13.Oct.2009 a twilight fan’s introduction to death cab for cutie

Before Stephenie Meyer had any dreams about sparkling vampires I heard a song called A Movie Script Ending.  I immediately tracked down the band and began a love affair that continues today.  That band is, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, Death Cab for Cutie.

When I read that Death Cab would be writing and performing the first single on The Twilight Saga:New Moon soundtrack it was like two halves of myself merging together… and it made perfect sense.  Of course Death Cab should be on the New Moon soundtrack, they have so many songs that fit the themes found through out Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.

After reading comments on the video for the New Moon song, Meet Me On The Equinox, I realized that I seemed to be in the minority as a huge Death Cab AND Twilight fan.  So here I bring to you (from their last 3 albums), in no particular order, 10 Death Cab for Cutie songs for Twilight fans:

1. I Will Possess Your Heart
From the album: Narrow Stairs
Do you know that scene in the New Moon trailer when the still long haired Jacob is telling Bella that he would never hurt   her?  I feel like he could actually be singing her this song.  I can honestly say that I would be surprised if there is any other song that so perfectly captures the way Jacob feel about Bella.

2. Someday You Will Be Loved
From the album: Plans
When Edward leaves Bella I believe he honestly thinks she’ll be able to move on.  That one day she’ll meet another man who will love her and that won’t constantly be putting her into life threatening danger.  He’s not unaware that this will cause Bella temporary pain, but he tells her to “go on with your life without me” and “time heals all wound for your kind”.

3. I Will Follow You Into The Dark
From the album: Plans
“Bella, I can’t live in a world where you don’t exist” – Edward Cullen, New Moon.  When I think about Edward just moments from stepping out of that alley way, about to expose himself in the sun, I wonder if this song was running through his head.

4. No Sunlight
From the album: Narrow Stairs
“There was a darkness in Jacob now. Like my sun had imploded.”
Bella Swan, New Moon, Chapter 11, p.262

5. Transatlanticism
From the album: Transatlanticism
I don’t think there is another song that musically maps Bella’s emotional state from the moment Edward leaves her to when she’s in the water and she knows she can’t fight anymore.

6. Grapevine Fires
From the album: Narrow Stairs
Stephenie opens New Moon with a quote from Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene VI
“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder.
Which as they kiss, consume.”

7. Expo ’86
From the album: Transatlanticism
After Edward and Bella return from Italy she thinks he’s going to leave her again.  She honestly believed that he didn’t love her anymore.  When discussing The Volturi and Victoria she claims they aren’t what she’s afraid of most, because all then can do to her is kill her, but Edward can leave her again and she is terrified of that.  There is a line in this song that has haunted me since I heard it and couldn’t be more frighteningly accurate in describing the anxiety one feels about being abandoned by someone they thought loved them.

The next three songs are a little less specific and a little more abstract.  You may have to think out of the box a little bit to understand how I think they’re connected to Twilight, but I’ll do my very best to explain why I feel the way I do.

8. Summer Skin
From the album: Plans
This song reminds me of Sam Uley, specifically that time between when we meet him in Twilight and when he finds Bella in New Moon.  What must that time have been like for him?  Having to say goodbye to every bit of life as he knew it and not being fully aware of what was happening to him.

9. Cath…
From the album: Narrow Stairs
Listen to this one and think about Rosalie.  Think about why she was marrying Royce.  Think about what he did to her and during the chorus think about Carlisle and what he did to “save” her.

10. Tiny Vessels
From the album: Transatlanticism
Leah.  My heart breaks for Leah.  I can’t imagine how much pain she must have constantly been carrying around.  She is this being she doesn’t want to be, she had just lost her father and she had her heart crushed by the man she loved.  The man that one day loved her and then she introduces him to to her cousin and in the blink of an eye is all over.  I’m not sure I can fathom how betrayed she must have felt and how she probably questioned every word that Sam ever said to her.

Bonus Tracks:

The Sound of Settling
From the album: Transatlanticism
There was a time in my life when I felt the way Bella does in New Moon.  This song was my Jacob.

A Lack of Color
From the album: Transatlanticism
This is, in my opinion, the best Death Cab for Cutie song.