A Wrinkle in TIme 50th Anniversary Blog Tour

Dystopian February is being temporarily preempted for a very important post today. As part of the blog tour to celebrate 50 years of A WRINKLE IN TIME, I was asked create a playlist for the novel.  I've done quite a few literary playlists here on the blog, and they're always quite popular.  Be aware, there are spoilers here.

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The first song that came to mind, especially in relation to Mrs. Who, Whatsit and Which "tessering" Meg and Co. around, was Lady Stardust by Lisa Miskovsky.  Here are some lyrics:

Stardust, Lady Stardust let us cruise

Around your universe of magic, I’m in

Let’s play this song, on and on

Until the dawn and never let them win

You can watch a live version on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4woJ0uiy4

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Then when I listened to Only If by Enya, I was struck by how it related to the book.  Check out these lyrics:

When there's a shadow, you reach for the sun.

When there is love, then you look for the one.

And for the promises, there is the sky.

And for the heavens are those who can fly.


If you really want to, you can hear me say

Only if you want to will you find a way.

Watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C68nicab4s&ob=av2e

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Another good song to "tesser" to is All Around and Away We Go by Twin Sister 

All around and away we go

To find it again

This is Earth, yours!

Watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yn0PISCGpg&ob=av2e

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I want to "tesser" to Dreaming by Goldfrapp (I listen to this ALL THE TIME)

Over the dark and gentle sea
Open it to portal seventeen
I wanna laugh at day and dawn
I wanna know you need to stay

Live version on YouTube (I like the studio version better) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTCw6Xy8YY

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A good song for Meg at the start of the book (and of course for the Earth) is In the Shadows by The Rasmus

I've been watching

I've been waiting

In the shadows all my time

I've been searching

I've been living

For tomorrows all my life

Watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ao2u7F_Qzg&ob=av2e

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And then, also at the start of the book, when they realize their father may not be on Earth Bouncing Off Clouds by Tori Amos says it best:

Well you can stare all day at the sky
But that won't bring him back
That won't bring him back
You say you're waiting on fate
But I think fate is now
I think fate is now
Waiting on us 

A live version on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUUtUtGm5ww

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There were some parts while "tessering" that got pretty scary.  I had to think of Cold Wind by Arcade Fire 

And if they ever find me tell the papers cold wind, cold wind
Cold, cold wind blowing
Cold wind blowing

Listen to it on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OdZX47TG0w

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But there is that very sweet scene where Calvin remarks on the beauty of Meg's eyes and she smiles with happiness. So for that we have At My Most Beautiful by REM

you always say your name like I wouldn't know it's you,
at your most beautiful.

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way a way to make you smile

Watch the video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIXs66BPooY&ob=av2e

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And now we come to the planet Camazotz where people give up all individuality to conform. What could be more perfect than No Surprises by Radiohead?

No alarms and no surprises please
Such a pretty house, such a pretty garden

Watch the video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5CVsCnxyXg&ob=av2e

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I like No Light, No Light by Florence and the Machine for IT and his capture of Charles Wallace (from Meg's point of view obviously). 

No light, no light in your bright blue eyes
I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can't choose what stays and what fades away
And I'll do anything to make you stay 

Watch it live on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CW0QJVEiYo

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Charles Wallace might himself be singing Abducted by Cults at this point.

I knew right then that I'd been abducted
I knew right then that he would be taking my heart
I knew right then no one was above him 

Watch video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i1MXHGB8g0&ob=av2e 

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Meg feels mighty influenced by the power of IT as well. For this scene we have Dark and Stormy by Ash (which has the extra bonus of alluding to the first line of the novel)

On these summer days
Your dark and stormy ways

They captivate
Like those who came before me
I am captured by your gaze

Drawn into the flames
They leave no trace
Of one thing I am certain

I can't turn away, I can't turn away
 

Listen to the song at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cGRbG95UT4

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Meg starts to feel doubts ... You are a Tourist by Death Cab for Cutie 

When there's a doubt within your mind
Because you're thinking all the time
Framing rights into wrongs
Move along, move along 

Watch the video at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkk5wViJo-I&ob=av2e

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And finally, a little message for Meg at the climax of the book: All You Need Is Love by The Beatles 

There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made

No one you can save that can’t be saved

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time

It’s easy


All you need is love

Listen to the song on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVnMFYZok-Q

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So, what do you think of my A WRINKLE IN TIME playlist? Any songs you'd suggest?

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More about the 50^th Anniversary edition:

The 50^th Anniversary Commemorative edition features:

•       Frontispiece photo*†

•       Photo scrapbook with approximately 10 photos*†

•       Manuscript pages*†

•       Letter from 1963 Caldecott winner, Ezra Jack Keats*†

•       New introduction by Katherine Paterson, US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature  †

•       New afterword by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Voiklis including six never-before-seen photos †

•       Murry-O’Keefe family tree with new artwork †

•       Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery acceptance speech

* Unique to this edition                † never previously published