(no subject)

[skygiants]

A very long time ago - like, uh, back in February - genarti won a Fullmetal Alchemist playlist off me in a fandom auction. I feel a little but not super-guilty about the time that has elapsed, partly because I have totally given her enough FMA-related songs between then and now to make up more than a playlist's worth, and partly because now I have done it and it is THE LONGEST PLAYLIST IN HISTORY. (And believe it or not, this is the cut-down version.)

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Part 1: The Kids from Resembool

River Town, Live (Lyrics)

and from a tiny river town you came
with nothing up your sleeve but a dirty forearm and an ace
they drug you through that slaughterhouse at will
you were the soldier without a kill

This is one of the songs that makes me really, really sad I can’t vid, because someone could make an awesome kids-from-Resembool AMV to this. This is a song for Ed, Al and Winry, headed out from their little town into a country and a world that’s going to do its best to break them down and make killers out of them – and I am so very glad that Arakawa didn’t let that happen.

Dark Matter, Andrew Bird (Lyrics)

with rays of dark matter
do you wonder where the self resides
is it in the head or between your sides

Human transmutation: fun for the whole family! Well, okay, no. But fun for Truth-kun!

Short People, Randy Newman (Lyrics)

Don't want no short people
'round here

WHO AM I CALLING A TINY LITTLE BEAN NO BIGGER THAN A GRAIN OF RICE, Ed would like to know.

U.N.I., Noa (Lyrics)

How does my skin connect to my soul?
Is the sum of my parts
anything whole?

Al and his body have a complicated relationship. Or at least more complicated than most people have with their bodies, since most people are, you know, attached to theirs.

Burn Your Own House Down, Catie Curtis (Lyrics)

But I'm not gonna let you burn your own house down
I know you don't like living in it now
the halls are empty and the walls are bare
but I believe you, you're gonna find your love in there

Just kidding! Ed totally did burn his own house down. But metaphorically he still has a home no matter how much he tries to deny it, says Winry. Pinako reinforces this in a grumpier fashion.

1000 Oceans, Vienna Teng (Lyrics)

well, I can't believe that I would keep
keep you from flying
and I would cry 1000 more
if that's what it takes

If Ed’s too stubborn to cry, that’s okay; Winry is just going to have to cry for him. While making sure he can also, you know, walk. Not to mention the million other ways she provides vital support for those two stupid brothers.

Hammer and a Nail, Indigo Girls (Lyrics)

my life is part of the global life
I'd found myself becoming more immobile
when I'd think a little girl in the world can't do anything

But let’s not just talk about Winry in relation to Ed and Al. Winry is pretty awesome in her own right – and despite what she occasionally thinks, there’s a lot more she can do in a crisis than just sit and wait.

One More, Superchick (Lyrics)

got 100 steps to go
tonight I'll make it 99

If these kids have a motto, it’s this: just take one step after the other and keep moving. Even if you happen to be missing a leg. Or both legs. It’s simple, but they accomplish a lot with it.

Part 2: The Military’s In Trouble

Ammunition, Switchfoot (Lyrics)

we've been blowing up
we're the issue
we're ammunition

This is for the alchemists in Ishval, and after – the human weapons of the state. (This is a fair warning right now that this playlist may be slightly unbalanced in favor of certain human weapons and the people who watch their backs. Because it’s for Gen, and therefore I am allowed to play to her favorites! Also it's amazing the number of songs with significant keywords about fire.)

Jawbone Canyon, Noe Venable (Lyrics sadly unavailable online)

I reckon you never really leave
a place called Jawbone Canyon

Another Ishval song (I did warn you there might be several of them). Even if you get out alive, there are some things that you can’t leave behind you.

Rain, Seatbelts (Lyrics)

if there is a hell
I'm sure this is how it smells
wish this were a dream, but no, it isn't
walk in the rain, in the rain, in the rain

AME WA! Songs titled “Rain” are inevitably FMA-relevant, and this is certainly no exception. Yet more Ishval angst, with bonus rain on Mustang’s face.

We Are, Ana Johnsson (Lyrics)

fail to recognize the enemies within
you say we're not responsible
but we are, we are, we are, we are

When Hawkeye tells Ed about Ishval, Ed tries to say that it’s not their fault, the homunculi are to blame; they didn’t know. But he’s wrong: while they may have been being manipulated, that doesn’t make them any less responsible for what they did.

