#Davechella is wrapping up, so I'm making myself put up my playlists! Shocking everyone, I made them for Bridgens and Peglar.
(liner notes included below the cut if anyone wants to see them)
At the first Terror Tracks, I made a Bridgens & Peglar playlist inspired by Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy and Were the World Mine and that, plus the 2023 Q&A responses, inspired a Rufus Wainwright connecting thread with three additional playlists.
In the Q&A, Dave answered one of my questions (who could possibly forget the "Bridgens wanted to be the one to carry his lover across that threshold" moment) and recommended the movie 'Weekend' to me. I watched it and absolutely loved it, and understood why he brought it up during a question about privacy and how stories are being told or exposed inside of a narrative - and I started thinking about my other favorite gay films and began working on these playlists not too long after that and have been messing with them ever since, so I'm making myself post them now for Davechella and considering them finished! (for now)
I used Rufus Wainwright as a thread because he is one of my ultimate favorites, and ended up making a Rufus-only Bridgens playlist for Terror Tracks II, which I consider a spin-off of the Bridgens-centric playlist since I used the two different versions of Sonnet 29. Each playlist is inspired by the soundtracks and music moments of some of my favorite and formative films. ❤️
Additionally, much love to my own lending library who was my inspiration and soundboard for these as I nitpicked them over the past year ❤️❤️❤️
This playlist is Bridgens-centric. I kept it to 14 songs to make a sonnet, but divided it into 2 "Acts" denoted by the Wainwright Shakespeare sonnets. Which makes zero sense but it makes sense somehow to me!!! This one is more a narrative playlist than a DJ set, focused around Bridgens' fear and caution, but deep longing for romance and companionship. A soundtrack for if they had a film just to themselves; the first half set more pre-Terror with romantic slow dance songs, and the second half set during the show and more weary, fearful, and sorrowful for what's inevitably ahead.
Inspired by the more blues/folk/country soundtracks of Big Eden, Desert Hearts, Wilby Wonderful, God's Own Country, Brokeback Mountain, Angels in America, etc.
-When In Disgrace With Fortune And Men's Eyes (Sonnet 29)
• Sonnet 29!!!! Feeling like a social outcast but finding comfort in the thought of your loved one and knowing that's all that matters, oh Bridgens..
-Unchained Melody
• couldn't resist the C, the C pun in the title but honestly what a SONG!! "Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea, to the open arms of the sea" I wanted them to have the classics, the romance, the clichés, etc etc, it's what they deserve!
-Welcome to My World
-Something About What Happens When We Talk
• I am so serious about Big Eden that I took 2 songs from the soundtrack. It's such a perfect movie. RIP John Bridgens, you would've loved Big Eden 😭
-Mellow
• ngl I did have Your Song on here for a time but ultimately swapped it because I felt like it was Too Obvious, which worked out in the long run because it was too perfect for the Jamie playlist. Wanted something a little syrupy and sultry, "watching the coal fire glow"/"Peglar is remembering happier times"
-House
• Were the World Mine was what introduced me to Patrick Wolf and this has been one my favorites of his for years, the original is from the Lupercalia album which is not on Spotify, but thankfully this reworking of it from his Sundark and Riverlight album is and fits here even better ❤️ "I see Dylan Thomas in your face, recite Butler Yeats there in your grace"
-Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
• A gorgeous song that I think nails the longing, but also a nod to Derek Jarman's Edward II (with John Lynch! where this song was performed by Annie Lennox as the lovers were separated
-Moon River
• Moon River is THE Bridgens song to me!!!! One of my all-time favorites across the board, but I love the "what I see, who I become" line from this version too much not to include it here
-Sonnet 43
• "All days are night to see till I see thee", and this begins "Act 2" where I wanted to explore the perspective from the book and that Dave mentioned in the Q&A that they weren't necessarily together anymore when the plot picks up, but still cared very deeply for each other
-If I Should Fall Behind
• I couldn't just NOT include a Bruce song here, "you and I know what this world can do"
-You Can Close Your Eyes
-Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
• 2 all-timers for me, simple and earnest
-Keeper Of My Heart
• really wanted a moment to explore Bridgens' anger and sorrow and I think this song is perfect for it, truly gut-wrenching emotion in that last verse "I will be the reaper, if you will be the keeper of my heart"/"-Bridgens wanted to be the one to carry his lover across that threshold"
-The Promise
• A gorgeous, gorgeous song that I think fit into the idea that they weren't together anymore but still loved each other, and the promises they made to one another at the end that we weren't witness to
-I, Carrion (Icarian)
• what a doozy of a song 😭 thinking about "allow the ground to find it's brutal way to me" as Bridgens lets himself succumbs to the elements......
-Lullaby
• another one of my all-timers, "so tonight I'll drift in a dream with you"/"When he wakes up, he's going to be with Harry Peglar."
-The playlist for Peglar took me in all sorts of directions before I finally settled keeping it as different from the Bridgens playlist as possible to create a balance and contrast between the two. So, a modern version of Peglar - upbeat songs that lean into that swelling, giddy feeling of love, loving your community and the space you occupy, feeling joyful and secure in that love. "We have too much fear, John."
Inspired by the more disco/pop soundtracks of Were the World Mine, Pride, Broken Hearts Club, Priscilla, All of Us Strangers, etc.
And my third playlist for #Davechella was actually made for Terror Tracks II, but I wanted to link it anyway since I enjoy it so much, and it continues the Wainwright thread that they all have.
Rules and Regulations - a John Bridgens mix:
