Sountrack first

One script idea I have is laying down a soundtrack first, and writing the script to fit. Here are some songs I think can effectively set a tone or move a story forward. This is a bit of a cluster because the various songs I'll be listing here may not be for the same story. Each song is for a particular scene, but the various scenes may or may not be connected.

I Melt With You
For a closing scene in a story, it is a song of promise. I very much like the Modern English version, but I think I like the Nouvelle Vague cover even more. It's slower and more contemporary. The camera would pan away from the characters, to a wide angle shot and then the camera would pan up to capture a suburban skyline, perhaps at dusk, then panning up to a crystal clear blue/black sky with stars in sharp contrast. As the camera continues to zoom out, maybe the camera would pan back down to the earth, capturing the earth's curvature, if not the whole planet.

Teenage Kicks
For a closing scene in an act, maybe even in a story. I guess this is a tune by the Undertones, but I've never heard that version, just the cover by Nouvelle Vague. It should be closing the scene between two young people, with promise of love, of intimacy.

Waste by Smashmouth
For a scene of depression, despair. I keep wanting to put this song to a guy walking in the park, but perhaps a scene in an apartment would be more appropriate. Guys should be drunk or high perhaps? The song is a bit difficult to fit, but I do like it.

Dire Straits
There are several songs by Dire Straits I like. Some are too well-known to be useful, like Walk of Life. But there are others that I think would be great for a driving/roadtrip scene. Romeo and Juliet would be good for this, as would Telegraph Road. Brothers in Arms would be a good prelude to a conflict of some kind, it sets a somber tone. Rather than a prelude, the aftermath of a conflict.

Leave Out All the Rest and What I've Done by Linkin Park
Songs for a scene about leaving, perhaps dying. Asking to be fondly remebered. Asking for forgiveness. Leave Out All the Rest is a little softer, more tender.

Hands Held High by Linkin Park
A great intro to a scene in a prelude to action. Where the people are tired of a sub-standard world. A call to action. The scene would be a montage of the ills of our society, and people being moved to action. The song is semi-spiritual. I can see a protest being quelled by the powers-that-be, but perhaps even more than a protest, an all-out civil war.

When You Were Young by The Killers
A great retro-sounding song, for a scene for a girl, who is tenatively looking to the future, being pushed to move forward, to spread her wings and face the world head-on. Or maybe falling to temptation, falling from grace. Falling into sadness, with the only happiness being memories of youth.

Don't Surrender by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Retro-tune for a scene about persevering through hardship.

Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Originally by CCR, but Joan Jett has an interesting cover of the song. The Joan Jett take is intriguing, but I don't think you can replace the CCR. For a scene about hardship on the horizon.

Jackson Browne
There are several songs by Jackson Browne that have a delicious retro feel with crisp vocals. They are great for nastolgia scenes about love, and life gone by. Include You Love the Thunder, I'm Alive, The Barricades of Heaven. Our Lady of the Well is an interesting ballad. I see a scene in a third world country where an ex-pat has run to escape some ill. Of course Tender is the Night is the ultimate love song.

4 in the Morning by Gwen Stefani
Song for a girl, lounging in her apartment, sad, reminiscing about some king of loss.

Bad Reputation by Freedy Johnston
I have to use this song in a scene. A guy walking down a Chicago, or New York street. With flashbacks to younger days. Halucinations? A breakdown. Life gone wrong... bad choices and living with the consequences.

Hello Walls by Faron Young
I really like this song, but I'm not sure how I could incorporate it into a modern film. About losing one's love.

Enya
I think Enya is fantastic and I would love to incorporate one of her songs into a scene.

Emi