OOC; FST

[parked]

Click below the cut for the following:
-the full sized covers (back and front)
-the download link (all in 1 .zip file)
-some lyrics from each song and why I chose them.


GARDEN MIX:
A SULU SOUNDTRACK FOR DRAMADRAMADUCK
DOWNLOAD HERE: 11 TRACKS, 52.9MB

(1) Between Two Lungs, Florence and the Machine
[[Between two lungs it was released,
The breath that captured me,
The sigh that blew me forward;

Because it was trapped,
Trapped between two lungs,
It was trapped between two lungs,
It was trapped between two lungs...

And my running feet could fly,
Each breath screaming: "We are all too young to die!"]]

More of a canon-based song; the sort of song you can see yourself falling to, really. Romantic connotations aside, the feeling behind this song, as well as the lyrics, reminds me of the entire drill and free-fall scene.

[[The air has filled me head-to-toe, and I can see the ground far below...]]

(2) Politics in Space, Kate Miller-Heidke
[[Are you alright? (Pretty much.)
Are you okay? (Pretty much.)
You got your health? (Pretty much.)
You know the way? (Pretty much.)
You know your limit? (Pretty much.)
You understand? (Pretty much.)
Are you the man? (Pretty much.) (Pretty much.)]]

I really love this song for STXI in general, but it fits Sulu pretty well. I imagine him as having a go-where-the-wind-blows sort of attitude about life, taking things in a stride. He's also very hung up on professionalism, which is where the semi-negative tones of the song come through. Plus, this line: "The 60's were 50 years ago, you know; get over it!" line really fits with Sulu's general attitude towards everyone who brings up TOS.

[[Citizens don't stand up anymore; there's no point losing face; sound off, one-two-three-four, politics in space...]]

(3) Stars, Switchfoot
[[Stars looking at our planet, watching entropy and pain;
And maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives could pass as sane...
I've been thinking bout the meaning of resistance, of a hope beyond my own;
And suddenly the infinite and penitent begin to look like home...]]

Sulu is really fond of space. Really fond. He had a good life on Earth, and all, but the vastness of the void makes him feel much more comfortable than his room at home. The possibilities for himself and for the future open up out there. Plus, the problems that he has to deal with on Earth? They're nonexistent while they're out traveling the universe. What more could a recluse in disguise ask for?

[[Everyone, yeah everyone we feel so empty; when I look at the stars I feel like myself...]]

(4) Take 5, Utada Hikaru
[[The wind that is like a knife,
Helping to increase my speed -
Take 5.

What version of myself makes me happy?
Like the sky that has no success nor failure,
I want to be translucent...]]

There are like, 3 different translations to this song, but this is the one that seems the best. Also, it's technically about death, but ignore that connotation for now. Anyway, another song that could be pretty accurate to the free-fall scene, but it also works as a general zen, optimistic song. Sulu, like I said, is really fond of space, and I imagine him having stared up at the sky a lot as a kid. He also is a live-as-you-go kind of guy, which fits the lyrics, I think.

[[Take off my coat and step inside; with no beginning and no end, I want to live this day we call today honestly...]]

(5) Major Tom, Peter Schilling
[[Four three two one!
Earth below us,
Drifting, falling,
Floating, weightless -
Calling, calling home...]]

This song honestly only has a place on here because it's the song Sulu was thinking about during the zombie virus, while he was succumbing to the effects of the zombie bite he received. Interesting note; he still sometimes has bad dreams about that virus. But, I imagine that if the Enterprise ever malfunctioned? This is pretty much how he would react. Either that, or this is how he'd feel after falling victim to the dreaded Space Madness that Dr. McCoy is convinced he has.

[[Across the stratosphere, a final message: "Give my wife my love..."]]

(6) Baby Cruising Love, Perfume
[[The fate of love, the proof of love,
May have something similar to our voyage;
I want to go to see you, beyond our distant space,
Baby, cruising love!
I want to reach to that place eventually,
Baby, cruising love!]]

This is Sulu's lovesong to the Enterprise, I'm utterly convinced. It's all about love and space and it works, OK? It's also got a "don't look back" vibe to it, which is something Sulu strives to do (though he's often unsuccessful). It's also a catchy J-Pop song, and I will bet you that he has it on his personal comm and dances to it secretly. (Yeah, try to get that image out of your head. You can't. You know why? Because it's Sulu dancing to the poppiest J-Pop song I could find.) Plus, the lines about misjudging things and shortcuts kind of reminds me of his first scene in the movie. Parking break, Sulu. Remember it.

