The construction of a playlist. This is actually something that I indulge in on a regular basis. Collecting songs, organizing them in a manner so that I can minimize redundancy, applying my current mood to the equation and thinking about what I want to get out of listening to the music, and then burning it all to a CD to listen to in my Jeep as I drive to... wherever I’m going. However, this time it was a little different. I wasn’t collecting music for myself, but for a different persona. And, in this scenario, I was actually vexed by the omission of constraints. Making a playlist is easy, making it for a target person is slightly more challenging, but making it for any personality I can imagine is something completely different. With so many different possibilities and outcomes, I found it almost impossible to come to a conclusion one way or the other.

I considered a seemingly endless number of candidates for this position: Leonidas, Boba Fett, Batman, and The Incredible Crash Dummies to name a few. The Crow, however, showed the most potential to be musically illustrated. Of course, describing a character to someone in this fashion would be completely pointless unless that someone was already familiar with the character. So, for those that haven’t seen the movie or read the comic, The Crow is essentially Batman on heroine. A man (Eric) in love is beaten, stabbed, shot, and thrown from the window of a seven story building onto a car as his lover is raped and murdered. A year later, the Eric’s soul is deemed deserving of revenge and is brought back to its body. Eric rises from the grave exactly as he was a year ago. Exactly as he was, save the inability to be injured or die he’s received upon returning.

Song 1: Eric Dies.

Stabbing Westward - Goodbye

There’s not much to say here. Eric died. It was simple and sad. So, I chose a song that was just that. Simple and sad. The beginning of this song instantly instills a sense of loss or regret. Lonely, singular strings being plucked without the accompaniment of their brothers. Every. Single. Piece. of this song is empty inside. Upon truly listening, it's impossible to feel anything but a gap in the pit of the soul. Which is what Eric, if he could feel at this point, felt.

Song 2: The Crow Awakens

Song Attached.
Dog Fashion Disco - Mature Audiences Only

This decision was a bit more difficult due to the swarm of emotions surrounding Eric at this point. Confusion, pain, anger, distress. I chose the song because it’s primarily instrumental. Having a song with an emphasis on lyrics couldn’t adequately describe Eric. He’s not feeling words, he’s feeling the pain of being reborn from the earth and trying to understand why he’s been given a second chance.

Song 3: The Crow Angers

Slipknot - Pulse of the Maggots

After being resurrected, Eric stumbles back to his old apartment. He finds the home that once held his heart in shambles. He fully understands what is happening, and accepts is gratefully. I chose this song primarily for the lyrics. This song displays the same anger and intent harbored by Eric as he “takes up his sword” and prepares to fight. "What have you got to lose, what have you got to lose - Except your soul?" Nothing quite puts Eric's motives into light in the same manner that that does. He has absolutely nothing to lose, except his soul - and, in most cases, he can't even lose that.

Song 4: The Crow Immortal.

Adema - Immortal

Eric finds one of his girlfriend’s murderers in an alleyway, and, to test his ability, leaps from the roof of a neighboring building. Upon striking the ground unharmed, he chuckles louder and louder still; knowing that nothing anyone can do will stop him. This song is exactly what Eric is -- Immortal. This song also fits the mood of that scene. Eric has finally found someone upon whom he can exact his revenge. The song is angry, tauntingly angry. Listening to the song, I envision the singer smarmily undulating as the lyrics pour out of a smirking mouth. At this point in the story, Eric couldn't possibly be happier, he smiles as he approaches his prey, and even laughs and taunts the man as he begins to fight. As he stabs a knife into every one of his major organs in alphabetical order, he utters a phrase from Shakespeare "Victims... Aren't we all?"

Song 5: The Crow Longing.

VNV Nation - End of Days

Although Eric has become an unstoppable instrument of vengeance, everything he does is in his girlfriend’s name. He wishes nothing more than to be with her once again. “End of Days” is a depressing song expressing a sense of longing for that which once was, but simultaneously instills a bit of hope that, although there will never be a return, there may be something else that is attainable.

Song 6: The Crow Hunts.

Panzer AG - Pure Tension

Eric methodically tracks down the murderers one by one. With every death, the survivors feel an increasingly severe sense of vulnerability. This song illustrates Eric's cold, calculating conviction with its mechanical repetition of industrial sounds. The violin playing over the noises demonstrates the passion embedded withing the conviction.

Song 7: The Crow Falls.

Filter - Hey man, nice shot.

I really couldn't resist the irony here. Eric's Crow that has been following him throughout the movie is shot and wounded. The Crow was also the source of Eric's immortality. With the crow wounded, Eric is susceptible to all forms of attack, and can be killed. The title of the song is a tribute to Eric's enemy for discovering the Crow's purpose, as well as his ability to shoot the tricky little devil. The attitude and lyrics of the song still belong to Eric. Even though he has become mortal once again, he still maintains his original intent and continues to fight his murderers. The aggressive, high intensity nature of the song ties to Eric's indomitable will to survive... at least until his mission's completion.

Song 8: The Crow Fades.

Stereomud - Perfect Self

This final song perfectly describes Eric's emotion and situation at the end of his story. His mission complete, he must return to the afterlife, leaving the friends he made both the first and second times he was alive. The song itself is doleful and melodic. The lyrics are even more applicable to his situation. Because, as soon as he dies again, he can be with his beloved again; he can be perfect -- in death.

settle down you all
can't you hear the footsteps
down the hall?
you're waiting for the scream
of your conscience call
and everyone starts dying

what the fuck is wrong
i said that I would always
find my way back home
now everyone I love
has been left alone
and everyone starts dying

it's you and I
begging for life
it's you and I

seems like in death
we all become our perfect self
last chance to pray
and rid our self of the pain

help comes when I don't even want it
do you really believe that I need it?
seems like in death
i'm alive

seems like in death
we all become our perfect self
last chance to pray
and rid our self of the pain

are we closer now?

seems like in death
we all become our perfect self
last chance to pray
and rid our self of the pain
seems like in death
we all become our perfect self
last chance to pray
and rid our self of the pain

seems like in death
i'm alive
help comes when I don't even want it
seems like in death
do you really believe?