My Life In Shuffle Play

OK. I've been tapped on the virtual shoulder by a meme-bearing LuLu, so I will take a stab at playing along. Those who know me will expect as much, but a word of explanation to others who stumble across this: my iTunes collection, the source material for this little meme, is full to the brim with old-time Appalachian fiddle tunes and other semi-obscure nonsense. So, in order to provide links, I confess that I've skipped titles appearing in the shuffle that are field recordings and the like, recognizable to the small number of similarly afflicted souls, but fairly inaccessible and less fun in a situation like this where folks might like to sample the sounds. I think of it as cheating in a good way. (The biggest surprise is that so many non-fiddle tunes eventually showed up in the shuffle. It's actually not a bad representation.)

See a somewhat more fabulous example of this meme here.


The Movie Soundtrack of Your Life!

The meme asks: If your life is a movie, what songs are on the soundtrack?

How to play:

1. Open iTunes
2. Put it on shuffle and press play
3. For every stock movie scene listed, note the song that's playing
4. Make up a title
5. Choose cast

So, here it is: my life in shuffle play.


Title
National Lampoon's Hillbilly Vacation


Starring

Obviously we'll need someone tall, stunningly beautiful, and surprising in her talents and intellectual capacity. Yes, Brooke Shields shall play me. Members of Your Mom's atomic family shall be played by George Clooney, Kate Winslet, and Drew Barrymore.


The Songs

Opening Credits:

Atomic City Rythm Rascals - Jessica's Waltz
Sweet, romantic, with dark threatening overtones. The titles are spelled out in M&M's.


Waking Up:

Foghorn String Band - Charlie and Nellie
An old ballad of love gone wrong. Doesn't everyone arise to these?


First Day At School:

Rayna Gellert & Friends - Where's That Preacher With The Rabbi's Wife
Well, I did go to parochial school.


Falling In Love:

Bruce Molsky - Poor Man's Troubles
Does this mean I was high-maintenance?


Fight Song:

Magnolia Sisters - 'Tit Mamou
Apparently when I get tough it's in French.


Breaking Up:

The Beatles - Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
Seriously, put that thing away and leave me alone.


Prom:

Holy Modal Rounders - Half A Mind
I had half a mind to go to prom, but only went to the afterparty. And I suppose it was this sort of thing that influenced my decision.


Life:

Troublesome Creek String Band - I'm Going to the West
True dat.


Mental Breakdown:

The Be Good Tanyas - Ship Out On The Sea
Ship out on the sea is probably preferable to crazy bitch out in the living room.


Driving:

Louis Prima - Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
Have gas, will flee.


Flashback:

The Shangri Las - Remember (Walkin' In The Sand)
Ooooh. Spooky.


Wedding:

Joe Cocker - Feeling Alright
Again, not a bad selection.


Birth of Child:

Tim O'Brien - The Drunkard's Hiccups
I was not drunk, I swear.


Final Battle:

Mark Simos - Luther/The Last Straw
I really don't enjoy the concept of losing, so let's just say that instead of engaging in battle, I stepped out to listen to this great medley, with its fine transition.


Death Scene:

Rachid Taha - Habina
Death scenes are best handled in a language one does not speak.


Funeral Song:

Cat Power - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Word.


End Credit:

Ry Cooder - Tamp 'Em Up Solid
Nice, sweet, rolling little number to walk out of the multiplex with, and on out the door, thinking about what's still open where you can get a decent latté and maybe a slab of pie, and ooooh one of those cowgirl cookies... what? someone's life story? oh yeah, it was, uh, kinda boring.