Good background music?

[mandersen]

I want to make a playlist to listen to in the background of my ToM reading. I discovered WoT in jr high about the same time i discovered Metallica's black album. Since then i've included other metallica albums. Their stuff fits a lot of the themes and moods of the books surprisingly well. I'm thinking i'll add some Muse to the mix. Maybe some instrumental stuff to. Any thoughts? What do you all listen to?

[trashbird1240]

I almost always listen to Gorecki's Symphony No. 3 during my nightly reads. Arvo Part is also good. These are modern composers, so if you're not into modern music, they may sound weird, but I think they fit the mood of the books really well. Shostakovich, Stravinsky, i.e. late Romantic/early modern stuff could be good as well.

[Lynchgrinch]

Personaly, i wouldn't listen to anything while reading ToM.

 

I love music pretty much more than anything on this earth, and therefore it would distract me from reading the epic story that is The Wheel Of Time!

 

I can't concentrate on other stuff if music is playing, so my advice is:

 

Shut the door, isolate yourself from the rest of the world, turn of anything that buzzes of hums. And then enjoy what must surely been one of the most anticipated books in 20 years

[Sid]

Wagner. Perfect epic fantasy style music. When I read TGS the first time 'Ride of the Valkyries' came on during the Seanchan attack of the White Tower. It was epic.

 

Other classical favorites of mine include Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and in past readings the 1812 Overture has played at some interesting times, and I'm looking forward to those Dragons being built .

 

Otherwise anything that's instrumental. Vocals muddle things for me since I'm trying to read and subconsciously listening to lyrics. Other than unintelligible vocals like the ones in Duel of the Fates from Star Wars that is.

 

I do prefer music to silence, if there's dead silence around it seems to sneak up on me and make me uncomfortable for whatever reason.

[NetSlider]

By far Hanz Zimmer The Battle soundtrack for Gladiator is very fitting with the last battle looming.

take a look.

 

Besides that, Beethoven 5th and 9th, Mozart Requiem, Vivaldi Four Seasons, Paganini 24 Caprices, Tchaikovsky 1st, and all in between (whatever is dark and glooming)

[Oliver]

I like the best of Joan Jett and Marcy Playground for my WoT reading which is usually with a glass of Wine while I chain smoke

[Moon Sedai]

Gonna sound weird.. .

I like "Wayward Son."

[Lynchgrinch]

Gonna sound weird.. .

I like "Wayward Son."

 

heh, that song just reminds me of supernatural.....Dean winchester...<3

 

[Moon Sedai]

heh, that song just reminds me of supernatural.....Dean winchester...<3

 

 

I've never watched Supernatural.

But, when I listen to the words of Wayward Son, I see Rand. (There'll be peace when you are done.)

[jwillis7]

the World of Warcraft soundtracks are very nice, they are on itunes that is what i listen to when i read the wheel of time and i think they are awesome. I cant do popular classical music because i start listening to the song instead of reading, but wow music is very nice for just something to listen to

[Isgrimner]

Normally my music tastes are pretty wide ranging and span many time periods and genres. A lot of times you'll find me listening to Tool, Social Distortion, David Bowie.

 

Though for reading WOT I tend to like to listen to instrumentals. Though a few years ago I was Knife of Dreams I think and left the TV on some odd channel and a Cirque du Soliel marathon came on. The music for that worked really well, as a lot of it was in several different languages as well as "Cirque" language which is basicall gibberish. I ended up getting some of the songs off them for future use, mainly the music from the Cirque shows, Verakai and Alegria. Since I didn't understand the lyrics so much, it was not taking concentration away from my reading.

 

Recently I came across a song that is going to be awesome for the Last Battle. Lux Aeterna (aka Requium For a Dream) by Clint Mansell. A direct quote from a YouTube commenter, "i play this song when im making breakfast in the morning. my bacon has never been more epic" The song just tends to give me a sense of being surrounded and desparation in the air, but hope isn't lost and you're starting to fight back.

 

Lux Aeterna If you are only going to click on one of my links, this is the one to do, remember "epic bacon"

 

by Phillip Weastly. An up tempo piano song that Pandora radio recommended to me and I liked.

