Music was my first love

Description

For this competition, you are asked to create a soundtrack of five songs for the most recent (or current) mission of your primary command. Be creative – you are completely free in what kind of music you choose, you can you mix and match as you please.

  • Submissions must include a link to your playlist and an explanation of your track choice in the competition text box.
  • Playlists must be 5 to 8 tracks in length. They must be created on Spotify, YouTube, or any free-to-access, no login-required music platform.
  • The track explanation is a reflective piece of writing. It should explain what chapters the track belongs to, and why it was chosen

Criteria

  • Submissions will be judged on the explanation, not the music itself. Any choice is appropriate if justified.
  • Submissions will be judged on your playlist's Originality, Suitability, and Narrative Cohesion.
  • The explanation should be a maximum of 500 words. 

Winners

Submissions

User Content Date Entry
Varen Wyll (#2419)

Beyond the Bottom of the Glass - https://bravofleet.com/mission/140934
Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7f44F2Vj4V7LLa0VH8tsnr?si=4ca1ded97288452c

Harpy Hare - Yaelokre (Chapter 1&2)
We begin our story as Daedalus hunts for the fugitive Starfleet Officer. As the story opens, the crew feel the pressure of the pursuit, reflected in the building rhythm of the song that never quite settles into a conclusion. The dancing but rhythmic lyrics over the top of this driving percussion reflect their push to pursue.

Him - Smith (Chapter 3)
Many have served with the fugitive Bib across his career, and despite official reports of his betrayal, some continue to refuse to accept this as the truth. Despite official statements and instructions to arrest him on sight, several crewmembers quietly maintain his innocence. Smith’s choral gospel powerhouse reflects the deep-seated refusal of How in particular to accept his guilt.

Blood Upon the Snow - Hozier/McCreary (Chapter 4.1 & 4.2)
The hunt for Bib builds in desperation as the Klingons join the search, the promise of their own fugitive on the table. As they search the asteroid field, both ships grow in confidence as they work against time and each other until the fatal explosion of a secret bomb. The slow building of this song coupled with the driving hurdy-gurdy and choral chanting as the song reaches its climax, draw together the two crews in their hunt until the sudden and empty tail away from the musical and narrative climax.

Stone Singers - McCreary (Chapter 5)
The keening voices of the stone singers speak to the breathless desperation of the crew as the makeshift bomb damages the ship, leaving them stranded and powerless. The swelling chorus of desperate voices is a wailing that I hear from both the crew and ship as it lies wounded in the dark of space. Particularly, the faltering lone voice at the end that fails to modulate and end the musical phrase satisfactorily is a reflection of the crew's inability to save their ship.

We All Lift Together - Power (Chapter 6 & 7)
The choral element of this song harkens to a sea-shanty feel that, for me, could almost be a working song that echoes through the dark corridors of Daedalus. Sung whilst the crew begins the long process of trying to restore the ship. The resilience of Starfleet pushing through in seemingly insurmountable odds stands out in these lyrics. The core message of the Federation speaks here: ‘We All Lift Together’.

Go Dig My Grave - Lankum (Chapter 8)
As the truth of the Blackout sets in on the crew, a tension begins to fill the crew, suffusing into the bones of the ship itself. Opening with a solo lament that builds to a crashing percussion topped with tense, clashing strings leaves us at odds with the prior confidence as Daedalus is alone, wounded and seemingly without any possibility of rescue. We fall back into the uncomfortable darkness of space as the mission ends on a cliffhanger.

 2025-03-07 23:52:32
Olivia Carrillo (#2199)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqywUwtXH69PPizrXRn51khPK9fNZTxvg&si=zmkwMgJWIfXpz9ic

Bjork: The Modern Things - With a new ship fresh out of its test cruises the crew of the USS Andromeda look to the future, and a new technological era while paying homage to the great Galaxy-class design that inspired their new ship. The song deals with the one step forward one step back nature of technological progress and whether or not we're moving sideways or forward.

Kendrick Lamar, SZA: All The Stars - To explore the stars is Starfleet's mandate and ideally the purpose of the USS Andromeda. The crew takes their step out into the stars bringing them closer than ever. The crew is hopeful and positive, but bringing the galaxy closer is not without its troubles.

Arcade Fire: Reflektor - "If this is heaven I don't know what it's for. If I can't find you there I don't care." The hope for the future is overshadowed by the nature of the threats facing the Federation. The ship is heading for peace negotiations, but tensions with the Klingons and a crumbling Romulan empire continue to threaten the area of the Triangle they're tasked with bringing stability to.

Arctic Monkeys: Red Right Hand - More a setting of mood than a particularly reference-filled tune, the sinister and muscular drumming hints that things may get worse before they get better despite the diplomatic hope of Andromeda's crew.

Blackway Music: What's Up Danger - The potential for disaster looms as the mission is poised at a tipping point, and the future may become much more bleak.

