[Jwolf] Music Recs for The English Year

[methodwriter85]

I enjoy music, and I enjoy using music to evoke a certain time period. I thought it'd be fun to explore the mid/late-2000's music era with the 2008-2009 school year setting of the English Year. I can't guarantee there will be picks for every chapter or that every pick will come from that era. There will likely be repeats. Alright, let's get started!

 

Chapter 1

 

-When we met Corbin Crawley and his frat brothers, who are determined to recover their rep at the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

 

 

-When Corbin's brothers talk about their love lives, and razz Corbin about his less-than satisfactory one.

 

"Cupid's Chokehold" by Gym Class Heroes

 

-When Corbin meets Pete, an English grad student. He doesn't know it yet, but his life is going to change.

 

 

 

-When Corbin is left alone at the chapter, drunk and alone, but still hopeful.

 

"Gotta Be Somebody" by Nickelback

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 2

 

-When Pete drunkenly dances to Miley Cyrus.

 

 

My friend in college had this as his voicemail message. Still cracking up thinking about it.

 

-When Corbin looks all over for Pete, and finds him dancing with the school slut.

 

 

-When Corbin has his melodramatic, drunken inner monologue where he promises himself that he's DONE with that English boy. (The first of many such internal and external monolgues.)

 

 

-When Corbin leads drunken singing on the bus.

 

 

I feel like I deserve props for finding a vid of drunken singing of the song that was taken at approximately the same time Corbin did this.

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 3

 

-The song that would be playing over the montage of Corbin and Pete talking late into the night and getting to know each other.

 

 

-At the party(why do I feel like I'm going to type this a lot?), where Corbin schools Lee on how to play beer pong.

 

 

I had no clue what the title of this song was, or who sang it, but I looked it up, played it, and I remembered hearing this at a lot of parties. Really indicative of the kind of musc you'd hear at parties from about 2007 to 2009-ish.

 

-When Corbin has some fun with the Five Minute Freshman.

 

 

-When Corbin and Pete have this kinda bitchy, subtextual conversation at the end of the chapter.

 

 

They're having their first couple's fight and don't even know it. LOL.

Edited December 4, 2012 by methodwriter85

[Jwolf]

I guess I should be writing more and listening to these tracks less... I can't help it. Once you get on YouTube...

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 4

 

-When Corbin wakes up from a massive hangover, realizes he has no clue what he did last night, has vague flashes with people filling him in,and gets shit from the fallout.

 

"Time To Pretend" by MGMT

 

-When Corbin decides he's having fun chasing Pete, realizes that Pete has no game, and the two decide to watch Mean Girls.

 

 

"God, I am so sorry, Regina. Really, I don't know why I did this. I guess it's probably because of my big lesbian crush on you! Suck on this!"

 

-When Corbin hangs out with Pete's fellow foreigner friends as the token American.

 

 

I remember hearing this song on the radio all the time when I drove that summer.

 

-When Corbin and Pete have their homerotic wrestling session.

 

Edited December 5, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 5

 

-When Corbin recounts the futile, going-nowhere "relationship" that he has with Mike the Cadet.

 

 

-When Corbin and the gang enter the White Party.

 

 

-As the White Party becomes, well, the White Party.

 

 

Thank you, Tom Traver's Awesome 80's Show at Deer Park Tavern in '08.

 

-When Corbin wheels and deals for his fraternity to have a better sorority for their mixer.

 

 

-When Corbin imagines Pete kissing a girl, and liking it.

 

 

If you had told me back during the summer of 2008 that Katy Perry wasn't destined to be a one-hit wonder and that she'd still be relevant in 2012(and have a big summer hit every year), I wouldn't have believed you.

Edited December 4, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 6

 

-When Lee hits on Corbin, and Corbin turns him down after a little lip action.

 

 

Whatever happened to Cobra Starship, anyway? It's been awhile since they had anything out. Anyway, props to the video guy. He was both funny, creepy, and kind of hot all at the same time.

 

-When Corbin suddenly finds himself seeing red when it comes to Lee.

 

 

Brandon Stoughton. Dear god, easily my favorite of all the Britney Spears video himbos. Oh. My. God.

 

-When Corbin, upset, falls back into old patterns with Mike the Cadet.

 

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 7

 

-When the crowd gets ready for tailgating.

 

 

-When the Brit shows up at the house, and Corbin can barely keep himself from drooling.

 

 

-When the gang plays Get The Fuck Out.

 

 

-When Corbin and the Brit make absolute fools of themselves at the game.

 

 

-When Corbin decides to get revenge on Lee.

 

 

-When Corbin and Pete have a sexual tension-filled study session.

 

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 8

 

-When Corbin realizes he's in deep shit with his fraternity.

 

 

-When Corbin has to kiss the brass ring to make things right.

 

 

I remember being at a club this was playing at, listening to a guy bitching about this song.

 

-When Corbin gets hit on by the hot freshman, David.

 

 

I assoicate this song with the douchey Phi Kapps guys, who would play this at their keggars. The 80's revival was going strong with those guys.

