I've found that looking for a theme song for my characters helps me to get a feeling for who they really are. How about you? Is there a specific song that describes your character?

Here are some of my choices:
Arionwyn: http://www.rhapsody.com/barlow-girl/how-can-we-be-silent/i-believe-in-love
Aaron: http://www.rhapsody.com/barlow-girl/how-can-we-be-silent/song-for-the-broken
Iri: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOvgR_mWGco

Reasons:
Arionwyn: She embodies hope in my current story. This song is just her all over. As she learns to trust in Quintor(God), she does eventually learn to "believe in the sun, even when it's not shining", etc.

Aaron: Aaron is a very broken person. When his dragon was killed, he felt like everything he'd ever cared about had been taken away and he was abandoned, so he developed a mask--like a shell on a turtle--that he could retreat behind when the pain was too great. In a very real sense, he is the broken, the bruised, and he has been used, but he'll never let anyone see.

Iri: I know this is a song about boyfriend/girlfriend sort of love, but if you ignore that I think this song fits Iri very well. He's been deceived, and he has been living a lie for nearly five years. He is waiting for someone to "Call his name and save him from the dark"-which happens when Aaron shows him mercy after he is defeated in a duel.

With a book title like "The Musicthiss", you know I have theme songs for all my characters, but I'll only say a few, so I don't bore everyone.

Ana: Wild One by Faith Hill
Roan: In the End by Lincoln park
Maverick: Savin Me by Nickleback

Elisabeth AKA Ana

This is a really good idea. I'll think about it more and come back with some more characters-matched-with-songs, but off the top of my head I get this:

Forest: The Call by Regina Spektor (played at the end of Disney's Narnia: Prince Caspian)

Forest is a restless elf who doesn't fit in where she's living; she feels called somewhere else. My first book, The Dawn of the Forest, is all about her being called to go somewhere, do something, etc.


To be continued...

I had read this thread earlier and wasn't sure that I could come up with theme songs for my characters. Then later I was doing Sir Emeth's wonderful fractalling system for my main character, and I was doing something with the fact that she lacks trust.

Later I heard the song Let the Waters Rise, but Mikeschair, and I knew that it was Anissa's song as she gained trust in the King and allowed him to lead and guide her though she had not yet seen him.

Thanks for this wonderful concept!

Yeah, I'm going to get around to doing the fractalling system some time . . . *sigh* it's kind of intimidating!!

Another good theme song for Aaron would be Sweet Revenge from the same album and artist. He swears revenge on Iri, but the hate holds him captive.

I was doing the fractalling system for a new character, Ciarra (The one who was abused; I posted a topic about it a story development.), and it helped me come up with a theme song. It's Reverie by Debussy. Some of it isn't perefect for her character, but it comes pretty close!

Here's the link to a video on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5QAKup4jxM&feature=related

I know I should know this, but I can't quite process in my mind what fractalling is. Could someone please explain it for me? I'd be much obliged.
Elisabeth

Here is something Sir Emeth posted on another topic about fractalling:

Berond's would be Summon the Heroes by John Williams.

My MC is named Jacob, and he is in a Sci-fi book, so I chose a more upbeat song. He wants to be something different, he thinks that his life is boring, and all the little descriptions in the song fit him (except the things about love). Anyway, it's 'This is who I am' by Third day.

For the villain in the second part of the book, the song 'Ill-M-I' by TobyMac seems to fit. He's all about destroying this one planet.

The Orphan boy who meets Jacob later on (don't even have a name for him) would be 'Simple man' by Brandon Heath. He's kind of humble but has confidence in himself. The chorus fits him best, the verses not as much.

For Aaron it would be 'Ignition (bonus Remix)' because he is sort of a heartless dictator, but he only plays a small part at the beginning. He dies before the end of the book.

Those are pretty much the mainest characters. I just saw this and decided to give them all songs. Great idea!

So far, for my characters I have:
Terra: Once in every lifetime - Jem
Eli: Can't take my eyes off you - Lady Antebellum.

