Monday, March 28, 2011

INVINCIBLE SUMMER Playlist: Song 2

SONG #2: "Island in the Sun" by Weezer.

A lot of the appeal of this song is the image that flashes in my head when I hear it. Though it was by no means the first time I heard the song, the most memorable time was at my very first concert, when I was fourteen.

The lights went off all of a sudden, and when they came up, Rivers Cuomo, Weezer's lead singer, was standing on a platform in the middle of the audience. He played this song alone, with one spotlight on him and his acoustic guitar. Around him, everyone was screaming, cheering, singing along, but Rivers was quiet the whole time. For him, it was him and his guitar.

It's one of the most peaceful songs I know, which made it ideal for following "Turn Up The Sun." Because the gritty grungy rock feel of "Turn Up The Sun" is the tone of the entire book, but Chase's first summer is notably more peaceful.

There's an idyllic feel to "Island in the Sun." This is a song without any obvious conflict, but there's a strange undercurrent of unease throughout the entire song. There's something there that isn't quite right.

It's a song about pretending things are okay. About standing in a platform in the middle of a crazy audience.

SAMPLE LYRIC:

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

We'll run away together
We'll spend some time forever
We'll never feel bad anymore


CORRELATING PASSAGE:

"You don't want your new sister to be born on the beach, do you?"

I look at Mom, practically bursting through her maternity swimsuit, chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway, sipping a Diet Coke. By the ocean, Shannon's holding Gid by his waist, twirling him around, and Claudia's crying, "He'll get dizzy! He'll get dizzy!"

I kind of can't think of a better place for her to be born than right here on the beach, but I know that's stupid. I know babies need hospitals, but right now I can't imagine anyone needing anything more than this.

Dad kisses the top of my head. "Where do you think Noah goes?"

"Anywhere. He sits in bookstores or sleeps on people's couches or something. He doesn't care where he goes. I get that part."

"You get that part?"

I nod, tracing my initials in the sand.

"Which part don't you get, Chase?"

I clear my throat. "Why he goes."

--p. 36




PLAYLIST SO FAR:
1) "Turn Up The Sun" by Oasis
2) "Island in the Sun" by Weezer

12 comments:

Zoe said...

I have this song memorized because it was in a Mary Kate and Ashley movie from when I was little. xD
I really like your playlist songs! They make me want to go to a tropical island or a beach or some other sunny destination.

hannah moskowitz said...

whoa whoa which MK and A movie?

The first part of the playlist is definitely supposed to feel very summer oasisy. It contrasts with the later bits, haha!

Zoe said...

Holiday in the Sun. It was a cover of the song cuz it wasn't sung by Weezer for the movie. I totally have the DVD of the movie too.

hannah moskowitz said...

Ahaaa. I never saw that one. I only watched the mysteries.

Zoe said...

I had all of them. I think I only have the DVD non-mystery ones still. I don't know why I still have them. I should give them away or something.
The mysteries were the best.

Robby said...

WEEZER<3

dmc said...

Two songs in and I'm already firmly on your bandwagon. Thank you.

Orlando said...

I think "Island In The Sun" is about the paradise we all dream of and hope to enter one day.

hannah moskowitz said...

Orlando--that is a very very great point.

dmc--:)

Robby, where have you been.

Kelley said...

Just listed your blog on my newest blog post as a blog I have to check regularly.

http://writtled.blogspot.com/2011/03/routine-blog-checking.html

I love reading about writing habits. Your stuff is always crazy original, and your posts are so funny/engaging. Keep up the good work!

hannah moskowitz said...

That is so cool, K.D. Thank you!

Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) said...

Weezer is love! And I love this song. I listened to it while I read that excerpt and it just works.