 

 

Another one

 

Valen Luca would be smitten.

 

You may recognize this from an awesome Halo 3 commercial from a few years ago.

[Isgrimner]

This one too

 

Sorry Bob, I like Jimi's version better Every WOT books starts with the wind, and the song mentions it begining to howl.

 

[Crael123]

Kashmir. Led Zepplin. It works for all occasions

[PhoenixFlame]

I love listening to music while reading, really helps set an atmosphere.

When I first starting reading WoT I didn't intentionally listen to music when reading, it just sorta happened. As in I happened to be listening to this music while reading. And because I did that so much, this music is now my WoT soundtrack (don't you judge me :D)

The first album by Simple Plan and the first album by The Rasmus.

I actually don't listen to them now, but if one of their songs play, it just instantly transports me the the WoT world.

And also this happened totally by accident. While reading the end of EotW, I happened to be listening to the first Evanescence album while at the bit at the end with Rand battling Ishy. Very dramatic moment along with dramatic music, it was so perfect. And from then on whenver something dramatic happens in a book (doesn't matter which one), I have to listen to that.

So I'll probably be listening to those while reading the next book.

 

Oh and also I discovered something new. The band Dream Evil. When I listened to them I just thought of the Wheel of Time. Especially the song The Chosen Ones. Even has something about slaying the dragon. Well it would work if the Forsaken were the good guys, and the Dragon the enemy. But I suppose it depends on the point of view. :D

[AnthonyJamesEnglish]

Demons & Wizards

Blind Guardian

 

D&W sing about The Dark Tower by Steven king and Blind Guardian sing about Lord of the rings, its a shame there is no group that does power metal about wot. :(

[Nyanna al'Meara]

I don't listen to music that often when I read, cos I tend to forget the music...I'm one of those people who just gets sucked into a book and forgets EVERYTHING around them. Still, sometimes I'm in the mood for music while I read or do WoT artwork - some songs by Metallica are definitely awesomely fitting to WoT. I think Nothing Else Matters (my fav song at the mo...I also just got familiar with their music) is great - some parts in it so reflect Rand's thoughts sometimes

 

i.e. "So close, no matter how far, couldn't be much more from the heart (thinking 'bout his girls, and the bond)...

"Never care for what they say, never care for games they play" (everyone in general - he doesn't want to care about what people think of him, when he's cuendillar - Aes Sedai, Daes'De'Amar - the games they play)...

 

I think you can find relating stuff from the books to every line...'The Unforgiven' is ok. I haven't listened to many others yet...

 

Oh, yeah, I once read somewhere that someone liked listening to Evanescence, particularly 'My Immortal' while reading the WoT. I still have to listen to some more, but from what I've heard Evanescence is ok.

 

Hmmm... gotta go listen to music and pick out WoT-related songs now ;)

[Nyanna al'Meara]

I don't listen to music that often when I read, cos I tend to forget the music...I'm one of those people who just gets sucked into a book and forgets EVERYTHING around them. Still, sometimes I'm in the mood for music while I read or do WoT artwork - some songs by Metallica are definitely awesomely fitting to WoT. I think Nothing Else Matters (my fav song at the mo...I also just got familiar with their music) is great - some parts in it so reflect Rand's thoughts sometimes

 

i.e. "So close, no matter how far, couldn't be much more from the heart (thinking 'bout his girls, and the bond)...

"Never care for what they say, never care for games they play" (everyone in general - he doesn't want to care about what people think of him, when he's cuendillar - Aes Sedai, Daes'De'Amar - the games they play)...

 

I think you can find relating stuff from the books to every line...'The Unforgiven' is ok. I haven't listened to many others yet...

 

Oh, yeah, I once read somewhere that someone liked listening to Evanescence, particularly 'My Immortal' while reading the WoT. I still have to listen to some more, but from what I've heard Evanescence is ok.

 

Hmmm... gotta go listen to music and pick out WoT-related songs now ;) Intruiging.

[graemehuntley]

I occasionaly listen to music if the mrs is watching some rubbish on t.v and its destracting me from the book, gladiator soundtrack is awesome to accompany while reading most fantasy books. Had a listen to sample's taken from WoT soundtrack! Bloody awful!

