I finally finished it - my Songs for the First Snowfall mix CD. It’s been four years in the making (I tend to forget about it until it starts snowing, at which point it’s too late), but I finally have a darn good soundtrack for that magical winter moment when snow is still a novelty and the roads have yet to turn to gutter slush. Here’s the tracklist.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, this entry explains it all. If I already discussed a song in that entry, I won’t discuss it again here since you already know my thoughts on it. Anyway, here’s what made the final cut:

1. Limahl - The Neverending Story

Those of you who have seen The Neverending Story understand why I picked this song. It plays during the very beginning, when the credits roll over these beautiful, constantly changing cloud forms. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, here’s the music video:

Limahl frightens me a bit (his hairstyle appears to have been modeled on a particulary unmanageable haystack), but it’s still a wonderful song. It’s all about the sitar and the electric guitar.

2. Yoko Kanno - Sora (from the Escaflowne movie soundtrack)

3. VNV Nation - Beloved (short version)

The long version is about seven minutes, so I put the threeish-minute version on here so I’d still have room for other songs. A lovely industrial-dance track about remembering a past love during the winter. "Grant me wings that I might fly, my restless soul is longing, no pain remains, no feeling, eternity awaits." Awesome.

This fan video for Final Fantasy X and X2 uses the long version and has much better sound quality than the one live clip of Beloved I was able to find on YouTube. The long version takes a few minutes to get going, but it’s worth it. For me, the musical payoff begins at 5:56.

I’ve never played any of the Final Fantasy games, but I get the impression from this clip that our star-crossed lovers don’t have a happy ending. I’m going to move on to the next song before I start getting teary in the newsroom.

4. Delirious? - Majesty (Here I Am)

No first snowfall would be complete without showing some appreciation to God for making it in the first place. In His boundless creativity, He crafts each snowflake individually, making each one unique, and in His boundless mercy, He keeps my car from fatally fishtailing through said snowflakes and smashing into one of the lovely pine trees He created. I’ve often wondered why He didn’t pad more of His creation - after all, He knew I’d get my license someday. Some mysteries are too deep for me to fathom. This song is about being amazed and humbled by the love and beauty of a God more wonderful than we can even imagine.

5. Kutless - More Than It Seems (from Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia)

"Is my imagination running away with, or is this really happening to me?" Talk about lyrics you can relate to. Here’s a fan video with clips from the Chronicles of Narnia, the movie that inspired this song:

I always liked Edmund (and Eustace and Shasta, who figure into later books). I’ve always found it easier to empathize with the characters who aren’t perfect, who are messy and have struggles. Much sympathy for the underdog.

6. Hiiru no Tsuki (Outlaw Star anime ending theme)

It’s pretty, it’s twinkly, it sparkles. Just like snowflakes.

7. In Memories ~ Kotowari (Rurouni Kenshin OAV soundtrack)

I’m realizing that some of these snow-suitable songs are also songs that make me cry. This song comes towards the end of the Rurouni Kenshin OVAs, as Kenshin finishes what he set out to do and reflects on the consequences.

If you’re planning on watching the Rurouni Kenshin OVAs, don’t watch this clip - it’s spoilerific. It’s also rather bloody, something I forgot to mention when I presented it to my Japanese film class in college. I did remember once people started gasping and saying, "Oh my God!", but at that point it was a little too late.

This anime wrecked me emotionally for about a month, give or take a few days. I highly recommend it, but it’s a truly sad story.

8. Oasis - Some Might Say

This is one of the slightly more defiant tracks for when the winter tailgaters rear their ugly heads.

I love this song. I found it one day on accident when I was walking to the drugstore with (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? in my Discman. It reminds me of the main characters in a novel I’m working on, which I may end up turning into a screenplay, just because this is the perfect theme song for them. Every good character needs a theme song - it’s the first rule of fiction.

9. Two-Mix - White Reflection Pure

An acoustic version (read: piano) of the Japanese electronic pop band’s hit song, used as the ending theme for the Gundam Wing OVA, Endless Waltz. OVA stands for Original Video Animation, by the way. It’s a way to bring the characters back after an anime series has ended, or to give them an alternate story line outside of the series.

10. Shades of Grey - Perfect Wine

Synth pop with a touch of the Gothic at its finest. The singer falls a little flat sometimes, but that is easily forgiveable because the song is so pretty.

11. T.M. Revolution - Tears Macerate Reason

Take an 80s pop ballad, add lots of twinkly synthesizer effects, then translate into Japanese. Shake well, pour over ice. Serves 8.

12. La Redecouverte (Amelie movie soundtrack)

A duet for toy piano and accordian from everyone’s favorite quirky French film. I saw it at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre when it was released and fell in love with the soundtrack.

13. Hamasaki Ayumi - Evolution

14. The Echoing Green - Tonight

More electronic goodness and hopeful lovelorness (wow, I think I just made a new word there). A clear winter sky with sparkly snowflakes tumbling down is the perfect backdrop for these kinds of songs. You can check out some other songs from The Echoing Green here.

15. Allegria (from the Cirque du Soleil performance of the same name)

This CD ended up being more sparkly than I had originally intended - not so many determined, I-will-keep-doing-a-safe-speed-even-if-it-kills-us-both songs on here. Anyway, more sparkles, this time in Italian and English.

16. Noize Incorporated - On The Wings of Angels (Dare To Dream)

These guys aren’t around anymore (one of the band members moved to Alaska to pursue puppetry), but man, I wish they were. I’ve always said there should be more church organ in popular music, and Noize Incorporated heard me, even though I never mentioned it to them in person. Not the wussy organ like you see in the Formans’ home on That 70’s Show - I’m talking the kind they gently steered me away from in Notre Dame when I was in Paris, the kind the Phantom of the Opera would rock out on in all his anguish, insanity, and lovelorness (oops, there’s my word again).

17. Danny Elfman - Storytime (Edward Scissorhands movie soundtrack)

If you haven’t seen Edward Scissorhands, get off the Internet right now and go rent it. The Internet will still be here when you get back. Pick up Beetlejuice while you’re at it for another wonderful music and film collaboration between Danny Elfman and Tim Burton. Don’t forget the popcorn and a box of tissues - well, at least for Edward Scissorhands.

18. Enya - Fairytale

Enya, you do sparkle so. Here’s some footage from Princess Tutu set to the song. Pretty music and pretty dancing, especially the ballerina anteater.

19. Howard Jones - Everlasting Love

This is hands-down the greatest love song ever written. Listen to the words. "He wasn’t looking for a pretty face, she wasn’t searching for the latest style." That’s what everyone wants, isn’t it? Someone who loves you for who you are, who doesn’t see you as disposable or a conquest. Sadly, however, this kind of love is only reserved for mummies. I guess that was as close as the director could get to Everlasting Love.

Howard looks like he’s carefully watching his choreographer offscreen, and he still misses his cue to stop being in the video. I don’t think the Sphinx appreciates him drumming on his head, either. Even so, good song.

I’ll keep you posted on the actual implementation of this CD. Chances are I’ll be too concerned about crashing to listen to it during the real first snowfall, but I’ll give it my best shot.