The Great Gatsby Soundtrack

How do you tell a story with music? Music, much in the way that plot elements drive a story, weaves a narrative
itself. It is a vehicle for storytelling. It creates a mood. It guides emotion. It represents characters. It clues the
audience in to a theme.
As a conclusion to our unit on The Great Gatsby, you will create a soundtrack for the novel. As with any
soundtrack, the chosen music should represent the mood and the feeling of the text. This can be created through
relevant lyrics, genre, the repetition of certain notes, and all of the nuances of a musical piece. You will also
create artwork for a CD cover and creative liner notes to be enjoyed while listening to the soundtrack. You will
write five rationales for any of your ten song selections.

Choose your songs: You will select ten songs total and write rationales for five of them. The songs that you
choose should meet the following requirements:
1. Minimum of two songs that represent two characters (If youd like to do the same character twice,
showing two separate sides to them or two different moments in their lives in the novel, that would also
work. Use your characterization charts for information!)
2. Minimum of two songs that represent major plot points, or events, in the novel
3. One song that addresses a theme of the novel.
4. One song that addresses a motif of the novel.
5. One song that represents the setting of the novel (New York, Long Island, a party scene, a mansion, etc.)
6. The remaining three songs are your choice, but must be relevant to the novel. (Example: another motif,
another character, a jazz song, a party song that captures that Roaring 20s spirit)

As you select your songs, you can consider the lyrics of the song or simply the style and mood of the song. You
may select a piece without lyrics, but you still need to write an analysis for the song choice thats just as long as a
song with lyrics would be. Songs with profanity are acceptable if you have a strong rationale for selecting that
song that connects to the text. If youd like, you may write and perform a song for your soundtrack. You must
include proper MLA citation for each song. Tip: Think about some of your favorite songs that move you in some
way. Check out the lyrics or emotions they evoke and see if they can apply to some facet of The Great Gatsby.
Spend some time listening to music and create a corresponding musical story for the novel.

Create liner notes: The liner notes for this particular project will include
o 1) a list of the 10 songs you have chosen with the information for each song.
o 2) an explanation for why you chose each song (5 in total).
Your explanation should demonstrate clearly an understanding of the text and explain your rationale for
choosing each song. You should include at least one parenthetical citation referencing a specific
moment in the text that you are connecting with the song. Again, go back to your characterization charts
for direct supporting evidence!
It is not enough to simply say, This song expresses the moment where Gatsby and Daisy meet face to
face Therefore, an A explanation would cite specific quotes from the text and clearly describe the
connection to the song. Your liner notes (rationale) should also include the lyrics for each song, when
applicable. (Only five set of lyrics for the five liner notes- you dont need to include the lyrics for all 10
songs) ~350 words each, or about page-1 page in length- enough to sufficiently explicate your
song choice.

Design artwork (CD Cover): Design an original piece of artwork for your soundtrack. You can create
images by hand, take photos, or use your computer, but the work must be your own. Any images taken
from other artists must be cited in MLA format.

Create a Spotify playlist to share or burn an actual CD of your soundtrack: Either compile your song
choices in the desired order and burn them onto a CD OR create a Spotify playlist for this assignment.
The playlist must be shared the evening before the due date. Time stamp 9:00pm. Emailed to:
sarahmontgomery23@gmail.com

Example Lyrics:
# 1 The character of Judy Jones as a beautiful woman seeking love from many men in F. Scott
Fitzgeralds Winter Dreams.
Song: Del Rey, Lana. Young And Beautiful. Music From Baz Luhrmanns Film The Great Gatsby.
Interscope, 2013. Spotify.
I've seen the world
Done it all
Had my cake now
Diamonds, brilliant
And Bel Air now
Hot summer nights, mid July
When you and I were forever
wild
The crazy days, city lights
The way you'd play with me
like a child
Will you still love me
When I'm no longer young
and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my
aching soul?
I know you will, I know you
will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when
I'm no longer beautiful?
I've seen the world, lit it up
As my stage now

Channeling angels in the new

age now
Hot summer days, rock 'n'
roll
The way you play for me at
your show
And all the ways I got to
know
Your pretty face and electric
soul
Will you still love me
When I'm no longer young
and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my
aching soul?
I know you will, I know you
will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when
I'm no longer beautiful?
Dear lord, when I get to
heaven
Please let me bring my man

When he comes tell me that

you'll let him in
Father tell me if you can
Oh that grace, oh that body
Oh that face makes me
wanna party
He's my sun, he makes me
shine like diamonds
Will you still love me
When I'm no longer young
and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my
aching soul?
I know you will, I know you
will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when
I'm no longer beautiful?
Will you still love me when
I'm no longer beautiful?
Will you still love me when
I'm not young and beautiful?

Example Liner Notes (Your rationale for selecting that song):

Story (For yours, it will be Book: The Great Gatsby): Winter Dreams
Entry #1: Judy Jones
Song: Del Rey, Lana. Young And Beautiful. Music From Baz Luhrmanns Film The Great Gatsby.
Interscope, 2013. Spotify.
Lana Del Reys synth pop track, Young And Beautiful, captures the essence of Judy Jones fixation on
money, her beauty, and her longing to be loved. The song paints a romantic picture of hot summer
nights, much like the hot summer night on the lake when Judy and Dexter Green first get together. The
song is told from the point of view of a woman who has seen the world and done it all. She
references diamonds several times throughout the song and a home in the wealthy area of Bel Air,
implying that she leads a rich life with her man. Similarly, Judy Jones lives the wealthy life and seeks
the same from her many male suitors. As she explains her melancholy mood to Dexter on their first date,
Ive just had a terrible afternoon. There was a man I cared about, and this afternoon he told me out of a
clear sky that he was poor as a church-mouse. Judy wants and is accustomed to wealth, and she wants
her beaus to have money as well.