See the World, Gomez (Lyrics)

find an old-fashioned girl
and when all's been said and done
it's the things that are given, not won

Hughes’ advice to basically everyone he knows: calm down, stop acting like a jerk, and FIND A NICE LADY FRIEND. Hey, it worked for him, right?

Fire and Rain, James Taylor (Lyrics)

I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
but I always thought that I'd see you again

Yes, this one is a gimme. Mustang’s NOT CRYING about Hughes, okay. It’s just raining. On, as we’ve established, his face.

The Blue Light of the Flame, Dar Williams (Lyrics)

somebody let you
look into the blue light of the flame

Look, Hawkeye and Mustang have some issues, and many of them center around the fact that they are mutually responsible for the brutal deaths of hundreds if not thousands of people. Their massive repression about their personal relationship is just the cherry on their issues sundae, if you will.

Fear of Fireflies, Calla (Lyrics)

follow me back through
should be, could be you
my fear of fire back cover me

On the other side, all those shared issues and guilt have formed into a solid bedrock of absolute reliance and trust – including trusting each other to stop each other from crossing any more moral event horizons. Which is something of a plus.

Gravity, Vienna Teng (Lyrics)

hey, love
I am a constant satellite
of your blazing sun

Well, see, Mustang controls fire and Hawkeye is always at his back, so – okay, whatever, I am just going to be an unabashed Mustang/Hawkeye shipper here for a moment, all right?

Grin, Guster (Lyrics)

swallowed poison keeps them well
but watching the others struggle through
makes me grin

Meanwhile, this is a song for Kimblee, who likes to jump up and down on people’s illusions, watch them agonize for a while, and then say LOL and wander off. Everyone needs a hobby, I guess.

Animal I Have Become, Three Days Grace (Lyrics)

help me believe it's not the real me
somebody help me tame this animal I have become

Okay, so this is a way angstier song than is appropriate for any of the actual FMA military chimera, but it entertains me to put this song for them anyway. Literalism for the win!

Edge of My Seat Thea Gilmore (Lyrics)

if you wanna fight someone you can
come fight me
let’s do it now

Ladies and gentlemen: Major General Olivier “Certified Badass” Armstrong. I would not advise challenging this lady. Which might not stop her from challenging you first. Or from putting on a demure face and then throwing you into wet cement, for that matter, if you happen to deserve it.

How Do You Sleep, The Stone Roses (Lyrics)

How do you feel when you close your eyes, and try and drift away?
Does it feel any better now?
Does it mean any more when the angel of death comes knock, knocking
and banging at your door?

And, after a brief break for badassery, we’re back to Ishval angst. You could see this song as Marcoh and Envy, or Marcoh and Scar, but . . . mostly this is just Marcoh and his inner demons. Speaking of massive guilt issues. (Although Scar does make a very grumpy angel of death.) And while on the topic of Scar . . .

Part 3: The Man With No Name

If Everyone Cared, Nickelback (Lyrics)

if everyone cared and nobody cried
if everyone loved and nobody lied

Scar’s brother thinks that if everyone just channeled their positive energy, the flow of energy in the world will become positive and they can make the world a better place! Scar is more dubious about this. But you know Scar was also not the kind of kid who listened to Nickelback.

Woke Up This Morning, A3 (Lyrics)

I see you woke up this morning
the world turned upside down
things ain’t been the same
since the blues walked into town

This is another vid I would make, if I had anything like the skills that would be needed. It’s an awesome Scar song if you just mentally replace every iteration of “gun” with “tattooed arm of alchemical destruction.”

Killer, The Hoosiers (Lyrics)

for shadows haunted me like ghosts,
so I became what I feared the most
I conduct fear like electricity
a man made monstrosity

This is Scar as we first see him, when he is An Angry Guy With An Alchemical Arm Out On A Vengeance Rampage. Even Scar thinks this is basically the end of his story. Little does he know . . .

Stray Italian Greyhound, Vienna Teng (Lyrics)

I was ready for the downslide
but not for spring to well up
this feeling calls for everything I can't afford
to know
is possible now

Look, Scar did not ASK to pick up an adorable hyperactive pseudo-little sister. He was perfectly fine continuing to be a vengeance-driven mass murderer! And yet here he is all of a sudden with all this “caring” and “teamwork” and “desire to make the world a better place,” and what is this! (Thanks, Mei Chan.)

