The CV Playlst

[Derek]

If you were to design the song layout for a Casual Vacancy CD, what song(s) would you include?

[Sarah]

Neil Young, Down by the River

[Sarah]

Neil Young, Down by the River.

[John]

The Rolling Stones, "Mother's Little Helper."
I fit the tone, but I don't know exactly where in the story it would go.

[Sarah]

I'm thinking about 'Pretty Vacant', Sex Pistols! Not sure about it yet . . .

[Rosella]

It would have to end with Umbrella.

[Carrie]

I second Rosella's Umbrella!

[Áine]

...And, unfortunately, it would also have to include Tom Jones!

I really want to talk about JKR's choice to include the Jay-Z and Rihanna lyrics in several poignant moments, including (serious spoiler alert) the ending. I wonder if there's anyone that doesn't know the song that could give an impression of this? (Maybe before you read this post further?)

I love the choice, in a way, because I love the song, and I think it's actually quite powerful. I think it perhaps would have been too corny to include Rihanna's chorus in text form. Yet I wonder if it's selling the song short not to get from CV what the song's about.

i.e. chorus:
"When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be a friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella…”

Part of the beauty of the way it shows up is the surprising and somewhat brash quality it brings in unexpected moments in church, moments that epitomize the height of English civility. It's surprising in that it's an American song (though from a Barbadian singer and an African-American rapper), and it starts with a rap.

Yet this isn’t any old brash American rap of trivial subject matter, as the lines Krystal repeats might have you think. It’s notable that the song has enjoyed popularity in acoustic form thanks to Marie Digby and others due to the sweet poignancy of its chorus.

I think JKR meant to evoke that power of the full song even though she only includes the first few lines of the opening rap (perhaps for those who knew where the opening lines were heading). Like Krystal, there is more to it than seen on the surface; it is both tough and loud as well as sweet and heartfelt.

I feel Rowling must also have trusted that this song would stand the test of time, to make such a contemporary choice that will date the book henceforth. There is an enduring quality in the lyrics of this song that adds depth to what we know about the relationships between and among, Krystal, Barry, and the other girls on the crew team. And the implied poignancy lends itself well to both the funerals; the full-circle quality adding to the power of the ending when the song shows up in that little church again.

What do others think? Was the power effective without more of the lyrics? For those who didn’t know or recognize the song, was the effect cheap or cutesy, or did it make you laugh? Were others surprised by this choice?

I guess what surprised me most was that she included a pop song at all. But, in the end, for me, it felt true to Krystal, and to teenage girlhood. A risky choice, Rowling, but I daresay you pulled it off.

[Marie]

Well I am one of those unfortunate people that did not know this song at all - probably never heard it ever before. And I am ashamed to say I didn't Google the song to hear it after it appeared in the book. Now that I see the rest of the lyrics, I can see why she put it into the book. Believe me when I say I will go look it up on I-Tunes now! As to my first impression of the song? I just thought it was appropriate that kids would want such a 'theme song' that they equated with their coach in the service to honor him. From what I gathered from the lyrics in the book - the song was about being there for one another even if it was under difficult circumstances. I have a note in the margin of my book after the quote "You can stand under my umbrella" that says: "Just because you need to be there?" So I guess I had an inkling of what the song was about.

[Brittany R]

Áine wrote: "...And, unfortunately, it would also have to include Tom Jones!

I really want to talk about JKR's choice to include the Jay-Z and Rihanna lyrics in several poignant moments, including (serious spo..."

What an interesting analysis!

I don't know that JKR had to trust that the song would stand the test of time. Many novels in the past have referred to popular song lyrics (if they were relevant to the story or the characters) that many modern readers have to look up.

I think it was an example of how Barry was able to connect with young people in such a special and powerful way. It was played at his funeral because he and his daughter's bonded over it, which implies to me that Barry didn't just allow it to be played on the trips to competitions, but that he somehow participated in it. I think the assumption is that most adults around or over the age of 40 wouldn't want to listen to that "crap," but Barry would because he respected the kids and their choices.

I do agree, though, that JKR, meant to evoke the full song as you mentioned. There was a reason it was the team song as there was a reason JKR used it.

[Áine]

Very good points. Thanks for your thoughts, Brittany!