[[Just continue looking ahead; it's scary, and we can't do anything about it...]]

(7) Summerboy, Lady GaGa
[[Hey there summer boy,
Let’s go for a drive!
Take me for a ride,
Never gonna close our eyes!
Hey there summer boy,
I’m a busy girl!
Don’t have too much time,
Hurry up before I change my mind!
Hey there summer boy,
I’m takin off my heels!
Let’s go for a run,
Have a little summer fun,
Have a little summer fun,
Summer boy...]]

Reason #1 to have this song on here: Sulu as a woman. This is pretty much him if he had had time to get really confident in a female body; he'd be rocking that shit hardcore, in his usual subtle, BAMF way. Reason #2 to have this song on here: ...I'll be honest. Since I first heard this song, I've consistently imagined Sulu just absolutely rocking out to it. Usually in a hovercar, windows down and sunglasses on. Possibly singing along. ...Probably singing along. I think you can tell that my song choices are based predominantly on how much Sulu would rock out to them.

[[Don't be sad when the sun goes down; you'll wake up and I'm not around...]]

(8) A Better Future, David Bowie
[[Please don't tear this world asunder,
Please take back this fear we're under;
I demand a better future -
Or I might just stop wanting you;
I might just stop wanting you...

Please make sure we get tomorrow;
All this pain, all this sorrow;
I demand a better future -
Or I might just stop needing you;
I might just stop needing you...]]

One of the reasons Sulu joined Starfleet was to help make the Federation a better place for everyone. Sulu is a Romanticist and an optimist; this song is pretty accurate as a representation of his views on his job at Starfleet. You might have noticed that I've all but ignored most of the romantic connotations of the songs so far; this is one that I can see actually fitting Sulu's romantic life, which he treats kind of the same way he treats his job. (That opens up a whole new diatribe on how he's not the best boyfriend in the world, but that's another story for another time.)

[[Give my children sunny smiles; give them warm and cloudless skies; I demand a better future...]]

(9) The Secret Life of Plants, Stevie Wonder
[[I can't conceive the nucleus of all,
Begins inside a tiny seed -
And what we think as insignificant,
Provides the purest air we breathe...]]

Sulu/Plants OTP, basically. Sulu is a really avid botanist; he actually shows his plants more affection than he usually does towards people. But this song is specifically perfect because it depicts the whole "Wonders of Nature" aspect that Sulu's big on. All metaphoric connotations aside, of course. PS: the entire album is a soundtrack to a documentary about plants. Who wants to bet that this is his favorite CD ever?

[[But who am I to doubt or question the inevitable being, for these are but a few discoveries we find inside the Secret Life of Plants...]]

(10) Planet of Sound, Pixies
[[One fine day in my odd past,
I picked me up a transmission;
I turned the fission ignition,
Went looking for the broadcaster
... And when I first touched down, they simply told me to leave -
Which was kind of hard to believe,
'Cause there was no one around;
This ain't the planet of sound!]]

Another space song to top off the actual FST; I just like the idea of Sulu and the Enterprise being on a bold mission to find the PLANET OF SOUND! Which is a planet full of rock and roll, in case you didn't realize. But the song does make sense when you consider how the Enterprise is on a five year mission to discover strange new worlds; I wouldn't be surprised if the planet of sound was one of the planets they stopped by.

[[This ain't no rock and roll town, this ain't no fuckin' around, this ain't no planet of sound!]]

(11) Grow for Me, Little Shop of Horrors!
[[I've given you sunshine,
I've given you dirt.
You've given me nothing,
But heartache and hurt!
I'm beggin' you sweetly!
I'm down on my knees!
Oh, please - grow for me!]]

I PROMISED THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS SONG ON HERE, SO HERE IT IS. Sulu is Seymour forever. Audrey III, of course, doesn't need to eat blood or meat, but Sulu does know the musical and is highly entertained by the little inside joke he's made with the plant's name.

Alternatively, this could be Sulu versus the Ficus That Constantly Gives Him Trouble. That thing seriously is sentient in its own right.

[[I've given you sunlight; I've given you rain! Looks like you're not happy, 'less I open a vein... I'll give you a few drops, if that will appease...

Now please, oh please, grow for me!]]