[Demiandre]

Some Linkin Park music are good for reading WoT. I think that some of their lyrics reflect some thought or moment the main Characters are facing, lile Rand inner struggle.

 

And indeed, Nothing Else Matter too!

 

I have some music I really like to hear for special scenes :

 

* Rand's capture : Trahison - Vitalic

* Rand's captivity before breaking free in DW : Wildcat - Ratatat

* Dumai's Wells : Second Lives - Vitalic

* Veins of Gold : Veridis Quo - Daft Punk

* The Cleansing : Forever Today - DJ Tiësto

(The alternance of tones and rythm makes it perfect for the different point of view and set of actions :) )

 

Music I hear :

 

- Ratatat (albums LP3 and Ratatat)

- Vitalic (OK Cowboy and Flashmob)

- Daft Punk (Discovery)

- Boyz Noize

- Air (Moon Safari)

- Metallica - Orion

But also Pony Pony Run Run, Queen, Alex Gopher, Etienne de Crecy, Birdy Nam Nam, Two Doors Cinema Club.

 

It reminds me of my first.read of the Malorean cycle of Eddings. In the last book, Zakath and Cyradis are together, and I have the music "Make Love" from Daft Punk - Human After All album - singing in my head without listening to it. Really strange...

[Sagacious Lu]

When I read I usually either put on jazz (Wynton Kelly, Bobby Timmons and Charles Mingus being my most recent choices) or Drum and Bass (Calyx, High Contrast, Concord Dawn and London Electricity to name a few favorites). Granted when I read I usually get engrossed in the book to the point that I don't notice other things but I don't like sitting in silence. It's too much like being in a mausoleum.

[AnthonyJamesEnglish]

Demons & Wizards

Blind Guardian

 

D&W sing about The Dark Tower by Steven king and Blind Guardian sing about Lord of the rings, its a shame there is no group that does power metal about wot. :(

 

Correction.. Blind Guardian have now done songs to tribute WoT. *dies from over happiness*

 

(from Rand's Perspective)

[Luckystrike]

I have a whole playlist of music, especially for WoT. Well, Pat Metheny is the main music with albums; One Quiet Night, Secret Story, Watercolors, Orchestrion and some of Imaginary Day (especially 'Across the sky'!), then I also listen to Days of the News second album (the green album) which has some kind of a medieval/old sound to it. It also contains

Al Di Meola (Di Meola plays Piazzolla), and Hans Zimmers 'Jack Sparrow'.

 

The Jack Sparrow song was huge climax song for me, because it went on when I reached the ending of The Great Hunt, and then I played it for the TDR climax. I then also added more Hans Zimmer from the Pirates soundtrack; Up is Down, also a climax song, and the famous 'Drink up me Hearties yo ho'.

 

Ennio Morricone - A Few Dollars more. A song I play usually with a heavy Lan scene.

 

Songs that I remember most, because all the other is much in the background, is these:

 

Al Di Meola - Race with the Devil on Spanish Highway (Fight scenes, cool swordplay, occasional action)

Hans Zimmer - Jack Sparrow

Al Di Meola - Ballad (I don't know, this tune is beautiful and haunting, it's kind of like a main theme for WoT for me)

Al Di Meola - Oblivion (Listened to it much in the Ebou Dar-part, feels a little spanish there :P)

Pat Metheny - Across the Sky (dramatic scenes)

Jan Garbarek - Twelve Moons (Intro song)

 

and my all time favourit:

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Tin Pan Alley - The Mat signature-song. :D Also very much in Ebou Dar, where the Mat plotline there feels very bluesy, especially when they all sit their drunk and hangover. This song is Mat's song, and I ALWAYS put it on in Mat's first scene in a book. :D

[Isgrimner]

On drive to work today w/ iPod on random and the Offspring song Lightning Rod came on. Lyricly it seemed a pretty good match to Rand's mindset in Veins of Gold from TGS.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpk_tCqXxpY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Shimmer]

I rarely listen to music while reading WoT - it just distracts me from the amazingness but when I do it's usually Metallica or Pendulum. Great stuff if you are the WoT+music type.

[Tiinker]

Try N.W.A - Straight Outa Compton