What's your character's theme tune?

[Niabi]

While hanging out in chat and watching unnecessary censored videos, I stumbled across this one made for Disney's The Little Mermaid. I think it is very funny and lyric wise it could describe Nia and her victims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3K2L-Pk ... re=related

[Halcenion]

For my character Ceallach, I think Manowar's song "God or Man" is a good fit.

I arrive a stranger in this land and
Those who seek me their Blood will wash the land
They who need me now reach out their hand
And If she heals me will I be God or Man

Tell Me
Will I live or Die
Then tell me Why
Tell me who I am
God or Man

Step Aside
Where I ride
Or you will die

My protection I give to those in need
Mother, Son and Daughter and Father will be free
from the chains of death upon them
I shall end their misery
With Blood upon my Hammer
Now the wolves of men shall bleed

Tell Me
Will I live or Die
Then tell me Why
Now tell me who I am
God or Man

Step Aside
Where I ride
Or you will die

Im Alive
And I know Why
Cause of Lies
For you will die

Youll know the curse of my pain
Thunder and Rain

My protection I give to those in need
Mother, Son and Daughter and Father will be free
From the chains of death upon them
I shall end their misery
With Blood upon my Hammer
Now the wolves of men shall bleed

Step Aside
Where I ride
Step Aside
Or you will die

Im Alive
And I know Why
Cause of Lies
You will die

[Amm]

Amm's tune I think would sound very much like One Long River by the Yoshida Brothers. There are no words. It's a little playful, a little thoughtful, and totally Amm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqlu-B1E510

[Persimmon]

I can't link to the actual song, because I'm on my phone and YouTube doesn't look like it's going to cooperate. Sooo... have some lyrics!

By the way, this is Scavenger, by Killradio.

Know you by waste and not by your face
Not by introduction, not by handshake
Not by the things that you own, but the things you dispose
It's not a case of theft but a case of loan

Scavenger, have you heard?
I'm sifting through your trash, still I'm gonna make it last, well,
Scavenger survivors find a way

Still, sticky fingers find sticky situations,
but in the wake of swept rugs we all need assistance

So now I'm living off the spoils of leftover generations,
equipped with wit and long legs if I need them
to hold my ground but not be found
I'm quicker than the wind but half as loud

Scavenger, have you heard?
I'm sifting through your trash, still I'm gonna make it last, well,
Scavenger survivors find a way

Scavenger, have you heard?
I'm sifting through your trash, still I'm gonna make it last, well,
Scavenger survivors find a way
They find a way

Are you done? Give me some,
Cause I'm fuckin' hungry
Don't need pride with an empty belly
Got no shame 'cause I know we're all whores,
Trying to pull the hustle, just trying to pull the--

Scavenger, have you heard?
I'm sifting through your trash, still I'm gonna make it last, well,
Scavenger survivors find a way

Scavenger, have you heard?
I'm sifting through your trash, still I'm gonna make it last, well,
Scavenger survivors find a way
They find a way, they find a way

[Aniseed]

Why did they censor that poor innocent song it's so much dirtier now. On another hand, I haven't the faintest clue what fits with Jester. She's just so... I don't even know. I'll have to look for something festive yet mocking.

I did find something that I thought kind of fits Saruna, at least the present day Saruna who's trying to reenter society and all that by doing some wholesome illegal activities. It's Hoppipolla, by Sigur Ros. And yes, the music video is a great part of why I thought of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EyI4p0yjDQ

Here be the lyrics, since the song is in Icelandic.

Smiling
Spinning round and round
Holding hands
The whole world a blur
But you are standing

Soaked
Completely drenched
No rubber boots
Running inside us
Want to erupt from a shell

The Wind
An outdoor smell of your hair
I breathe as hard as I can
with my nose

Jump into puddles
With no boots on
completely drenched(Soaked)
With no boots on

And I get a nosebleed
but I always stand up

And I get a nosebleed
but I always stand up

[Deilakrion]

Damn Aniseed, that song fits Saruna really well. And jeez, the music video was perfect.

So I thought, maybe I can help with Jester a little bit. I don't think I have her full measure just yet, but in terms of her insistent innocence and desire for a good world where there are no problems that cannot be solved with persistence and doing the right thing, I thought maybe this might work for her a little.

