Hallelujah, praise the Insomnia

[karatelunch.livejournal.com]

This may be the crazy girl who comes out at 2:30 in the morning talking, but I think these lyrics fit beautifully with Gen and Attolia and all that razzmatazz. (On a slightly side-ish note, I'm going to call the Queen Attolia; I've really been trying to reconcile "Irene" in my head, but I almost feel like I'm intruding on something personal. If I may mesh my fandoms atrociously, it's like Mulder calling Scully "Dana" in the X-Files - so rare and intimate that one feels uncomfortable witnessing it. She's "Attolia" in QoA, and that was my literary bible for a good long while, so Attolia she shall stay. Lyrics below the cut! Good morning!)

I bolded what I thought most applicable  -


Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah


Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah 
Hallelujah


You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah


I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, 
Hallelujah

Comments

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

It's not just you, I think it fits well too! And it's early evening here so no insomnia to blame :) Although my disclaimer could be that I love the song.

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

Those are good lyrics!

"I've really been trying to reconcile "Irene" in my head, but I almost feel like I'm intruding on something personal." Yeah, I felt this way really strongly at first. Only recently have I been able to think of her as Irene and only because discussing her and Gen on Sounis has made me understand her character more.

[haleysings.livejournal.com]

Boy, you think being up late does weird things to YOU...when I saw the line about bathing on the roof, it made me think of the Bible story that references (David and Bathsheba), and all of the sudden I started thinking "If Costis was originally married to Attolia, instead of Gen, would Gen send Costis into a hopeless battle to keep Attolia all for himself?"

...regardless, that song DOES fit them.

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

Someone pointed this out before-- it really is applicable if people keep thinking of it! Who is it, Green Day?

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

it's written by Leonard Cohen, but several different people have done their version of it. I like Jeff Buckley's (this may be because it was the one i first heard :P) Go listen to it! it's a pretty relaxing song.

[(Anonymous)]

kd lang has a version of it on "Hymns of the 49th Parallel."
-P.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

k. d. lang's is definitely my favourite.

[(Anonymous)]

kd lang's version of ANYTHING is my favorite.
-P.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

And my favorite is still JJ Cale's version, but that is partly because I love Johnny's piano playing. It's also on the Shrek soundtrack.

[fabricalchemist.livejournal.com]

THAT'S where I knew it from! XD;;

[karatelunch.livejournal.com]

mmm, yeah- I heard it first in Shrek.

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Heheh, I also know it from Shrek. This really does go perfectly with them. Which pleases me, because I've actually been trying to think of songs that fit them. (Mostly because that's what I've been doing for my characters lately. Character playlists are a writer's best friend. XD *geeks out*)

Green Day

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

Green Day has the Attolia song - Pulling Teeth, from Dookie

("I'm all busted up ... She comes to check on me, making sure I'm on my knees ...is she ultra-violent, is she disturbed? I better tell her that I love her before she does it all over again")

A bit off topic, but...

[(Anonymous)]

So, Nina, do you practice karate (or does karatelunch mean something else?) I am an Aikido girl myself, and as such got particular enjoyment out of the swordfighting practice in KoA. It works, it rings true, I can see the moves and I have even seen something like that hovering jump Eugenides did. And the whole business of treating practice swords properly. Just last week I was reprimanded for flipping over a wooden tanto (short knife) in a way that would have been dangerous if it had had a blade. People take this stuff very seriously. Any other martial artists get a kick out of the swordfights?
-Philia

Re: A bit off topic, but...

[(Anonymous)]

karatelunch is just a silly name of mine. I'm sort of a weaponry-inclined girl, though; my family (mostly my brother) has quite a collection of different swords and daggers and I've seen many swordfight demonstrations - I think I can visualize the fighting fairly well. It's awesome that you practice Aikido! I can manage yoga, but even crazy intense yoga is pretty slow and I'm not coordinated enough for much else.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I prefer the Rufus Wainwright version myself, but I've only heard two other versions, so I can't have a favorite yet. But yes, fantastic song. Much love. *loves this song a great deal* *hearts*

On a slightly side-ish note, I'm going to call the Queen Attolia; I've really been trying to reconcile "Irene" in my head, but I almost feel like I'm intruding on something personal.

