Broken 148

[Julie]

This is a question about song lyrics. Do you find that they add emotion, or take away from the emotion of an intense scene, like in Chapter 148 of Broken?

For reference... www.dreamers-sanctuary.com/broken148.html Near the end of the chapter, the "My Last Breath" lyrics.

Be honest. Broken readers, when you read that chapter, did you find the lyrics distracting, or did you think they added to the scene, or did you just ignore them?

[frickfrackgirl]

Yes they add emotion and add sooo much to the story. And you have a knack for choosing the right songs for the moment. You can actually hear the song playing in your head and fitting in with what is written..

[A-RokzStalker]

Honestly, I like them because they really do fit what's going on, but lyrics can be distracting sometimes. It's okay to have them in a story, but I'd prefer them at the beginning or end of chapters, like you do sometimes, because half the time, I don't know the song, so I'm trying to put music to it in my head, and the other half of the time, I DO know the song and then I get it stuck in my head and get distracted from the story.

Like Jen said, you can actually hear the song playing in your head when you know the song, but I think it's better for movies, because then it's not so distracting and it's actually a part of the story, you know? But when you have to read the lyrics, it kind of ruins the moment a little.

So honestly, when lyrics are in the middle of a chapter, I skip over them and come back to them when I've finished reading the chapter, so that I don't get distracted.

[kristy]

I agree with both Jen and Amy. They completely go with what is going on and it just makes the emotion that much more intense. I wouldn't want a song in EVERY chapter that way, that would get annoying, but in this particular situation, I don't find them distracting at all.

[Julie]

Cool, thanks for the responses so far!

I know when I'm reading, I usually do skip over the lyrics, unless it's a song I know and like... but when it is that perfect song, it adds a lot to me. There are some songs that will always remind me of certain fanfics.

[Rachel]

Honestly I skip over them. I do it all the time not just with Broken. The lyrics I do read are always at the top or at the bottom.

[kristy]

I do skip over them most of the time, but for some reason in this story I never do. I guess because everything that's put in the chapter makes total sense.

[Julie]

I kinda go through the phases with the lyrics, but sometimes I hear a song and think "Omg, that would be PERFECT for BMS!" and then I just desperately want to work it into a scene.

I just don't ever want them to take away from the scene because they're distracting. But as long as people can just skip over them and not mind, it's all good. Like I said, I don't usually take the time to read lyrics in other people's stories, especially if they're in the middle of a scene. But they don't bug me really; I just skip them LOL.

[A-RokzStalker]

That's the way I am. I mean, if I completely forget to skip over them and I DO read them, then they bug the crap out of me, but if I skip them then I'm not bothered at all. In fact, I actually enjoy going back to read the lyrics after I've finished the scene or chapter, lol.

[kristy]

Every other story I do, except for in V's story, and your story.

[estrella]

Personally... I have to admit I hardly ever read it :S

[saturdaynightxo]

I will never listen to Open Arms and hear it the same again after Broken and By My Side :] I loveeeee that story and it's amazing. Great song choice but Claire, relationship wise, is a lot like me. I have the same situation with the old high school love and then the new guy :[ it bites but that story helped me a lot. But let me tell you... I don't think I've ever thought about cancer sooo much :[ It's okay though. It helps ease the thought a little.

[Karina]

I don't mind it at all in Broken. Normally though, I just kinda skip along through lyrics because it can get distracting. So I voted that I don't like it. Honestly, with most stories, I don't even care for the lyrics, I just wanna know what happens, lol.
But it can add emotion, which is great of course.

[Julie]

I'm the same way, Karina; I totally ignore most lyrics in other people's stories too, unless it's a song I know that really fits the scene... then it can really add to the emotion of the scene. But from the writing standpoint, music inspires me so much sometimes that I just have to put the lyrics in, even if I know most people will scroll right by them.

[Julie]

Sept 11, 2008 15:35:27 GMT -6 saturdaynightxo said:

I will never listen to Open Arms and hear it the same again after Broken and By My Side :] I loveeeee that story and it's amazing. Great song choice but Claire, relationship wise, is a lot like me. I have the same situation with the old high school love and then the new guy :[ it bites but that story helped me a lot. But let me tell you... I don't think I've ever thought about cancer sooo much :[ It's okay though. It helps ease the thought a little.

Aww, thanks. I will never hear Open Arms the same way again either LOL.