"Turn your face towards the sun/let the shadows fall behind you/don't look back just carry on/ and the shadows will never find you"
In a cinematic adaptation of Tim Tingle "How I Became A Ghost" I can envision Rihanna's 2015 song "Towards the Sun" as the theme song for the movie. The chorus of the song is immediately evocative of Isaac's father's poignant message in chapter 8 of the novel. "Son, you cannot keep your eyes on the bloody footprints you have left behind. You must keep your eyes on where you are going." Both the song and the novel carry messages of perseverance and strength during times of hardship and suffering. I also believe that the song has a dramatic enough tone to fit with the darker nature of the novel. Despite of the suffering he, his family, and his people are facing (along with the personal burden he carries regarding his impending death) Isaac remains a remarkable hopeful character. This characterization fits nicely with the steadfast determination of the song particularly the second half the chorus. "don't look back just carry on/and the shadows will never find you". As a whole, I think this song captures the essence of Isaac's character and would help in translating his character to a film format.
Erin Brandenburg
I think this song is perfect for the book. After listening to it I immediately thought of Isaac's father saying he couldn't focus in the bloody foot prints behind him. I can definitely envision this song being used if this book was adapted to a film.
ReplyDeleteThis was a fascinating choice to represent the themes of the novel. I definitely agree that the vibe of the song is intense enough to match the somber nature of the book's events but also has those rousing and hopeful undertones that are displayed so well by Isaac.
ReplyDeleteHi Erin,
ReplyDeleteThis is a surprising choice for How I Became a Ghost if only because I don't necessarily connect Rihanna to an adaptation about The Trail of Tears. However, I do think the opening stanza could work quite well for a trailer of the film. Trailers rarely play a full song, and I could definitely envision this song being chopped for a trailer that would make How I Became a Ghost seem appealing to the audience while also capturing the combination of suffering and hope that the novel evokes.