Terra's just fits her almost perfectly. It talks about believing and doing... In my story, she's never lived with her people, and now she has to bring peace with all the continents.

With Eli's you only really need the first part of the song... because after being a knight and getting an injury that would make him put down his sword--and be the 'second best son' in his dad's eyes makes him feels like he can't open up or talk to anyone... until Terra. And the soft melody reminds me of him.

Finding a theme song for my character does help me get to know them for some reason. I don't know why. Must just be one of those weird writer things.

Here's the songs I have for my two main characters (Perhaps I'll do this for some of my other characters later)

Dreamer - Here's My Life by Barlow Girl
Michael - Bring It On by Stephen Curtis Chapman

Reasons:

Dreamer: After an accident that shattered her life, she struggles to get things back to normal. But the High King (God) is calling her to a higher purpose and she has to learn to forgive and forget the past so she can move on. (Not an easy thing when people and things from your past tie in with your future.)

Michael: He takes after his father in that he's a patriot and a fighter and wants to free his homeland from tyranny. He also has a knack for getting into life or death experiences and he seems to enjoy it! (I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with him sometimes. )

I don't have any others for my fantasy characters, yet.

This is a cool idea, I'll have to think about it before I can decide what they would be though.

Glass To The Arson by Anberlin reminds me of one of the characters I'm working on for this year's NaNoWriMo, but I'm not sure why. The lyrics don't exactly describe her. But anyhow...

I wish I could do this. I love the concept. I almost had a song for one of my characters but it eluded me and slipped away.

Your song for Iri is perfect. Now I can't sing it without thinking about your plot. (and it's stuck in my head now, too...)

Mmm... I need to come up with one for Aryn, one of my MCs. He is impetuous, a bit of a smart aleck, dramatic, and gets into lots of exciting, often dangerous scrapes. Any suggestions? I was thinking something like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xObXQ-JPoLc.

Aidan Romero's is "Charro. By Elvis Presley, especially these verses and lines.

"With eyes that hide the man within
You see behind the eyes of, other men
You've lived and died and come to life again
And now you stand alone at the crossroads of your mind
You've left your yesterdays behind..
But which road leads you to tomorrow?
Charro...

You've turned your back on yesterday


You'll have to fight, before you're free
But how much more time can you borrow?
Charro...

There's something hanging, in the wind
Your past is catching up and closing in
You've been halfway to hell and back again
And now you laugh in the devil's face
with your last breath...
You'll run a race with life and death...
But will you live to see tomorrow?"

And yes, this is the same Aidan I used in character introductions.

I heard a song that fits my character Shawn (yes, where I got my name). It is Held by Natalie Grant. Shawn has had some pretty rough times, and this song's chorus fits her. I just figured this out yesterday...

Two months is too little, they let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling

Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us

Who have died to live, it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held

This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held

If hope if born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait for one hour
Watching for our Savior

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held

That does sound pretty rough.

Yeah. You could say I had a version of Janin of Yen's torture obsession.

My younger brother thinks I don't like my characters because of some of the trials I make them undergo. I love my characters! That's part of why I put them through the things I do. In the end they are better characters for it.

Exactly! Plus, it makes a good plot line. It can be overdone though... (ahem, Series of Unfortunate Events! )

I never read that series, was it any good?

[Off topic]It was okay. I got into them when I was younger, and never got around to finishing them. I have like 4 books left to go. The story line is pretty much the same in every book, and they are about a 30 minute read. (for me, which I am told I read fast! ) You tend to know what to expect, but my friend told me you don't find out everything, which is really irritating in a book.[/off topic]

Dani: Ooh, can I sing the smiley song?

Me: No. Go watch the dodgeball.

Dani:

Okay, then I won't invest in them.

They are really popular, so you might want to try the "Learn from the style of the book" thing. (now who said that? Hmm... ) I recommend the library.

You're sooo funny Shawn! Maybe I'll take my own advice... What's that popular saying, do as I say not as I do?

Just kidding, I give advice that I've tested, so I do practice what I preach. Now that I've just been shown up I have decided to invest in these books for their popularity.

