Songs For Every Book

Songs For Every Book: Cinderella

Aubrey Leaman

“Nightingale” (Demi Lovato) reminds me of “Cinderella” (from the Brothers Grimm).

Not only does the Disney version of Cinderella have her singing specifically about a nightingale, but the feelings of exhaustion and a certain degree of hopelessness in the song also remind me strongly of how Cinderella might have felt while with her stepsisters and stepmother.  I can just hear her singing this to her (at the time, imaginary) prince.

“Can you be my nightingale?
Sing to me, I know you’re there
You could be my sanity
Bring me peace, sing me to sleep
Say you’ll be my nightingale.”


 
Do you agree? Feel free to comment below!

The Other Stuff

Italo Calvino, Red Riding Hood as a Silent Film, and Psychoanalyzing Veggie Tales

Aubrey Leaman

IMG_4659

Seven more things about me…

  1. I am SO excited to read Italo Calvino’s “The Castle of Crossed Destinies” and “Cosmicomics.” Just checked them out from the library and the anticipation is real.
  2. Last week I wrote about the Veggie Tales song “I Love My Lips” for my literary theory and criticism class because I realized that Dr. Archibald was basically psychoanalyzing Larry…#childhoodruined.
  3. My newest music obsession is Say Lou Lou.  I would particularly recommend “Wilder Than the Wind” and Angels (Above Me).
  4. Last week I also had my senior piano recital.  For the Haydn sonata, I had created a silent, black and white movie with some friends based on Little Red Riding Hood.  I performed the sonata as the “film score” live on stage.
  5. Yesterday I discovered the glories of making my own fruit smoothies.  Why didn’t I do this before? How much of my life have I wasted away??
  6. I like to eat my almonds two at a time.  They fit so perfectly between my fingers and form the perfect amount of salty, nutty goodness in my mouth, so a lot of the time I’ll even count them out to make sure I have an even number.
  7. I own Disney Princess Uno cards.  It’s just like Uno but there are two dragon cards in the deck, which, when played, have to be vanquished by a prince card.  It’s hardcore.

Continue reading “Italo Calvino, Red Riding Hood as a Silent Film, and Psychoanalyzing Veggie Tales” →

Books

What If Werewolves Were In Jane Eyre?

Aubrey Leaman

Jane Eyre bw vintage

(SPOILERS for Jane Eyre)

What if instead of being mentally insane, Rochester’s secret wife was actually a werewolf?

Just imagine: Jane hears strange noises in the night that sound like a mix between human and beast (so far, so consistent with the actual novel).  But then it turns out the creature, Rochester’s wife, is a werewolf.  Would the story really change from the standpoint of plot??

It might change how we perceive Rochester’s character.  Hiding Continue reading “What If Werewolves Were In Jane Eyre?” →

Books, Music

If You Like 1984…

Aubrey Leaman

…the book, not necessarily the year.

If you like George Orwell’s 1984, then you might like the band Muse.  Their sound is  classified as alternative, but I think you could also call it rock.  The vocals are particularly fantastic, there are some incredible electric guitar lines, and they even play off of classical music at times.  Overall, their sound is hard to describe but it’s fantastic.

Some of their songs have this rebellious and apocalyptic feel (hence, my association with 1984).  A prime example:

 

Are you already familiar with Muse? Do you think the song matches the book?