Monday, August 23, 2010

A Long December

For the past two years, my ringtone has been Counting Crows' song "A Long December."

I still have the phone, still have the ringtone, but the time is rapidly approaching in which I'll be upgrading. I'm not one of those who's obsessed with cellphone gadgetry--I drop mine far too often to think about having something that cost more than...um, $0.00. Yes. I'm one of those. The free-upgrade-phone person. I've had this Motorola Razr forever, it seems like.

I hate it. The buttons are dying, so my texts often look like a crazy lady wrote them.

But that song...I just don't know if I'll recognize that my phone is ringing without hearing that opening strain:

A long December
And there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last... 




When I first started Saving Me, back during NaNoWriMo '08, this song sort of became the theme for the book.

Still is, I guess. Since I was (and still am) completely obsessed with my book and its characters (really, how vain, right?), I downloaded the song as my ringtone, so it would remind me of Lily & Co. every time someone called.

And you know, it works.

So what will I do when I get my new phone in October? Hell, I guess I'll have to be done with SM by then so I can attribute a new ringtone to a new novel, right? That's motivation to finish revisions, isn't it?

I think so.


Ever had a song ingrain itself so completely to your novel that you can't associate it beyond that context?

19 comments:

Hannah said...

omg yes! For last years nano I found this two minute song that was perfect! But sadly, it was only two minutes so I had to put it on repeat. I wish I had found others but that was perfect and now when I hear it, I think of Lost and Forgotten.

Liza said...

For a fee you can go to a phone store and they'll download all your current contacts, pictures, etc. I would assume that means your downloaded songs too. Or not, if you you need a new song to complete that book!

Lola Sharp said...

Yes. I always have a theme song to my WiPs, and each character usually gets a theme sone, and each scene gets one. So...I pick a lot of songs for a WiP, but only one song is THE song.

Erica Mitchell said...

So yeah, not once but twice I put my cell phone and home phone through the washing machine...the home phone survived each time. Cell didn't so I understand not going all roid droid on the phone but I do love my ringtones.
Mine is my obsession with the show Supernatural, but to answer your question...yeah I think I have a couple of songs that are themes throughout the story. The story has changed so much that one song just didn't cut it anymore.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Yes, several songs make me think of my upcoming book. Guilt Machine's Green and Cream is the most recent, as I was doing the first revisions from my publisher when it came out. Won't make it to my ringtones, though - I don't own a cell phone. (See, I'm even cheaper than you!)

Anonymous said...

I use my work phone because it's free. It's also waterproof. This helps when small people want to chew on it. Did I mention it's free? I don't even have to pay for the minutes. It's free. No texting allowed, but it's free. Did I mention it's free yet? It's free.

Yup.

Patti said...

I also have a free upgraded phone, so you're not alone.

Crystal Cook said...

Ahh Summer, I love this post :) I'm one of those free upgrade phone people too. My last cell phone got dropped in a river. With my purse. I did it in a total ditzy moment. Just threw it right in, how lame :)

Yes that is the motivation for finishing!! I'm so proud of you! Your post has inspired me, thanks Summer :)

Old Kitty said...

I don't have a song I'd associate with my current wip but I do have several that I listen to if only to get my aesthetic senses buzzing. I hope that makes sense - Lady Gaga's Bad Romance for instance - when I feel myself flagging with my wip revision I just blast that in my ears and I'm buzzed again!!! That type of buzz. I think that's my word du jour. Buzz.
:-)

Take care
x

Talli Roland said...

Oh, I love that song! Brings back melancholy memories...

I don't have songs that I write to, but I do often get song stuck in my head: most recently, George Michael's 'Faith'.

Luna said...

Great song!

Good luck with your final revisions. I'm sure you'll find another great song.

Melissa Hurst said...

Wow, I'm a free upgrade person too! Why pay for one?

I have several songs that I associate with my WIP. I can't listen to them while I write, but I do just before. Always gets me in the right frame of mind.

C. N. Nevets said...

Novel, no, short story or novella... all the time. lol

Shelley Sly said...

Um... so, I think we're twins. I was so going to post about this same topic. :D

Yes -- I definitely have songs tied to my novels, to the point where I cannot hear that song without thinking of my characters. One of my songs is "Nineteen" by Tegan & Sara. It describes my nineteen-year-old MC's romantic life pretty well.

RosieC said...

I'm also a free upgrade person. Unfortunately with my phone company (a small, non-for-profit), even the Razr never hit free status. My last phone wasn't even capable of texting!

"Starlight" by Muse. It's like my male lead is speaking directly to me. I have a few more, but if I were going to pick a ring tone (which I won't, since it's not $0.00), it would be that one.

Love Counting Crows. Love that entire album. Nice choice!

Kimberly Franklin said...

Songs and my WIPs go hand in hand. They are a crucial must. Good luck on your revisions!! And with your new phone!

Guinevere said...

Definitely a good reason to get through revisions! :)

For me, certain songs are tied to certain seasons and emotions in my life, so they become tied into the stories that feed off those memories (since there's a little of me in every story). So All American Reject's "Dirty Little Secret" and Nickelback's "This Is How You Remind Me" USED to always make me think of my first love - now they make me think of April, who got to deal with all my old romantic baggage in Times New Roman. :p

Sarah Ahiers said...

oooh yeah. Linkin Park's Papercut is tightly tied to a novel i have on the backburner. I'm not allowed to listen to it when i'm working on something else

Jillian said...

I too am a fan of the free upgrades.

For the longest time my ringtone was Guns and Roses Sweet Child of Mine hahahaha