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View Full Version : My Bardess needs Music! V2



Kizara
2008-12-04, 11:27 AM
So, Xoana Antia is trying to make it as an (exceptionally talented) performer.
Btw, as a disclaimer, I know that my character is pretty badly a Mary Sue, and if I bothered to describe all of her abilities and backstory, this would simply become more evident.

The setting is the real, modern-day world, 2 years in the past, but with fantastical elements (inspired by Hellboy 2, which was otherwise a fairly crappy movie IMO).


So, the problem I run into is that while I do have music that I like and listen to regularly, its fairly limited in scope. The other problem is that any successful star needs her own material, and there's no way in hell I can write her original songs.

She has versitile performer, with Singing as the main with: Strings (guitar and violin mainly), piano (keyboard falls here too), dance, cheerleading (cause really, its a type of performance) and acting as her others.

She is very chaotic, and likes alot of different styles and types of music, as long as its energetic. From pop to old world (celtic woman and the like) to metal and such. In some ways she acts quite peppy and nice, but when the mood strikes her she turns quite goth and goes Amy Lee on the piano. Really, this might sound a bit out there, but it works when I'm actually RPing it.

So far I have:

Pop: Various stuff from Britney spears (Crazy, Baby One More Time, Piece of Me, couple others), Avril (Girlfriend, Complicated, etc).

Alt Rock: Various Evanesence, Bring Me to Life in particular.

Metal: Nightwish, Epica (mainly the newer NW stuff, cause although I love Tarja, she honestly would sound alot more like Anette).

Celtic stuff: Quite a bit here, mainly Mediaeval Babes and Celtic Woman.

Some techno too that has female vocals.


Anyways, I'm looking for more content and suggestions here. It has to be energetic, and keep away from the twangy country (not energetic, cant stand it), blues (again, not energetic in the way I'm looking for), rap (crude, not her style, can't stand it).

And links are good, real good.

For inspiration:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Star_Moon_bucket/ElvenSwordswoman.jpg

Keld Denar
2008-12-04, 11:34 AM
Metal: Nightwish, Epica (mainly the newer NW stuff, cause although I love Tarja, she honestly would sound alot more like Anette).


If you can get away with lugging a cello around, jamming some Apocalyptica will surely inspire your allies. Your chick has long hair, and I think she would look very similar to Eicca when she's jammin and head banging while playing the cello.

Or maybe I just like Apocalyptica a little too much.

Inspiration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnAzkh9kn0)

And this....
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/ClericofPhwarrr/bards.jpg

KKL
2008-12-04, 11:38 AM
Mmm...Violin. So much fun you can do.

I, for one, like this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVJ3xmr7Atg). It's an anime OP, yeah, but it's a remix of it in a way, and Screamer does damn fine with it. Plus, you get the lyrics out of the way.

Telonius
2008-12-04, 12:44 PM
For anything goth-y or angst-ish, you can't go wrong with "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who. It's not written for a female voice, but a good singer could definitely pull it off.

The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd.

I haven't actually heard any of their covers myself, so I'm not sure if they're any good; but Lez Zeppelin might have some good tracks for you.

Sstoopidtallkid
2008-12-04, 01:32 PM
If you can get away with lugging a cello around, jamming some Apocalyptica will surely inspire your allies. Your chick has long hair, and I think she would look very similar to Eicca when she's jammin and head banging while playing the cello.Summon Instrument. :smallbiggrin:

Also, I've blocked most Country from my head, but if you posted a bit more about the character I could probably find something that fits but isn't twangy at all.

Kizara
2008-12-04, 09:32 PM
If you can get away with lugging a cello around, jamming some Apocalyptica will surely inspire your allies. Your chick has long hair, and I think she would look very similar to Eicca when she's jammin and head banging while playing the cello.

Or maybe I just like Apocalyptica a little too much.

Inspiration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnAzkh9kn0)

And this....
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb177/ClericofPhwarrr/bards.jpg

Nice song, certinally hits "energetic" on the nose.
Of course, getting an electric cello and then a group of people to play them (and electric cellos for each of them) is probably unfeasible. Still, nice song.

Cool pic too, saved.


KKL:

Kinda neat, but I already have a ton of violin stuff thanks to celtic woman and their lead violinist (whose name is like russian and I can't recall).


Telonius:

Yea, that's a classic. Both of them are too slow for her though. Think more Evanescene style when you think angst/emo for her.

......


Let's see, she is half-nymph, 13/20/14/20/14/22. 4th level, total perform modifier (without spells): +18.
More stats:
Swash 1/ half-fey 2/warlock 7/sublime cord 1/wild soul 9

Bard 10/seeker 10

Feats: Skill Focus (perform) (1st), Improved Initiative (1st), Versatile Performer (flaw 1),Obtain Familiar (flaw 2), Melodic Casting (3rd), Extra Music (6th), Words of Creation (War 4th), Extra Music (9th), Extra Music (12th), Quicken Spell (15th), Extra Music (18th).

Invocations:
Beguiling Influence, Unending Lust, Improved Prestidigitation, Swimming the Styx(2nd), Call of the Wild (3rd), All-Seeing Eyes (4th), Witchwood Step (5th). Fey Flight (6th), Voidsense or Relentless Dispelling (7th).

Flaws: Noncombatant, Vulnerable

Traits: Distinctive (+1 rep, -1 disguise), Passionate (+1 Fort, -1 Will).



She grew up moving from one foster home to another. Defiant, willful, spirited, she knows her talent and abilities and has the ego to match. Growing up, she constantly got into trouble with school and the law, and at one point had a mobster's kid as a boyfriend. From that, she learned to defend herself, and carries with her a 9mm that she is quite good with. While the exact nature of the seelie realm is a mystery to her, she knows what she is and takes a fierce pride in it, even as she hides it from others and never fits in because of it.

She tries to be refined, elegant and noble in her actions, but its hard when you are very poor and still very young. She struggles with her sexuality and labito (sp); she does not want to simply be a slut, but her drive is incredibly strong, and its hard for her to deal with. She often is reverts to her more goth and emo mindset, and I wish I could show you the outfit that she wears, but it was made using Soul Calibur 3's character edit function.

She struggles with how much responsibility she has: currently she is out on her own, and struggles to get by every month, and also is a natural leader in any social situation. When she goes to a party, she just wants to let her hair down and go wild, but often is the responsible one that makes sure everyone gets home safe. She's been through and seen too much to not be careful, but is frustrated by the need to.

She's a bit of an exibitionist, loves to perform and express herself, and generally takes any and every opportunity to get some milage out of her extraodinary charisma.

Dacia Brabant
2008-12-04, 11:08 PM
I have a feeling she would really dig post-rock: Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Mogwai, Mono and others. The only question is, considering how overpowering some of their music is, how could just one bard produce that many distinct instrumental sounds at once? Some of those bands will use the standard rock formula (rhythm guitar, bass guitar, percussion) combined with a full compliment of classical strings and other instruments, plus full-on static manipulation.

Maybe Ghost Sounds could pull off the accompaniment, hmm.

Oh and awesome motivational picture Keld. :)

Kizara
2008-12-04, 11:16 PM
I have a feeling she would really dig post-rock: Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Mogwai, Mono and others. The only question is, considering how overpowering some of their music is, how could just one bard produce that many distinct instrumental sounds at once? Some of those bands will use the standard rock formula (rhythm guitar, bass guitar, percussion) combined with a full compliment of classical strings and other instruments, plus full-on static manipulation.

Maybe Ghost Sounds could pull off the accompaniment, hmm.

Oh and awesome motivational picture Keld. :)

She has a band, and I do also have this:

Amplify Performance
Illusion (figment)
Level: Brd 1
Components: V,S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 min/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will Disbelief (if interacted with)
Spell Resistance: No

You amplify and enhance your performance. For every caster level you have, you double the effective range of your sound and, at your option, the volume of your voice. Thus, at 6th-level, the range that you can be heard at is seven times greater than normal.
You can also use this spell to add auditory accompanying effects to your performance such as instruments, dramatic sound effects, bestial roars, backup chanters or vocalists, and so forth. You may add one type of auditory accompanying effect per caster level, up to a maximum of ten effects.
You may also add dramatic lights, vague images or other simple visual effects such as knee-high green smoke, brilliant strobes of color or outlines of people dancing. You may add one such effect per four caster levels, up to 4 effects maximum.
All of these benefits and effects are created with a single casting of this spell. Effects originate at your position and are centered more or less on you and must all relate and support your performance in some fashion.
This spell grants you a +5 circumstance bonus to your Perform checks used with it. This bonus increases to +10 at caster level 10.

Arcane Material Component: A small, carved representation of the effects to be included: A head for singers, a horn for brass instruments, a cloud for smoke effects, etc.

I'll check out your recomendations now, sec.

Ok, I listened to 2 songs of the first two bands you recommended. I found them to be horribly slow, mopey, lame and uninspiring. Yes, I suppose that's "emo", but its the exact opposite of "energetic".

Honestly, I find some rap more tolerable then that 'music'.

For any who also looked some of that up, here's what I cleared my brain with:

Music that goes somewhere. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s)

Stupendous_Man
2008-12-04, 11:19 PM
Flogging Molly: Devil's Dance Floor and Drunken Lullabies.

Ravens_cry
2008-12-04, 11:30 PM
A Thousand Kisses Deep (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0j14GrB-u8&feature=related), considering the nature of the game is rather perfect and almost meta.

Kizara
2008-12-04, 11:31 PM
Flogging Molly: Devil's Dance Floor and Drunken Lullabies.

First song:

Dude, you are awesome...

I mean, its not appropriate for her to sing, but its appropriate as HELL for her backstory...
I'm seriously bloody impressed.

Second song:

Also pretty cool, and some relivance again.

Nice music man, I never heard of these guys, but they are pretty fun.

Kizara
2008-12-04, 11:38 PM
A Thousand Kisses Deep (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0j14GrB-u8&feature=related), considering the nature of the game is rather perfect and almost meta.

Pretty cool.

Appropriate for some lounge singing. Not that hard to imagine adapting it for her voice. Although it would sound pretty different, with her age, passion, pain and female (instead of male) sensuality in it.

Yes, there is a female part to the song normally, but its really minor.

Lemur
2008-12-05, 12:23 AM
This thread makes me realize I have trouble thinking of female vocalists.

As long as you're going for pop, why not include Gwen Stefani (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEAzxDMYrWU)?

Have another anime song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vzH7xgITOk), for the heck of it. It's in English, actually.

There's Tori Amos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCgURAkrtY8), although most of her stuff is on the slower side.

And on the electronic side, there's Ladytron (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtqGoHouoE0), the Azoic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JraKpwTU_N8) for definitely techno stuff, and 8bit bEtty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlax7Sn7Q_Q) for bitpop. Gotta have bitpop.

Disclaimer: visual content of youtube links may or may not be actually worth looking at.

Devils_Advocate
2008-12-05, 12:30 AM
Chaos, bitch. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFXy5bIiSA)

Moar! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhfiiGGy7Ls)

Dacia Brabant
2008-12-05, 01:01 AM
Ok, I listened to 2 songs of the first two bands you recommended. I found them to be horribly slow, mopey, lame and uninspiring. Yes, I suppose that's "emo", but its the exact opposite of "energetic".

Honestly, I find some rap more tolerable then that 'music'.

For any who also looked some of that up, here's what I cleared my brain with:

Music that goes somewhere. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s)

Hmm, yes I should have mentioned that post-rock tracks are looooong and often composed to classical methods like sonata form. As such their energetic movements don't usually show up until several minutes into them, but they are there and when they do show up they are, IMO, pure awesome. Just a matter of building up to the moment. But yeah, not for everyone--definitely not for random browsing, and probably not something that should be put out there without comment to anyone unfamiliar with the genre. Sorry, my bad.

For something a little bit more bog standard, there's always Joan Jett, Blondie, Pat Benetar or Courney Love.

Kizara
2008-12-05, 01:18 AM
Chaos, bitch. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFXy5bIiSA)

Moar! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhfiiGGy7Ls)

First link got "not available in your country", what was the song man? Your title intrigued me.

Second link was a keeper.

Lemur:

Cool, some of it more usable then others. I liked the anime and techno stuff TBH.

I find Gwen to be too mellow and not catchy and saucy enough to be enjoyable for a pop-star. Honestly, I rather like Britney for this purpose, even though she doesn't have any actual talent etc. The song still made it to my "secondary" folder for reference for Xoana though.

I figured out further why I don't like her: aside from not caring for her voice, she's a bit of a tomboy/punk chick, and that doesn't sit right with me.

The 8bitt thing I just found annoying. I mean, I am an oldschool hardcore NES/SNES junkie etc, but I didn't enjoy that past the novelty of the first 20 seconds or so.

Kizara
2008-12-05, 01:34 AM
Hmm, yes I should have mentioned that post-rock tracks are looooong and often composed to classical methods like sonata form. As such their energetic movements don't usually show up until several minutes into them, but they are there and when they do show up they are, IMO, pure awesome. Just a matter of building up to the moment. But yeah, not for everyone--definitely not for random browsing, and probably not something that should be put out there without comment to anyone unfamiliar with the genre. Sorry, my bad.

For something a little bit more bog standard, there's always Joan Jett, Blondie, Pat Benetar or Courney Love.

I'll look up the other references when I get a chance, although I'm skeptical.

For now, I have to go to sleep and I have work tomarrow and then this character's session, so it won't be for a couple days. Sorry, thanks for your input.

And thanks to everyone else as well. Please feel free to post any other references, I will get to them ASAP and the more the merrier.