Throughout the song, Lana Del Rey repeatedly asks her lover the question, Will you still love me when
Im no longer young and beautiful? The lyrics reflect a belief that her beauty and youth are much of the
reason why she is loved. Judy Jones shares this belief in the power and currency of her looks. Fitzgerald
describes how she controls men through her beauty: under the magic of her physical splendor the
strong as well as the brilliant played her game and not their own (Fitzgerald, 5). After reuniting with
Dexter after his engagement to Irene, she tells him, I suppose you think Im not worth having, but Ill
be so beautiful for you, Dexter, (Fitzgerald, 8). Like the song, Judy connects her worthiness to her
beauty and uses her beauty in order to gain love.
Ultimately, though the song is playful at many moments about beauty and money, the repetition of the
question of whether the speaker will still be loved when her beauty fades suggests a deep underlying
doubt in the answer. The raw, aching lyrics are full of longing, uncertainty, and hope. Lana Del Rey
repeats, I know you will in answer to the question, but the sadness of the melody hints that she might
be trying to convince herself of the truth in that answer. Judy Jones might as well be singing the track,
for she is also sad and longing for love in Winter Dreams. As she tells Dexter with tears streaming down
her face, Im more beautiful than anybody elsewhy cant I be happy? (Fitzgerald, 8). When we
hear how her beauty faded and she married a drunk who cheats on her, it reinforces the idea that she
wont be loved when shes no longer beautiful. Young and Beautiful is a theme song for Judys
character, as it hauntingly expresses Judys attachment to her looks with her ability to be loved.
Liner Notes for Song 1 due: 3/27
Be sure to include lyrics with corresponding liner notes
Song list and artwork due: 4/10
The song list is the list of ten songs that you have chosen.
Be sure to use MLA citations for each song. Include Spotify link or physical CD.
Ex: Artist. Song Title. Album name. Record Label, Year. Type of track (mp3, Spotify, CD).
Liner Notes for Songs 2 & 3 due: 4/14
Be sure to include lyrics with corresponding liner notes
Liner Notes for Songs 4 & 5 due: 4/27
Be sure to include lyrics with corresponding liner notes
Final Project Due: 5/14 or 5/22?
Rubric:
1
SONGLIST
(50 pts)
ARTWORK
(25 pts)
ENTRY (175 pts)
LYRICS (w/MLA citation)
LINER NOTES
TOTAL (250 pts)

/10

/10

/10

/10

/10

/5

/5

/5

/5

/5

/30

/30

/30

/30

/30

For an A project:
Liner notes:

The writing is strong, formal, free of errors and shows an excellent understanding of the mechanics of
writing.

The analysis shows strong evidence of thought and care in tying the elements of the novel to the songs. The
analysis is also thorough, considering many aspects of both the song and the character, theme, motif, or
event being represented.

There is evidence of careful thought in song selection

Quotes are used from the song and/or the book, and all quotes are introduced, cited, and analyzed properly.

Lyrics are provided for all songs, and they are properly referenced.

CD:

There is a functional CD or Spotify playlist with the ten songs meeting the specifications.

The CD cover shows excellent care and consideration to both the contents of the CD as well as the book that
it is representing.

The CD cover is highly reflective of the time and consideration put into its creation.

For a B project:
Liner notes:

The writing is generally free of errors and shows good understanding of the mechanics of writing.

The analysis shows evidence of thought in tying the chapters to the songs.

The analysis is also thorough, considering several aspects of both the song and the chapter being
represented.

There is evidence of thought in song selection

Quotes are used from the song and/or the book, and all quotes are generally introduced, cited, and analyzed
properly.

Lyrics are provided for all songs, and they are referenced.

CD:

There is a functional CD or Spotify playlist with the ten songs meeting the specifications.

The CD cover shows good care and consideration to both the contents of the CD as well as the book that it is
representing.

The CD cover is reflective of the time and consideration put into its creation.
For a C project:
Liner notes:

The writing has some errors and shows general understanding of the mechanics of writing.

The analysis shows some evidence of thought and care in tying the songs to the novel. There is some
evidence of analysis and consideration of several aspects of both the song and the novel.

There is evidence of some thought in song selection. Some quotes are used from the song and/or the book,
and quotes may or may not be introduced, cited, and analyzed properly.

Lyrics are provided for all songs, but some may not have been properly referenced.

CD:

There is a functional CD or Spotify playlist with the ten songs meeting the specifications.

The CD cover shows minimal care and consideration to both the contents of the CD as well as the novel that it
is representing.

The CD cover evidences minimal time and consideration put into its creation.

For a D project:
Liner notes:

The writing has many errors and shows little understanding of the mechanics of writing.

The analysis shows little evidence of thought and care in tying the chapters to the songs. There is minimal
evidence of analysis and consideration of either the song or the element of the novel being represented.

There is little evidence of thought in song selection.

Quotes are not used.

Lyrics may or may not be provided for all songs, but have not been properly referenced.

CD:

There is not a functional CD or Spotify playlist with ten songs

The CD cover shows no care or consideration to the contents of the CD or the book that it is representing.