Part 4: Xingian Strangers in an Exceedingly Strange Land

Prince Charming, Jim’s Big Ego (Lyrics)

you go out and see the world girl
have yourself a ball
you're gonna have to be your own prince charming

Mei likes to fantasize about having a Prince Charming sweep her off her feet, sure, but when it comes down to it she’s probably one of the most proactive and self-motivated characters in the whole series – and my bet is she won’t have a lot of trouble making her own happy ending.

Protection, Massive Attack (Lyrics)

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow

Our ladies from Xing would probably not like to acknowledge having anything in common, but this is one (awesome) thing they do. Lan Fan’s the one who comes immediately to mind for this song, obviously, but Mei is also pretty eager to leap in front of her BFF Scar when he’s in trouble. Or Alphonse-sama, come to that.

Strong, Velvet Chain (Lyrics)

because you're so, so strong
you would fight for me

This is a Ling/Lan Fan song. Because a significant percentage of Ling’s dramatic life choices are basically motivated by Ling going, “dang, Lan Fan is so hardcore! I HAVE TO BE AS HARDCORE AS LAN FAN.” As the narrative likes to dramatically announce, his strongest servant returns to action!

I’m Not Dead, Pink (Lyrics)

right between the ink of your tattoo
in the belly of the beast we turned into
I'm not scared just changing

Codependence, shifting identities, monsters and masks and absolute loyalty? Must be a song for Greed, Ling and Lan Fan! Or Greed/Ling/Lan Fan, if you'd rather.

I would just like to note that while I don’t actually own “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” (and what a tragedy for my music collection that is), if I did, it would SO be on this playlist. Just saying.

Part 5: Created Humans

I Want It All, High School Musical (Lyrics)

I want it, want it, want it
I gotta have my star on the door
I want the world nothing less

In the live-action version of Fullmetal Alchemist, Greed 1.0 will be played by Ashley Tisdale. (Be grateful: at least I didn’t put “Bet On It” here for Greed 2.0. BUT I COULD HAVE.)

Your Shadow, Lunascape (Lyrics)

I can never see your
shadow at night

A creepy song about shadows? Three guesses which homunculus this is for!

Falcon in the Dive, Scarlet Pimpernel OST (Lyrics)

piercing into the sky and higher
and the strong will thrive
yes, the weak will cower while the fittest will survive

Wrath finds it alternately hilarious and kind of embarrassing how weak and puny humans are. No, seriously. He might not be as young as he used to be, but all the same, he dares you to try and take him.

King Sleepy, Laika (Lyrics)

nothing can wake
nothing will break

Sloth thinks that being represented on this playlist is such . . . a bother . . .

Busted, Matchbox 20 (Lyrics)

we're too cool to be alone
but not too crazy to get busted
I found out one life just ain't enough
I need another soul to feed on

Oh, Envy. You are a bizarre, contradictory, angry, selfish, lonely freak. Much like this song, which is also bizarre and contradictory and angry.

Fake Palindromes, Andrew Bird (Lyrics)

my dewy-eyed disney bride, what has tried
swapping your blood with formaldehyde?
what monsters that talk, monsters that walk the earth

Lust would like to protest that they aren’t monsters; they do have feelings, you know. Then she'll stab you in the stomach. Lust is another fascinating bundle of contradictions, and a character I really wish we’d gotten the time to know better.

There is no Gluttony song on this playlist, because he ate it.

I Just Wanna Be God, Alice Cooper (Lyrics)

I really want to build my statue tall
that's all
I'm just trying to be God

Or devour God. Or have creepy tentaclesex with God, I don’t even know. But however you look at it, Father has some divinity issues here.

Part 6: Hohenheim, the Promised Day, and the Seriously Epic Master Plan

Bones, Little Big Town (Lyrics)

you've got bones in your closet
you've got ghosts in your town
ain't no doubt, dear,
they're gonna come out

Amestris is a nation built on atrocities, piled up one after another. So basically the ghosts and demons lurking under the surface of the country are both figurative and literal (hi, homunculi!)

Faust, Midas and Myself, Switchfoot (Lyrics)

as my reflection passed
I hated what I saw
my golden eyes were dead

Poor Hohenheim didn’t even make a Faustian bargain, he just got kind of unfortunately caught up in somebody else’s Faustian bargain. Getting the gold of immortality is not all that it’s cracked up to be.