Sia "Soon We'll Be Found"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1x8DMfbYN4

Come along it is the break of day
Surely now, you'll have some things to say
It's not the time for telling tales on me

So come along, it wont be long
'Til we return happy
Shut your eyes, there are no lies
In this world we call sleep
Let's desert this day of hurt
Tomorrow we'll be free

Let's not fight I'm tired can't we just sleep tonight
Don't Turn away it's just there's nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we're lost but soon we'll be found

Well it's been rough but we'll be just fine
Work it out yeah we'll survive
You mustn't let a few bad times dictate

So come along, it wont be long
'Til we return happy
Shut your eyes, there are no lies
In this world we call sleep
Let's desert this day of work
Tomorrow we'll be free

Let's not fight I'm tired can't we just sleep tonight
Don't turn away it's just there's nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we're lost but soon we'll be found

[Aniseed]

Heeeee~ I like it very much. Especially the part where she started drawing a happy primary color world for herself and then I was like oyep, that's Jester alright. The lyrics too, connect to that naive and trusting part of her, but also that part of her that doesn't want to ruin everything even if it means overlooking some very obvious faults.

Sadly enough, I haven't gotten her full measure either, but I think oddly enough I'm getting closer by looking for her perfect theme song. I can find little bits of her in certain songs, but there are other parts that don't fit, so I'm getting a clearer view of her character. Hey, this turned out to be a useful exercise in character development, huzzah.

[tangent] on a real life tangental that relates to above point, my brother had to do something like this for a class, finding songs that described him, and he chose I Can't Decide by the Scissor Sisters. I was, "um, is there something you're not telling me? Involving homicidal urges, maybe?" and he was "no no, it's the tune that fits me. Really." Aside from his taste in music, perfect example. Unless he actually does plan to bury me alive, in which event I keep my trusty wifflebat by my bedside. [/tangent]

[Saruna]

Wiffle bats are the only way to remain safe against homicidal tendencies. Good on you, Jester. I agree that finding a song can help to cement your feel of the character and help get to know them better. :3

SPEAKING OF SONGS. I found one for Zain and kind of his relationship with Shann. Or rather, Shann's perspective of Zain. Maybe.

The Hush Sound "That's Okay"

http://showyourvids.ning.com/video/thats-okay

Please ignore the stupid video sound clips. Hush Sound pretty much wiped out their presence on youtube, so this is the only one I could find.

You were a child who was made of glass
You carried a black heart passed down from your dad
If somebody loved you, they'd tell you by now
We all turn away when you're down

You want to go back to where you felt safe
To hear your brother's laughter,
See your mother's face
Your childhood home is just down to white bones
And you'll never find your way back

And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
If not, that's okay.
If not, that's okay.

You are broken and callow
Cautious and safe
You are a boundless and beauty
With fright in your face
Until someone loves you,
I'll keep you safe
But like them, I will give you away

And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
If not, that's okay.

And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
Oh, when you're gone, we won't say your word
But you know that's okay.
Don't you know that's okay?

[Niabi]

It's a good song and I think it fits well, too bad there's those voice clips from the videos but oh well still a good song.

[Kosal]

The Pink Panther theme tune.

Or Coolio's- Gangster's Paradise... just kidding.

[Isaac Arcott]

I usually avoid these types of threads on roleplaying forums. I just don't think theme songs should have lyrics. They're either too obvious and literal, making it a cheesy companion to the character, or they're too abstract and personal, so nobody else has any clue how it relates at all. There's also the genre issue; not everyone might share my affinity for Vanessa Carlton or Lady Gaga, but everyone listens to instrumental music. Even if you think you don't, you probably do. It's in movies, TV shows, video games, on the street, and at the game. It can be centuries old and still be applicable. The greatest advantage to instrumental music is that I can listen to it while I'm reading/writing without getting distracted. So I'd like to see some more people pick instrumental theme songs, if only for my sake, so I can have something to set the mood while I'm reading your enormous archive of storytelling.

Why did they censor that poor innocent song it's so much dirtier now. On another hand, I haven't the faintest clue what fits with Jester. She's just so... I don't even know. I'll have to look for something festive yet mocking.

I did find something that I thought kind of fits Saruna, at least the present day Saruna who's trying to reenter society and all that by doing some wholesome illegal activities. It's Hoppipolla, by Sigur Ros. And yes, the music video is a great part of why I thought of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EyI4p0yjDQ

This is an ok choice. The fact that I can't understand what they're saying helps me focus purely on the melody. It starts out slow and sombre, but gradually grows, building in strength. It's a song of triumph, it's the sound of reaching a long sought after happiness. Nevertheless, it falters, and diminishes a few times, revealing a timid and subtle loneliness. Overall, this is the theme song of a good person.

