The Soundtrack of Your Life — by Guest Dad Ryan Wright

Sometimes music is simple. Energy on the dance floor, in the car, at the gym, moving through me like metabolism. Pure, uncomplicated entertainment. Lyrics? Secondary. It’s all about the groove.

Have you noticed though that if you listen to a song in the rain, it sounds and feels different? It’s heavier. More meaningful. And the lyrics begin to sink in. Certain songs were meant to be played in the rain. Or at night. Or in the city. Or in the Summer. Or in transition. Sometimes to forget. Sometimes to hold on. Songs for beginnings, or ends. For sad, or angry, or beautiful.

All good songs are better songs in the right mood.

And then, like magic, that’s when a stranger's poetry becomes my story, for me. And your story, for you. And then music is simple no longer - because our stories are never simple.

So that’s how I organize what I listen to: by mood. My life is a movie and every scene requires the perfect background music: the soundtrack of my life.

Everyone needs one. It makes you feel special, from black & white to technicolor. Your soundtrack makes even the most mundane tasks an academy award winning performance. Your movie is an epic drama, sci-fi thriller (if you have children) and music video all in one. You'll never unload the dishwasher the same again :-).

So, here are some excerpts from my soundtrack that you may consider for the soundtrack of YOUR life. Some are older, some newer. They can all mean different things to different people. But however you use them, I promise they will make your movie more colorful.

BRANDI CARLILE - The Story

She sings unpretentious poetry. Perfect for a road trip. Or a slideshow.



Brandi was first featured in Grey's Anatomy...

HELLOGOODBYE - Here In Your Arms

Think infectious happiness. This is my 2007 summer song. Windows down, singing along, happy-to-be-alive song.

JOSE GONZALEZ - Heartbeats

First used in this Sony Bravia advert below. He has become one of my favorites since.

VINCENT DELERME - Veruca Salt

You don't have to speak French to understand this song. It has a way of turning into anything you want it to be. A slow-motion every day moment with your favorite person in the sound track of your life. Keren Ann is singing with Vincent (check her out as well, she has mastered melancholy French to a perfection).



ANA CAROLINA & SEU JORGE - Blower's Daughter

My two favorite films of all time are both from Brasil: The City of God & Central do Brasil (Central Station). The first is too violent for any nice normal person reading Gabby's blog. But the second is perfect for anyone any age. If you haven't seen it, you shouldn't live a day longer without it. You can find it at Netflix or in any Blockbuster Foreign Film section. Brasilian music is just as beautiful. Ana Carolina & Seu Jorge are two of the best, here singing together my favorite song of last year.


SERGE GAINSBOURG - Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais

One of the greatest French artists of all time. That's a bold statement, I realize. Any Gainsbourg song can take you to Paris if you close your eyes. And not the slurpy tourist Paris, but the eccentric we're-the-center-of-fashion-and-art-and-the-world Paris. This particular song kills me. Listen closely to hear the background tears. Perfect for any break-up scenes in your movie.


WILL YOUNG - All Time Love

For any romantic, this is the perfect love song for your soundtrack.



NANA MOUSKOURI - Pauvre Rutebeuf

My father played this record for us over and over when we were young. It has become the most nostalgic song of my past, and one of my all time favorites.



TIMBALAND feat. One Republic - Apologize

Yes, this is the same 'Justin Timberlake' Timbaland. He's a genius writer/producer. This is one of his newest...