*joins the club* It's just...she's Attolia. Possibly my least favorite scene in QoA was when Eddis said her name. Just those few lines, but they completely threw off the mystique that was Attolia. I couldn't really even consider the fact that she had a name until Eugenides called it out in the KoA scene where she faints--and then, like Costis *who hasn't been huggled enough in the past few days!! huggles Costis*, I was able to accept it. But I myself would not dare to call her by her name. :-)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved that part of QoA! * ♥ Eddis*

Eddis was the first person brave enough to call her that and see her as Irene.

I've looked for this song online for free, and even tried to *coughillegallycough* download it on kazaa, but have had no luck. Any ideas?

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

blogmusik.net :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Thanks, avian.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I loved the conversation. Just like three lines with the Irene bit made me go "...??" :-)

thought a little more (lucid daytime thoughts)

[karatelunch.livejournal.com]

I associate "Irene" with the part that Attolia has ostensibly closed off - the "shadow princess". As much as beng queen has changed her, one can't erase one's personality entirely; "Irene" is a girl who couldn't survive, politically or personally, and was disposed of to the extent that was necessary to maintain the throne. Gen makes "Irene" relevant, but that is only because he's wicked awesome.

[estarria.livejournal.com]

I heard that song on House a while back, and thought it was really pretty.

I liked the scene where Eddis called her Irene because the irony was interesting, and I like when Eugenides calls her that because it makes sense that he's close enough to use her personal name. But I can't call her Irene either. :) It's like when you hear your schoolteachers refer to each other by their first names, and you think "well, that's nice for them, but I'm never going to do that." And because I read QoA first, I have a hard time thinking of Eugenides as Gen, but after reading things on this comm it's getting easier.

[(Anonymous)]

That's okay, he prefers Eugenides!
-P.

[(Anonymous)]

It's hard to call Eugenides "Gen" (for me, at least) because of the part in Thief where he refrains from telling the Magus that only people he likes are allowed to call him "Gen."

Partly I can't think of Attolia as Irene because the third-person narrator never calls her that.

~Feir Dearig

As a former ballet student I am somewhat in awe of the martial arts...

[empmai.livejournal.com]

I call him Gen only because Eugenides is too easy to mispell :)

[(Anonymous)]

Ballet is way harder, in my opinion. I sucked so royally at ballet. I think the trouble was that there were no attackers motivating the movements...
-Philia

More Music

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Here is another song you might like. The first time I heard it, I immediately thought of Eugenides, during his QoA days. I've finally found a site where you can listen to it for free.

http://webjay.org/by/italian_chicka13/songsthatrock

It's called "It's For the Best" and it's by Straylight Run.

Re: More Music

[(Anonymous)]

new thread/tag: Queen's Theif playlist? :)

~Feir Dearig

Re: More Music

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

OMG! Checkers - you are a genius! All the theme music you've found is great! I love it! The lyrics fit PERFECTLY! SERIOUSLY PEOPLE! YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANAYLSE THE DAMN LYRICS TO MAKE THEM FIT. THEY ARE SO LITERAL ITS SCARY!

Re: More Music

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Thanks, emerald. It's so much better being a *genius* than an idiot. :)

Re: More Music

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

Checkers, dear, don't underestimate your ability to multi-task.

Re: More Music

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Ooh---burn!

Re: More Music

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I found the lyrics! Hey, it's December everyone! *allowed to use icon*

Straylight Run - It's for the best

And it takes more time than ive ever had,
drains the life from me, makes me want to forget.
As young as i was, i felt older back then,
more disciplined, stronger and certian.
But i was scared to death of eternity,
i was saved by grace and destroyed by naivety,
and i lied to myself and said it was for the best.

So now faith is replaced with logic so cold,
ive disregarded what i was now that im older.
And i know much more then i did back then,
but the more i learn the more i cant understand.
And ive become content with this life that i lead,
where i drink to much and dont believe in much of anything.
And i lie to myself, and say its for the best.

