Music Chart RP Style - w/c 18 Jan 2021

Aaaaaaand it’s back to me. And these ones are mostly ones from my Daily Mix... Which is fast becoming one of my favourite playlists of the day. I love that it changes, and it doesn’t bother me one bit that Spotify is telling me I’m a soundtrack nerd. I knew that already.

But some of these aren’t soundtracks. I don’t even know what to call them. They’re anthems? No, not even that. They’re songs by classical or electrical composers that seem to be able to tell the same story in 1 track that an entire soundtrack can tell in 12.

Now of course, it‘s not all Daily Mix, some are films. And I loving revisiting them again.

Playlist is here, same old, same old. Give it a follow, plug in your headphones and close your eyes as these 10 tracks fill your head with stories: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=x4_iaIr8Q1y1emUoCHLnMg

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NUMBER 10.

Family Moments - Sound Adventures

I’m not sure what drew me to this track to be honest. I love the piano, and maybe the repetitive nature of the melody. But also the name. Family Moments. And if you really listen to the music you can almost hear the children playing football in the park, or a squeal of delight as a child is swung between his or her parents arms. I certainly enjoyed that being done to me as a child and will always remember it fondly. It‘s got a spritely theme to it... almost fairylike maybe? But it’s playful. And I think that is what I like most.

NUMBER 9.

Stars Above - Dos Brains

This one screams building trailer music for me, and I suppose that's what quite a lot of these orchestral/electronic tracks mostly turn out to be. It builds, so I'm thinking a romantic comedy... with a big kiss in the middle?

NUMBER 8.

The Rowan Tree Trilogy - Jeff Victor

I challenge anyone to go through this song without drumming your fingers as if you're playing the piano, especially at the end. I just can't. I have to do it. I love the sound of the piano against the water... and without fail, if I'm playing this anywhere near Dad, he'll say, "Is that water running?" Never gets old. I can hear a cold and crisp Scottish morning in this song, looking over a bubbling river, over the mountains, cuddled cosily into a thick winter walking coat. God, I miss Scotland.

NUMBER 7.

This Is Life - Feral Ghost

Fun fact everyone. Beautiful lady on the left is my friend Chloe, and what a talented friend she is. Her band Feral Ghost are new introductions for me, but I recommend you give this one a listen. Folksy, beautiful and worth a shoutout, for sure. More stuff by them will be featured on other playlists, as their songs are beautiful. I met Chloe in 2018, when she joined our choir, and I saw a kindred spirit in her. She's fun, she's hilarious, she's kind and she loves brunch. And she's one talented singer, who keeps me company on the Alto line.

NUMBER 6.

Secret - Florian Bur, Daryn Cullen, Tina Meier

This song has several stages, which is why I like it. The soft, trilling voice at the beginning, the piano and strings (another example!), the tinkling piano on its own and then the pulsing cello solo... and then repeat. But it works and it slowly builds as the whole song repeats. As I listen to this I'm picturing a couple dancing alone in a room, a perfect pairing, moving with the pace of the music... with tango-style for the pulsing cello. It reminds me a little of To Build A Home by Cinematic Orchestra... one that will no doubt be coming up in the next few months as films use it everywhere, and maybe that's why I liked it so much. I really love the piano and cello together.

NUMBER 5.

It’s Almost Human Of You - Ramin Djawadi

This is my favourite song of the film. It's the last one, the one where Zeus gifts his son Perseus with the nymph Io as his wife, and Perseus accuses him of being human. I really like ending, where it goes from soft strings with a beautiful accompanying voice to powerful lower strings as Perseus smiles, knowing he's coming around on his dad, after succeeding in his challenge to defeat the Kraken as a man... not a God. Plus how mesmerising is this gif. I had to put it in because the Pegasus in this film is awesome. Instead of being pure and white, he's a stallion, his coat is a beautiful colour of black and, to be honest, he's the star of the whole movie.

NUMBER 4.

You’re Not Getting Out Of Here - John Paesano

This track is rather long, but trust me the length of it is worth it when you get to both 4m26s and 6m12s. It's the Maze Runner theme and it works so well in this track compared to the fast-paced confusing nature of the first half. The track is accompanying the group of boys who, having been rescued from a Maze, now find out they're being experimented on and have to escape again. From the theme at the end, you can probably guess that they do, but this scene is packed with so much incredible action and impressive stunts from Dylan O'Brien, who plays Thomas (second from the left), proving just what kind of an actor he can be. The Rat Man they are escaping from, played by Aiden Gillen, tells them at the start of the track, 'You're not getting out of here,' which obviously doesn't fill you with hope. But when Thomas dramatically under a doorway, securing their escape, he does this. And it was entirely unscripted. Wes Ball left it in because it really is genius. He does it in the 3rd film too.

NUMBER 3.

The Broken Hearts Gallery - Genevieve Vincent

What a beautiful, beautiful film. And what a beautifully different soundtrack. A woman who can't seem to let go of things she's picked up throughout her relationships, decides to create a gallery to where people can leave trinkets from their own past relationships... aaaaaand she finds out what love truly is along the way. This was one of the few new films I saw in the cinema last year whilst Covid-19 was literally plaguing us, and I think I'd have to say that it was probably top 3 films I saw. Yes, okay, it was predictable, but it was beautiful and the chemistry between the two leads was fantastic, which truly sold it. The only film if I have ever seen Dacre Montgomery in was Power Rangers, so you can forgive me if I was a little bit skeptic. But Geraldine Viswanathan really does steal the show. It's currently about a tenner on Amazon Prime, so I'm going to wait a little bit before the price comes down, but I am definitely watching this again. (Please note the growth in that sentence in that I haven't bought it on blu-ray or DVD!!!!!!! I have even emboldened it for emphasis! :p)

NUMBER 2.

Time - Hans Zimmer

The soundtrack that plays to films most unanswerable question: does the Top topple? I maintain that it does, a slight flicker, but there are arguments for that it doesn't. I saw Hans Zimmer's orchestra live at The O2 in 2019 (man, who remembers concerts?!) and this was the song he suddenly appeared to. The poster specifically said he wouldn't be attending and then THERE HE WAS. I was proper fangirling. Best day. This song will always remind me of that day. It's not a hugely long song, but I love how it builds, and how a new instrument is introduced as it does. Below is Hans Zimmer on stage! Literally best moment of my soundtrack-fan life! To be in the presence of the Maestro is an absolute honour.

NUMBER 1.

A New High (Original Mix) - Cubicolor

And this song reminds me of the people I went to see the above concert with. Karen and Lee, who have given me some inspiration on previous playlists (Pete Tong's Belfast and Hosini's 8 Hours Still No Rain). This, I remember, was Karen and I dancing in a tiny room at our Comms Away Day, before the evening festivities started. Just us two in a room, dancing, letting the music take us as we sipped Prosecco. I love the beat drop, and even though it goes on for just over 7 minutes, I can't turn it off. It's chilled, it gets the head nodding and it's mellow, man. Beautiful track.

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A very eclectic mix. But a beautiful and different bunch of songs nonetheless. Once again, thank you for putting up with my taste in music. I don't know if people enjoy listening and reading along to these as much as I do, but I'm grateful all the same.

I have a couple of themed weeks coming up... some randoms, some old schoolers and some new obsessions. Always more music. See you next week!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=x4_iaIr8Q1y1emUoCHLnMg