Daughter, Vienna Teng (Lyrics)

years from now
I'll cry to remember
how very close you were

Yes, the title is ‘daughter’ and not ‘son’, but otherwise this is pretty textbook Hohenheim re: his family. Down to the tears. (I love the guy, but there’s a reason we’ve nicknamed him Woehenheim.)

She’s a Rebel, Green Day (Lyrics)

she’s the salt of the earth
and she’s dangerous

If you want to know who it is who just sailed into your mountain stronghold and kicked everybody’s ass to pieces, she will gladly inform you: SHE’S A HOUSEWIFE. (Or, just sometimes: SHE’S AN ALCHEMIST.)

We’re All In This Together, High School Musical (Lyrics)

together, we’re there for each other every time
together, together come on let’s do this right

Look, judge me for my love of High School Musical soundtracks if you must, but you can’t possibly claim that this is not an appropriate song for a show with an episode titled “Combined Strengths.” I mean, seriously.

Beautiful, The Parlotones (Lyrics)

we all need to be saved today
and you are all beautiful
and you are all magical

This kind of encapsulates one of the main themes of the series, for me. Every soul that exists – whether or not it’s a part of a philosopher’s stone – is worthy of being treated like an individual, like a human being. And one of the reasons I love this story is because it takes that seriously – which is as good a note as any to end this ridiculously long playlist on.

Well, okay, there’s one more.

BONUS TRACK: A Fine Romance, Frank Sinatra (Lyrics)

a fine romance, with no kisses
a fine romance, my friend, this is

I have a theory about how boardroom meetings planning for Brotherhood tend to go, and it’s something like this:

ANIMATORS: Okay, we are now fifty episodes into the series. Is it okay if we add a makeout scene?
ARAKAWA: LOL no. ^_^
ANIMATORS: Seriously? But - come on, we don’t even care who makes out! We just want to draw someone kissing!
ARAKAWA: Maybe you’ll get to do one in the final episode! MAYBE YOU WON’T. ^_^
ANIMATORS: WELL FINE THEN. Can we put in some more fanservice of Riza’s back to make up for it?
ARAKAWA: Yeah, sure, I’m okay with that.
ANIMATORS: . . . fanservice with makeouts?
ARAKAWA: LOL no. ^_^

(Bear in mind I have not yet read chapter 108! If there are any makeouts, it is still a mystery to me. JUST LIKE ARAKAWA INTENDED IT.)

Comments

[littledust.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I had no idea Vienna Teng covered Tori! *grabby hands*

Someday I will catch up on the manga, which I started, um, years ago. But yay Roy/Riza! I once bought a doujinshi that was half sexy sexy Roy/Riza smut and then half... horrific gang rape. I FELT SO BETRAYED.

[skygiants]

D: D: D: THAT SOUNDS TRAUMATIZING. I might even be traumatized just hearing about it. I am so sorry!

I would probably never have read the manga if the new series had not come out. As it is, I just watch an episode a week and then go back and read the chapters that correspond to it! It is an excellent system that unfortunately leads to me being a month behind the rest of the fandom. But, uh, anyway, this is my long-winded way of saying READ THE MANGA, IT IS GODDAMN GLORIOUS.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I had no idea Vienna Teng covered Tori!

DITTO.

[elspeth-vimes.livejournal.com]

...I will not spoil you for the final chapter, I will not spoil you for the final chapter, I will not spoil you for the final chapter, I will not spoil you for the final chapter.

BUT ANYWAY, I LOVE THIS. It is epic and very appropriate and the rain on Roy's face is glorious. Also you win forever for including "Short People."

[skygiants]

TUESDAY AT THE LATEST. Tuesday at the latest I will know! And then oh can you expect flailing, I will tell you RIGHT NOW.

:DDDDD I AM GLAD. *giggling* (I am so conflicted! Because the Hughes' grave scene is really, genuinely sad, and does make me want to cry, and yet I always have to giggle too, because . . . RAIN. ON MUSTANG'S FACE.)

[elspeth-vimes.livejournal.com]

OH, I EXPECT GREAT FLAILING OF ASTOUNDING MAGNITUDE. AND I EXPECT TO RE-FLAIL AS A RESULT.

I should also have you know that I will forever be cracking up at the thought of Scar in New Jersey. (I deal with the conflict by being terribly sad during the scene. ...and then giggling later about the rain. ON HIS FACE.)

