This week’s post was written by Jeffrey Larnard, a rising senior nutrition major at UMass Amherst. In addition to being a New Students Orientation Counselor, he works at the Learning Resource Center tutoring introductory science classes and is the creator and main contributor to the music blog fivehundreddaysofmusic.wordpress.com.
Music can be a powerful force. As Wade declares his love for Artemis and is ultimately rejected, Cyndi Lauper’s 1980 slow-dance-friendly hit “Time After Time” is playing. In his defense though, it would be hard not to declare your love to someone listening to that song. For current UMass students, that might seem like a ridiculous statement, but we have our own slow, emotion-laden songs that we grew up with. Songs like Aerosmith’s ubiquitous “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing,” Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be,” O-Town’s “All or Nothing,” and many more have helped young men and women navigate the treacherous waters of middle and high school dance floors and beyond.
The songs may change over time, but it is the same borderline (or way over the line) corniness and wistful romanticism that remain constant. These are the elements that we can connect with, and drive music’s innate ability to be both personal and universal. Throughout Ready Player One, there are some music references that soundtrack the book, but, to be honest, not many current students are likely loading their iPods with the newest Duran Duran and Rush songs. For that reason, I wanted to re-soundtrack Ready Player One, selecting other songs that fit with the scenarios and themes of the novel. I have some ideas.
From page 191:
After Artemis stops talking to him, Wade goes through a period of depression where he can barely get out of bed, but eventually uses the “break-up” to motivate himself to vastly improve his fitness. I like Lana del Rey’s “Video Games” in this spot, mostly because it’s the only melancholy love song that also references video games multiple times. When Lana heartbreakingly croons “I heard that you like the bad girls, honey/Is that true,” I thought the song was a good fit for this spot.
From page 266:
This is the beginning of Wade’s plan to infiltrate Castle Anorak. He notes that his plan is ‘bold, outrageous’ and knows that it might kill him. The chapter does, after all, end with the proclamation, “I was going to reach the Third Gate, or die trying.”
I couldn’t help but connect Wade’s mind state in this scene to Jay-Z’s “Moment of Clarity.” The somber lyrics and straightforward, menacing production supplied by Eminem, fit perfectly with the mood Ernest Cline is trying to convey. Wade indeed has a moment of clarity and realizes in order for him to reach the third gate, he must go through with his plan, no matter the repercussions.
From page 372:
This is the Nicholas Sparks like romantic ending that I’m sure every reader is rooting for, when Wade and Samantha finally kiss. Naturally it needs a fitting emotionally driven song with dramatic production. And no one does emotional and dramatic quite like Coldplay. There are several song choices from Coldplay you could go with here, but I’m picking “Life in Technicolor ii” off their Prospekt’s March EP. The instrumental backing is suitably epic, but I like how it’s genuinely hopeful, which is how I believe the ending is supposed to read. There are also lyrical themes of a hostile outside world, and of course, love, which both fit this scene perfectly.
Realistically, there are likely thousands of songs that could soundtrack Ready Player One and these three selections are merely scratching the surface. Nevertheless, it’s an enjoyable exercise, and something that could be discussed for hours on end. What are other songs that could serve as the soundtrack for specific scenes in Ready Player One?
While reading the book, one song stuck out in my mind: “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths. The song’s escapist (and rather depressing) theme reminds me of the main incentive for logging onto the OASIS, which is escaping from reality. There’s a part where Morrissey sings, “I never never want to go home, because I haven’t got one anymore,” which reflects on the fact that the real world is so neglected that it’s barely inhabitable.
Ashley, I love the song choice. I also think that Morriessey’s line “To die by your side/Is such a heavenly way to die” captures Wade’s complete devotion to Samantha in parts of the novel. Also, that song was prominetly featured in the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack.