Do you have a 'main theme' for your stories?

I love music so much. In Ultraviolence, the story takes place in 2010. I had so much researching the popular music at the time and using them to fit into the narrative. I was curious if anyone also have a theme, or uses music at all?

UV's main theme is Power by Kanye West. It came out in 2010, and its lyrics could fit in to Jackie's (my main character) story.

"No one man should have all that power" Could be Jackie saying that to the mob bosses of New York, or it could be a critique of himself. Should he have the power to enact vigilantism?

In the story I'm writing right now, the main narrative theme is "doors." No musical theme.

In my story, the theme is Tragedy. There will be bright moments to show how dark it truly can be. For now at least. It also show things can always get worse.

HungrySheep said:

In the story I'm writing right now, the main narrative theme is "doors." No musical theme

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Like, doors opening?

OtherSlater said:

Like, doors opening?

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Doors in general, metaphorically and physically. They can close or open.

Why does your description differ from the thread's question? You asked about the theme (of fiction), but instead discussed theme of music.

Theme refers to the central idea that forms the focus of a story, usually more specific than genre.

For example, a dark fantasy fiction story might have the theme of choosing motherhood in a post-apocalyptic world.

You should keep the question.

Eldoria said:

You should keep the discussion focused.

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People who are not literary students or film students tend to use the word 'theme' to mean music rather than the core point of a story.

Not to say it's correct, but that's just what happens...

Eldoria said:

Why does your description differ from the thread's question? You asked about the theme (of fiction), but instead discussed theme of music.

Theme refers to the central idea that forms the focus of a story, usually more specific than genre.

For example, a dark fantasy fiction story might have the theme of choosing motherhood in a post-apocalyptic world.

You should keep the discussion focused.

Click to expand...

"Main theme" in this context means "theme song." Like an opening theme of an anime. The song sets the tone for a story. It works in this case.

I currently have three songs that I think fit the best!!

First happens to be from Epic: The Musical, which is a musical album of The Odyssey. Specifically, it's the last song of the musical:
The last few lyrics sung by Penelope were a huge inspiration for my story:

I will fall in love with you over and over again
I don't care how, where, or when
No matter how long it's been, you're mine
Don't tell me you're not the same person
You're always my husband, and I've been waiting, waiting
Waiting, waiting
Waiting, waiting
Waiting, oh
For you

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Because a main theme in my story is waiting and unconditional love. This song was absolutely perfect!

Another song is a French song named Love Story by Indila.
Here's an English translation I found of a portion of the lyrics:

Lost soul
He lives but barely speaks
He waits in front of this picture from years ago
He’s not crazy
He believes in it, that’s all
He sees her everywhere
He waits for her standing
With a rose in his hand
Besides her, he’s not waiting for anything

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It's full of yearning, loyalty, and unfathomable love. The video shows an old man "waiting" for his deceased wife, visiting her grave everyday, thinking about no one but her. It's the definition of my male lead.

The third song is Sunlight by Hozier (the yearner among singers lol). This song was actually shown to me by the lovely ZannaYO. She made a playlist for my story's main couple. :')
I mean, just look at these lyrics:

I would shun the light, share in evening's cool and quiet
Who would trade that hum of night?
For sunlight, sunlight, sunlight
But whose heart would not take flight?
Betray the moon as acolyte
On first and fierce affirming sight
Of sunlight, sunlight, sunlight
I had been lost to you, sunlight
And flew like a moth to you, sunlight, oh, sunlight
Oh, your love is sunlight
Oh, your love is sunlight
But it is sunlight

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This is just a portion. The whole song is as poetic and beautiful as this. The worship, the reverence, the metaphors... Not to mention, my male lead is a vampire, so him referring to the FL as his "sunlight" that he adores... lots of symbolism there. ;)

Eldoria said:

Why does your description differ from the thread's question? You asked about the theme (of fiction), but instead discussed theme of music.

Theme refers to the central idea that forms the focus of a story, usually more specific than genre.

For example, a dark fantasy fiction story might have the theme of choosing motherhood in a post-apocalyptic world.

You should keep the question.

Click to expand...

It threw me off for a second too, but I understood what they meant after re-reading their post. A lot of people use "theme" as short for "theme song" outside of writing.

pangmida said:

"Main theme" in this context means "theme song." Like an opening theme of an anime. The song sets the tone for a story. It works in this case.

Click to expand...

HungrySheep said:

It threw me off for a second too, but I understood what they meant after re-reading their post. A lot of people use "theme" as short for "theme song" outside of writing.

Click to expand...

I find this hilarious... I won't condone that mistake. If you want to discuss music, this thread should be moved to the general section, not the author section.

Besides, the initial question of this thread clearly uses the words "theme" and "story." So discussing music is simply the wrong topic.

pangmida said:

"Main theme" in this context means "theme song." Like an opening theme of an anime. The song sets the tone for a story. It works in this case.

I currently have three songs that I think fit the best!!

First happens to be from Epic: The Musical, which is a musical album of The Odyssey. Specifically, it's the last song of the musical:

The last few lyrics sung by Penelope were a huge inspiration for my story:

Because a main theme in my story is waiting and unconditional love. This song was absolutely perfect!

Another song is a French song named Love Story by Indila.

Here's an English translation I found of a portion of the lyrics:

It's full of yearning, loyalty, and unfathomable love. The video shows an old man "waiting" for his deceased wife, visiting her grave everyday, thinking about no one but her. It's the definition of my male lead.

The third song is Sunlight by Hozier (the yearner among singers lol). This song was actually shown to me by the lovely ZannaYO. She made a playlist for my story's main couple. :')

I mean, just look at these lyrics:

This is just a portion. The whole song is as poetic and beautiful as this. The worship, the reverence, the metaphors... Not to mention, my male lead is a vampire, so him referring to the FL as his "sunlight" that he adores... lots of symbolism there. ;)

Click to expand...

I love this! I have a playlist of all the songs I referenced in UV. It's so much fun to weave music into written stories :)

Eldoria said:

I find this hilarious... I won't condone that mistake. If you want to discuss music, this thread should be moved to the general section, not the author section.

Besides, the initial question of this thread clearly uses the words "theme" and "story." So discussing music is simply the wrong topic.

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I have no idea how you always find yourself arguing with me and my posts but please bro... I just wanna talk about music relating to our stories. Let me have one peaceful discussion here.

OtherSlater said:

I have no idea how you always find yourself arguing with me and my posts but please bro... I just wanna talk about music relating to our stories. Let me have one peaceful discussion here.

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If you don't want me to debate what you have to say, then you should improve your communication skills... use appropriate, polite, and friendly language so readers know what you're talking about and avoid false accusations.

I'm giving you this advice because I care about you. Look! I didn't even accuse your fiction using AI in the last thread.

My only concern here is ensuring a more conducive forum and that basic rules are followed as fellow forum members.

Most would be instrumentals, custom crafted to the story, but I think, if we could get permission, David Bowie's "Changes" would be the theme for Strange Awakening, playing in the background as they wake up for the first time.

Oh, if I can ever find the files (or just decide to restart it - was at about Chapter 11 when it disappeared on me), I had a song that contained it's own theme song. The lead was a half-human (who can pass for human if he keeps his ears covered - they show his mom's influence with high points) secret agent (fighting alien spies not foreign ones) under the cover of a Country singer, and one of his songs, My Wandrin' Heart, would be the theme.

I wrote a short story once involving a character named Alison, named after the song of the same name by the shoegaze band Slowdive. I honestly just chose it because it was the first name that came to mind, but looking closer at the lyrics, I realized they mirror the story in a lot of ways--nostalgia, longing, unhealthy attraction, and even the cigarettes and narcotics. It weirdly became a very fitting theme song for the story

My series revolves around Martial arts and beast transformation
Inspired by the Bloody Roar games

Eldoria said:

I find this hilarious... I won't condone that mistake. If you want to discuss music, this thread should be moved to the general section, not the author section.

Besides, the initial question of this thread clearly uses the words "theme" and "story." So discussing music is simply the wrong topic.

Click to expand...

channeling the inner autism. I like it. a new thing out of you. This, goes to character growth.

for the record, I was thinking of underlying theme of my stuff.
was going to say that my MC will typically have a rigid inner code and do anything to see it met.
but I see I was just supposed to post a song I liked.

sorry for disrupting your thread, slate. rock on.

I love the choices here guys!

I can’t pick just one song, but I found myself listening to a lot of Iron Maiden while writing. A lot of their songs lean heavily on myths, war and legacy.