For those following the thread, here are some of her more signature pieces:

Womanizer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSLIq6YiRY&feature=related), The Escapist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3UGbFtNVbA&feature=related), Can't Fight the Moonlight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhL40ns2ppo&feature=related), The Voice (critical one) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNiv8MR4JE), All that I'm Living For (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQWXAi3x7vI), Taking Over Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBWDMfUV9OM&feature=related), Aria (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTJc3Kw_mlM), Bring Me To LIFE! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TILCIRspO0).

More Nightwish will be added later, and the predominance of Evanescense has alot more to do with her current age (17) and attitude (rebelous and angsty) then my personal tastes (I only mildly like the group).

Later!

Devils_Advocate
2008-12-05, 06:18 PM
First link got "not available in your country"
What sort of crazy country are you in? Hopefully this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYBzzKMWOTk) works better.


what was the song man?
That would be Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield. If that second link didn't go through either, you need to find it yourself. That's right, need. Find it. Listen to it. Do it right now.

Got another song more appropriate to a succubus than a half-nymph (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuWWzRjp9m8), but maybe you'll like it anyway. (Reel Big Fish cover of Kiss Me Deadly, natch.)

Other possibilities:

Superchick - One Girl Revolution (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_IZuK6IyAc&feature=related)
Joan Jett - Bad Reputation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RAQXg0IdfI)
Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSkDQYe2FYw)
Tata Young - Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Oh2Y8tFZQ)
KoRn - Word Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYejOajmZ5g)

Not entirely sure what qualifies as "energetic". (I haven't explored all of the songs that you gave and that everyone else suggested, 'cuz there's a lot of 'em.)

Fostire
2008-12-06, 12:04 PM
How about this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fisFuWEHoTs&feature=related) for nightwish?

Quirinus_Obsidian
2008-12-06, 03:29 PM
I just did a similar thing; with my bard.

See the below from Within Temptation, if you are familiar with the group.


----------------
Now playing: Within Temptation - Pale (http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/within+temptation/track/pale)
via FoxyTunes (http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/)


----------------
Now playing: Within Temptation - In Perfect Harmony (http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/within+temptation/track/in+perfect+harmony)
via FoxyTunes (http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/)

Darkmatter
2008-12-06, 03:54 PM
A few suggestions:

The perfect Inspire Courage / Heroics song is Jennifer Saunder's cover of Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB9pZSxQaQk)

A couple of good slower but still pop-sounding songs with "emo" themes and good female vocalists are Natalie Imbrulia's Torn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctiFqgRHZjQ&feature=related) and Kate Voegele's cover of Leonard Cohen's Halleluja (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G726pzJqlWo).

Kizara
2008-12-06, 08:57 PM
What sort of crazy country are you in? Hopefully this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYBzzKMWOTk) works better.


That would be Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield. If that second link didn't go through either, you need to find it yourself. That's right, need. Find it. Listen to it. Do it right now.

Got another song more appropriate to a succubus than a half-nymph (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuWWzRjp9m8), but maybe you'll like it anyway. (Reel Big Fish cover of Kiss Me Deadly, natch.)

Other possibilities:

Superchick - One Girl Revolution (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_IZuK6IyAc&feature=related)
Joan Jett - Bad Reputation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RAQXg0IdfI)
Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSkDQYe2FYw)
Tata Young - Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Oh2Y8tFZQ)
KoRn - Word Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYejOajmZ5g)

Not entirely sure what qualifies as "energetic". (I haven't explored all of the songs that you gave and that everyone else suggested, 'cuz there's a lot of 'em.)


You have good taste man.

The link worked fine this time, and I live in Canada.


That stuff owned man. The Korn song won't work for this campaign, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I didn't totally go for Kiss Me Deadly ethier.

But for the rest of the songs, some really good stuff. Thanks alot man.



How about this one for nightwish?
Thanks for the reference, but I already had that actually. I'm a pretty big NW fan, I have almost all of their CDs and live vids etc. Nonetheless, you gave me an excuse to listen to it again, :). Its a great violin song (that IS a violin, right?).


I just did a similar thing; with my bard.

See the below from Within Temptation, if you are familiar with the group.
Heh, my Within Temptation Playlist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7PbgPo8J5M&feature=PlayList&p=D1207DA474B68976&index=0&playnext=1)says hi.

Regardless, I didn't have Pale on there, and its really appropriate. Thanks.

In Perfect Harmony is a good call as well.


A few suggestions:

The perfect Inspire Courage / Heroics song is Jennifer Saunder's cover of Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero

A couple of good slower but still pop-sounding songs with "emo" themes and good female vocalists are Natalie Imbrulia's Torn and Kate Voegele's cover of Leonard Cohen's Halleluja.


Not bad. Not blown away, but not bad. Thanks for the links.