Balzac and the Little Seamstress Soundtrack
Balzac Soundtrack Project
(pp. 62-63) Natasha Bedingfield – “Unwritten”: This song expresses renewal and rejuvenation, which Luo, the narrator and the Little Seamstress experienced throughout the entire novel after reading Luo’s forbidden books. The lifting, upbeat tempo and serene voice of Natasha Bedingfield fits perfectly for the scene where Luo reads passages of Balzac written down in the sheepskin coat to the Little Seamstress for the first time. The chorus: “live your life with arms wide open/ today is where your book begins/ the rest is still unwritten” is suitable as Natasha suggests, don’t isolate yourself, let your guard down once in a while and allow the unknown. By letting her guard down and allowing Luo to read to her, the Seamstress was motivated to leave the village and achieve something greater with her life. Also, “today is where your book begins/ the rest is still unwritten” signifies the scene where the Little Seamstress wears the sheepskin coat and transforms into someone more intelligent than a mere mountain girl. Which is the starting of the Seamstress’ rebirth, the rest of her life is unpredictable, and her fate is hers to decide. As the song comes to a close, the beat builds rapidly and ends as she releases her inhibitions by physically putting on the coat, and feels more revived than ever before. (215 words)
(pp. 113-116) The Used – “The Bird and the Worm”: This song relates to the gloomy sections of Balzac and the Little Seamstress as it starts off with an incorporation of other instruments, like the violin, which is not normally used in rock. The use of string instruments brings a dramatic, dark and nightmarish effect together, ideal for the scene where the Narrator dreams of the Little Seamstress’s tragic death from falling off the ridge. The lyrics: “while holding his breath half to death/ terrified of what’s inside” states the sensation the Narrator feels after waking from his nightmare. He’s terrified that his dream might be a
(pp. 62-63) Natasha Bedingfield – “Unwritten”: This song expresses renewal and rejuvenation, which Luo, the narrator and the Little Seamstress experienced throughout the entire novel after reading Luo’s forbidden books. The lifting, upbeat tempo and serene voice of Natasha Bedingfield fits perfectly for the scene where Luo reads passages of Balzac written down in the sheepskin coat to the Little Seamstress for the first time. The chorus: “live your life with arms wide open/ today is where your book begins/ the rest is still unwritten” is suitable as Natasha suggests, don’t isolate yourself, let your guard down once in a while and allow the unknown. By letting her guard down and allowing Luo to read to her, the Seamstress was motivated to leave the village and achieve something greater with her life. Also, “today is where your book begins/ the rest is still unwritten” signifies the scene where the Little Seamstress wears the sheepskin coat and transforms into someone more intelligent than a mere mountain girl. Which is the starting of the Seamstress’ rebirth, the rest of her life is unpredictable, and her fate is hers to decide. As the song comes to a close, the beat builds rapidly and ends as she releases her inhibitions by physically putting on the coat, and feels more revived than ever before. (215 words)
(pp. 113-116) The Used – “The Bird and the Worm”: This song relates to the gloomy sections of Balzac and the Little Seamstress as it starts off with an incorporation of other instruments, like the violin, which is not normally used in rock. The use of string instruments brings a dramatic, dark and nightmarish effect together, ideal for the scene where the Narrator dreams of the Little Seamstress’s tragic death from falling off the ridge. The lyrics: “while holding his breath half to death/ terrified of what’s inside” states the sensation the Narrator feels after waking from his nightmare. He’s terrified that his dream might be a