Also, this song: "Tootin' Carmen" by Deviations Project

It's just instrumental, but it reminds me so much of Deilakrion. Again, ignore the music video. Don't even watch it, it sucks hardcore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hX7gUfd92A

I really like this one. The ambiance and beat really transform the Habanera into an unsettling piece. It's darker, more ominous, and the erratic violin gives it an eerie touch. But at the same time it's elegant, sly, charming even. I hear this as the theme song to a very devious character.

[Saruna]

Hmmm, while I do agree that instrumental can be a powerful method of underscoring a character, a lot of the time it can be too powerful. Lyrical music is typically simpler, and the words (while yeah, sometimes cheesy) help to provide a better focus. IMO it's easier to find a theme tune with lyrics than to find one without lyrics. Most of the instrumental music I listen to is too distracting to be put to any of my characters -- my characters just aren't strong enough to keep the focus on them with a lot of it. Buuuut then again I tend to make weaker characters who don't suit epic music and most of my tastes in instrumental run towards the epic (notable exceptions being Deviations Project and Yoshida Brothers, both of whom have gentler songs I enjoy).

Take Pompeii for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GusLypfx7OQ

That said!

I've got two for Ko.

Faulty Information from Ra, that is a good indication of his bad relationship with Pethenas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtfxUuq3LT4

And the song I was listening to when I created him, Ravel's Tzigane as played by Isaac Stern.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqAqQiP61co

(Did I just contradict myself? Oops.)

[Isaac Arcott]

Hmmm, while I do agree that instrumental can be a powerful method of underscoring a character, a lot of the time it can be too powerful. Lyrical music is typically simpler, and the words (while yeah, sometimes cheesy) help to provide a better focus. IMO it's easier to find a theme tune with lyrics than to find one without lyrics. Most of the instrumental music I listen to is too distracting to be put to any of my characters -- my characters just aren't strong enough to keep the focus on them with a lot of it. Buuuut then again I tend to make weaker characters who don't suit epic music and most of my tastes in instrumental run towards the epic (notable exceptions being Deviations Project and Yoshida Brothers, both of whom have gentler songs I enjoy).

Take Pompeii for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GusLypfx7OQ

That said!

I've got two for Ko.

Faulty Information from Ra, that is a good indication of his bad relationship with Pethenas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtfxUuq3LT4

And the song I was listening to when I created him, Ravel's Tzigane as played by Isaac Stern.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqAqQiP61co

(Did I just contradict myself? Oops.)

While it's true that most people will think of bolder orchestral genres when they think of instrumental music, since that's what usually stands out the most to them during a film, it hardly accounts for the majority of it. There are plenty of simple songs with no lyrical content, which would fit any range of character. If characters could only be described through words, then there'd be no purpose for theme songs at all. Mozart's works for solo piano are a much easier listen. Yann Tiersen, best known as the composer for the film Amelie, has a variety of short and simple instrumentals for the light-hearted romantics. Pat Methany's "One Quiet Night" is made up entirely of solo guitar stuff that's pretty relaxed. There are also plenty of Pop-rock and folk bands that will have the occasional instrumental tune on their record. Broken Social Scene's "Pacific Theme" is pretty catchy, and Beirut has at least one instrumental song on every album. What I'm trying to say is that instrumental music is just as diverse, if not more, than lyrical music.

I gotta thank you for showing me that Tzigane piece though. I'm a total sucker for the violin; it's all at once the scariest and sexiest instrument there is.

[Pagusel]

So, this isn't character theme music, but it's very . . .themey? This song is heard all the time in southern China, kind of the unofficial Yunnan Province theme song, and my girlfriend pointed out that, to her, it sounds like the background music in some sort of Asian-themed fantasy RPG game. There are points in the tune where it does sound like it came right out of a video game score.

Anyway, I thought I'd post it here on account of its heavy fantasy-Asian-setting sound . . . I've been feeling all inspired thanks to my recent trips to some backwater countryside areas of southern China. Maybe you all have some thoughts on songs that seem to represent a particular fantasy setting? I think finding a good tune for the Thar Shaddin setting would be a challenge.

So, imagine a Tian Xianian montage alongside this song:

Yueguang xia de Fengweizhu (Ferntail Bamboo beneath the Moonlight)

[Amm]

A Thar theme tune, with secondary regional theme tunes? That'd be really cool. I vote we have a competition and whomever wins gets those t-shirts Frug promised us like a bad parent who never goes through with promises. WTF happened to that casino ad deal, anyways?

(I'd donate a bit of cash for prizes if that deal somehow fell through. It could be fun!)

Anyways, this song you found is very soothing, Ming. Makes me think there should be more threads in Tian Xian.