Were moving forward but holding ourselves back, and were waiting on something that will never come...
Were moving forward but holding ourselves back, and were waiting on something that will never come

Were moving forward but holding ourselves back, and were waiting on something that will never come (And i lie to myself, and say its for the best)
Were moving forward but holding ourselves back, and were waiting on something that will never come(And i lie to myself, and say its for the best)
Were moving forward but holding ourselves back, and were waiting on something that will never come (And i lie to myself, and say its for the best)
Were moving forward but holding ourselves back, and were waiting on something that will never come (And i lie to myself, and say its for the best)

Re: More Music

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Hm, when I read the lyrics I thought more of pre-Gen Attolia.

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Love the song. *goes to download it* - legally, but with an added il.

I've really been trying to reconcile "Irene" in my head

For me it's acutally because she doesn't feel like an "Irene". I'm not sure why. But you know how when you hear a name you can usually pick out the person who it belongs too. Like "Kevin" or "Jessica" Irene just doesn't do Attolia justice.

Irene

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe everyone who doesn't like the name Irene is pronouncing it wrong. Pretend it's Greek (uh, which it is). For starters, it's got three syllables. And the vowels are different. Maybe you'll like it better that way. Just a suggestion.
-Philia (whose child's middle name is Irene, with FRENCH pronunciation)

Re: Irene

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Can you spell it out how you pronounce it the french way and the greek way.

Hmm and maybe rhyme it with something so that I can hear it.

THhanks :)

Re: Irene

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, so it's not "eye-reen"? More like...what..."eye-ren-ay"?

Ooh...if it is "eye-ren-ay", that actually DOES feel better, somehow....

Re: Irene

[(Anonymous)]

Of course when I said "wrong," I meant "in a way that doesn't really work for you." You can pronounce it any way you want, and even with my Classical education, I don't pronounce every name in the books "accurately" (too much work). But, even though I like the name Irene in all its different forms, I too felt that I couldn't pronounce it as if singing "Goodnight Irene," so I played around with it in my mind's ear and went more Greek with it, and after that it seemed perfect.
Sure, eye-ren-ay could work, or ee-ray-nay (closer to the Greek), or even the more British eye-ree-nee.
The French would be more like ee-REHN. Only Frenchier.
Just find one that reads more naturally for you. Enjoy.
-Philia

Re: Irene

[empmai.livejournal.com]

ohh, it does sound so much better in the other pronounciations (anything but eye-reen)

Another song

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

You all may not have seen this in an old post, but it's pretty funny. ferris_girl wrote these lyrics for Eugenides (sung to God Save the Queen/My Country Tis of Thee):

Theiving and kidnapping
Long live our noble King.
Gods save our King.
Lying right through his teeth
Roaming on muted feet.
Medes hope you never meet
Our King of Kings.

Earrings of gold and gems
May he dedicate them
All through his reign.
May he sneak in at night
Turning the wrong to right.
Never to quit a fight
Gods save our King.

Re: Another song

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

*applauds* That is brilliant!

Re: Another song

[estarria.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! I love it. :)

Names/Titles

[(Anonymous)]

Ooh, just had a thought. Eugenides's name is also his title. Eddis and Attolia's titles have become their names.
-Philia

Re: Names/Titles

[hecatehatesthat.livejournal.com]

Well, it was his title in Eddis. He's Attolis now.

Which, side note, is also interesting -- since the King of Attolia's title is Attolis, and Eugenides mentions that one of his grandfathers "was Eddis," and the King of Sounis is likewise Sounis, I'd guess that in this world, in the language shared by our three little coastal countries "--is" is a masculine ending, "--ia" a feminine one. Which has two interesting implications: 1. that the Queen of Eddis, either by some Eddisian tradition or by her own choice, has taken a masculine name, and 2. that Attolia is and presumably has long been a country where it is the queen and not the king who is, on some level, the embodiment of the nation.

Which makes me think of Shakespeare, but that's probably its own post.

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Like other people (such as, you know, real life people) whom I respect and adore, I waver sometimes between the appropriate title and the affectionate title. I think that I call them Eugenides or Attolia when I'm referring to their capabilities--as a king or a queen or a thief. Sneaking into the Baron Artadorus's room late at night to threaten him about wheat? Eugenides. Putting Coleus leaves in her wine to make her first husband die? Attolia, indeed.

"I love your eyes, I love your ears, I love every one of your impossible lies"?

Gen and Irene.

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

(ps--sorry if any of that was cannonically unsound. Someone is borrowing KoA right now, and my roommate isn't buying a copy until it's in paperback.)