[genarti]

<33333333

[skygiants]

You should feel very proud of me for how hard I resisted the temptation to include "Bet On It" four times over. (Ed, Mustang, Armstrong and Greedling! Obviously. ZAC EFRON CAN PLAY EVERYBODY.)

Also, "I'll Make a Man Out of You" for Olivier.

[genarti]

Olivier will not make a man out of you. Olivier will make a BRIGGSIAN out of you. IF YOU'RE HARD ENOUGH.

I do admire your forbearance enormously, my friend. *solemn* Also, your casting skills.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

1000 Oceans has been on my mental playlist for a Winry song for as long as I've been watching/reading FMA. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who sees it that way. :D

[skygiants]

You definitely are not! I mean, come on, Winry says straight out that she is crying for herself and Ed and Al. I have done the math and determined through complex equations that that is totally 1000 oceans' worth of tears. (Well, maybe 998 oceans, but I am rounding up.)

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Wandered in from fm_alchemist, and this is just plain nifty. I approve of epicly long fanmixes.

Though just out of curiosity, do you have it uploaded in a zip file? Or a couple of zip files, for that matter - my computer hates box.net.

[skygiants]

Hee, thanks! I'm glad you like it.

I do not, and sadly this is not a thing I can do from where I am now, but I can certainly do this when I get home tonight - I'll drop you a comment when it's done.

[aamalie]

Oh geez, this is absolutely awesome! If I weren't already completely addicted to FSTs, I think your commentary alone would convince me of their absolutely necessary inclusion in the fandom experience.

And you included HSM songs! TWICE! I think I love you.

And rain! On Roy's face! This will never not be simultaneously sad and hilarious.

Anyway, I think I know what I'm listening to on my mini road trip tomorrow!

[skygiants]

:DDD Thank you! I am very glad you enjoyed. (Hahaha, it was occasionally a little hard limiting myself to two HSM songs. >.> GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME, Al!)

Also, you should know I am admiring your rain-on-Roy's-face icon.

[seta-suzume.livejournal.com]

Muppet Treasure Island! y/y?

Anyway, this is awesome! I'm loving the music, but your comments really make it for me. (Best reason for no Gluttony song ever)

[skygiants]

y!!!! :D Good catch. *giggling*

And yay, I am glad you are enjoying it! And that my dorky commentary amuses people who are not just me. >.>

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

this is an amazing collection of music. thank you

[skygiants]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed :D

[oneechan19.livejournal.com]

I am totally taking several of these songs. *nods*

'Woke up this morning' would be an AWESOME vid. You know when they go 'wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers', there needs to be Rockbell flashes. (There needs to be a place where you can go and be, 'hi, I have this vid all planned out, I just lack vidding skills, will you please make it, thank you!')

I think I have 'I just can't wait to be king' if you want it.

Okay, obviously you have haven't read chapter 108. Does that mean you've read chapter 107? ISN'T IT AWESOME. Omg, you have to let me know the moment you've finished the series, then I can go, 'BECCA BECCA BECCA BECCA' and flail at you.

[skygiants]

Oh, totally. Not to mention all of Scar's dead family members. :/ (I KNOW RIGHT. There are so many I just want to go instruct people to make for me!)

. . . I would not object to this. >.>

I HAVE read 107! And half of 108, now! I'm following along with Brotherhood, and all we have left is the one more episode that basically wraps everything up after the end of all the epic, and and and *HANDSFLAIL*

I should be done for-real by Tuesday at the latest, so EXPECT A FLAILY POST ON WEDNESDAY

[rawles.livejournal.com]

I was alternatively loling, having feelings, and nodding my head with great exuberance throughout. THEN I GOT TO THE BONUS SONG AND I KNEW THAT TRULY I LOVED THIS FST FOREVER.

Wellllll-played.

[skygiants]

WHY THANK YOU. I am glad to have been able to bring feelings to your heart! :D

[lacewood]

<333333 *snags half the songs* (You could have totally included Bet on It... as a BONUS track)

Also, I'm stunned at your self control re: reading HALF of chapter 108. If I'd had to stop myself once I started reading it, I would be CLAWING THE WAAAALLLLLSS. D:

[skygiants]

:DDDD (hahaha I SHOULD HAVE. "This song applies to EVERY SHONEN CHARACTER EVER, okay, JUST GO WITH IT.")

I know, right? I am kind of amazed myself! I keep telling myself, just a few more days to go, just a few more days . . . @_@