The Crimson Rose Playlist
I’ll be posting the Night Jasmine playlist in January, just in time for the release of the paperback. In the meantime, though, we have a very different set of songs for Mary and Vaughn:
What’s Love Got to Do With It, Tina Turner
Let’s face it. This is basically Mary and Vaughn’s anthem. I can just hear them singing it in dueling keys.
Not Your Year, The Weepies
My wonderful little sister made me a mellow mix for working that included several Weepies songs. The title of the mix? The But I DO Love You More Than JQ! Mix. There had been some sisterly discussion about a certain sibling naming someone else her favorite author. Hmph. But she made up for it with the mix, which I listened to on infinite repeat while working on Crimson. This song fit Mary’s mood at the beginning of Crimson Rose perfectly, especially that line that goes, “While you wonder/What else you’re doing wrong….”
Hazy Shade of Winter, Simon & Garfunkel
All of my other books, up until Crimson, took place during the summer. They were bright, happy, sunlit sort of things. Crimson Rose was an autumn book in more ways than one. It begins in October of 1803, as the days are getting shorter, darker and colder. I wrote Crimson during the autumn and winter of 2006, seeing the sky tinted gray through my office window, listening to random shuffle on my ipod as I did doc review. This song came up again and again, and seemed to fit the book, the weather, and my mood.
You’re So Vain, Carly Simon
I know, I know. But, really, it was too Vaughn not to add. He probably does think this song is about him.
Water Music/ Music for the Royal Fireworks, Handel
This plays in my head every time Vaughn’s barge sails down the Thames. Ever since Black Tulip, I’ve heard a flourish from it every time Vaughn steps into a room. Trust Vaughn to choose music composed for a king as his theme song.
Do you have any good Mary and Vaughn songs to add to the list? When I post the lists to the Diversions page in January, I’ll be adding a “Readers Recommend” section to each list. So please recommend away!
No One by Alicia Keys for the scene where Mary is in Vaughn’s room.
Trouble Sleeping by Corinne Bailey Ray (for the refrain of Don’t say I’m falling in love!)
For the end, I know it’s corny but I can’t resist: I’ll Be Seeing You (Billie Holliday) because it is such a timeless and poignant moment and Vaughn….aahhhh Lord Vaughn Yummy Lord Vaughn…is so very humble in his revelations.
This is the best of all the books, not least because the characters are well-developed and their conversation is intelligent. Lauren really got in the flow with her writing here. I see Megan Fox as Mary and Clive Owen as Lord Vaughn! 🙂
Btw, have no clue about any playlists….
I would have to add in:
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
By: John Mayer
It fits the entire book rediculously well (reading the lyrics as I type)and captures the mood I was in while reading this book. I simply adore the dialogue in this book and the darker, more cynical undertones.
AND
I Don’t Trust Myself (loving you)
By: John Mayer
I feel like this is Vaughn throughout the entire book- not letting himself get too close to Mary and teasing her.
“No I’m not the man I used to be lately
See you met me at an interesting time
If my past is any sign of your future
You should be warned before I let you inside”
the entire first verse describes him so well! Maybe I’m just in a John Mayer mood this morning but I feel like it fits well with the book.
From the very first time I read Crimson Rose, I couldn’t get “Someone Like You” by Safetysuit out of my head. The lyrics are perfect for Mary & Vaughn!
Atmosphere is the name of the game, kids. These two are all about the atmosphere.
(The other name of the game is “I seriously dislike Mary Alsworthy but put aside my feelings in order to make a playlist.”)
1. “Gold Digger” Kanye West (Couldn’t resist, mate.)
2. “Sparkling Diamonds” Nicole Kidman, from the soundtrack to “Moulin Rouge” (Mary’s mindset. *grumbles something about Mary being snippy and Geoff being adorable*)
3. “Natural’s Not In It” Gang of Four (Vaughn’s mindset. He’s pretty cool. For, you know. An old guy.)
4. “Pot Kettle Black” Tilly and the Wall (The “Mean Girls” world that Mary has to live in)
5. “Time of the Season” The Zombies (smoooth)
6. “Woman” Wolfmother (Mary’s hot, I’ll admit!)
7. “Disease” Matchbox Twenty
8 . “Love Me Dead” Ludo (She’s a handful, too. *another angry noise*)
9. “Falling” Florence + The Machine
10. “Lust” The Raveonettes
11. “I Wanna” The All-American Rejects (Oh, bandages getting in the way! Frustrating!)
12. “Bad Romance” Lady Gaga (No other pair could quite pull this one off.)
13. “Toxic” Britney Spears (Vaughn and Anne, Mary and the seriously disturbed and oddly attractive Black Tulip…)
14. “Something” The Beatles
15. “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” Jet
16. “Ego” Beyonce (YES. Hilariously accurate!)
17. “Luxurious” Gwen Stefani (This is kind of silly, but it’s cute. In a…silly sort of way.)
18. “I’m Your Man” Michael Buble (…Vaughn…is hot too. For, you know. An old guy. *winks*)
19. “Lights On” The Pierces
20. “Dirty Laundry” Bitter:Sweet
21. “Single Ladies” Beyonce (Bonus track! This is for the chorus “If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it,” etc., for poor sweet Geoff. Because, you know, he TRIED. That ending scene was…too funny.)
I think everybody expects this star to create more succesfull songs.
Love John Mayer, I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves as a song writer or guitarist.