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b2memB2MeM Prompt and Path: Orange Path, Multimedia
Format: Mixed Media, Essay
Genre: Meta, Fanmix
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Maglor
Pairings: None
Creator Notes: Could we get a new tag for genre: fanmix?
Summary: A spirited defence of fanmixes exploring the value they bring to the fandom, plus a new fanmix!
Fanmixes are, I feel, an overlooked part of Tolkien fandom. Perhaps considered 'easy' or 'trivial' fanwork in comparison to writing fanfic or creating fanart, I'd argue that they are much more difficult to create than they first appear to be, and deserve much more credit for the value that they provide.
First of all, what is a fanmix? It is a selection of songs or instrumental music (or both), usually around a particular fannish theme, and setting a particular mood, that forms a coherent fanwork and sends a specific message.
If, for instance, I was creating a fanmix about the character of Maglor, I would include perhaps songs about composing music itself, songs about brotherly love and loss, songs about wandering, song about hope and despair. All the songs would progress through the 'story' I was telling with the lyrics, and so would need to be listened to in song order as set out. Then I would create a fanmix cover, essentially a piece of art that exemplified the story I was trying to tell, and add any necessary commentary.
Composing a fanmix takes hours and hours of combing through music to find the 'right' tracks, rearranging them in different orders to ensure the message comes across, checking to be sure the lyrics are right, finding and producing the artwork, and finally finding a home for it, which isn't easy. The fanmix that goes with this essay started life months ago as a playlist in my iTunes, and I've thought about it consistently every time I listened to music, always keeping one ear open for any likely-sounding tracks. And I still feel like I've rushed it at the end, as I hurry to get this done before the end of March!
On 8tracks alone, there are over 340 search results for Silmarillion-themed fanmixes alone, over 570 for Tolkien, and nearly 900 for Lord of the Rings. These range from simple combinations of instrumentals to complex and multi-layered (and often sarcastic) mixes involving all different kinds of music. I'll be posting a list of my favourites later, but I've certainly found fanmixes that have portrayed as fantastic and as vibrant a message as any found in fanart or fanfiction.
What they don't get is feedback. Whether on iTunes, 8tracks, or another music hosting site, or whether put up privately, they get downloaded or streamed often, but rarely get so much as a single comment.
So, my plea to you is: love your fanmixes and your fanmix artists! It's not as easy as it seems to create them, so please give them feedback when you find ones you enjoy. And fanmixes are a great way of discovering new music, or reinterpreting old favourites in the light of a beloved character or ship.
And for the multimedia part of this, I present a new fanmix, which you can stream on 8tracks if you're in the US, or download via Dropbox. Enjoy!
Legends & Cloudy Dreams: a fanmix for Maglor
[Download (Available for 30 days) | Stream on 8tracks (US only)]
Ours Is a Just Cause -- Epic Score
[Instrumental]
The Sound of Silence -- Disturbed
[The Darkening of Valinor]
"Fools," said I, "You do not know:
Silence, like a cancer, grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence.
Dawn Over a New World -- Dragonforce
[Journey to Beleriand]
Across the highest mountains and through the endless seas
Our journey ever onwards fight until we all be free
Through the darkness shining the never ending light
On through the days of glory rise towards the fight
And one day we will find a way toward this distant golden age
The cries of war will sound the day
We stand before the dawn of a new world.
Over Centuries -- Icon
[Instrumental]
Hey Brother -- Avicii
[The Battle of Sudden Flame]
What if I'm far from home?
Oh, brother, I will hear you call.
What if I lose it all?
Oh, sister, I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
A Clown's Heart -- Oysterband
[Composing the Noldolantë & raising Elrond & Elros]
A clown’s heart and a mandolin
crazy-hearted fools sing as one
we’ll tear these old walls down
and we’ll bring back, bring back the sun
There's A Star -- Ash
[Seeing Gil-Estel for the first time]
Tonight there's no denying, no there's no denying
There's something magic in the air
Emotional disorder, came from out of nowhere
And took me unaware
The patterns of the oceans, lost in her emotions
You know that I don't care
And on nights when the north wind blows through your heart
Dream of a new age
The Phoenix -- Lindsay Stirling
[Instrumental]
Seven -- Ed Kowalcyzk
[The death of Maedhros]
How could you leave me?
In dark nights unknowing clouds
They wrap around the
Sweet soul you gave me
You can save me
Wandering Star -- Kid Beyond
[Wandering the shores forever]
Please, could you stay awhile to share my grief?
