Fifteen Favorite Fanmixes

As many who know me are aware, I love fanmixes. I think it's a really interesting way to explore themes in shows by finding songs that reflect them, and through cover artwork as well. It's also a great way to find out about new artists- the majority of bands on my iPod I discovered through hearing one of their songs on a fanmix, and then looking up more of their music. So I present to you: my fifteen favorite fanmixes, both my own compilations and others'. Click on album cover to link to each fanmix post.



All of a Sudden, I Miss Everyone: A Jack Harkness Fanmix by

boxed

This mix explores the character of Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and Torchwood. It deals with his unique abilities and how he relates to the world and to all the people who've left him behind.


And They'll Never See You Fall: A Tenth Doctor EP by

intrikate88

One of the mixes that I put together. It focuses on the Doctor's brokenness in series three and four of Doctor Who, his difficulties in coping with life without Rose, and the difficulties others have of understanding him.



Broken Things New: A Dexter/Rita Fanmix by

intrikate88

Another mix that I've compiled. This one focuses on the relationship Dexter and Rita have in Dexter, and on the way both of them are emotionally crippled in some way, but still exploring the possibility of being able to love one another.



Cup of Tea: A Doctor/Rose Fanmix by

paperdollgirl

A collection of quiet songs that reflect upon the Doctor and Rose's relationship.



Ten/Rose - The Fine Art of Falling Apart by

boxed

PROBABLY one of my favorite fanmixes ever, and it even comes with some beautiful icons and a wonderful fic! This mix reflects on both Rose's and the Doctor's lives after they are separated in "Doomsday". Wonderful, poignant songs by a great selection of artists.



Happy Phantom: Of Love, Honey, and a Girl Named Chuck by

gimcrack_icons

A cute mix of songs describing Pushing Daisies' Chuck. She's been given a second chance at life by her childhood sweetheart and his abilities to bring the dead to life.



HISS; a Crouch/Lestrange mix by

boxed

The beautiful cover art of this mix is matched by the great concept of the "fleeting moments" of the Doctor and Rose. While their traveling together is temporary, there is something eternal in them as well.



Measures of Infinity (or: How I Lost My Heart to Time) by

boxed

A wonderfully instrumental compilation focusing on the concept of trying to hold on to forever, in the relationship between Rose and the Doctor.



Nicotine: A House/Cuddy Fanmix by

kamikazewaffle

This collection looks at the addictive nature of the relationship between House, M.D.'s Drs. House and Cuddy. While they often drive each other away, they are just as often the only person the other can return to.



No Happy Ending by

katrina87

This mix focuses on the end of Rose and the Doctor's traveling together, and their reflections on their separation.



Pilots Watching Stars: A Post-Doomsday EP by

boxed

Focusing on Rose's learning to deal with her new life in a new universe, this compilation explores her learning to travel on her own.



Running Right Behind You: A Companions Mix by

araceli_maura

This mix lovingly looks at the Doctor's companions- at his friendship with them, his loves, his needs, and each of their own unique features.



See My Friends: a Tenth Doctor mix by

katrina87

Centered around the Doctor's difficulties with relationships in series three of Doctor Who. So sad, but so great.

Take a Walk Around the World by

intrikate88

I had a lot of fun putting this one together- it's all about the journeys Rose takes, from before she meets the Doctor, to long after. Each song has a very short bit of fic with it, showing the various aspects of her travels.



Watching Bridges Burn: A Ten/Rose Playlist by

rainyrainydays

Are the Doctor and Rose separated forever, or can they find a way back? This compilation is all about the doubts and hopes.

you love me like an existentialist loves an empty room that nobody can see inside

Smell that fresh smell? New blog smell! Now available in a handy whatsit that you can hang from your rearview mirror to smell up your car! (And who doesn't want a car that smells of New Blog? I mean, really.)

This blog is intended to be the sibling-of-dubious-nature to my LiveJournal, and as such, be slightly more informative, as opposed to the colorful mess of fandom and life that LJ consists of. Why, one might as, in the maelstrom of my life, would I want another blog? Since, after all, I am pitifully addicted to LiveJournal and having another blogosphere to be fascinated with will probably cause the downfall of all academic studies whatsoever. That's definitely something to look forward to.

Well, folks, it's a class assignment. These things do happen; I am told, in times of war and great upheaval, cannibalism can be... oops, wrong topic. Um. *distracts you all with a dance and something shiny*

But no, for all my griping and whinging, I'm quite satisfied with an assignment like this. After all, I do spend half my mental time composing blog entries that I only sometimes write. They're fabulous, I assure you, these blog entries in my head. (As for the other half of my mental time, it's divided pretty evenly between fanfiction-pondering and gibbering panic at the pile of insensibility that is my life.)

Deciding on a subject for this blog = definitely one of the more challenging aspects of my day. After all, so many choices! Steampunk things! Victoriana! Books! TV Shows! Scottish Nationalism!

So for a while, a long dark period in history (more than three minutes, I swear) while I glumly perused the poll results that all my friends thought would be good ideas (making it how very obviously my friendslist is weighted towards Doctor Who) it looked like the theme might come down to Random Shit Katie Finds Interesting. I wondered if that was viable, and sent off a desperate email questioning class assignments and life in general to discover if it was.

And then I decided to Take Charge Of My Life.

I took a look at my choices, and realized that what I'm really interested in, in all of this dazzlingly confusing mess, is stories. Myth, narrative, whatever you want to call it. I care about writing and reading and analyzing, and finding how that works in terms of Story (which is a pretentious and outrageously ambiguous declaration with doubtful meaning and we should all take it for what it's worth.) I care about that when I'm watching a television show and admire the writing or the way it's filmed. I appreciate that when I'm reading a book- fiction or otherwise. I have the idea of a narrative and an overall story in mind when I'm looking at Steampunk fashion- after all, it's building an aesthetic out of the story of a culture that never existed.

So yes, this is going to be a Random Shit Katie Finds Interesting blog. But it does have a focus, albeit a very broad one that will depend on how I'm feeling the day I post.

Like today! This makes me want to know French just so I can understand what this beautifully tragic love story is all about, but it's almost better for not knowing- it just makes it all so otherworldly and achingly lovely.

Tais-toi mon coeur - Dionysos
Uploaded by Dionysos

More information on the narrative can be found here. It seems that Dionysos has focussed their latest album around the story of a boy who was born with a frozen heart that the midwife replaced with clockwork, and his clockwork heart worked until he fell in love. If there is a way to read or watch the rest of this story in English, I will find it somehow. But in the meantime, we have this beautiful music video, replete with gorgeous Victorian imagery and A PARASOL OMG.

Welcome, my friends, to the Narrative Cafe!