Shuffleboard 10

1. "'Ta-Ta Charlie" by Michael Giacchino from LOST Season 3
In what was certainly one of the most emotional parts of LOST, Michael Giacchino wrote some of the most emotional music as well. This sparse but strongly emotional (one of Giacchino's strong points) piano-and-string piece is played right before Charlie sets off to sacrifice himself for the sake of the other survivors. It was an extremely sad episode, and Giacchino wrote an extremely touching score to it. Charlie's music is some of my favorite in the whole series.



2. "Some Other Spring" by Billie Holiday from Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was the defining female vocalist of the past few decades. Norah Jones and the like just learned from her, and in my opinion, has a ways to go to match Billie's sultry swing.
"Some Other Spring" is a standard low-key jazz piece, complete with crooning saxes, gentle bass line, and muted trumpets. The lyrics speak of her trying to warm her heart up to love again, perhaps "some other spring."
The lo-fi recording only adds to the magic of Billie's smoky voice. Her music, especially this song, makes me feel like sipping a brown drink in a smoky bar somewhere.


3. "My Friend (So Long)" by dc Talk from Supernatural
Man, I remember the days when dc Talk was the top of the heap, the definition of Christian Rock. The times have changed, and some of their music hasn't aged well (I'm looking at you, "Nu Thang"). But this song, released in 1998, is an obvious inspiration to many "Christian" bands throughout the years, in both lyrics and style.
The lyrics speak of a fictional band that splits, with one member going "mainstream" and selling his faith out to get an "interview in Rolling Stone." It was well ahead of its time, and serves as a cautious reminder to Christians in the biz.
The song itself is a pretty standard rock song, with some extra-umph that allows it to age well. dc Talk excelled at updating their sound as the years progressed, and they adapted their trio-of-voices sound well to the punkish-heavier era of the late 90s and early 00s (a la Relient K). The song is even self-referencing, adding a clip of dc Talk's megahit "Jesus Freak."
I couldn't embed the video, but here's the YouTube link.

4. "The Orange Man" by James Newton Howard from Unbreakable
Sigh, this was when M. Night Shyamalan was untouchable. James Newton Howard wrote some spooky stuff for Signs, The Village, and The Sixth Sense. Unbreakable's soundtrack was more of a mystery-drama sound, with hints at a grandiose hero movie score (fitting to the movie's premise).
"The Orange Man" is played when Bruce Willis' invincible character saves a family from a crazed convict (hence the orange). It's an intense and heroic scene, showing that Willis' character is indeed a superhero.


5. "Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder" by Jars of Clay from Redemption Songs
I'm growing more and more attached to this style of redone old hymns (it's our worship pastor's favorite and only style) as seen on Jars of Clay's Redemption Songs. "Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder" may be a mouthful, but the lyrics by John Newton are chock-full of The Gospel. Mr. Newton, I defer to you.

Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior's name

He has hushed the law's loud thunder
He has quenched Mt. Sinai's flame

Let us love the Lord who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes

He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood

He presents our souls to God

I apologize for the cheesiness of the video, but it's the closest the Jars of Clay version I could find.