Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Albums I Have Loved: Sarah McLachlan, Surfacing

Long before "Angel" became the sad animal commercial song, I associated it with the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, along with every other song on Surfacing. "Full of Grace" was in the second season finale, after all. If you're wondering whether I saved Buffy computer wallpapers with Sarah McLachlan lyrics plastered on them in illegible cursive font, the answer is YES.

Before I get into the actual review, I'd like to note that this CD is one I straight up filched from my dad, which will be a recurring theme in this blog feature. Music taste starts at home and with petty theft.

1. Building a Mystery
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Spike
This is the romance novel of songs. It's about a relationship with a mysterious man who has secret pain! Preteen girls and middle-aged women alike enjoy it! I mean neither of those comments as disparaging. Current me likes this song almost as much as preteen me. (Is it possible to love anything as much as preteen you did?) I had to award this song to Spike, vampire most likely to dramatically drape himself over a cross.

2. I Love You
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Xander Harris
This song is drippy and sad, much like one Xander Harris. Look, I love all the Buffy characters, but I'm afraid to do a rewatch because of all of Xander's Nice Guy character traits. Anyway, I think this song would make an effective cure for insomnia.

3. Sweet Surrender
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Faith
This song is impressively vague. Why is sweet surrender all you have to give, O singer? Are you surrendering to a person? A concept? Your fate? A donut? This song works much better with a context like, say, Faith's fall and eventual redemption. Boom! Sweet surrender.

4. Adia
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Tara Maclay
This song makes a decent audition song for an a cappella group, in case you're wondering. I like the live version much better. This makes for a sweet Tara song. Tara, you were definitely too good for the Buffy world.

5. Do What You Have to Do
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Buffy Summers
Sarah McLachlan is the queen of lovelorn adult contemporary, so this song delivers exactly what it promises. I had to pick this one for Buffy. As the hero, you always do what you have to do, and then you're really sad about it. If you're a male character, it makes you deep. If you're a female character, it makes you whiny. It's possible that Buffy is my favorite and I don't understand people who hate her.

6. Witness
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Rupert Giles
Another vague song! What are we witnessing, other than a meandering, slow tempo song? I'm going to pretend this song is about Rupert Giles, who evolves from a dutiful Watcher to Buffy's father figure. He's a witness because he's a Watcher! My amazing wordplay makes me the blogger I am today.

7. Angel
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Willow Rosenberg
Now we get to the sad puppy song, which is actually about addicts. 17 years later, it still captures that rock bottom hopelessness. Sarah! Your songs are so much better when they're actually about something! I would say Willow is more addicted to power than drugs, but thanks for an easy song call, stupid "magic = drugs" storyline.

8. Black and White
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Drusilla
I'm realizing that vague lyrics are a theme here. I mean, if the song isn't really about anything, anyone can relate to it, right? Even an insane vampire with a gift for prophecy. Joss Whedon never met an Ophelia character he didn't love.

9. Full of Grace
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Angel
In a shocking twist, this song is an explosion of Goth metal. No, wait, it's another sad love song. I'm cheating by making this an Angel song, since this song started playing after the "I sent my boyfriend to hell" breakup.

10. Last Dance
If This Song Were a Buffy Character: Dawn Summers
It's a shame to give such a dull song to Dawn, who has done nothing to deserve it. (Do you hear me, Dawn detractors? Dawn and Buffy's relationship was one of the strongest parts of the last three seasons.) This song is an instrumental in which nothing much happens. Maybe Dawn could redeem it with some ballet moves.

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