For it's such a lovely day
To have to always feel this way
Remember Me -- Thomas Bergersen
[Instrumental]
Format: Mixed Media, Essay
Genre: Meta, Fanmix
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Maglor
Pairings: None
Creator Notes: Could we get a new tag for genre: fanmix?
Summary: A spirited defence of fanmixes exploring the value they bring to the fandom, plus a new fanmix!
Fanmixes are, I feel, an overlooked part of Tolkien fandom. Perhaps considered 'easy' or 'trivial' fanwork in comparison to writing fanfic or creating fanart, I'd argue that they are much more difficult to create than they first appear to be, and deserve much more credit for the value that they provide.
First of all, what is a fanmix? It is a selection of songs or instrumental music (or both), usually around a particular fannish theme, and setting a particular mood, that forms a coherent fanwork and sends a specific message.
If, for instance, I was creating a fanmix about the character of Maglor, I would include perhaps songs about composing music itself, songs about brotherly love and loss, songs about wandering, song about hope and despair. All the songs would progress through the 'story' I was telling with the lyrics, and so would need to be listened to in song order as set out. Then I would create a fanmix cover, essentially a piece of art that exemplified the story I was trying to tell, and add any necessary commentary.
Composing a fanmix takes hours and hours of combing through music to find the 'right' tracks, rearranging them in different orders to ensure the message comes across, checking to be sure the lyrics are right, finding and producing the artwork, and finally finding a home for it, which isn't easy. The fanmix that goes with this essay started life months ago as a playlist in my iTunes, and I've thought about it consistently every time I listened to music, always keeping one ear open for any likely-sounding tracks. And I still feel like I've rushed it at the end, as I hurry to get this done before the end of March!
On 8tracks alone, there are over 340 search results for Silmarillion-themed fanmixes alone, over 570 for Tolkien, and nearly 900 for Lord of the Rings. These range from simple combinations of instrumentals to complex and multi-layered (and often sarcastic) mixes involving all different kinds of music. I'll be posting a list of my favourites later, but I've certainly found fanmixes that have portrayed as fantastic and as vibrant a message as any found in fanart or fanfiction.
What they don't get is feedback. Whether on iTunes, 8tracks, or another music hosting site, or whether put up privately, they get downloaded or streamed often, but rarely get so much as a single comment.
So, my plea to you is: love your fanmixes and your fanmix artists! It's not as easy as it seems to create them, so please give them feedback when you find ones you enjoy. And fanmixes are a great way of discovering new music, or reinterpreting old favourites in the light of a beloved character or ship.
And for the multimedia part of this, I present a new fanmix, which you can stream on 8tracks if you're in the US, or download via Dropbox. Enjoy!
Legends & Cloudy Dreams: a fanmix for Maglor
[Download (Available for 30 days) | Stream on 8tracks (US only)]
Ours Is a Just Cause -- Epic Score
[Instrumental]
The Sound of Silence -- Disturbed
[The Darkening of Valinor]
"Fools," said I, "You do not know:
Silence, like a cancer, grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence.
Dawn Over a New World -- Dragonforce
[Journey to Beleriand]
Across the highest mountains and through the endless seas
Our journey ever onwards fight until we all be free
Through the darkness shining the never ending light
On through the days of glory rise towards the fight
And one day we will find a way toward this distant golden age
The cries of war will sound the day
We stand before the dawn of a new world.
Over Centuries -- Icon
[Instrumental]
Hey Brother -- Avicii
[The Battle of Sudden Flame]
What if I'm far from home?
Oh, brother, I will hear you call.
What if I lose it all?
Oh, sister, I will help you out!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down for you,
There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do.
A Clown's Heart -- Oysterband
[Composing the Noldolantë & raising Elrond & Elros]
A clown’s heart and a mandolin
crazy-hearted fools sing as one
we’ll tear these old walls down
and we’ll bring back, bring back the sun
There's A Star -- Ash
[Seeing Gil-Estel for the first time]
Tonight there's no denying, no there's no denying
There's something magic in the air
Emotional disorder, came from out of nowhere
And took me unaware
The patterns of the oceans, lost in her emotions
You know that I don't care
And on nights when the north wind blows through your heart
Dream of a new age
The Phoenix -- Lindsay Stirling
[Instrumental]
Seven -- Ed Kowalcyzk
[The death of Maedhros]
How could you leave me?
In dark nights unknowing clouds
They wrap around the
Sweet soul you gave me
You can save me
Wandering Star -- Kid Beyond
[Wandering the shores forever]
Please, could you stay awhile to share my grief?
For it's such a lovely day
To have to always feel this way
Remember Me -- Thomas Bergersen
[Instrumental]
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