 

-When you can literally hear Corbin's heart smashing into a thousand pieces when he sees Pete's friend, Dakota, on webcam.

 

 

Its a major shame David Archuleta never really took off. Sappy pop or not, the kid was good.

Edited December 9, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 9

 

-When Corbin analyzes his situation with Pete to Berto, and compares it to how Pete must be with Dakota.

 

 

-When Corbin kinda does/kinda doesn't invite Pete to a Sunday Funday mixer.

 

 

-When Corbin outs Lee in a game of Never Have I Ever.

 

 

-When Corbin has to deal with the consequences of what he did to Lee.

 

"What I've Done" by Linkin Park

 

-When Corbin gets it together to plan the annual mixer.

 

 

-When the gang starts to gather together for the Guilty Pleasures Mixer.

 

"Burning Up" by the Jonas Brothers

 

The Jonas Brothers craze. Adam Phillips once told his online group about his guilty-pleasure crush on Nick Jonas, which is why I included this...I'm sure The Jonas Brothers were high on the guilty pleasure list in 2008.

Edited December 10, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 10

 

-When we meet Dakota, and Corbin displays his shameless thing for High School Musical.

 

 

-When Corbin inwardly battles his jealousy for the insanely awesome Dakota.

 

 

-When the gang starts to listen to cover band.

 

 

-When Corbin and Pete start grinding on each other.

 

 

I think this has to be one of my favorite retro party songs. It exactly describes the place you're in at life when you're in your early 20's and nothing really matters but trying to have fun.

 

-When Corbin serenades the crowd with "Crazy".

 

 

-When Dakota clues Corbin in on Pete's personality defects after she has her fight with Pete.

 

 

-At the end of the chaper, when Corbin reflects on the fact that Mr. "I'm Not Gay" is passed out under his bed instead of going home with Dakota.

 

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 11

 

-When Corbin convinces Pete to let him give him a haircut. While drunk.

 

 

I had completely forgotten about this song until it came into my head for that scene. Pretty fun how that works, re-discovering songs from the 2004-2008 era while doing this.

 

-When Corbin, Pete, and Dakota enjoy Primm's, while Corbin fantasizes himself as someday being married to Pete.

 

 

-When Corbin works out his sexual frustration with Pete at some "sober" campus event party.

 

 

-When Dakota gets around to asking about Corbin's love life, Corbin thinks about how he could be a good boyfriend to Pete and not such a manwhore, and Corbin realizes how Pete percieved his "distractions" with the Cadet and the Frosh.

 

 

-When Corbin dresses to kill at the Shipwrecked party, and again throws himself at Pete.

 

 

    Remember when Justin Timberlake was the only Justin in the Billboard Top 10?

 

-When Dakota tries her damndest to warn Corbin against Pete's inability to be vulnerable, but Corbin knows he's in so deep that he's drowning.

 

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 12

 

-When Corbin begins "Project Ice Out the Brit", and manages to go no contact until Tuesday.

 

 

Long live Veronica Mars and the O.C.

 

-When they go to the Tropical party.

 

 

Man, I can't tell you how many damn times I've heard this at college parties from about 2006 to 2008.

 

-When a dripping wet Corbin gets pissed beyond reason at his friends, and pretty much refuses to deal with anybody.

 

 

Another song that I think is pretty emblematic of songs that you'd hear at college parties in this era.

Edited January 16, 2013 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 13

 

-When everyone tries to talk Corbin out of seeing Mike again.

 

 

I strongly associate this song with my senior prom. I remember telling people that at this New Year's 2008 party, and they said that made them feel old. God, I miss being young.

 

-When Corbin and Pete have a very awkward lunch where much is left unsaid.

 

 

Vampire Weekend was hands-down my favorite new band back in 2008.

 

-When Corbin watches Mike get dressed, and desperately tries to get him to kiss him.

 

 

Anyone else remember this? It was one of those old viral hits from the early days of YouTube. True Blood had a pretty hilarious scene with this song.

 

-Corbin has his sexual encounter with Mike.

 

 

I think unless you're one of those lucky people who met their soulmate in high school and got married to them, you've pretty much been at this place at least once in your life.

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 14

 

-When Corbin and Pete go downstairs to dance in the basement.

 

 

God, I remember hearing this song everywhere.

 

-When they start dancing to a Britney Spears Medley.

 

 

I hope you appreciate that I actually was able to find a Megamix that was created that year, JWolf.

 

-When Pete confronts Corbin for ignoring him, and Corbin finally admits that he's crushing on him,

 

 

This song came out during the summer of 2006, when I was really, really depressed about life. It packs such an emotional punch.

 

-When the gang throws a Lawn Party and gets ready for Homecoming Tailgate.

 

 

-When Corbin hits up a party and DJ Swayze is playing the sounds of the 80's, and Pete shows up.

 

 

I don't know if they had Phi Kapps at your college, JWolf, but I would go to those parties and this was one of the throwback tracks they'd play. Phi Kapps were assholes,  but their parties had better music than the APD's.

