Nothing says "love" like a filk song.

[seanan_mcguire]

I am a filker.

It's an absolute statement of identity; it's been applicable for pretty much my entire life, even if I've only known what it meant since sometime in high school. I filk. I listen to filk. I love filk. It's a passionate, welcoming, supportive community of brilliant, talented, creative people, and I'm proud to call it one of my many homes.

For a long time, if you'd asked me who I wanted to grow up to be, as a lyricist, my answer would have been catsittingstill. Her melodies are delicate and complex, her lyrics are perfectly considered, and as the many people who had to listen to me wandering around singing "Annie" can testify, when her songs tell a story, it sticks with you.

All of which comes as background for why I screamed like a little girl when I found out she'd written songs about my books. Cat wrote songs about my books!!! That's like fulfilling one of the hidden win conditions of life!

The first, "Mayday," is about everyone's favorite Fetch (just ask her).

The second, "Oak and Ash and Rowan and Thorn," is a beautiful post-LE contemplation of events going all the way back to the first book (and was sung by Vixy at the book release party, for those of you who made it).

I win at life.

Squee.

Comments

[tikiera.livejournal.com]

OOoo Toby Filk!

And it has a mp3. I getz to hear it.

Sharing filk is love.


I really do love that last line.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

She's awesome, no contest.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

You DO win at life. Accolades from Cat are among the most life-affirming things I can think of.

And Toby's world is so very, very singable.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

It's hard to explain to non-filkers why this makes me warm all the way down to the tips of my toes.

But it does.

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

Just tell 'em it's props from your peeps, yo.

[vincentursus.livejournal.com]

Really? It seemed self-evident.

Someone you admired demonstrated that she reciprocated. Being thoroughly chuffed is a perfectly reasonably reaction.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yes. :)

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

I was enchanted with May from the moment Toby opened the door and met her.

Toby seems to have a weirdness field around her that seems to make some Fae magic work sideways. May is somewhat proof of that. *grin*

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

True!

[seticat.livejournal.com]

'Way Back When and Long Ago, when I was a lot more active in the SCA in the Kingdom of An Tir, I had a chance to meet this young Bard who called herself Myfawny fertch Tangwystl [I'm sure I'm misspelling that]. Later on she became known by her alternate name 'Spaulding the Slayer' for her deadly accuracy with the tennis ball sling. She spent a lot of nights singing around my camp fire when I was Baroness and never seemed to flinch too badly when I'd toss my own entries into the ring.

I wish I could fine the lyrics she wrote called 'The Torse' commemorating the blue, white and yellow war favor she would wear in honor of My Barony. The only tape I had of her work died in a house fire too long ago.

Her creations were as enchanting then as they are now. And I know I felt blessed that she wrote pieces for me and My Barony.

I know how you feel.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

If that's the person I'm thinking of, her mundane incarnation is Heather Rose Jones, and you can find her variously on the internet. Mostly, these days, I see her hanging out on Making Light.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

[seticat.livejournal.com]

Nope, It's not Heather. It's Cat - half the team of "Echo's Children"l. I first met her back in the 80-something's when she was a college student from Portland, OR.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Ah. The SCA name threw me off. :) Cat is wonderful, but that just goes back to the theme of the post.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That's a real compliment.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I'm thrilled.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Cat wrote songs about my books!!! That's like fulfilling one of the hidden win conditions of life!

(blush)

I think you just fulfilled one of the hidden win conditions of my life.

Thank you.

And total congratulations, by the way, on Wicked Girls being one of the top sellers at CD Baby. Well deserved, in my opinion.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Mutual fulfillment is the best.

Thank you! I'm still jazzed.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I know, right?!

[batyatoon]

Oh my god, you WIN.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yes!

[eevieivy.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome! :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I have a thrilled.

[muddlewait.livejournal.com]

I've heard it said that there are two kinds of music: the kind you listen to, and the kind you dance to. But hearing the Oak and Ash piece, I'm reminded of another kind of music. My favorite kind. The kind that makes other people sing.

Both of you make it. Please, never stop.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Awwww.

:)

[phoenixrave.livejournal.com]

Your post throws me back to my own high school experience, receiving "A Wlofrider's Reflections" in the mail, and literally, having the world turn upside down. EQ fandom and a LOT of money spent with Off Centaur ensued. During college, "Keepers of the Flame" must have been on repeat for literally years. Afterwards, I let the world intrude, with increasing sadness. At Consonance, 2010, and at Borderlands, the Tuesday following, I had my world rocked again. I was reminded who I am and whom I've always been. I'm not going back. Watch out world. Thank you, Seanan, for the music, for the passion, for the audacity, and for the Filk!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Very welcome.