I know you do! But I fear we are getting off topic. Does anyone else have a character(s) that sing?

Dani: I can sing! I am a S, I am a S-M, I am a S-M-I-L-E-Y-F-A-N.

Me: Stop!

Dani:

Me:

In Heroes of Ynoureth one of my MC's, Sianna, was a singer. And Dudley was a harper. My Riders sing. Lancelyn from Legend of Darmoor sang on occasion.

Epic music is awesome.
Two Steps from Hell is awesome.
Your characters are awesome.

I wish I could come up with songs for mine. I thought I almost had one for Christiana but before I could quite figure out what I was thinking of it vanished on me.

Yes!
Still haven't listened to them...
Whose?

Oh, *embarrassed* Lady... Um... *looks around hopefully* Eruwaedhiel?

Still looking for that perfect song for my main MC. She's rather... complex to say the least.

Here's what I have for some others so far:

For Michael it would have to be "Dragon Rider" by Two Steps from Hell (He's not a dragon rider by the way.)

And for two of my other characters, Rayne Dravis and Bennjamin Drakenson it would have to be "Remember When" by Future World Music. LOVE that song!!

I found a song! It goes to one of my characters... but I'm not sure which. Is that pathetic or what?? It might be Christiana... but she doesn't really leave, more like considers it. Anyway,
How do you leave the one you love? - Katherine Jenkins

Does anyone else have a song that fits two of their MC's relationship, like brother and sister, etc.? I have one that I just found less than 5 minutes ago... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI2JJ1OCz8U

Dani: Is that me?

Me: No. What happened to the barrier?

Dani: Aryn snuck me around it. It blocks smilies, see? Can I sing my song, my nice, beautiful song?

Me: Not unless other people say you can. And if the little yellow people and/or the Topic Control Police don't come after one of the Tangential Sisters, a.k.a. me.

Dani: Oh. *whispers* The Topic Control Police has a blue night name, green font, four names, and a sword, so she needs to approve, plus the little yellow people can splice threads. Beware! *normal voice* But I do want to sing my nice song...

You knighted Airianna and I. It was after you told us to vacate the premises. And were kidding.

She got you Evening, you did use a sword in that thread.

Dani: So... Can I sing nicely?

Hm, theme songs for characters...

Charlotte Wilkons is the only one with a song right now. This song is what inspired me to write my current story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xntULAS-FU

I love finding theme songs for characters! Especially a lyricless, musical essence. I'm like Eruwaedhiel, I've got an epic music obsession (her fault, she introduced me to TSfH )
So it stands to reason that all of my charries are TSfH essences.
Azura is Frozen Moment
Arctax is currently Day Becomes Night
Niarah is Ocean Princess
Rahor is Atlantis
And Ashrai Nayir, my Ananthi, is totally Shoot to Kill (like Iri).

I have other characters, and more songs for them, but they happen to have slipped my mind at the moment . . . and don't worry, not all of them are TSfH so far.

I've found theme songs for two of my MC's, Ciarra and Kyra.

Kyra's is Beautiful Ending by Barlowgirl. Ciarra's is Hang On by Plumb.

I couldn't find a good video for Hang On, so here are the lyrics:

I'm so stubborn, it's how I got here
So alone, feels like forever
Wanna swim away and breath the open air
But I feel so afraid, then I hear you say

Hang on when the water is rising
Hang on when the waves are crashing
Hang on, just don't ever let go

I'm so hungry, how can I stay here?
Starving for what I hold so dear
Like a hurricane it takes everything from me
Wake me from this dream

Hang on when the water is rising
Hang on when the waves are crashing
Hang on, just don't ever let go

Hang on when you are barely breathing
Hang on when your heart's still beating
Hang on, just don't ever let go

Three days, thirty years
So hopeless, doesn't matter
Don't say it's too late if you blink your eyes
The sun is rising, the sun is rising, oh

You've got the epic obsession too, huh? It's actually one thing I'm happy to be obsessed about. Thanks Lady E!

The 3lunatics are now the 3TSfHlunatics. Fun . . .