 

-When Corbin blows up at Pete, and wonders if he lost him for good.

 

 

There's another popular track from that era that I'm happy I was finally able to use. For some weird reason, the DJ at a bar I've been frequenting for six years would try to play this like we were supposed to dance to this or something.

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 15

 

-When Corbin escapes with the Cadet to the country, purely to get there before Amanda and Pete.

 

"So What?" by Pink

 

-At the Country party, when Mike and Peter are clearly marking their territory with Corbin.

 

 

I never thought I'd say this, but Justin Beiber actually made me miss Justin Timberlake.

 

-When Corbin tries to get Mike to stay the night, Mike refuses, but then kisses him as if that makes everything better.

 

 

-At a party where Corbin manipulates Zach into giving up his spot on the crew team, by playing the concerned wise junior.

 

 

-When Corbin finds a crew shirt on his bed from Pete, and completely goes back into longing hardcore for Pete. While talking to Mike on the phone.

 

Edited February 2, 2013 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 16

 

-When Corbin finds himself in the rowdy environment of the VMI guys.

 

 

God, I remember

was everywhere at one point.

 

-When Corbin and Mike start their hook-up that gets interrupted.

 

 

-When Corbin and Mike finally have sex.

 

 

-When Corbin complains to everyone about Mike.

 

 

What? Corbin is so clearly the girl in his relationship with Mike.

 

No one is really commenting, but I'm getting a fair amount of views, so I'm assuming people are liking this. So am I. This has been fun. It's been fun bringing back music memories of the long ago days of 2004-2008.

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 17

 

-When Corbin bemoans his love life. Again.

 

 

-When Corbin teaches Pete how to two-step.

 

 

-When Mike shows up, and Corbin feels like he's in a Nicholas Sparks movie.

 

"

 

-When Corbin and Lee wind up having hot hate sex.

 

 

One of my favorite songs from that time period. I'm glad there was a place for it.

Edited February 17, 2013 by methodwriter85

[vinnyvin]

I think I need to reread all the chapters with this soundtrack in the background. 

[methodwriter85]

I think I need to reread all the chapters with this soundtrack in the background. 

 

I finally got a reply! Woo-hoo!

 

Seriously though, it is fun to relive all the music from about 2004-2008, with it mainly being 2007-2008. I was a junior/second-year junior at this time, so a lot of this music was in the background.

 

A favorite music memory of this time would be Hey There Delilah...it was about Halloween 2007, and I was at a rager. Some townies showed up and started shit with an acquaintance of mine from high school. This fight began to break out, while this song was playing in this background. Something about that moment just felt surreal and bizarre to me. I mean, you got this sappy love song scoring a moment of violence. Just hilarious.

 

[Maximoff]

I enjoy listening to your music recommendations to JWolf's chapters.

It's just hard to find your songs that go with the story. It's either lyrics that goes well with the moment, but not the music, or the other way around. You must be an expert on finding music that sets the mood.

 

I'll add some that I found fitting.

 

Chapter 14

Corbin telling Pete that he likes him, but gets rejected with "I'm not gay."

 

Chapter 15

When Pete gives Corbin that t-shirt and Corbin started to fall for Pete again.

(The Smiths cover/reinterpretation)

 

Chapter 16 

When Corbin decides to go one step further with Mike the Cadet.

 

Chapter 17

When Corbin is thinking about Mike.

"Drove me Wild" - Tegan and Sara

Edited February 17, 2013 by Maximoff

[methodwriter85]

   Thanks, but Contra's actually anachronistic. It's from 2010, and this is set in 2008...so it doesn't fit in. The La Roux song came out in March 2009, so it's also anachronistic and therefore cannot be used.  "Drove Me Wild" was released this year, so it's big-time anachronistic and therefore definitely cannot be used.

 

    That's the other rule about this- nothing further than what was out by 2008. Here's a good primer on circa 2007-2008 music.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUn3u-byY8

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfv7AgrESo

 

 

      Electro pop acts like La Roux hadn't really come in yet, Timberlake was the only Justin who was at the top of the charts, Fergie was eveywhere, and hip-hop was unquestionably dominant with Timbaland leading the charge.

 

       That's the music era that I'm trying recreate here.

Edited February 18, 2013 by methodwriter85

[Maximoff]

Didn't notice that all the songs were dated back to 2007-2008. My fault. 

Now, what the hell did I listen to back then? 

[methodwriter85]

   Well, not ALL the songs, but a good bulk, and none of them are later than 2008.

 

    I was mainly into Vampire Weekend's 1st album that year.

[methodwriter85]

Chapter 18

 

-When Corbin hears of the story of Melanie Chu, and decides to make it his featured story in the Founder.

 

 

-When the gang gets ready for the Rockstars and Rehab party.

 

 

-When Corbin and Pete have what Corbin feels is basically their bromance break-up talk.

 

 

-When Pete and Corbin break out singing.

 

 

-When Corbin writes his gossip piece about Melanie Chu.

 

 

-When Corbin gets not-so-happy news, and then a big whammy.