A Gigawatt Jukebox themed playlist
From Rockabilly to Reggae, Movie Scores to Soul, our Gigawatt Jukebox is out of control. In true geek style, we submit a never-ending playlist that is not concerned with genre, popularity, or album release date.
It’s happened to everyone at some point: the experience of lost time. You’ll be doing something routine, when you suddenly snap out of it. Without realizing it, you just spent a few minutes in a trance. Without knowing it, you were almost hypnotized by a song. Every song tells a story, but some have the power to lure you like a Siren from Greek mythology. It may begin with a quiet pulsating rhythm or simple chord repetition, but then it builds.
You are hooked now, flying the magic carpet that genie of a songwriter whisked you away with, climbing higher and higher. At last, the song crescendos into the dramatic climax you have been anticipating. Afterward, you are left thinking, “Well, that just happened!” This playlist is a tribute to the songwriters who captivate us as if we were desperately turning the page of a late-night book we just can’t put down.
1. LETTERS FROM THE SKY – CIVIL TWILIGHT
2. PILGRIM – FINK
3. ATLAS – COLDPLAY
4. ONE LINE – PJ HARVEY
5. WEAPON – MATTHEW GOOD
6. SLEDGEHAMMER – RIHANNA
7. ANGEL – MASSIVE ATTACK
8. MADE OF STONE – MATT CORBY
9. BE HERE NOW – RAY LAMONTAGNE
10. THE DRIVER, PART 2 – TERRY REID
11. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU – U2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmSdTa9kaiQ
With such powerful storytelling in mind, it is no surprise that some of these songs were either written for or featured in films. The Hunger Games franchise features Coldplay’s “Atlas.” “Letters from the Sky” was featured at the end of I am Number Four. Rhianna’s “Sledgehammer” was on the Star Trek Beyond soundtrack, and “The Driver Part 2” was a collaboration of Hans Zimmer and Terry Reid for Days of Thunder. TV series featured some of this list as well. Massive Attack drove the mystery behind Zoe Bartlett’s kidnapping in season 4 of The West Wing, PJ Harvey celebrated Rory and Dean’s first kiss in Gilmore Girls, and Matt Corby was featured on The Blacklist.
If you have playlist theme ideas, we’d love to hear them! Your Feedback is welcomed.
To Discuss
What are some songs that instantly take you away and consume your mind? Let us know in the comments!
Very cool and atmospheric tracks, Julie. You should check out “Gehenna” by Slipknot. It’s a dark and atmospheric song. Well worth the listen. Speaking of Slipknot, when are you going to do a track list for a hard core rager?
Always looking for good rage to add to my “Angry Girl” or “PMS” playlist. I have “Raining Blood”, Slayer which I actually don’t care for that much. It has a great opening. I have AWOLNATION’s “Megalithic Symphony.” The lists mostly consist of punk and rock like X-Ray Spex and Chevelle.
Nice selection, Mark. I hadn’t heard that one before your suggestion. You know, a rager playlist is an excellent idea. I would definitely benefit from your help with that one (hint hint)!
Yes! Exactly.
There are those songs that, no matter what’s going on, everyone stops in unison for that crescendo. That happens in the car with Phil Collins, “In The Air Tonight.” It starts with just that hypnotic drum beat and you fall in, decide to go with it. Some electronics subtly join in to raise the tension. But the whole time you know it’s building. It never fails, right before that dramatic drum riff, someone in the car cranks the radio volume.
The same thing happens to me when I listen to Toni Child, “Zimbabwe.”
Oh yeah Rhonda, “In the Air Tonight” would definitely be a great addition to the crescendo list. We may have to do a Part II list to continue it later!