The Tragically Hip: Ahead by a Century - The notion of good intentions crashing against the banks of reality. There's no dress rehearsal, this is our life. As well-meaning as Starfleet is the nature of the universe and the intentions of others are working against that.

2025-03-04 19:41:13
Edwin Wagner (#2468)

https://bravofleet.com/mission/142357 - Mission “The New Deal”
Playlist on Youtube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4qH_i76hvq3oim7n8okKMrH41kf62yOx&si=n5qt05OvdWU7IMsR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHtAYr8uWvE - Mulan Epic
This song feels like the journey of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt from being a wrecked victim of Frontier Day to becoming the rebuilt, refreshed, and refitted beauty she is at the start of the mission. Its epic pull would inspire the new crew to come together and work together to make the mission the best it can be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpnIhD8D6MI - Trouble by Caedmons Call
This is Grace Albright’s theme song - she’s been in trouble most of her career in one way or another. Finding her way (not by choice) to Peter Crawford will be her “you must be good for me” moment where she finally works out her “as bad as I am.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C19InkgElIE - Land of Confusion by Genesis
The mission takes plenty of twists and turns as it unfolds - the mystery deepening as they go, leading to confusion as the crew tries to discern what is happening. Land of Confusion speaks to the mixed-up weirdness that doesn’t seem to get answered, and even in the end - there’s still plenty of mystery that may never be fully clear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2d6T5G2rrY - The Xfiles Theme Song
As story #9 picks up, the mystery begins to make some sense, but there’s plenty of questions that keep making more questions. This theme song feels like it would play right along with the montage of the stories in this part of the mission - the dogged pursuit of the truth no matter where it leads - even if it scared the pants of everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeH6lD0R5RY - Bring Him Home - Les Mis
This song fits the one character we don’t meet - Nathan Rutherford. No matter how much Dorl tries, Peter Crawford pursues the truth about the man and his fate - even to the point of discovering the truth - he was murdered. This song could have been played over the processing of his remains and eventual transfer to his family through a montage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiIe2znA1ao
As the story comes to an end, Captain Alexandra Pantuso sits down with the woman who had caused it all - and interrogates her. As the conversation goes, I imagine this music playing over the conversation - the two of them going back and forth until the final moments of the song play as Leanna Dorl sits alone in her cell, believing she’s not finished and yet in the silence…she is alone and defeated - condemned to eventually accept that she was beaten at her own game.

 2025-02-24 22:30:58
Jeremy L. Ryan (#2796)

First, I love the idea of this competition! I think I’ll make a playlist for every mission moving forward. This playlist is for “Shades of Obsidian,” my current mission, which is in its final stages.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0O6IM9m9R2MmVaQxK2iBxt?si=1e9ec0b95130463f

1. Stupify by Disturbed: This song's chaotic, fast-paced frustration mirrors Ryan’s panicked reaction under pressure in Learning Curve Part 1.

2. Falling Apart by Zebrahead: I chose this one for the conference room scene in Learning Curve Part 2. Tensions between Asha and Amir have this destructive energy. Reflecting back on Ryan who isn’t present, you get the feeling this is how he’s feeling reflecting on his holodeck failure.

3. My Curse by Killswitch Engage: This song encompasses the three Lost and Found stories. Starting slower and gaining in intensity it mirrors the Vallejo investigating the distress call from the Tecumseh only to be a trap. The emotion of wanting and needing to see her in the song also plays into the Sequoia teams’ decision to disobey Captain Day’s orders and investigate after not returning to their rendezvous point.

4. Slaughter the Martyr by Machine Head: I chose this song to represent Lost and Found, part 3, and Trapped, part 1. The slow start represents the Vallejo arriving at the distress call, but it builds up. Three minutes in, the trap is sprung, and the Vallejo is decimated by enemy fire. It is fast, loud, and brutal.

5. Give It All by Rise Against: I think this song pretty perfectly encapsulates the crew in Breaking Point and Behind Enemy Lines. Vex and Anari do everything possible to save their crew and their ship, Amir and Mehta going full commando to drop the dampening field, and Ryan going off on his own to save Captain Day.

6. Through Struggle by As I Lay Dying: Captain Day is captured, battered, and beaten but not broken. This song represents her resilience and strength of character. Her characterization in Behind Enemy Lines was not what I originally planned, but I am happy I took the time to make her stand out as a leader by showing her strength.

7. Sabotage by Beastie Boys: (Spoiler Alert) Not surprising that even though not written yet I plan for the Vallejo to make a daring escape. Had to go back to the Kelvin Timeline movies and steal this classic! Gives those high-energy escape vibes.

8. Tears Don't Fall by Bullet for My Valentine: (Spoiler Alert) This song epitomizes the pain of loss the surviving crew will have to face while limping back to DS47. Healing from wounds both physical and emotional.

 2025-02-24 14:19:43

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