Musical Musings #15: Universal Solider

The third week of the Sixtie's retrospective, this week's prompt is Donovan's "Universal Soldier."

Written and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie in 1964, who said of the song "It's about individual responsibility for war and how the old feudal thinking kills us all". Although it received attention in folk circles, it was not an instantly popular.

The song got the attention of Irish folk singer Donovan, who recorded it for a 1965 EP and it was a month released as a single after the EP failed to sell. It reached #53 on the Billboard charts. The song has recently seen a revival, capturing the sentiments of the anti-war movement.

I was lucky enough to see Damien Leith sing it at the Byron Bay Writers festival, accompanied by Mark Seymour (of Hunters and Collectors fame). Not an Australian Idol fan by any stretch of the imagination, it was an amazingly moving and rousing performance.


Using the theme of war, call to arms and the archetype of the solider, follow your muse through the moving words of Universal Solider to find your story.

Musical Musings #14: My Generation

Continuing on with the 60's theme, this week's prompt is The Who's My Generation (the fim clip that follows is recorded at Woodstock in 1969!) It is named the 11th Greatest Song on Rolling Stones list of 500 Greatest Songs of all time and part of the Rock and Roll Hall of fames 500 Songs that shaped Rock and Roll. It was released in early November 1965.

Written by Pete Townsend for the rebellious British youth called 'mods', it was an echo of the youths disenfranchisement from their parent's generation and their feelings of how the older generation just didn't get them. Townshend reportedly wrote the song on a train and is said to have been inspired by the Queen Mother who is alleged to have had Townshend's 1935 Packard hearse towed off a street in Belravia because she was offended by the sight of it during her daily drive through the neighbourhood.

It is considered to be one of the most distilled statements of youth rebellion in rock and roll, and is one of the acknowledged forebearers of punk.

Using the theme of being misunderstood or wanting to be understood, follow your muse through the thrashing sounds of My Generation to find your story.

Musical Musings #13:(Can't get no) Satisfaction

September is a celebration of the Sixities. It is the one era of history that I wish that I had have been born to see.

This week's song is The Rolling Stones (I can't get no) Satisfaction. It is ranked number 2 on the 500 Greatest Songs of all times. Written by Jagger and Richards it was released in 1965, a month after they had finished writing it. Richards woke in the night to record the riff (which he thought later was too basic and a little silly) and the words I can't get no satisfaction on a tape recorder. They later went on to finish the song in Florida May of 1965

Satisfaction gave the Rolling Stones their first US #1 and the fourth in the UK. Originally it was only played on pirate radio stations as its lyrics were considered to sexually suggestive. While it has references to sexual intercourse, and a girl having her period (which was outrageous at the time), the song was meant as a statement about the rampant commericalism that the Stones had experienced while touring the US. Critic Paul Gambaccini stated: "The lyrics to this were truly threatening to an older audience. This song was perceived as an attack on the status quo."

Why can one of your characters get no satisfaction?

The lyrics can be found here compliments of http://www.lyriczz.com/

Musical Musings #12: Express Yourself

This week is the third week of exploring the narrative between music and the film clips that go with them. Often the film clip ellucidates themes or provides an alternative view of the song. So it is your job to listen and watch ... and then write the story that comes to you.

This week's prompt is Madonna's 1989 hit Express Yourself. The song was a top five hit around the world, taking the top honours in Europe, and making it to second place in the US and Japan. The film clip is said to be inspired by Fritz Lang's classic film 'Metropolis' and explores the divide between feminity and masculinity. Riding the gender quake that was shaking the US in second half of the 80's Express Yourself is an anthem of female empowerment urging women to never take second best and to test the premises of love. The film clip won the MTV best video of the year in 1989.

A personal aside: I have to admit that the when Annie first shared the world, character and vision that she is creating for her NaNo project this year, this film clip immediately came to mind. It was also one of my favourite songs as a teenager and still makes me want to get up and dance without inhibition (shameful admissions I know!)

Musical Musings #11:All I want is you

This week is the second week of exploring the narrative between music and the film clips that go with them. Often the film clip ellucidates themes or provides an alternative view. So it is your job to listen and watch ... and then write the story that comes to you.

This week's prompt is U2's 1989 hit All I Want is You. You will need to go to this link to watch the clip (no embedding is allowed!) My friends and I would argue for hours as teenagers as to who it was that was 'really' in the coffin ... and if it was the woman, how did she meet her untimely death?

Happy writing!

Musical Musings #10: What Sarah Said

This week is the beginning of a month long set of prompts again. Throughout August Musical Musings will be exploring the narrative between music and the film clips that go with them. Often the film clips ellucidates themes or provides an alternative view. So it is your job to listen and watch ... and then write the story that comes to you.

This clip of What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie is not the official film clip. It was one of the videos included on their 'Directions' DVD. A special project put together by the band to allow their fans to create the film clips that they thought should go along with the songs. I remember vividly coming home and my partner, housemate and I having a very passinate debate about what this song and the film clip on 'Directions' really meant. None of us could agree even after half an hour of discussions and watching the video clip numerous times.

So what do you think is meant by it all? Is love watching someone die?

To assist you - there are french translations below the film clip. Feel free to leave comments also, and remember to come back next Monday and post the link to your story.
:o) Jodi




On the mirror she writes "He loves me"
On her hand she writes "A little?"
On the wall she writes "Very Much!"
On his arm (too quick for me to read) I think it's "passionately"
On her leg she carves "With madness"
And she finishes the sentence on the mirror "not at all."