Today we host Gina Damico, author of CROAK, and she discusses all things music!
When it comes to music, I behave very badly as a writer. I don’t really listen to it while I write. I don’t create playlists for the characters, or for the book. I listen to music when I take walks and plot out storylines, but rarely does the music itself factor into the writing.
But other than that, I do love music. Really. And I do listen to it whenever I am in motion – walking to the bus, from the bus to the subway, from the subway to whatever pointless activity I am about to tackle. I especially listen to music while shopping, because I am a terrible shopper and it prevents me from ripping apart mannequins or cereal boxes in a fit of rage.
So here’s what I’ll do – I’ll hit shuffle on my iPod, and I’ll say a little something about the first five that get vomited out of my rather eclectic music collection. And I’ll be honest, I swear – even though this has the potential for some major embarrassment. (I forgot to mention: I love showtunes. And, um, have recently been going through a bout of nostalgia for boy bands, which I hated in their heyday but now…Backstreet’s back ALL RIGHT!)
–First up: “Father of Mine”, by Everclear.
I loved Everclear in high school. I had at least three of their albums, and I very specifically remember seeing this video a lot in the Total Request Live rotation. Because I was totally one of those teens obsessed with TRL. When I visited NYC, I stood outside the MTV studios and I got a picture with Jesse Camp, winner of the I Wanna Be a VJ contest. Where is that guy now? Dead?
–”Told You So”, by Barenaked Ladies
Another favorite band from high school. (I’ve had a difficult time letting go, apparently.) I “saw” them in concert once, though I was on the lawn behind a set of giant bleachers, so all I really saw was them on a big screen, and I wasn’t happy about that. However, former singer Steven Page now lives in my hometown, and has often been spotted at our local grocery store. So I guess I could go look for him there instead?
–”Crashin’”, by Jack’s Mannequin
I do love me some Andrew McMahon, and I have ever since Something Corporate. I have every one of his albums—WAIT. Wikipedia is just now informing me that JM put out a new album in October that I am JUST NOW BECOMING AWARE OF? I…I…*downloads at the speed of light*
–”Seven Deadly Sins” by Flogging Molly
I love anything Irish. I am not remotely Irish myself, but I love their music, their country (I’ve been twice), and their people, who are so lovely I wish they would just start dropping by my house unannounced to regale me with whimsical stories. I even have a bit of experience with Irish step dancing. Add a bit of rock to the Irish, as Flogging Molly does, and I am so sold.
–”Working for the Weekend”, by Loverboy
Oh good, there’s the embarrassing one. For the most part, I hate eighties music. I suppose there are a few gems, but in general I think it was a terrible era that should just be stricken from the record, except for “Livin’ on a Prayer’, “Don’t Stop Believin’” and any other song with an unnecessary apostrophe in it. And this song (which, by my theory, really should be “Workin’ for the Weekend”, right?) is just so damn infectious. You want a piece of my HE-ARTTT?
Anyway. Thanks for having me, and happy reaping reading!
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