Musical Accompaniment CD Inspired by Bacigalupi's Novel "Ship Breaker"

LITERATURE INSPIRED PROJECT:

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

 When asked to create a project for Bacigalupi's novel, Ship Breaker, I considered a project I had created once before called a LifeSong Project. This project was assigned by one of my professor while I attended JMU and was a creative icebreaker in which students created a musical soundtrack that they felt was the soundtrack for their own life. They then went into description of why they chose each song and how it applied.

"Ship Breaker" Music Cover. PHOTO. Megan Bryant.

I had enjoyed this project so much I decided to replicate it, but this time with characters and settings from Bacigalupi's novel. The images were found on-line via Creative Commons and adapted into a collage which I sized, printed, and placed in an empty CD case. (To learn more about Image Licensing and using appropriately licensed pictures, videos, or music, follow the link here. To learn more about Creative Commons licensing and purposes, follow the link here.) All the images I used were listed on the inside cover with their license and appropriate attribution.

"Ship Breaker" CD Case Open. PHOTO. Megan Bryant.

Below is a list of the licenses written on the inside of the CD case seen above:

Front Cover

Vonstetinalightning by Bruce Von Stetina Is Licensed Under CC BY-2.5

Gives Ya The Big Eye by Randen Pederson Is Licensed Under CC By-2.0

Panama city old and new by Rich Young is Licensed Under CC BY-2.0

These Images are Derivatives From Their Original Forms by Megan Miller

Insider Cover/Table of Contents

Shipwreck-47 by Stephane M. Grueso is Licensed under CC By-SA-2.0

 Thai Ridgeback portrait By Leon Medov Is Licensed Under CC SA-3.0 DE

These images are derivatives from Their original forms by Megan Miller

"Ship Breaker" Music Content. PHOTO. Megan Bryant.

The songs I chose are listed in order bellow along with my explanations for each song choice and how I connected them to the story:

Harder Better Faster Stronger (Daft Punk) : Ship Breakers’ Mantra

   In the novel ship breakers are worked almost as slaves, working harder, better, faster, and stronger in hopes of not only advancing in position to make more money, but even in fear to keep their employment.  Daft Punk’s song exhibits the frantic mantra these workers would chant, the electronic pop echoing the chaos of the shipyard where they work. The competitive nature in this song without a doubt resembles the competition among the workers.

Separate Ways (Journey) : Swanks and Lucky Strikes

   Separate Ways, although a love song, may also be cross-interpreted as a sarcastic love song from Swanks or boss men towards the oppressed workers living in poverty. However the song can also be a reminder of the life Lucky Strikes who all once lived in poverty themselves, enjoying their escape into wealth/secure living while sympathizing with their past comrades in ship breaking.

Am I Wrong (Nico & Vinz) : Nailer’s Wish

   Nailer dreams of becoming wealthy and no longer working as a ship breaker. He seems willing even to settle with working on a clipper, believing any life different than the one he now has would be better. Although his friends taunt and tease him about these aspirations, Nailer would undoubtedly be drawn to Nico and Vinz’s song. Reaching for the things he can’t see, Nailer is the dreamer hoping his dreams can become reality.

Nine Lives (Tim McGraw) : Pima’s Song

   Pima’s character is both sassy and tough, her character perhaps comparable to our nine-life feline friends. In this song, the haughty dare to live and challenge the system in hopes of striking big emanate Pima’s character. She would throw all her chips in the pot in attempt to escape the ship breaking business, even if the odds are against her. In truth, Pima perhaps does have nine lives considering her struggle for survival throughout the novels event. The is no knowing how many of her nine lives she has remaining.

Skyscraper (Train) : Sadna’s Lullaby

   Encouraging and loving, Sadna is like a mother to Nailer. Skyscraper relays the encouragement Sadna would share with her daughter’s friend, a lullaby to push him through the hard times and difficulties darkening his dreams. Like the skyscrapers of drowned New Orleans, he still remains, standing high through the world attempts to overcome him.

M1 A1 (Gorillaz) : Richard Lopez’s Song

   M1 A1, for those who don’t know, is a tank. A tank is an excellent parallel to Richard Lopez, Nailer’s eccentric, high, and war mongering father. Obsessed with money, drugs, and fighting, the man leaves wreckage wherever he travels, crushing anyone who attempts to stand in his way. However, the beginning of the song reveals the dark truth behind Richard Lopez’s insanity. The echos of “Hello! Is anybody there?” can be the cries of his lost friends and family, or even his own cries for help having lost his own humanity.

Knights of Cydonia (Muse) : Decree of a Half-Man

   Tool, the half-man, is an intriguing character. His steady, warrior like character screams rebellion by his lacking a patron. Knights of Cydonia is a rallying cry by Tool to his fellow half-man comrades enslaved by others. He insists on fighting to survive, questioning the will of authorities he finds ludicrous, cruel, and unworthy of his loyalty. In this way, Tool become the wandering knight of fairytales, looking for one worthy of his service, but unbending in his own morals.

Say My Name (Odesza) : Lucky Girl’s Dream

   Nita, also called Lucky Girl, is torn between loyalty to her own Swank people while conflicted with the harsh world of ship breakers. Befriending Nailer, she receives the name Lucky Girl, a title mocking her wealthy status but also including and tying her to Nailer’s world. Say My Name relays her struggle to be united to her family but trying to understand the harsh world her people are responsible for endorsing. Say my Name is almost like a dream for identity, searching for where she belongs when torn between two worlds.

Broken World (The Talleys) : Dirge for New Orleans

   Broken World brings forth the longing for healing and the struggles with losing hope when the world around you is corrupted. New Orleans, and the rest of the world Nailer lives in, is indeed broken by pollution, environmental changes, and moral corruption. The Talleys’ song calls for the aid of a savior to save them from the waste swallowing them.

Send Me On My Way (Rusted Root) : Farewell to Bright Sands Beach

   Send Me On My Way is a great parallel to Nailer’s departure of Bright Sands Beach. The up-beat song, with its cheery request of running away despite what others say about youth and life, echoes Nailer’s aspirations and excitement of finally leaving the shipyard. Although he knows there will be struggle in adapting to his new life, Nailer cannot doubt the opportunities and adventures awaiting him in the world beyond.

Below is a link to my YouTube channel, specifically the music playlist I created that has each song I chose in order. Feel free to listen to the songs while reading the book and hear how each song correlates with its assigned character and setting. 

Musical Accompaniment for Bacigalupi's Novel "Ship Breaker"

remindmewhymill92