectic as I say! Those favourites have been joined by (to name but a few) Tori Amos, Anberlin, Nightwish, Grey Eye Glances, Seether, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Apocalyptica and Loreena McKennit.


To cut to the chase. I have created this blog to list the soundtracks I have used in my various novels and explain without getting too spoilerish for those of you who haven't read the books, why those tracks have been chosen. I've included some urls to Youtube so that you can hear some of the songs that have helped me on my way to creating my characters and scenarios.


Sunday, July 22

THE SCARLET LION SOUNDTRACK AND NOTES

THE SCARLET LION:
SOUNDTRACK AND NOTES

I've linked several of the tracks to urls at Youtube. Not all of the video content is appropriate to what I had in mind, but the songs themselves are all very relevant and will give readers an idea - I hope!

Track:
1. Hymn To Her - The Pretenders.
It's about the female element in the novel and it opens with a childbirth scene and concerns the power of women. Url to the song at youtube here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcMzLRWlg68&feature=fvw

2. Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler
William Marshal's theme music if ever there was. 'Somewhere after midnight, in my wildest fantasy, somewhere just beyond my reach, there's someone reaching back for me.' http://tinyurl.com/2kpaq9

3. THE BEST - Tina Turner
Isabelle's view of her husband. May sound a bit cheesy through familiarity these days, but it has tremendous resonance and feeling. There's a reason it always gets played at discos as weddings!

4. LANDSLIDE - Fleetwood Mac
Isabelle's feelings about the passage of time and coming into her own. She and William married when she was a girl. Now she's a woman and looking to future responsibilities and duties.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbZhj6H9kfY

5. THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD - Gordon Lightfoot
The voyage to Ireland which was pretty grim. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U219P_zs7w&feature=related

6. CHANGE MY WORLD - Moya Brenan
Arriving in Ireland - a different place to the courts of Normandy and England

7. INTO THE FIRE - Sarah McLachlan
Isabelle is reunited with her mother http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar6a1pkiGf8

8. SHERRY DARLING - Bruce Springsteen
One of several Springsteen tracks. William is not enamoured of his mother in law!

9.DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - Bruce Springsteen
A bitter, dark number concerning the burdens shouldered by the men who knew what happened to Prince Arthur. http://tinyurl.com/2hegjm

10. ALL MY LIFE - Foofighters
King John and the incident with Prince Arthur - and all the other incidents throughout John's life. 'Done, done and I'm on to the next one....' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqxgwX62Ozw

11. STORY OF ISAAC - Suzanne Vega
The hostage situation

12. WORLDS APART - Bruce Springsteen
Isabelle and William disagree over the hostage situation and their difference of opinion is fuelled by suspicions about what happened to Prince Arthur 'Sometimes the truth just ain't enough, or it's too much in times like this, let's throw the truth away and find it in this kiss.' http://tinyurl.com/2xcqa8

13. FLYING COLOURS - Jethro Tull
William and Isabelle's marriage continues rocky because of John and their sons.

14. STICK TO YOUR GUNS - Bon Jovi
Isabelle has to cope in Ireland while William goes to court http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKzWabwp-co

15. AGAINST THE WIND - Marie Brenan
Hanging tough in Ireland http://tinyurl.com/3ykhqn

16. THE ONE I LOVE - REM
William at court in England, biding time, sending out a mental warning to Isabelle. I know the meaning of the song is different in reality, but it has the above meaning to me, with 'Fire!' meaning 'Beware!' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R52RrbF3mM4

17. EMERALD - Thin Lizzy
The Battle at Newtown and subsequent battles in Ireland. 'Down from the glen came the marching men with their shields and their swords.' http://tinyurl.com/29zusp

18. I NEED SOME SLEEP - Eels
William struggling at court, not knowing what's happening at home. Everything has gone to hell in a handcart. http://tinyurl.com/3y4468

19. A MATTER OF TRUST - Billy Joel
William returns to Ireland and is reunited with his family

20. SCARLET - All About Eve
Isabelle and William's daughter-in-law Alais de Bethune. Her character and what happens to her.

21. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT - Nirvana
More on Alais and the happenings at Pembroke. William's son Will when he hears what has happened. 'A denial, a denial, a denial.' Raw, ragged, emotional. http://tinyurl.com/324kwt

22. IF IT BE YOUR WILL - Jann Arden
My feelings about Alais and giving her a voice that history hasn't heard until now.

22. LOVE HURTS - Nazareth
William Marshal and his family are threatening to tear apart beneath all that's happening to them. Particularly a song for Will, William's eldest son. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2BjJbKQkgc

23. BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS - Greenday
Will squaring his shoulders and trying to come to terms with what's happened to him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tK7-OuYfJc

24. JUST FOR YOU -Lionel Richie
Will thinking back and realising life isn't like that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz6r1TcvL7I

25. FATHER AND SON - Ronan Keating
The conflict between William and Will. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY_pjVaKcq8

26. PARALLEL UNIVERSE - Red Hot Chili Peppers
The battle of Lincoln and William's altered state of mind as he enters the fight. That joyous surge of the sword. 'Christ I'm a sidewinder, I'm a California King.' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fPYyoY49Bc

27. IN KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH - Coheed & Cambria
The battle of Sandwich and more stirring battle action. http://tinyurl.com/347xok

28. AVALON - Roxy Music
William and Isabelle share some poignant moments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zJdbpzfJMs

29. HEAVEN CAN WAIT - Meatloaf
William making preparations to depart. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w4YRPUQRlo

30. I HOPE YOU DANCE - Ronan Keating
William sending out thoughts to his eldest daughter, Mahelt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL0uRP-A7C0

31. MY IMMORTAL - Evanescence
Isabelle's feelings about William as she comes to terms with what's happening, especially his association with the Templars. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU9FwP4uOY8

32. EVENSTAR - Isabel Bayakdarian
A bidding farewell. I was inspired not only by the music, but by the scene of Arwen standing before Aragorn's tomb in the second Lord of the Rings film The Two Towers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im5CIpMFo4Q

33.SAND AND WATER - Beth Nielsen Chapman
Isabelle coming to terms with her life. I felt this one extremely appropriate as in 1219, her youngest son would have been about 11 years old.

34. THE MIRACLE OF LOVE - Eurythmics
Finale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s901V3GvELQ&feature=related
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