Here’s one just for fun. I’ve always been something of an audiophile (as those who have read my “25 Memorable Quotations” post have probably guessed), and I can’t tell you how many times a great line from a song, or even the song title itself, has come in handy when coming up with titles for chapters. In some cases, I’ve even derived the title of a book and a whole skeleton of a plotline from a single song!
So, reaching into my vast record archive, here’s a list of several songs I like whose titles I either have used or would like to use when naming stories or their component parts in the future, along with my intended uses for them:
1) “Send Her My Love” (Journey, 1983)
I intend to use this one as the title of Part III of a future Sauragia book. One with a romantic subplot. It will be bittersweet–like the song.
2) “Wings of Tomorrow” (Europe, 1984)
Excellent science fiction title, if I do say so myself. I’m thinking a futuristic dystopia with lots of action and dogfights.
3) “Outside the Rain” (Stevie Nicks, 1981)
Dunno. Maybe a hard-luck romance?
4) “On the Border” (Eagles, 1974)
Used it as a chapter title for a part where things were on the fritz for the heroes.
5) “The View from a Hill” (Mike Batt, 1999)
Kind of like “View to a Kill”: action thriller, or else a happily-ever-after romance.
6) “Never Enough” (Patty Smyth, 1987)
Something very ambitious.
7) “The Visitors” (ABBA, 1981)
Spooky space drama with aliens, or else something about refugees from Eastern Europe (like the song is actually about).
8) “Frontiers” (Journey, 1983)
Part II of the aforementioned Sauragia novel.
9) “Certain Kind of Fool” (Eagles, 1973)
A chapter title about a young wannabe knight.
10) “First Strike” (Cobra, 1983)
Sci-fi or thriller, I think.
11) “End of the Line” (Traveling Wilburys, 1987)
Another spy thriller–perhaps involving trains.
12) “Isn’t It Midnight” (Fleetwood Mac, 1987)
Something deep and dark. Again maybe an action thriller, or else a sci-fi work with some sort of save the world at the 11th hour plot.
13) “Sometimes When I’m Dreaming” (Art Garfunkel, 1984)
Something with a really heartbreaking ending–just like the song itself.
14) “Wait for Me” (Daryl Hall and John Oates, 1979)
Romance, probably.
15) “Forget Me Not” (Bad English, 1989)
A bloody, action-packed story, maybe about a romance gone bad. Sounds like fun, right?
16) “One More Song” (Randy Meisner, 1980)
A story about an old guy who comes out of retirement. If it’s a kid’s story, maybe a musician who returns for a final performance; if an adult story, maybe a retired secret agent or assassin.
17) “Right Here Waiting” (Richard Marx, 1989)
Some kind of long-distance romance. I’m thinking WWII GI writing to a gal back home, but that’s just me.
18) “Heart to Heart” (Aldo Nova, 1982)
Probably another romantic thriller.
19) “Movin’ Train” (Kendalls, 1983)
Definitely a western of some kind with a hero who just can’t sit still.
20) “Some People” (Paul Young, 1986)
Definitely a story about a suave spy-type protagonist with plenty of explosions.
21) “Desperate Dreams” (Survivor, 1988)
Something that involves a lot of struggle, but has a happy ending.
22) “Downtown Life” (Daryl Hall and John Oates, 1988)
Either a romance novel taking place in the excitement of a big city, or else a down-and-dirty street drama.
23) “A Month of Sundays” (Don Henley, 1984)
Not sure, exactly, but it still sounds cool.
24) “Visions” (Eagles, 1975)
I used this for chapter about a man who sees the future in his sleep.
25) “Departure” (Journey, 1980)
Part I of the aforementioned Sauragia book.
And there you have it. It’s a little retro, perhaps, but that’s me all over. I’m curious: What song titles do you think would make great story titles?
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